It is official! Today Ladi received her certificate of US citizenship! How appropriate to receive this document this 4th of July week. Yesterday our church had a Patriotic celebration for our worship service and a family picnic afterwards. We have never been able to attend this service before so I wasn't quite sure what it was all about- but to my surprise it was the perfect way to kick off the 4th of July festivities! And because this is Ladi's first 4th it made it that much more special. There was a full orchestra playing beautiful Patriotic music as well as hymns. We sat right up front so Ladi could see all the musicians and instruments. She loved clapping along and singing! I kept thinking how blessed we are to live in such a wonderful country; freedom, rights, opportunity, democracy, equality- words we use to describe the United States. Then I thought of those that live in countries that are not described in those words; where people are oppressed and live without hope. In the letter that accompanied Ladi's certificate, the President wrote, "As you begin to participate fully in our democracy, remember that what you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to serve your new Nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens building communities of service and a Nation of character. Americans are generous and strong and decent not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it. Welcome to the joy, responsibility, and freedom of American citizenship." When we started the adoption process and we learned of the orphans in Russia, I prayed that we could give a little girl a loving family, a safe home, and opportunity. The opportunity to come to know God, the opportunity for an education, the opportunity to help others, the opportunity to become what she was created to be! After our first visit to meet Ladi, I kept saying, " we just have to bring her home, to the US where she has a chance!" Now my prayer is that she embraces this opportunity. As a US citizen and a responsible adult I sometimes find myself taking for granted the freedoms and opportunities I was blessed to be born into. (Like listening to all the "hoop-la" about the presidential candidates- it really does make a difference if I vote!) Then at the end of the letter it says, "God bless you, and God bless America." It is only my opinion but after being in another country for 2 weeks; I think God has already blessed America. This is where the responsibility comes in- what to do with this blessing and how can we bless others with it? I don't know, but the letter says start with your neighbor. I think I will and I pray that my children and you will too! And for those of you that are still reading this, "thank you" for letting me reflect and be "gushy" about this subject!
The boys are still in DC with Phe and Pops. Every time they call they sound like they are having a blast! Bryson is really into all the National Treasure movies; so he is loving seeing all the government archives and monuments. Today he was able to view the (in his words) "real thing" Declaration of Independence. They had to wait in line for about 45 mins. but Bryson said it was worth it. (He even got a poster of the "DoI" to hang in his room! Yesterday they saw a Nationals baseball game- Blake said it went 12 innings (I think) and he gave us a play-by-play of how the Nationals won. Very exciting! Phe cheered so hard she lost her voice and still sounds "rough" today when I talked to her. Brady is really looking forward to seeing the Lion King at the Kennedy Center. That is his thing; singing and dancing! I can't wait to talk to him about it! [Oh and I need to mention that on Friday the camp that Brady was attending had a performance for the parents. At the performance the campers showed off what they had learned during the week. Well, Brady did not tell us, but he elected to take the dancing class! We still don't know why he decided to go to this class, maybe because it was all girls and he was the only boy- Brady loves the ladies! Anyway, he performed a liturgical dance with the other girls and it was awesome! He was not embarrassed at all and he knew what he was doing (for the most part). He was so proud of himself and the other boys in his class were giving him high fives afterwards! Brady loves musicals and I hope he never loses his excitement and joy for them!] On Friday the 4th they will be seeing the fireworks on the "Lawn" at the Capitol. WOW! (I really am jealous but so thankful that they get this opportunity!)Anyway, pray for their safe travels. I will pray that you have a safe, happy and reflective 4th of July!