Weekend

 I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, but especially those of you who are Americans! What a fabulous Independence Day! Our family gathered and we had a really good time.

We had lots of good food, the grands ran around outside, some of us played Quirkle. Then it got dark and we went outside and enjoyed fireworks.

It's dark around 9:00 here so when we were done with the fireworks, the party broke up and everyone went home.

Do you know why we celebrate with fireworks as a nation? After voting to declare independence on July 2nd, the founders signed the Official copy of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On July 3rd, John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife Abigail the following - 

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Here is our celebration in a few photos and a video.

It wasn't hot enough for swimming, so no one did that. But it is all ready to go, and it's looking like a hot week ahead so I think we'll get some use out of it soon!

Here are a few good things I found on Instagram yesterday.

Back tomorrow with some talk about upcoming changes to our household, and getting the plans finalized for the addition for my parents.