to finally get the pictures uploaded. Anyway, we had a fun 4th of July.
We went to the Hunts' home for the afternoon. We were able to spend
time with friends and enjoy the weather. It was very pleasant, especially
compared to last year with temperatures warm but not overbearing and
clouds in the sky but a beautiful sunny day.
In the evening we went to another friend's home and first spent time in God's
Word then played games. After that Annah and I rode with some friends
to the fairgrounds to see the fireworks. Mom and Dad went home because
they were tired. It's been a long time since we've gone to a fireworks show
because we can see the ones they shoot at the fairgrounds from our backyard!
That's right. We have a nice view every 4th of July but this time we got to see them
up close. We played Freeze tag out in the field which was a lot of fun. I didn't
get photos of the grand Finale firecrackers because right when they did it, the
camera was almost dead and we were putting new batteries in it. Oh well.
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| A cake I made |
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| I wanted to put a heartfelt message on the cake, so here's the text. |
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| James and friends on the trampoline |
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| Whoo! |
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| Annah and Rachel were tossing the ball back and forth to the kids on the trampoline. |
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| Daniel and Josiah playing Crochet |
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| Megan and Serenity playing Washers |
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| Rachel and James |
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| Girls having fun |
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| Daniel |
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| Collyn and Baby Prudence |
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| Ryan |
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| Answering trivia questions |
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| Some of the prizes were fireworks and sparklers. |
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| Lots of the young boys who answered questions correctly kept collecting fireworks. |
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| Time to set off some firecrackers! |
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| April and Prudence |
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| Yea! Volleyball! Annah and I were able to briefly get in the game before we left. |
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| Daniel and Abraham |
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| At the other friends' home. Mr. Rothermich leading our tie in God's Word. |
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| Rachel with her sparkler at the fairgrounds |
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| Serenity |
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| Playing Freeze Tag |
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| The fireworks were neat and beautiful. |
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| Sorry I misplaced this picture. |
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| They look like stars in the sky. |
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| The golden ones looked like shimmering glitter. |
I'm very thankful and happy to live in the United States of America. I'm not ashamed
of it. I'm thankful for the freedom we have here. Liberty is too precious to be
taken for granted and I want live everyday the best I can using my freedom in the
fear of the Lord. I want to remember it's HE who's given us this wonderful
freedom and I want to show Him I appreciate it. But I'm even more grateful
and thankful for God's free gift of salvation. I'm so glad that Jesus freely and
willingly gave His life to save us, even when He knew all the torture and loneliness
it would cost Him. He did it out of love and obedience to His Father, the Lord of
the whole universe and out of love and compassion for us helpless sinners. I'm
thankful that Jesus lives in my heart and I want to live every day the best I can
reflecting Him. I know I'm going to fail sometimes and that sometimes He will
have to firmly chastise my heart, but I know He loves me and I want to return
that love and demonstrate it to others. I am not shamed to be called a citizen
of the United States of America, but even more so I am NOT ashamed to
be called a Christian believer and follower of Jesus Christ!
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our
peace was upon Him, and by his stripes we
are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned, every one, to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity
of us all." Isaiah 53: 5,6
