July 4

Today is July 4. Our countries birthday. It is on this day that we celebrate the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in 1776. (Yet it was actually approved on July 2 1776 and most didn't sign it until in August.)

In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation was 2.5 million.

I find it odd that the majority of our US flags are made in China, as well as most of our fireworks used in our celebrations. (Yet, we make most of Mexico's flags...)

Source http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/011920.html

As we shoot off our fireworks, attend parades, visit with family & friends, cookout & BBQ, go camping, we need to remember what our founding fathers fought and died for. Our country was formed for freedom. Freedom of religion, speech and from Great Britians rule. Some of our freedoms we are now loosing, such as the freedom to pray in schools. We need to pray that we will not loose sight of what our country was created to stand for.

On July 3, 1776 John Adams wrote the following letter to his wife Abigail:

"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."

John Adams had the idea right, he just predicted the date of celebration wrong. Notice that he mentioned "God Almighty"? That is the same God who some people are wanting all notions of removed from our money.

Another interesting set of facts:

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, founding fathers and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence that later become president, both died on the same day July 4, 1826 just hours apart on America's 50th anniversary. President James Monroe died five years later, on July 4, 1831, but he was not a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Be careful this 4th, remember to remember the past and thank God for our freedoms. Even if you are not a supporter of the current president, we still need to pray for him and guidence.

Right now we are off to some friends house to eat. The girls have done some baking which we will take with us.

I will be watching the fireworks while scratching. I have poison ivy on my hands, arms, legs and face. It is not pleasant. Thursday I went to the doctor and had a shot for it, but I am still breaking out, although my hands are getting better--probably because I have been doing the dishes with some bleach in the water.