the 4th and Being “Better”

One of Lucy’s teachers at her college prep course gave us a thought I’ve been thinking about. He said he likes to ask the kids “what do you want to be?” and he said he loves the answer to that question: “better.” Isn’t that what we all want to be? No matter where we are, what stage, age, etc., we always have the option to work on being better.

And the very act of striving to be better gives us so much happiness. Progress, even in small steps and doses, brings so much meaning into life.

I thought about this a bunch yesterday: the 4th of July. I was actually a little emotional about it: thinking about all the people who have gone before who had that very goal:

To be “better.”

I have been thinking about how their thoughts and desires, internal compasses, compelled them to be better. To do better.

And look at where they brought us!!

Not only those Founding Fathers who risked everything to create the groundwork for our country, but those who weren’t afraid to fail, and to try again. For the mothers and the fathers who worked their tails off to create strong families. For all those who have gone to bat for our country. Who are willing to give their lives for the cause of freedom.

That hard-won freedom that lets us, these very imperfect people, have the freedom to strive to be “better” every day.

You guys, it is just such a gift!! And how are we going to use it? How are we going to honor it?

I’ve just been thinking so much about that.

And how sometimes it takes some serious work to remind ourselves: we can make a difference in this world. By small and simple things. By working to be “better” in the big things, and the little things.

What we did on the 4th

We only had two kids this year. Elle & Carson and Max & Abby were with in-laws, and Claire is still in Hong Kong. But we soaked these two girls in and loved having such one-on-one time with them.

We joined the bike parade:

I LOVE Lucy’s face in this picture showing how she felt about that:

Grace and I enjoyed getting festive.

Love this daddy/daughter duo:

We pried Lu away from watching the sunset for long enough to snap a quick picture:

We watched the fireworks from the water, ooo’ing and ahhh’ing at all the beauty with our patriotic music.

A little emotional thinking about all those people who have gone before who worked on being “better.”

Who changed our trajectory because they willed themselves to change theirs.

Thank you, America! Love you and so very grateful.