Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, is one of my all-time favorite holidays ever since I was a child. I can always remember cooking out, going to the fireworks stand up the road, off the side of the highway in some small rural town, and buying what felt like a ton of fireworks. Those were such fun memories from when we were little and they continued as I grew older and now have our own little family we carry on some of the same traditions with our littles. My memories of the Fourth of July are very similar to many Americans and how we celebrate America’s birthday.
I think as we grill out poolside, hang out at the lake, plan our outside BBQ, we need to keep in
mind the true meaning of the holiday and not get lost in all the “celebratory” stuff—which I totally love,
but let us all remember the reason for the day: our independence. Remember our troops, servicemen, and servicewomen. It’s about more than just fun, beautiful fireworks; it is also about remembering our beautiful nation, being proud, being patriotic, being GRATEFUL to all our troops. Some gave all, all gave some.
This, for me, is a time of reflection, gratitude, and appreciation for our liberties and freedoms that, like it or not, many take for granted daily. I think as we all celebrate the festivities the day brings, we also embrace the true meaning of the day. Sounds cheesy, but seriously, thank a soldier. Because of them, we are able to sit out in the middle of a field watching amazing fireworks or pulling over on the side of the road to hurry up and buy sparklers, amongst everything else we get to enjoy because they have fought and given us the liberty to do so.
If your family is anything like mine and the thousands of families that head out to watch fireworks and then sit in the traffic for an hour to get back home, all to “make a memory,” then check out this post—it includes details of dates, times, costs, activities, and any other little info you might need to know for Collin County 4th of July fireworks, parades, and more. I hope you and you family have a spectacular Fourth of July celebration! Remember to take a moment and embrace the depth of the day.
