So nice this weekend to have my parents, my sister, and two of my nieces here. Lots and lots of baseball! Yes, they stayed until the very end Friday night (12:20 a.m.) and Saturday night (11:30 p.m.). The tournament continues tonight . . . .
Yesterday, we met at the ballpark for ice cream and cake. But somehow that turned into a father (and one mother)/son game. That’s when you notice the difference between those dads for whom this is their first child and those for whom this is their last child. About 10-15 years difference!
We’ve enjoyed fireworks most of the past many years at the welcoming home of some friends who live just outside Abilene. This year we’ll be enjoying the 8:00 game in the tournament. (Next year I’d love to spend the 4th at Jamestown for the 400th anniversary!)
What are others doing for the 4th?
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Pay attention: if you come to Abilene, go to Frontier Texas. I’m embarrassed to say that I went for the first time on Saturday with the fam. It’s amazing. Way beyond what I’d imaged. Makes me want to read more about this land where I’ve lived for fifteen years now.
Praising God for the blessing of living in this great land and spending time with family which now includes a new citizen of the US from England! It’s neat getting to see his view of the 4th!
I’m sure eating until we need help rolling in from the picnic table will be included in the days festivities.
Good luck in the ballgame.
Kelley - I spent July 4, 1976 (the bicentennial, of course) in England. That was quite a different perspective! Turns out they didn’t think of the Patriots as heroes. Who knew?
Wow, that had to be interesting to be in England on the 4th-awesome. I am in good ‘ol Artesia, NM where my best friend’s dad puts on just about one of the best firework shows in the country every year, and I love coming every year. I have also been enveloped into the family as I have spent 9 years visiting and spending holidays like this with them, so it is even more special!!
I pray that you and your family have a blessed 4th, and continue to enjoy these wonderful memories created through these baseball games!! Blessings~
Mow the yard and trim the hedge
Put out the furniture
Power wash EVERYTHING
A picnic - burgers and sausages with salads and fruit
Walk a mile down the street to Lakewood Park to hear the Lakewood Project. It is one of the only high school rock orchestras in the country.
The Project consists of 26 musicians (4 electric violins, 2 electric violas, 2 electric cellos, 4 acoustic violins, 2 acoustic violas, 2 acoustic cellos, 2 acoustic basses, one acoustic harp, 2 electric guitars, one electric bass player, one electric keyboard and three percussionists). This group of kids is incredible!
Fireworks
But nothing beats the cannon fire at the end of the 1812 Overture at the Pop’s hatchshell on the esplanade
Since working for a British owned company for the past 6 years, July 4th gives ample chance for some good natured fun with my colleagues. Funny how they view the movie “The Patriot” as all lies!
i had the same reaction to Frontier Texas.
I’m not one of those nuts who wears red, white and blue shirts with ignorant slogans like JesUSAves in stars and stripes and I actually believe that God loves Iraqi kids as much as my own.
But…
Little League Baseball, picnics, fireworks, & family are tough to beat.
Being an American is something for which I am very grateful.
Our church is doing a free pancake breakfast for our city, hosting a 5k run and a fun run for kids. Our town has a bunch of cool, family activities planned too ( http://www.trophyclub.org ) so we’ll be doing that as well.
Tell Chris I love him.
Grilling out with our family, and we invited a Harding SBS student from Thailand who recently received her citizenship, so we can celebrate with her. She is thrilled that now this is her Independence Day!
Chillin and grillin in Modesto. Parade and Fireworks, safe and sane fireworks as they say here in CA.
i guess that makes me a nut saved by Jesus who loves Iraqi kids.
Mike, it is great that you are living such a great example of a father. Glad that your folks are there as well to cheer the team and grandson on. Tell them hello for me if they are still there when you read this.
I have fond memories of bringing my children to Neosho when you and Buzz were doing youth rallies. I appreciated what you said and did then and appreciate what you are saying and doing currently.
Keep up the good work and if the devil gets in the way-”roll right over him” as you stop to pick the sinner up!
My 4th will be spent with good friends from church and then going to the Greeneville Astros (Lowest level minors) game for fun and fireworks.
baseball - double header.
We’re spending the day in Newport, RI, before watching some coastal fireworks this evening.
I’m at a work camp for teens this week. Every morning, the campers load into vans with all manner of paint and painting equipment and head out to the homes of local senior citizens who cannot afford to pay someone to paint their houses. At the end of the day, they return with 80% of the paint on themselves. But God is doing some amazing things with the other 20% of the paint that actually makes it onto the houses. Being with these kids is more fun than a cookout and more exciting that fireworks!
After 10 years of traveling to Abilene to visit the in-laws, we went to Frontier Texas last year. It actually made the Abilene area interesting to a somewhat snobby New York Yankees fan like me.
I am actually working on the 4th. I work at a museum in a state park in Washington-on-the-Brazos, TX. The museum and the living history farm will be open until 6:00. Then at 7:00 we will have free Blue Bell ice cream and coke for the visitors. The Houston Concert Band will be performing a patriotic concert in our ampitheater. Then at 9:00 we will have a fireworks display. I’m looking forward to all of the festive events!
Hello, my friend! Happy Independence Day! We have a lot to celebrate. Our country may not be perfect, but we have a great life style, and I’m gonna count blessings rather than problems.
We’re enjoying the holiday! We watched the neighborhood parade go past our house, then ate someone else’s homemade ice cream. It’s always nice not to have to make it. (I’m lazy). We had our all-American hot dogs for lunch (Sonic foot-longs). I even got in an hour of singing practice! Any day I can sing is a good day. Plan to be your substitute (although there’s no substitute for preacher Mike) at the picnic/party/fireworks display out west of town tonight. It is our first time to get to go to the Big Bash!
I wish I could spend some time with the “boys” (they’re almost too old to call boys, but they’ll always be my boys). Kevin got back from Costa Rica safely and is spending the 4th with Bryan and Courtney in Farmers Branch. More to be thankful for, that they are safe, healthy, and they love each other.
Wish we could watch another of Chris’s games tonight. We enjoyed the very long one Friday night, but I was waiting in the car, snoozing, before the lights came back on.
We only recently went to Frontier Texas for the first time. Much more to it than I had expected. High class. Felt like I was in Dallas or NYC, except for the theme.
Have a great rest of the 4th.
I know alot of folks that planned to attend Frontier - but were somewhat put off by the $8 entry fee. The comments I heard were “I’m not paying $8 to get into a museum”. Maybe the powers that be need more testimonials like this to overcome that issue.