A Day Of Celebration

My kids think this was the best Fourth of July ever. We started the morning with a parade in a small Idaho town called Melba. The parade started with an Airforce helicopter flying overhead, followed by the usual motorcycles, ATVs, horses, classic cars, beauty queens, and fire trucks. But not so usual were all the tractors that putt-putt-putted along with the others. Old tractors, new tractors, tractors pulling tractors, John Deers, every tractor imaginable. It started to feel like a Richard Scarry farm vehicle storybook! It was great fun. Marinn was excited to find her initials on one float (MHS - Melba High School). The kids' favorite part was all the candy they collected; almost every float threw handfuls of candy and we came home with a Halloween sized candy bag.

This sweet hometown reminded me of Laura Ingalls Wilder's book "Farmer Boy," written about her husband's (Almonzo's) childhood. Almonzo and his family went to a Fourth of July celebration, and on the way home his father took the opportunity to teach Almonzo the importance of farming. His father told him it was guns that won the war, but it was shovels and hoes that created America. The French trappers wanted furs, but the American farmers wanted the land. Those humble farmers who loved the land, who wanted to build their homes and lives on it are the reason we hold this land today. I am so grateful for wonderful farmers who loved the land, for soldiers willing to defend it, for teachers who pass this legacy on to new generations, for the Constitution that governs our land, and for all my fellow Americans who love this land and work to make America great. Yes, I love America!

The afternoon was spent napping (my favorite time of the day), then making patriotic crafts. We ended it with a quick trip to the swimming pool, and after putting Hyrum to bed FIREWORKS! Our neighbors had some really spectacular fireworks, and when we added our own we had quite the firework display. We are so blessed to live in this beautiful land today. I feel so blessed with great neighbors, wonderful friends, a fantastic husband, lovable kids, and the freedom to pursue a happy life. May God continue to bless our sweet homeland!