Happy 4th of July!!

As I'm typing this July 4th hasn't even happened yet in the USA but our July 4th here in Japan is almost over.  You would think we would be used to spending America's Independence Day out of the country.  We are gone almost every summer.  But somehow we've managed to spend a few of those holidays in the States.  At home, July 4th = early morning neighborhood breakfast and a parade on our street with all the neighborhood kids' decorated bikes, swimming at Grandma's and fireworks.  Our kids haven't forgotten that.  And I don't want them to forget how blessed they are to be Americans either.  So even when we're not home we continue to celebrate the 4th of July.

We made American flags while listening to some American tunes:  Party in the USA, Born in the USA, Coming to America, Proud to be an American, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, Only in America, American Made, American Boy and a few others.

AJ was super excited for the fun we were going to have.  "It's going to be a fun day!" He giggled once we got home from church.  But AJ wasn't too into the craft.  He just wanted to celebrate his freedom and right to bear arms.  Grandpa should be proud. 

Then we ate American flag french toast.  Ha!  That's so funny American . . .French . . .okay sorry back to the festivities.

And the most exciting . . .the fireworks!!  They do actually sell fireworks here in the 100 yen store but I'm afraid to light them myself so we went with confetti poppers instead.  They were almost as exciting but definitely just as fun.

I hope our children always remember how blessed they are to have the freedoms that we take for granted in the States.

I hope to teach them the importance of freedom and that we are here on this earth because we chose free agency.  Our freedom to choose, our free agency, was the source of the war in heaven.  We were passionate about it then.  Why would we allow others take that away from us here?

I hope that the freedoms in our country will still exist as our children grow into young adults.

I hope that they will continue to do all they can as the upcoming generation so that our country can maintain our precious freedom.

 I hope that they will always remember those that have sacrificed so we can have those freedoms.  

I hope you all will have a great 4th of July!

We sure did!!