Celebrating the Fourth

This year, due to fire bans across our great state, my pyro-lovin' hubby had to put aside his firework playtime in favor of the city show.  We actually headed to the neighboring town because we have always heard that trying to get a good spot to watch the ones in our town is difficult.  And since T works in this neighboring town, he had keys to his work's old parking lot so we had a prime view of the show!  

It was wonderful.  Having learned American History from 1492 forward with J this year during our first homeschool year, this 4th of July was more alive to me.  Remembering how our forefathers fought for our freedom, remembering when the Star Spangled Banner was written, remembering those like Rosa Parks who quietly fought for their rights to freedom, thinking back on how blessed we are as a country for having freedom...something we continue to fight for, thinking about the soldiers still out there and those who never make it home.  Granted, we as a people have made our historical mistakes (slavery, Trail of Tears, just to name a few),  it was still a more touching 4th than I can ever remember.  

And sharing it with my incredible family...just awesome.