[null, {"document_url": "http://steppingoutshiningthrough.blogspot.com/2016/07/america-beautiful.html", "unformatted_src": "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O28K5b0Q_uM/V3ia2H0JXvI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/bQIkVcCgLyAqCmd0IVJnrF_B4AMqZpTKgCLcB/s320/IMG_3557.JPG", "src": "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O28K5b0Q_uM/V3ia2H0JXvI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/bQIkVcCgLyAqCmd0IVJnrF_B4AMqZpTKgCLcB/s320/IMG_3557.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 261, "rendered_height": 320}, {"document_url": "http://steppingoutshiningthrough.blogspot.com/2016/07/america-beautiful.html", "unformatted_src": "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XD5QYi86Z-M/V3ibCObokFI/AAAAAAAAAPU/PnP2oBEBgFQ63fFG7Uai2YTAu7tNV91dgCLcB/s320/IMG_3558.JPG", "src": "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XD5QYi86Z-M/V3ibCObokFI/AAAAAAAAAPU/PnP2oBEBgFQ63fFG7Uai2YTAu7tNV91dgCLcB/s320/IMG_3558.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 179, "rendered_height": 320}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://steppingoutshiningthrough.blogspot.com/2016/07/america-beautiful.html", "unformatted_src": "//lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Q9hhmC7GQg/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAIs/W5Rq-YULAn4/s80-c/photo.jpg", "src": "http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Q9hhmC7GQg/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAIs/W5Rq-YULAn4/s80-c/photo.jpg", "formatted_filename": "photo", "alt_text": "My photo", "rendered_width": 80, "rendered_height": 80}, null, null, null, null]

America the Beautiful

My friend, Linda, and I have enjoyed the day by going to the movies and then taking a walk around the lake, which is only about 3 miles from my house.  July 4th is in two days, but everyone is beginning to celebrate.  At the lake, people were fishing, water-skiing, picnicking or just enjoying a casual walk.

There are sculptures that are displayed around the lake.  One of my favorites is a small replica of the Statue of Liberty.  Linda and I were able to capture a photo of the statue with the American flag behind it.  Another sculpture is children walking across a log.  These sculptures and the Rocky Mountains in the background made me think of the song, "America the Beautiful".  I can hear the tune, "for spacious skies; for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain!  America! America!  God shed His grace on thee....."

We ended the evening sitting on the balcony with the coolness in the air,and watched the neighborhood fireworks.  As the beautiful red, white and blue lights lit up the sky, I thought of the soldiers who have fought and died for my freedom.

As we celebrate this July 4th weekend, may we thank God for our country and our freedom.  God bless America! Posted by Denise Marshall at 10:04 PM Denise Marshall
