Happy Independence Day America!

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country lov'd,

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

Oh Lord I pray this prayer for my country and my fellow countrymen...

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make His face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 KJV

God bless my homeland.

God grant that we may never forget its rich faith heritage.

Aimee

Photos:

fireworks display

wheat field near Heirloom Roses

Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs, CO

my current favorite central Oregon coast beach

The Mayflower II, Plymouth, MA

(courtesy of my cousins F. + N. Blessings)

SW Portland

Willamette National Cemetery

SW Portland

small rural cemetery

Notes:

America the Beautiful

Lyrics: Katherine Bates

As found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful#Lyrics