Happy July 4th!!

How cool that on the eve of our country's birthday, our newest immigrant received her citizenship certificate!! I am ever aware that adoption always comes from a place of loss of birth family, culture, language and customs, but I believe it was Gods plan that Laikyn be in this great country with so many freedoms she would have never known in China. I have been thinking a lot about China and how I saw it from the eyes of a visiting American. The most treasured things in my life of God and family are not even a choice in China. I cannot imagine not having the freedom to worship. There are many Christians there, that must worship in underground churches with the threat of arrest always looming over. I also treasure my children and can't imagine being forced to limit my family to one child. One local girl in a China shop found out that we have four and said she has one son and it makes her very sad that the government tells her she can't have any more. Some places in China still force abortions, sterilizations, and others types of coercion to keep the populations rules followed. People that find themselves with illegal children face unaffordable fines, job and home loss(since the government owns most property). My daughters may have been the victims of government control over personal lives in China, but now they are Americans. I pray that as Americans we always value Our freedoms and realize with those freedoms comes responsibility! Our family began our celebration on Saturday with the fireworks at Vastwood Park. Though attendance was down due to record heat and drought, it was a good show. Laikyn was a little shocked and awed even with her earplugs, but she seemed to not be scared as long as she was in Mommas lap. Today L and I went to the pool while the big kids were at VBS and then we all had some of Daddy's grilled burgers for lunch. Didn't get to spend the day with bran as he went to a memorial for his friend Michael that died in a car accident this weekend. Tough time for him! This afternoon we hung out at dads a while and then came home to get ready for Bowling Green in the morning. While I was packing, J and K washed my van and did a great job!! Their reward was playing in the sprinklers for a while! Nice relaxing end to the fourth of July! Next year, I hope we are more settled with our girl and can go back to our annual big cookout with family!!