Good morning, everyone! What a beautiful morning it is here in Indiana. I woke up this morning feeling especially grateful. Grateful to live in a country where I can own a few acres of beautiful land, grow my own food, enjoy the wildlife around me, and live largely as I choose. Today, I’m heading to a gun show to look for a few treasures, and later, it’s range day. Hunting season is upon us, and I’ve made room in the freezer. These are simple pleasures, but they represent something much greater to me. Freedom, independence, self-reliance, and the ability to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of hard work. I take absolutely none of it for granted. Perhaps that is why my thoughts are especially with Europe this morning. I’ve spent a considerable portion of my life traveling, working, and serving alongside Europeans. I have wonderful friends throughout the continent, and I carry a deep affection for its people, its extraordinary history, and its magnificent cultural heritage. Europe’s history was written by kings and commoners, soldiers and statesmen, saints and ordinary citizens who made extraordinary sacrifices for their homelands. Its nations have endured invasions, revolutions, occupations, religious persecution, and devastating wars. Generations fought to preserve their languages, traditions, sovereignty, and identities. Some succeeded. Others lost everything. Yet again and again, Europeans found the courage to rebuild. The United States is part of that history, too. Americans crossed an ocean, fought on European soil, and sacrificed lives by the hundreds of thousands in two world wars. Alongside our allies, we helped liberate nations from occupation and tyranny. In the decades that followed, American service members and their families spent generations helping defend Europe against new threats. That commitment came at an extraordinary cost, measured not only in dollars and military resources, but in lives, separation, sacrifice, and the quiet burdens carried by families on both sides of the Atlantic. And Europe gave much in return. Our alliance was never intended to be a one-way street. We have fought together, mourned together, rebuilt together, and stood shoulder to shoulder when history demanded it. Those relationships are worth remembering and preserving. So, as I watch the tensions and uncertainty unfolding across Europe, my thoughts are not simply about governments, political movements, or competing ideologies. They are about people. Families, communities, young men and women, and the generations who inherited freedoms that others paid dearly to secure. Remember who you are, Europe. Remember your history, your heritage, your remarkable achievements, and the courage of those who came before you. Remember that your nations have survived some of humanity’s darkest chapters. Your history is far too rich, and the sacrifices made on your behalf far too great, to be forgotten or taken lightly. I am praying for Europe today, for peace, for wisdom among its leaders, for restraint where tensions are rising, and for the safety of ordinary people who simply want to live their lives in freedom. Most especially, I am praying for the many dear friends I have made there over the years. This morning, I will enjoy my little corner of America, the land, the fresh air, the freedoms I cherish, and the simple pleasures of a Saturday in October. I hope my friends across the Atlantic can enjoy those same ordinary blessings in peace. Freedom is precious. History matters. Gratitude matters. And remembering what others sacrificed so that we might live freely matters most of all. Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone. God bless America, and God bless our friends across Europe. Love to all! ⚔️♥️🙏🏼