Welcome to Friday with Friends….and thoughts/memories about Fourth of July. I hope you will join us – other friends that are talking together today are: Miss Debbie, Giggles, Mama Hen, Debbie (see my comments)..and maybe you.
I so want to share my favorite picture of all time (or at least, in the top two or three…) but the scanner is acting weird. Apparently it is low on ink but I don’t want to print anything so why can’t I simply scan?? And didn’t I just get new ink? So frustrating – but off the point. As soon as I figure it out, though, I will include the picture.
What do I remember about Fourth of July as a kid? The usual – cookouts, fireworks – but especially “snakes”…do you remember these fireworks? They were basically a smoke bomb of sorts that uncoiled after it was lit, creating tons of smoke and leaving a dark black burn spot on the sidewalk where you lit it. Those black spots drove my dad crazy. He was not a fan of the snakes!
One particularly fun Fourth celebration, for me, was 1976….the nation’s big birthday! Although we have always lived outside of the Nation’s Capitol, we never joined the millions who headed downtown for the festivities. My folks were just not up for the madness – but our neighbors and good friends were:) And they took me along to celebrate this particular year. I had the best time. I felt so much older than my fourteen years – at least, 18 or 21:) – and was in awe of the crowds…and I do mean crowds…not to mention the fireworks were way more than over the top!
But my favorite Fourth memory will always be July 2006…the month before Tyler died. Of course, we had no idea that it was literally just weeks before Tyler would leave us and, although, he had certainly been sick…this day he was feeling great! He was thrilled to have friends over for the usual cookout and for all of us to go to the neighborhood school to watch fireworks. We navigated the wheelchair even through a field., had a perfect, clear night but, mostly, we were all together and just happy! And Tyler was happy:) He was leaving for camp in just two days and we were all excited about that! It truly was one of those evenings – one of those moments in life – that are just a gift from God…not necessarily planned but given to you as a gift. And it is a gift I will always treasure.
Now – I can’t forget about the giveaway. I have to admit, I had a lot of fun with this. I just might be doing this again:) And so glad to meet two new friends, to hear from one friend that I’ve missed for quite awhile, and to enjoy everyone’s comments. So, I put all the names in a hat (I let my brother draw a name) and the winner is
MAMA HEN!!
Congrats, friend. And thanks to everyone else for joining the fun…don’t you just wish everyone could win:)
That is a wonderful memory, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing it with us. Hope you have a great weekend.
Congratulations to Mama Hen! 🙂
Oh Jennifer I LOVE your best memory of the 4th…and I think I know just what you are talking about. Every once in a GREAT while you get one of those "moments" that just sort of stand still in time and are pressed on the pages of your heart forever. It's like God is on His throne and all is well and good in your world. I am soo happy for you that you have this special one of Tyler. I'm sure you have many others of him as well.
I remember snakes well, haha…I have soo many 4th of July memories that I love. One of my most recent good ones was the summer before Mel married ~ so must have been 2007 ~ and all of my kids and grandkids had spent the day at our house swimming and bbqing, making home made ice cream etc. and then as a LARGE group we all walked over to the local high school for the fire work display. The patriotic (which I love) music was playing and the grandkids were dancing and everyone I love most was sitting right there enjoying it all. The night was warm but a cool breeze was blowing and I remember well thinking to myself God is soo good to me.
Congrats to Mama Hen…Have a wonderful week-end my friend.
Hugs, Debbie
Please add me to your Friday with Friends. tlsgiggles.blogspot.com.
Have a great weekend.
Thank you so much Jennifer! I want to write up my fourth memories tonight and I will link up to you in the morning. Is that okay?
Nice story and a wonderful memory for you!
Loved reading about your childhood memories, and the bittersweet ones as well.
Yep, I remember snakes. And I was just a couple of years younger than you for our country's bicentennial and halfway across the country.
Okay, I have the post up. Here it is. http://itstartedwithlove.blogspot.com/2010/06/friday-with-friends-little-late.html
HI JENN,
YOUR 4TH OF JULY STORY WAS SO SWEET
AND SPECIAL, SO GLAD YOU HAVE THOSE LOVELY MEMORIES WITH TYLER. THE LORD REALLY DOES DO THAT I THINK, SOME DAYS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN, I THINK THAT IS THE FORETASTE OF HEAVEN HE GIVES US EVERY SO OFTEN TO REMIND US OF WHAT A GLORIOUS AND PERFECT PLACE HEAVEN IS…. CAUSE ALL OUR DAYS ARE GONNA BE PERFECT THERE!!
WONDERFUL TO THINK ABOUT…..SINCE
WE AREN'T HOME YET!!
HEY….WHAT IS YOUR SUBJECT FOR NEXT FRIDAY???? CAUSE IF IT IS SOMETHING I CAN WRITE ABOUT I WILL POST IT ON MY BLOG EARLY IN THE WEEK AND THEN LINK IT TO YOU FOR FRIDAY CAUSE I USUALLY DON'T POST ON FRIDAY.
SO LET ME KNOW SOON SO I CAN BE THINKIN??
OH YEA, THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON MY FATHER'S DAY TABLE I CAN'T REAALY TAKE CREDIT FOR THE IDEA CAUSE I WAS AT A LOSS SO I SAID LORD, WHAT CAN I DO….AND THE MOVIE THEME POPPED INTO MY HEAD!!
BUT I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH HOW IT
TURNED OUT!!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND HON!
BLESSINGS, NELLIE
Loved reading this post. Your best memory of July 4th truly warmed my heart. I love the way the Lord gives us extra special times like that to treasure forever in our hearts. Beautiful.
Congrats to Mama Hen!