Independence Day Traditions

Even the week before Christmas Madsen will tell you that his favorite holiday to celebrate is Independence Day. The "celebration" starts as soon as the neighbors start buying, and setting off, fireworks. The kids will spend hours up in what we call "the tree house" section of their play land. They have a wonderful view of the explosions all over the valley from their perch. This year they sang patriotic songs as backup to the display. Staying up way too late is ALWAYS fun for the smalls.

Breakfast on the 4th (or this year, the 3rd as celebrations were moved to accommodate the Holy Sabbath) is always DONUTS! We got them from our favorite donut hole in town "Baker's Dozen". Yum. After the sugary beginning we are off to the parade settling for a few years at the very END of the route which provides less crowds and also less candy (the latter is met with a mixed response - the parents are thrilled at the lack of MORE sugar - the children? Not so much but they'll live!) After the parade we spend a couple of hours doing things we need to, then watch a movie about something American (this year it was "The Rookie," last year, "Field of Dreams") and try to rest up for another late nighter.

We have been VERY fortunate that in the last 3 years, the Chukars (our hometown baseball team) have played in Idaho Falls and we have gone every year. We love to take our picnic and snacks and go to the game. After the game the parking lot of the Chukars Field is the PERFECT place to watch the firework show put on by Melaleuca... it's NOT "perfect" as in, front row - big bang - debris in your hair, but "perfect" as in, you can see it, it's not too crowded, and you get home BEFORE the 6 hour traffic jam.

So that's our day of tradition in a nut shell... of course I have one tradition all my own... I bawl like a tired, hungry baby whenever I sing America the Beautiful or say the Pledge of Allegiance or see soldiers. I really am so grateful that I live in a free country. One of my favorite verses of poetry is the 3rd verse of our National Anthem. Though it is rarely sung, it's words are some of the most powerful to me...

Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the wars desolation!

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the power that has made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In GOD is our trust!"

And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!