Happy 4th!

So real quick, while both of my children are still sleeping all nestled up in their beds, well maybe not their "own" beds, per se, but they are sleeping soundly in SOMEONE'S bed. This would totally explain why I am up at such an hour with really no good reason. Hmph. Ingrates ran me out of my own sleeping quarters is what I'm sayin....

Anyway, after I was beaten by a million little feet, I went ahead and got up before sustaining any serious injury. A toddler size 7.5 is mighty cute, but the mule kick to the gut is not. So here I am- good morning! I am now waiting on my coffee. Oh. Sweet coffee. How I do love thee. Let me count the ways...black, with cream, with sugar, with cream and sugar, vanilla creamer, hazelnut creamer, tiramisu creamer, vanilla toasted almond cinnamon chocolate dulce de leche...with cool whip. Dude, I could go on for days, but I won't. It is my crutch. So while I am waiting on my wondrous early morning friend, I thought I'd drop a line to say Happy Independence Day. Enjoy your freedom, but please, I implore you to be safe and don't be acting a fool. I really like you all and would hate to see you on the 6:00 news. Plus, I can't offer any bail money and I can't say for certain, but prison coffee just sounds like it would be bad.

I don't know a whole lot about the American Revolution, but I do know that today should be a celebration of our freedom. John Adams wrote to his dear sweet wife Abigail that:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.[5]"

I ganked this from Wikipedia. He probably went on to say, "Dudes, let's grill some steaks! Abby- you get the meat ready and the baked beans. For Pete's sake, don't forget the baked beans, woman. They MAKE the meal. Ooh- Tommy Boy {Jefferson}, since you're the principal author of this mug- YOU GET THE FIREWORKS! Johnny {hancock}, Imma let you and Josiah {bartlett} take care of getting the iced tea and watermelon. Willie- um, all 6 of you- listen up! {Whipple, Ellery, Williams, Floys, Paca, Hooper), you guys send invites and don't forget to include the RSVP! I HATE it when folks don't RSVP. How will we EVER know how many plates/cups/forks/spoons/napkins we need?! After that, you need to help Abby with the coleslaw and potato salad- the white kind, not the yellow. NO ONE LIKES THE YELLOW!" Then he throws his hands up and goes, "BENJI {franklin}! Brah, I almost forgot the homemade ice cream!! Do me a solid, get with the Georges - yea, all 5 of 'em, and you guys handle the ice cream. A'ight?! I'll get with the other guys and get some games set up. We GONE PAHHTAYYY like it's 1899, y'all!!!" I mean, I wasn't there so I can't promise this happened, but in my mind it totally did.

Wiki also states that although he wrote this to her on July 2, they debated the Declaration of Independence and it wasn't finalized until July 4, 1776. AND that it was actually signed on August 2, 1776. I don't know about you, but that means we'll be celebrating TWICE around these parts!!!

Now go out and enjoy this day for all it's meant to be! Thank the Lord for allowing us to be born in such a great country. If you weren't born here, but live here now? Thank Him for that. Live here now, but don't like it? Thank Him for the opportunity you have to leave, and then Thank You for doing so. Thank Him for our forefathers that took a stand on our behalf. Thank Him for the US of A. Despite what economic issues and healthcare flaws we have, we are STILL a stronger, more powerful nation than anyone else in the world AND we have FREEDOM. Thank Him for all that. And then let that part about prison coffee deter you from doing anything stupid.
God Bless America.
~cp