Countdown to... parties and comments?

I haven't had any comments on my poem yet! I was so proud of myself on that one.

My birthday is in four days. I am going to be OLD. I definitely do not look or feel almost fifteen. Strange. And while I have so eagerly awaited the moment when (sweet freedom!) I can drive; I actually feel just the slightest bit of anxiety at being in complete control... and my sister has made it clear that I'm not the only one experiencing such feelings.

We had a group of students from UNO up to our house today for lunch. They were from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Columbia... and I think that's it. It's always fun to have them up, mom always ends up in deep conversation with the ladies about why we home school, and the guys are always fun to joke around with and play with. Who can't enjoy meeting foreign people when they are so polite, eager and playful? Of course not everyone is like that; but so far, most of the students I have met have been eager to learn and interact with us. They are so fun.

The fourth is coming up! I can remember last fourth of July. We were camping in Minnesota, and in the evening we stood on the dock looking out over the lake at the fireworks, and all flares around the lake that people were holding. It was cool. As I stood there watching the faces of campers around me in the dim light, I wondered with a great curiosity what they were thinking about just then. Sons and daughters in Iraq? The President? Our forefathers? My mind was on the Christian, sacrificing leaders that built the foundation of our country hundreds of years ago, and especially on the soldiers in Iraq... wondering what Jerry, one of the guys I wrote, was doing... if there were any soldiers being wounded just now... I am sure a most heartfelt prayer was sent from Minnesota to Iraq that night, and probably many more. As I reflect on this next holiday... all these same thoughts will come rushing to me as I thank God for men that would found a nation for their children, and pray protection for their children that would toil to protect it.

Jennifer