4th of July

The Fourth of July celebrations were exciting for us this year again.
We planned ahead and bought our fireworks the day before in anticipation of a great day of celebration.
On the morning of the Fourth, we went to Buffalo Gap, Texas, just a few miles away from our home on FM 89, and staked our spot on the 4th of July parade route, sponsored by Shades of Hope. We then got to watch the children of the area parade down the street dressed in their patriotic finest, riding bikes, scooters, golf carts, etc. to the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, following guest Susan King, Texas state representative from Abilene, who was riding on the parade marshall's golf cart.
Ms. King read in a very clear and enthusiastic voice the Declaration of Independence. She then read the names of the fifty American states as they entered the Union - and the children got to line up and ring the big bell beside the Village church, one for each state as its name was read.
Texas received two rings of the bell as we were in that great state for the celebration.
The three parade entries winning first, second, and third prizes were then introduced and pictures taken and people went their separate ways.
Some stayed at the Village to watch the vintage base ball game with the Buffalo Chips vs. the 407s. The game ended with a tie after the fourth inning. The neat thing was that the children present could join a team.
That evening the Jim Ned Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a "bring your fireworks" at the Tuscola City Park near the Jim Ned Indians football stadium in Tuscola.
The little ones could jump in the air castle. The First Baptist Church of Tuscola gave away bottled water. Boy Scout Troop 219 sold sausages on sticks and sodas. And Chamber president Dale Rankin gave all who wanted to a hayride around the city park, and the impatient, such as our two children, began to set off their fireworks.
The celebration formally began just before dusk with the Boy Scouts doing a flag ceremony and leading in the Declaration of Independence. A couple of patriotic songs were sung, and the interim pastor of the Baptist Church gave thanks to God for the freedoms of America and asked a blessing for its people and its future.
Dale Rankin then read a few of the quotes from the Hobby Lobby ad in the Saturday's edition of the Abilene Reporter-News, reminding Americans of their great heritage.
Then all those who brought their fireworks set up their stations and started the show.
For the first Tuscola of this kind, it was a success. We had a bit of a breeze that kept things cool, and a small shower of rain kept things a little damp, and lots of "OOOH"s and "AAAAH"s and applause for the colorful display of colors that flew up into the sky with spats and poofs and sputters.
God, please bless America and all her people!
And let's do again next year!

Spreading the Joy

I am so excited to be alive and well by the grace of God that I want to share some of my thoughts and experiences with those who cross my path.

So here is my first post to this blog.

The question and its answer which give me a clearer picture of what I'm in this world for is:

Q: Who made you?
A: God

That is all for today!