...and It went out with a BanG!

...after a wet and wild time at the Wave Pool, we parted ways with Dayna as she headed home to Orem... and we headed home to over the mountain to a nice hot shower...then we moved onto the "evening events" at Todd and Dana's house. They bought a nice grill last weekend and invited us to come over for a big BBQ and a 4th of July Firework party. I don't know how Dana pulled it all together in an hour (we got home later than we had originally planned...sorry Dana) but she did. She had dinner out and on the table, ready to eat when we got there....plus she looked like she had been home with hours to get ready! (She always looks stunningly beautiful anyway). Todd was cooking burgers and hot dogs and looking like he was born to be in front of the grill. Everything tasted fantastic as we sat down for a relaxing dinner and informal visit. Cameron was eyeying his Uncle Jon's (Deron's brother Jon...not to be confused with my brother John...we like to play name games in my family) motorbike that was sitting in the back of his truck out front. He assured me that he knew how to drive a motorbike (moms don't like to think that their kids do reckless and crazy things like ride 2 wheeled bikes with motors, but dad's are a little more realistic), so Deron let him at it. I think that riding motorbikes and messing with engines and all of that stuff is something that boys are just born to know how to do...at least most of them. Cameron rode up and down the road with a big grin on his face and entertained us for a minute. As soon as the sun went down and the mosquito's came out (I actually only got bitten once...great job Mosquito Abatement!) we started the fireworks. Todd and Dana got some really good fireworks, right here locally. I think the entire neighborhood was out lighting fireworks because there were blasts and sparks flying in every direction. Todd and Dana put on a great show. Not too long after our show ended the city put on their display of bangs and booms and sparks flying off of the hill. We are lucky enough to live where we can just sit on our lawn and watch the fireworks display off of the hill. Todd and Dana live just

down the street and have the same luxury as we do. There were a few trees in the way, so we pulled our chairs out into the road (another luxury is that cars don't travel during the fireworks show, so we could sit in the road without the fear of being run over). All in all, we had a great day and topped it off with a great night! I'm glad that I live in a free country where I CAN sit in the road if I want, I can wear my swim suit without being arrested and I can sleep in through a cannonball blast. I am glad that I have the right to do as I please, worship

as I please and enjoy the wonderful luxuries of living where I do. I am grateful for the servicemen who sacrifice so much so that I can enjoy the freedoms that I do. It was a great holiday, a fun celebration shared with family and full of making memories....and I am grateful for that!