Let Freedom Ring

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday and taking the time to celebrate your freedom. I am so thankful for the liberties that I have.

I am on vacation with my family. We have been at the family vacation home. The morning started early with some deck staining. There are three decks at the house that desperately needed some repair. My brothers, my husband and I stained all three decks before lunch. It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun to spend time working as a team.

Last night we walked down to the lake front and watched the fireworks. It was so beautiful! And it was cold! It is so weird to wear jackets and beanies to watch fireworks, especially when it's 103 at home. We were bundled up. We had to trek back to the house in the dark, through the woods and along the golf course, where we were dodging the sprinklers. It was quite an adventure, and my children thought we were going to be eaten by bears. Everyone made it back safe and sound and I am sure they will remember the adventure.

We also had some excitement when my oldest brother's wedding ring went missing. It is quite a long story. He had written it off as gone forever...sacrificed by his three year old to the porcelain god. But this morning, it turned up. He is thrilled, and so was his three year old.

So that's how I've been spending my holiday weekend so far. There are 13 of us here, all under one roof...and not nearly enough hot water! We have plans for a barbecue tonight...hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salad...yummy! Tomorrow, we head home. So how have you been spending your weekend? What are your plans? Let me know! I would love to hear from you.

I hope you have a happy and safe Fourth of July! Remember the men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that you could live in freedom in this great country. God bless the U.S.A.