Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Happy Independence Day!

A (Very) Little History Lesson

Most Americans are aware of why we celebrate the 4th day of July every summer. But, if you were sick that day in US History, I’ll drop the mini-lesson on you. Back in 1776, our infant country consisting of just 13 colonies declared its independence from England. The Continental Congress voted on the Declaration on July 2nd and then formally adopted the document on the 4th. And, patriotic Americans have been gratefully celebrating that day ever since!

Did you know this crazy 4th of July fact? Fifty years after the first Independence Day, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. In fact, James Monroe (5th US President) died on July 4th, 1831.

I love some of the words from Daniel Webster’s eulogy for Jefferson and Adams: “No two men now live … who, more than those we now commemorate, have … given a more lasting direction to the current of human thought. Their work doth not perish with them.” (Thanks to the George Washington FB page.)

How Americans ‘Do’ the 4th of July
Time to barbecue!
  1. 2/3 of us barbecue/picnic
  2. 1/2 of us wear patriotic garb
  3. Almost 1/2 of us will watch the fireworks
  4. A little over 1/10 of us will go to a parade (really?!)
  5. Many of us travel for the holiday 🙂
Kitsap County, Washington 4th of July, 2018
4th of July Fireworks on Liberty Bay Poulsbo, Wa.

For our last year and last time, we watched the fireworks from our deck overlooking Liberty Bay in Poulsbo, Washington on the traditional 3rd of July. Of course, there were sparklers in the yard and many extremely loud neighborhood fireworks. There was a parade in downtown Kingston on the 4th and fireworks on their waterfront that night.

Central Texas 4th of July, 2019
4th of July Parade, Belton, Tx
  • Belton Street Fair and Concert June 29th
  • 4th of July Parade at 10 a.m. Belton
  • Temple Fireworks tonight
  • Neighbor Street Parties & Barbecues
  • Swimming in the Rowland Pool
Two Holiday Recipes for You!
  1. Quiet Hollow Potato Salad: Red Potatoes (for the 4th), Onion, Mustard and Mayo are the basics for this Independence Day standard.
  2. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork: Pork Butt, Bottled BBQ Sauce, a quick rub, low and slow.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV

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