Friday Finding Beauty with Claudia and crowd...celebrating beauty given to us in MEMORIES!
When you were growing up, did your family do anything special to celebrate Independence Day or other patriotic occasions?
Mother would usually make a special dessert to accompany our bbq pork roast that she would grill. We enjoyed watching the fireworks on television but rarely went to see them (because there were crowds). So thankful my Mother taught me how to do simple celebrations showing her love.
Did you hang a flag?
My Daddy always made sure our flag was flying on the pole hanging beside our garage...and he'd teach us the importance of never letting it touch the ground.
There was beauty in hearing about my Daddy's commitment to his country through his service in World War II...the FLAG represented all the friends he lost and then remembered each day he raised our flag.
What about neighborhood or town parades, picnics, neighborhood parties, etc.?
Our current neighborhood always holds a picnic at our pool then a parade with their bikes and tricycles...each house gets a flag in front of their mailbox, too!
Go, USA!
Did you attend fireworks displays?
For many years we've hosted a 'day of celebration' at our church, which is across the street from our city's justice center (where they shoot off MAJOR fireworks).
On our lawn, we give out free water, grilled hot dogs and invite them to come worship with us sometime.
Our praise band stands on the front steps and sings ALL the favorite patriotic songs throughout the day...
and our combined choirs give an 'indoor' concert to provide some rest and air conditioning for those who need a break from the heat and energetic crowd.
BEAUTY comes in the freedom of worship, the freedom of speech, too...May God ALWAYS hold our commitment to these.
Were personal fireworks permitted where you lived and, if so, did your family do them?
Fireworks were NOT permitted when I was little, so we got to have 'sparklers' only. Daddy always liked to take us to the 4th/July Braves game at the stadium and they ALWAYS have 'the works' after their game...and I loved hearing the 'boom' and seeing the colors bursting in the sky.
What fun memories...
I enjoy watching them from my 2nd-floor bedroom window...
which overlooks Stone Mountain, their fireworks shoot really high up over the Mountain!
BEAUTY of all the colors but NOT in the noise they make in my neighborhood, hahahaha! When watching them live, I love how the noise makes my heart jump.
THANKS GO TO ALL OUR HEROES...
AND TO OURS SPECIFICALLY...
OOOOOOOOO-RAAAAAAHHHHHH!![[HeroEachOne[3].jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zGkBdtjQsC3RaPubmw1DBxLIFAhP5Ys9oNcoikew27BQCzHiECb5QTP4lqJbCjaPIKLza7xADuO3XnKt7hqUmBvkrR2hA0UjjK-7UbAe57tV3266Ea_0InqFt12hVxmCUoKoO45tvncC/s1600/HeroEachOne%5B3%5D.jpg)
Beauty of remembering those who gave THE ULTIMATE and their families struggling with their absence...God bless THEM!
Jer. 33:3
"Call to me and I will answer you
and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."Blessings,
