the 4th

Happy Independence Day!

What a fun weekend we had. On Saturday we took Maddy to the Spaghetti Factory to eat in the train. She was a little bit upset that the train wouldn't "go". But I think she enjoyed her lunch just fine.

After lunch we got out the pool and invited Emma and Sophia over to run through the sprinklers. The girls had a wonderful time together. Emma and Sophia's mom tends Maddy so she plays with them every day. I suppose as they get older we'll have more and more play dates like this.On Sunday evening we took popcorn and fireworks to mom and dad's house. I remember doing fireworks with my grandparents and I figured that mom and dad might not do anything on their own so we'd provide them with a show. I think my favorite part of the night was the popcorn, made on the stove top in a pot the old fashioned way and eaten on the front porch steps. The best way to spend a Sunday evening.

Monday morning we joined the neighborhood for the parade! Lucky for us it starts just down our street, then continues up to the busy road, across the canal and back down the other half of our neighborhood. Lucky for us we have a police lieutenant in our ward and he blocks off traffic on the main road for the 4 or 5 minutes it takes us to traverse from one street to the next.

Maddy and I decorated her car and she road in style like a rodeo princess, crown and all.
After the parade we had a wonderful patriotic program and breakfast. I was asked to gather a trio to sing the National Anthem. Since my sisters weren't available I sang with Marian Herrin from the ward and her daughter Angela (a madrigal and roommate of Katie's). We had a surprisingly good blend and I think our music set the mood for the remainder of the program. We were joined by the Taylorsville city mayor who reminded us of things we could do to support our country and our city. He thanked us for the work that we do each year to keep the weeds down on the main road in order to make our community a nice one. The veterans stood and were recognized and I felt strongly a sense of gratitude and pride for them and our country.
On the walk home Maddy couldn't resist taking a few moments (more like 20 minutes) to throw rocks into the canal. What simple joys.

Did you ever see a happier face?

That evening we joined our friends the Ontiveros's and a few other couples for dinner and fireworks. What a spectacular show. Maddy surely enjoyed the show but only from the safety of my lap.

I love my country. I am proud to be an American. I am grateful for those who have fought for the freedoms I enjoy. I am moved to tears when I think of the sacrifices made - from veterans, to Civil War fighters, to Lehi's family, to the Savior - that allow me to live in the comfort that I do and to worship the Savior in the way that I do. What a marvelous blessing and what a wonderful weekend of celebration.