07/02/2026
This old t-shirt has become part of my Fourth of July decorating every year.
It was made for our nation’s Bicentennial in 1976, and every time I unfold it, I can’t help but think about the excitement people felt as America celebrated 200 years.
This year we’re celebrating 250 years.
Maybe it’s because I grew up in a small farming community, but I wish we still celebrated our country’s birthday with that same joy and pride.
Are we perfect? Of course not. We never have been.
But I’m incredibly grateful to live in a country where we’re free to dream, work hard, build a business, worship as we choose, speak our minds, and create a life for our families. Those freedoms are precious, and I don’t ever want to take them for granted.
So this Fourth of July, this old shirt will again be part of my decorating right alongside the flags, lighting the grill, gathering with family and friends, and quietly saying thank you for the blessings we often forget to notice.
Happy 250th Birthday, America. ❤️🤍💙
