Fireworks in my heart

We went to Stephenville for the 4th of July to enjoy a good ole fashioned, small town celebration. I haven't been to a plethora of 4th of July celebrations, but I have to say of the few I have experienced, nothing tops fun in the sun in the 'Ville.

First off, we were able to hang out with my family, which makes pretty much anything fun! Well, for me anyhow. :-) After dropping Ryan at Alexander to hang with the guys, Mom, PJ, JP and I took the kids into the park. Stephenville schedules "Dairy Fest" on the 4th and they have a ton of vendors and booths and bouncy house thingamabobs, a petting zoo, pony rides, rock walls and FREE ice cream!

Then we headed back to Alexander for grub, pool time, trampoline time, cookie decorating, ice cream making and a game of Wiffle ball. It cracks me up to see the boys and makes me sad that I missed so many of their baseball games while in CS. Amelia had a blast helping Miss M guard first base while Abigail helped wrangle Guster and heckle the batters.

Then we loaded up once again and headed back into town to watch the fireworks. There are just a few things in this life that I have become greatly attached to, and the firework show in Stephenville is one of those things. There is nothing like being in the park, with the booms so loud you feel it in your chest, head leaned all the way back to see the explosions right above you, smelling the smoke and every once in a while seeing the ashes settle around you. Families all around, huddled on blankets and eating ice cream, kettle corn or funnel cakes. In years past they have coordinated to have the Ft. Worth Symphony come and play during the show or have guys from the National Guard there in uniform. Nothing like watching this amazing light show, while hearing God Bless the USA and seeing men in uniform holding the flags while watching your babies faces light up to make you appreciate small town life and the freedoms we have.

I am so grateful for last night. The privilege of laughing with and loving on my kids, is something I make every effort not to take for granted. Nothing stings more than the absence of your child on Christmas morning or the 4th of July. I do not know how people make the choice to give up those priceless moments. I most certainly can't imagine making that choice. I could not fathom anything being worth losing birthday celebrations or Thanksgiving feasts with your children. But some people make that choice and so we deal with it and pray that they really are happier. Because that's what you do when you love someone~you let them go, sacrificing your happiness for theirs and thank God for his plan to open other doors.

It was a grand time and a day that will not soon be forgotten and for this we thank all the men and women who have served to give us days like this. God bless the USA!