I love America!

parade highlights

• the airplanes that flew overhead to start it off
• the color guard at the beginning led by a soldier carrying our nation's flag (I choked up!)
• Mack saying "whoa!" at everything with wheels, even before the parade started.
• the teeniest, tiniest horse I've ever seen. As small as a Labrador. Seriously CUTE.
• and of course, CANDY. The reason we went.

And the evening festivities were also fun for all...

the food was AWESOME! we ate next door and a few neighbors contributed things for the meal.

the dads got carried away with the fireworks and eventually the kids stopped watching. Dax got out some "agricultural use only" M-80s and blew up stuff with the guys. The most impressive being a piece of cake that completely vaporized. Not a crumb bigger than a pencil point was found.

I love this holiday. I love how communities come together and do fun things...rodeos, parades, barbecues, athletic competitions, concerts, and fireworks. All to celebrate our great nation and the blessing it is to live here. I fought back the tears at the parade as people on both sides of the street stood and placed their hand over their heart as a soldier marched down the street carrying the American flag. And today in Church, I lost it as our congregation stood and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" all together. It made me think of all the good people out there in our cities and across the nation that are united and are working hard and raising families. I believe we are a Christian Nation, one that believes in the core values upon which our constitution was based. I believe that all wacko things the media puts out there represents the minority of the things that go on in our country and world. I am grateful for a country where I can feel safe and enjoy hobbies and express opinions and have children.

God Bless America!