Recently I said to Kathy over on Lake Superior Spirit, “Isn’t it grand to be grateful, to be appreciative of the things we sometimes take for granted? Just the other day on a bike ride I was thinking about the many freedoms I enjoy and I started singing out loud.”
In thinking about my comment—and also being grateful for the 1,100 photographs that were retrieved after my hard drive died—I thought I’d pull some of the photographs to support the song I was singing:
Oh beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain
America, America
Grace has been shed on thee
Crown thy good with peoplehood
From sea to shining sea
In order of the lyrics, the locations where the photos were taken are listed as follows:
Spacious skies – Mackinack Island, Michigan
Amber waves of grain – Owasso, Oklahoma
Purple mountain magesties – Mount St. Helens, Oregon
Above the fruited plains – Capron, Illinois
America, America – Belgium, Wisconsin
Grace has been shed on thee – Poplar Grove, Illinois
Crown thy good with peoplehood – Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
From sea to shining sea – Cardiff by the sea, California
What was the last song you sang out loud out of sheer joy or gratitude?
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan
www.HolEssence.com
Copyright © 2010 Laurie Buchanan — All Rights Reserved
Tuesdays with Laurie 
I like it. I love it. We have so much to be grateful for that we tend to believe these joys and freedoms exist everywhere and are commonplace throughout the Earth. I pray that we will always be the “Land of the free and home of the brave”. A Lamp that shines the whole World over.
Sandi – I’m glad you popped in for a visit, thank you. You’re oh-so-right that many of the freedoms we enjoy don’t exist elsewhere — they are definitely not commonplace.
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Magnificat
1. My soul doth magnify the Lord.
2. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
3. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
4. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.
5. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
6. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
7. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.
8. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
10. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
11. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
12. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Kim – Thank you for sharing that benediction.
Thank you for the lovely visuals that so beautiful sing to the heart of being an American! God Bless America! With Pride, Sheila 🙂
Good Morning,
Beautiful grand view of America with photographs and gratefulness!
I will have to look out for the moment when song wishes to burst forth. Or is AAAAAHHHH is a song I have sung it many times…
I am Love, Jeff
Jeff – I think that AAAAAHHHHH may well qualify for a song 🙂
These photographs are truly stupendous, Laurie. Love the amber waves of grain, the spacious skies, the purple mountains majesty…it would be hard to pick a favorite.
I can answer your question about the song which wishes to burst forth! Last night. 1:30 a.m. Harvest Moon by Neil Young. I sang it and sang it and sang it and then wrote a blog about it too on the baby blog. Which hereforth shall be called the soul blog, according to Susie Q. OK, am going to listen to this song again on YouTube right now!
Have a great day.
Kathy – I’m heading over to your baby blog now to check it out 🙂
Such a photographic journey Laurie!
I don’t often sing out loud but I do do a whinnie-the-pooh now and again.
Terrill – Whinnie the Pooh is FANTASTIC! I often pull a Pooh and think, Think, Think!
I don’t hardly ever sing out loud either, Laurie. Sometimes in the privacy of my car AND ONLY when driving alone; however, I absolutely loved your photosong journey. So very creative and inspiring.
Oh, Laurie, what a wonderful tribute to a country you obviously deeply love.
Leanne
I’m glad you popped in for a visit, Leanne. Have a fantastic day!
Oh what lovely lyrics and images to start the day with! (America the Beautiful was our national anthem…) I also think “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie is uplifting – my dad played it often as we were growing up.
Another favorite is “The Best of What’s Around” by Dave Matthews.
Barbara – Now you’ve set my toes to tappin’ 🙂
Thank you SO much for sharing those breathtaking photos (and so wonderful they were saved!). I love the farm photo; reminds me of home in PA. While I know I will be teased for ADMITTING it, I can pretty much feel grateful and happy singing any BeeGee’s song :-). Because, as my husband would likely say, “Yes… that crap would be BANNED in other countries!”
Melissa – I love the BeeGee’s! (but your husband’s comment is hysterical)…
We are the Champions!!!!!!
Kim – I love that song!