Being A Good Citizen – Page 3

Beautiful Utah! Life Elevated!

Beautiful Utah!

Not only do we celebrate America’s birthday this month, in Utah on the 24th of July, we also celebrate the day the pioneers entered this beautiful valley to make it their home!

Five Fast Facts About Beautiful Utah!

Utah was acquired by the United States in 1848 in a treaty ending the Mexico War.
The Great Salt Lake covers more than a million acres.
In February of 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the XIX Winter Olympics.
The TV series “Touched By An Angel” was filmed in Utah.
USA Today recently rated Utah as having the strongest economy.

My father traveled extensively throughout his life, but he always used to tell me that driving up over the ridge of Sardine Canyon into beautiful Cache Valley and realizing that he was once again back home in Utah always filled him with deep feelings of great joy and contentment! I experience those same feelings when I return home from a trip and peer out the window of the airplane as it touches down at the Salt Lake City, Utah airport.

The beautiful view as you first enter Cache Valley via Sardine Canyon!

Welcome To Beautiful Utah! Life Elevated!

The vast mountain ranges and scenic surroundings of Utah can’t help but make you catch your breath as you visit this great state! I imagine that as the pioneers caught their first glimpse of Utah when they peered over the rugged mountain tops, they surely realized there would be plenty of hard work ahead for them as they settled in Utah.

Perhaps that is why “Industry” is our state’s motto!

I’m so grateful for my Utah heritage. I loved growing up in Utah, it was a great place to raise my children, and it’s fun to see my granddaughters being raised here, as well!

Beautiful Utah! Things I Love About My Home State!

♥ I love experiencing all four seasons in Utah!

Each season brings its own kind of magic to Utah–although I will admit that the older I get, I love shorter winters!

♥ I love the natural outdoor playgrounds in Utah!

Hiking, biking, boating and skiing, and anything else in between–you name it…it’s all amazing in Utah!

Beautiful Utah! www.mytributejournal.com

♥ I love that even the big cities have a quaint, small-town feel in Utah!

There are many big-name department stores in Utah, but I love that there’s an eclectic mix of small businesses and shop owners too. A fun array of vintage, antique and thrift stores help keep locals stocked up with all the unique baubles and chachkies we love so much!

On any given weekend from early spring to late fall throughout the beautiful state of Utah, you can bet that there will be a local Arts Festival or Farmer’s Market set up to sell fresh produce and handmade wares to intrigued consumers.

There’s lots of good eating to be done in beautiful Utah too!

Mostly, I love Utah because like all the other 49 states in America, we are blessed with countless opportunities to work hard, play harder, and raise our families in wonderful communities where we have the chance to nurture and support each other through good times and bad. I am so grateful to be an American citizen–and I love living in beautiful Utah!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer–even though it is going by way too fast!

If you live in Utah, what do you love about our fair state–or what do you love most about where you live?

–Mary

America! Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly!

America! Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly!

My husband has an old school country music mix that he plays full blast when he’s working out. One particular song, “Where The Stars And Stripes And the Eagle Fly” by Aaron Tippin, is usually amped way up to an even more deafening volume–most nights I’ll yell into him to turn the music down, but with the 4th of July just a few days away, I guess I was feeling the patriotic spirit of the season, so the other evening I took the time to really listen to the words of this song as I stood outside our exercise room–and it didn’t take long for tears to fill my eyes…

You can listen to the song here, if you’d like, while scrolling through post:

Where The Stars and Stripes And The Eagle Fly by: Aaron Tippin

“Well, if you ask me where I came from, here’s what I tell everyone, I was born by God’s dear grace, in an extraordinary place–where the Stars and Stripes and the eagle fly!”

“It’s a big ol’ land with countless dreams, happiness ain’t out of reach…”

“…hard work pays off the way it should.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen enough to know that we’ve got it good…”

“…where the Stars and Stripes and the eagle fly!”

“…and there’s a bell that still echoes the price that it cost to be free!”

“I pledge allegiance to this flag, and if that bothers you, well, that’s too bad.”

“But if you’ve got pride and you’re proud you do–hey, we could use some more like me and you!

“Where the Stars and Stripes and the eagle fly!”

“Yes, there’s a lady that stands in a harbor for what we believe, and there’s a bell that still echoes the price that it cost to be free.

American spirit! www.mytributejournal.com

“No, it aint the only place on earth, but it’s the only place that I prefer…”

“…to love my wife and raise my kids, hey, the same way that my daddy did!”

“Where the Stars and Stripes…”

“… and the eagle fly!”

“Where the Stars and Stripes and the eagle fly!”

As we celebrate America’s birthday this week, let’s have a little patriotic love fest-what makes you America proud?

Happy 4th of July to everyone!

–Mary

God Bless America!

God Bless America! Reviving Our Patriotic Hearts!

I remember when I was a young girl growing up, I was so enchanted with the patriotic decorations around our town during the 4th of July festivities. The military personnel in their crisp uniforms seemed larger than life when they appeared in our local parade. Often while watching the parade from the sidelines, my cousins and I would sip sweet, syrupy, cherry snow cones and see whose tongue would turn the most red! I also remember people standing with such pride and conviction–hands over their hearts and tears in their eyes–as they sang “God Bless America”! Somehow, as I get older, and depending on the political climate of our country, these fanciful feelings and memories seem to fade a bit. I miss seeing the unwavering patriotism of my parents! Despite the many blessings we enjoy by living in America, I sometimes find my heart in need of a little patriotic reviving! (Medical lingo at it’s best!) My cute granddaughters seemed up for the challenge the other day as we set out on a little patriotic scavenger hunt of sorts, to find all things red, white and blue and star-spangled! Seeing things through the eyes of a child is the surest way to renew the spirit of awe for the simple treasures of this great land we live in!

Our first stop was a park by our local library, and of course, Makena and Marli immediately pointed out the flag waving in the breeze!

Just down the street from the library was a quaint house proudly displaying the American spirit!

Two fun patriotic scavenger hunt helpers! As I saw things through their eyes, it didn’t take long for me to be reminded of why I love America so much!

Makena loved this beautiful bunch of patriotic flowers!

Although this monument wasn’t on our route, the girls love to look at the pictures on my phone. They were intrigued by this picture of Abraham Lincoln that my daughter, Mandi and son-in-law, Cole sent to me when they visited Washington, DC this past weekend. What a tremendous, passionate president!

We passed several displays of fireworks for sale. Makena told me she had a “ton” of “sparkles” at home to light up with her dad and mom!

Makena and Marli are excited for Uncle Jake to get back from officer’s training for medical personnel at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

My dad was so proud of his brothers who served as pilots in World War II. I now better understand the pride and concern that comes with having someone in the military.