I am grateful to those who sacrifice to protect and uphold this country, and to those in the beginning, who had tremendous vision and were willing to sacrifice everything to build it.

This year, Independence Day has me thinking about my own little life, and about how much I enjoy the freedom I experience day to day. To choose what I do. To do what I love (which is why my house is usually a mess. That and the fact that I live with an artist husband and 4 young kids who have me for a mom to learn habits from).

It seems like our own, personal freedom is highly controlled by the choices we make. The risks we’re willing to take. The things we’re willing to try, even if they’re scary. Or the sometimes unpleasant or monotonous work we put in to eventually achieving something that’s important to us.

Reflecting like this actually makes me want to be more responsible. More productive. To step back and think about what I really want and what I need to do to get there. At this exact moment, I’m wanting to finish organizing my house. Finding places for all the things that pile up and cloud my brain. A place for everything means that the house will be capable of being tidy, and the time I spend fretting over clutter, and moving things from here to there will be free.

Freedom.

This may sound silly. Petty even. But I’m responsible for my own little family, my own little home, my own little piece of this great country, my friends and associates and the people I interact with and with whom I have influence. I’m free to make as much or as little of it as I will. Right now, that sentiment is filling me with joy and gratitude. And I’m happy.

I’m kicking butt this week. I’ll save it for tomorrow, but I’ve had a fantastic week that I’m quite pleased with, health-wise, and I’m really hoping I can make it through the holiday without blowing it.

I weighed myself this morning, just in case, and I’ve dropped 6 pounds since Saturday. I’m sure much of it is water, and that’s fine. I feel good. I’m flushing stuff out. I have more energy. I have a killer headache today. I don’t know what that’s about.

Anyway, I’m going to take my spinning wheel to the festivities tonight. If my hands are busy, hopefully, I’ll stay away from the food. I went spinning last night with a sweet group of people, and nearly finished my bobbin of wolf spun mohair. I topped it off this morning and plied it.

I know it looks like a big mess in the pictures, but really, for the most part it’s very subdued blues and purples, with a splash of something brilliant here and there. It’s magnificent. I’m so excited.

Excited enough that I’m not going to be snacking all night long. I have 1000 calories left for the day, that can surely accommodate a small dessert or two.