Having recently studied the Declaration of Independence, we are celebrating and appreciating this special day with fresh appreciation.  I always marveled at how Laura Ingalls Wilder described Independence Day in her town of De Smet in Dakota Territory.  They always had a public reading of the Declaration of Independence.  Sadly, I doubt that the public would stand for that now.  But I will propose for us to do that here.  We can each take a portion and read it and appreciate what our Founding Fathers sacrificed to make our country free. Last year we selected patriotic readings to share with each other before the fireworks started. Right now the children are making Fourth of July pinwheels.  If we can dodge rain showers, all of which have been booming around us but leaving little rain, we hope to have outdoor festivities:  outdoor relay races, hickory smoked baby backed ribs, handcrank chocolate chip chocolate ice cream, and walking up the hill to view all the professional fireworks popping in the sky.  Last night when we left for out walk, we found rolled up red paper on our doorstep It was a Fourth of July Message and American flag color sheet from the real estate agent who lives up the road!  When we went on our walk, we found one on each doorstep!

This week I've received some wonderful Fourth of July items which I'd like to share with each of you.  Happy Fourth of July!

Hobby Lobby's In God We Trust

Where the Spirit of the Lord is There is Liberty