WAYCROSS

magazine

The Good Life • What’s Right About MY America

My America is such a great nation; a country which sparkles with multitudes of blessings. 
Freedom rings from its shores, peace and hope rain down from my Heavenly Father Jesus Christ upon which my great nation

was founded.

My great blessings are so numerous! I want to sing the “Star Spangled Banner.’’ I want to salute my American flag which flys in

my front yard. I want to bow down on my knees in prayer and thank my God for life He has allowed me to live.    

I am blessed to be a 56-year citizen of Hacklebarney Community of Pierce County, my life at age 76  enriched by the knowledge

that I live in a nation of freedoms. I can worship my God with the knowledge that I can have life everlasting, as I accepted and be-
lieved in Him.

I am blessed to live as one of the sixth generation of Carters. Two great-granddaughters live near me in this same community.

I know the world may be in conflict, splashed with problems of all kinds, but Love has to be the power to erase the bad and fuel

the good. 

I try to embrace an attitude of gratitude. I am blessed to have two children live near me and two in Florida. A 20-year colon cancer

survivor, I take kisses from my grands and greats and share the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets. I watch fluffy white clouds
chase the blue of the skies.

I marvel at the beauty of nature God created. He told the flowers when to bloom---in what season. Spring/summer leave to allow

autumn to bloom in all its glory. The message of life and death is explained in the paling of the lovely red rose,  to the blossoming in
autumn of the golden rod.  This tells me I will see my deceased, beloved ones again. (Always cherishing John 3:16)

I appreciate the stray bulldog---God’s creature-- which came to me starving. I gave him food and shelter, and now he is my pro-

tector and buddy.

I love the grocery stores which are delicious carnivals with thousands of food brands. I can pick and choose and take them home

to feed my family and myself.

I admire the many department stores in this area and the restaurants which offer such fine foods; so many from which to choose.
I can discover new recipes, not worrying where my next meal is coming from.
I can lunch with friends, not afraid to discuss my religious or government choices.
I can shout and cheer at my grandchildren’s soccer, track, and basketball games, not afraid to let the world know that I am a

proud grand/great grandmother.  I am “blessed,’’ and so proud to support the fine schools/teachers, coaches here at home.

I worked hard, and so did my late husband. We reared our four children seeing them through colleges and in fine careers.
I can lay my head down at night and not be afraid. I am secure in my peace with my God. I could call 911, and there is help on

the way.

I can rest on clean linens at night; washed and dried in my washing machine and clothes dryer.
I can click the television channel to any program I desire, and I can drive anywhere in America if I choose.
I can type and e-mail and call someone on my cell phone.
I can turn my thermostat high or low for my comfort.
I can turn on a switch or turn on a faucet to get light or water. I can bake in an oven, or microwave a meal as that magical current

comes from somewhere.

I ponder in the choice of hundreds of wrinkle free cosmetics and hair coloring shampoos and spank my selfish thoughts when I

read the newspaper of humans/families/children exiled from their homes in war-torn countries.

I can watch my dog Gus hunting a place to bury his bone. And marvel at the time that he goes back to it, knowing where he

buried it.

I can fuss at the squirrels. I  can swat the mosquitoes. I can admire the beautiful birds which choose my home, like brilliant orna-

ments on a Christmas tree.

I count my blessings that the only guns my sons have to use are to hunt the traditional game carrying out an American patriot tra-

dition.  

I  can clean my house today, or wait until tomorrow or take a nap. I am retired. 
I can cook what I want, buy what I want, feed my family what they want.
I can read my Bible or a book I like. I can see the movie I like. I can run on a sandy beach or climb a mountain crowned by the

clouds and enjoy my God’s divine creation.

I can watch the planes fly overhead and have no dread of danger, as there are thousands of brave men and women protecting

my great country.

I can enjoy the roar of a nearby diesel locomotive, see the dedicated drivers of semi trucks on the highways and hear a rooster

crow in my distance; letting me know my great country is alive and well.