Fourth of July

For the Fourth of July this year, we decided to skip out on the heat exhaustion and crowds galore in downtown DC and actually enjoy it!  Preston planned a Fourth of July BBQ with a bunch of our friends and family (Emily!).  We ate burgers and salads and fruit and a plethora of desserts.  Oh and did I mention Mandy's famous beans!  I honestly think that those beans may have to become part of my Fourth of July traditions for the future.  Mmmmm....  Delicious!  

Well, the boys had a "wee" bit of a hard time... if you understand what I mean.  So with a few naps in and a drive down to Emily's, we enjoyed some awesome fireworks!  I couldn't tell you the last time that I had actually done our own fireworks.  It's been FAR too long.  I LOVED them.  James and Carl...had a little bit of warming up to do before they enjoyed the full effect of the patriotic explosions!  

With all that said and done, I am incredibly grateful for the country that we live in.  Often times, I find myself so narrow minded and looking at my immediate surroundings and forgetting about how blessed I truly am.  I often compare myself to others and forget that we have it SO good in the United States.  Though we aren't perfect by any means, it is a country that I am proud to live in.  Especially living on the east coast near the country's capital now, I am finding that I have such a great and endearing respect for our founding fathers. What dedication and sacrifice they put forth to make sure that this country took the right foot as it was established.  My prayer is that our politicians of the present and future will remember that legacy.  God Bless America.