Day 12 - Thankful for America!! Home Again Indeed~

My Mom had to learn this poem in school; she asked me to look it up on the Internet and read it to her this week. I knew it would have to be one of my "thankful posts”. I am thankful to be an American and while I am enjoying my adventures here in Europe my heart too is turning home......

"AMERICA FOR ME” Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

'TIS fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down
Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,
To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings,—
But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.

So it's home again, and home again, America for me!
My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be,
In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars!

Oh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air;
And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair;
And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome;
But when it comes to living there is no place like home.

I like the German fir-woods, in green battalions drilled;
I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing fountains filled;
But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day
In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her way!

I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack:
The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.
But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free,—
We love our land for what she is and what she is to be.

Oh, it's home again, and home again, America for me!
I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea,
To the bléssed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars

Day 9 Thankful for Travel Opportunities

Yes I am thankful to be able to travel while we are still young enough to enjoy it.

We have always managed to work some travel into our schedules. When the boys were younger most of our travels centered around camping at the lake and trips to ball tournaments with few side trips on the way home. Then as the boys grew older we got to experienced a few Caribbean cruises and a several trips to College Football Bowl games in Miami, San Diego, Tempe, New Orleans even extending a few of these for some extra time away.

And then the opportunity to extend our travels to another continent became a reality for us about a year ago.....

These days our travel plans revolve around places in Europe. On our bucket list to try and work in while living abroad are Rome, Dublin, London, Venice, Paris, Swiss Alps, Czech Republic, Munich, Prague, Berlin, Black Forest, Worms and Darmstadt and Delft Holland...this is just a partial list (those in blue have already been crossed off and red is booked). And we have managed some day trips from the house to wonderful towns surrounding Stuttgart.

Yes, 2011 looks to be the year of our European Vacation! Our plans are to take vacation time in Europe in 2011 versus flying back and forth to Oklahoma. But we are flexible and will work with what ever God hands us.