Free to Dream
Happy 4th of July! I always love the festivities of this weekend. This year was extra special for us even though Mike had to work the entire day and missed the fireworks, we got to spend it with my parents.
Every day that we get to spend with my dad, every special event, holiday, Sunday dinner is just precious.
This year the kids and I sent Mike off to work and then proceeded to visit our favorite fireworks stand. We've been going back to the same guy for 4-years now becuase the owner always remembers us and he always gives us a good deal. Afterall, if you're going to take money and light it on fire, you might as well get a good deal.
Most years, I put back about $150 for fireworks. We live at the top of a mountain and our display can be seen for miles around; but this year was different, we spent it at my parents house in White Pine (about 20 minutes away) and we were working on a tighter budget. Our fireworks "dealer" didn't disappoint...he gave us a great deal and as soon as we arrived at mom and dad's house I could see the excitement in dad's eyes as we unloaded our goodies.
Dad was like a little kid waiting for dark to come and when it did... He really had a BLAST!! No pun intended!
Our grand finale' always consists of a 16 shot display the likes of what you'd see at a city display; but this year, dad was to be a hero amongst his neighbors so when all the roman candles had been shot off and all of the other pop and crackle fireworks were blasted we lugged out the big one, "Glory Returns". It didn't disappoint!
Dad lit the wick with pride and then ran for cover as one of the most remarkable fireworks displays to hit his neighborhood began. It was SPECTACULAR! The neighborhood grew silent as starburst after starburst lit the sky! Everyone else stopped their fireworks to watch dad's. His neighbor was also putting on quite a display but even he paused long enough to watch dad's grand finale'.
When the show had ended dad was already planning for next year! My mom just shakes her head. She's been humoring dad's child like side for over 40-years and she's used to it but the kids and I really enjoyed lighting fireworks with dad this year, it is a precious memory that we can place in our memory box of him.
One thing I learned while lliving here in Tennesse, living the country life is that family time and the memories that come with them are really life's most precious gifts. Time hasn't really caught up with our town yet and the old-fashioned family values I cherish are still very much a part of life. Ever see the movie Steel Magnolias? That's about the closest description I can give you of what it is like here.
I have learned to worry less and enjoy what I do have more. I look out my window every day and Thank God that He has blessed me with such a magnificent life, surrounded by these beautiful mountains. It doesn't matter how bad life seems to weigh on us sometimes, we really do have the choice to make lemonade of lemons. Just be sure to add an extra cup of sugar. Life is what you make of it, you can focus on the bad or you can embrace the good. I choose the latter!
Happy Fourth of July ya'll!
Every day that we get to spend with my dad, every special event, holiday, Sunday dinner is just precious.
This year the kids and I sent Mike off to work and then proceeded to visit our favorite fireworks stand. We've been going back to the same guy for 4-years now becuase the owner always remembers us and he always gives us a good deal. Afterall, if you're going to take money and light it on fire, you might as well get a good deal.
Most years, I put back about $150 for fireworks. We live at the top of a mountain and our display can be seen for miles around; but this year was different, we spent it at my parents house in White Pine (about 20 minutes away) and we were working on a tighter budget. Our fireworks "dealer" didn't disappoint...he gave us a great deal and as soon as we arrived at mom and dad's house I could see the excitement in dad's eyes as we unloaded our goodies.
Dad was like a little kid waiting for dark to come and when it did... He really had a BLAST!! No pun intended!
Our grand finale' always consists of a 16 shot display the likes of what you'd see at a city display; but this year, dad was to be a hero amongst his neighbors so when all the roman candles had been shot off and all of the other pop and crackle fireworks were blasted we lugged out the big one, "Glory Returns". It didn't disappoint!
Dad lit the wick with pride and then ran for cover as one of the most remarkable fireworks displays to hit his neighborhood began. It was SPECTACULAR! The neighborhood grew silent as starburst after starburst lit the sky! Everyone else stopped their fireworks to watch dad's. His neighbor was also putting on quite a display but even he paused long enough to watch dad's grand finale'.
When the show had ended dad was already planning for next year! My mom just shakes her head. She's been humoring dad's child like side for over 40-years and she's used to it but the kids and I really enjoyed lighting fireworks with dad this year, it is a precious memory that we can place in our memory box of him.
One thing I learned while lliving here in Tennesse, living the country life is that family time and the memories that come with them are really life's most precious gifts. Time hasn't really caught up with our town yet and the old-fashioned family values I cherish are still very much a part of life. Ever see the movie Steel Magnolias? That's about the closest description I can give you of what it is like here.
I have learned to worry less and enjoy what I do have more. I look out my window every day and Thank God that He has blessed me with such a magnificent life, surrounded by these beautiful mountains. It doesn't matter how bad life seems to weigh on us sometimes, we really do have the choice to make lemonade of lemons. Just be sure to add an extra cup of sugar. Life is what you make of it, you can focus on the bad or you can embrace the good. I choose the latter!
Happy Fourth of July ya'll!
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