America's got skillz

I am aware that this post is not exactly holiday-relevant.  But yesterday was Pearl Harbor Day and when your shy baby asks you to film her singing and she picks a non-holiday song in December, you just go with it.

Veteran's Day was last month, and for the occasion, Ava learned the song I'm Proud to be an American at school.  She had some trouble remembering the words.  About the time she was coming home singing and asking for help with what she couldn't remember, I was finishing up the book "Unbroken" for book club.

The story is of an Olympic runner, Louie Zamperini, who ends up as a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II.  The book was so eye opening for me.  I didn't pay much attention in history class, so embarrassingly enough, this book taught me a lot of things about the war that I probably already should have known. Confession: I once received a detention in high school for saying, "I hate you" to my history teacher. 

I turned the pages as fast as I could read them, though, and with awe and horror and respect and shock I made my way through the book and then passed it on to my dad, a  history buff I knew would appreciate it.  He then passed it to my mom and between the three of us we had the nice satisfying discussion I was hoping for at book club, that for some reason, just didn't happen for me.

If you haven't read it, I would highly recommend it.  I have an new appreciation for America and mostly for those who have and do sacrifice everything for it.  And it's not new but I have added Louie's shining testament of Jesus Christ and His ability to heal every kind of wound to my own.

So as I helped Ava remember the words,

I'm proud to be an American, 

where at least I know I'm free. 

I won't forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I'll gladly stand up next to you

and defend her still today.

Because there ain't no doubt, 

I love this land.

God Bless the USA

they absolutely took on a new meaning and I will never sing that song the same way. I think books like this should be required reading for life.

And for your listening pleasure, here is Ava and I'm Proud to be an American.

You too may find the words take on new meaning, especially with Ava's creative interpretations. 

My favorites include "...defend her skills today..."  and "...there ain't no doubt, I love this maaaan!"