Happy Independence Day!  I'm writing a blog entry because I have nothing else to do.  I do not have meat and peach cobbler and plates, knives, forks, spoons, cups, napkins and tablecloths to pack up for a picnic in a couple of hours.  Nothin' but time to reminisce about past Independence Days and write about it.  Ahem. 

So, I was thinking about what a fun holiday the 4th is.  It doesn't have the pressure of Christmas - no gifts to find, no tree to put up and decorate, no significant travel, no 4th of July Eve service to plan and attend.  It's just a great excuse to get together with friends and eat.  I'm all for that.  And it still makes for some great memories. 

Last 4th of July, we had a church picnic at a hot, sticky, crowded, noisy city park and discovered the game "Hit the $2 Plastic Baseball Bat Out of the Tree with Bocce Balls."  Our fellow picnickers seemed to think this an odd sport, but we at Mission OPC like to think of ourselves as innovators.  It will catch on.  Soon.

Two years ago, we were in northern Wisconsin at a friend's cabin.

Three years ago, we were in transit from Pennsylvania to Minnesota.  I have no pictures from that summer and maybe that's just as well! 

Before that, it all becomes a bit hazy. 

I do know that 14 years ago, I spent the 4th of July with New Song in Vermont while John slaved away as a caddy and my mom frantically put together all of the last minute details for my wedding.  Thanks Mom.  Not that anybody remembers any details from the day.  All they remember is the incredible heat and humidity and broken a/c.  But that is well outside the range of this blog post so I won't mention it. 

Today's plan is to go to a quiet park in Stillwater and enjoy the day with our church family.  The weather is sunny and the temp is in the 70s.  These are traditions I could get used to.  Especially the low temps. 

I hope that you are having a great day of grilling and eating and enjoying friends and family.     

Later - I spoke too soon on the sunny part.  It's raining now.   

Much later - After the rain, beautiful, gorgeous evening at a lovely, peaceful, quiet park, then fireworks to cap it off.  This is the good stuff. 

Posted by CarpeBanana

Maybe you ought to get that game written up in New Horizons.

And that flag dessert looks mighty fine.

Hope you are all having a great summer break now that you are home from your travels.

Posted by www.xanga.com/gopherbrane

The game with the bat reminds me of a similar game we played at OPC camp a few years ago. It was the last morning (of course), and a lot of kids had stayed up the entire night before (of course), so that may *possibly* have had some influence on the game which was being played that morning.

At about 7 am, I found teams of guys on the basketball court. Only they didn't have a basketball. They had a plastic bat... which was being used as if it were the basketball... including dribbling and shooting hoops. It was... interesting. It was... hilarious. And it was called basketbat. *grins*

Maybe it's an OPC thing?