Four for the Fourth (Saturday & Sunday)

I spent every 4th of July as a child playing with my Packer cousins at "Shady Acres" (as named by my mother.  Doesn't that sound like my mother?) - a private, family owned campground in the mountains outside of Brigham City.  We explored river beds, told ghost stories, roasted marshmallows, sat around the campfire for flag raisings and family devotionals.  There was corn on the cob, unlimited cans of cold soda pop, and always:  Peach City ice cream.

Celebration #3 Packer Family Reunion...
This fourth of July we didn't meet at Shady. (Haven't for years.)

There weren't river beds or toasted marshmallows. 

But there were lots of beloved folks...

 There were millions of little children making noise ("Music,"  Uncle Boyd called it)...

And Peach City ice cream?   Yes, please.

And as if that weren't enough, there was even a little outing to Maddox on the way home. 

Lucy loved the honey and cornbread.

Just like I did as a little girl.

As we went from family activity to family activity over the course of the day, I couldn't help thinking, this is the blessing of freedom!

  Flourishing families. 

Flourishing, united families building on beautiful memories and "[plowing] in hope" for the future.

With faith in God.

Blessed by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is the purpose of a promised land. 

This is the dream fulfilled.

Saturday night found us back in Provo, snuggled up to watch fireworks from our front porch. 

Stadium of Fire...

And you better believe that neither of those tired kids slept in on Sunday morning.

(But we got a good nap out of Spencer during Sacrament meeting, so no complaints =).

Sunday afternoon included a flag, a feast, and our own little family devotional.

Family Flag Ceremony...

The boys were in charge of staying out of trouble during dinner prep.

(cue Living Scriptures)

  Lucy was in charge of decorating programs for "the show," as she called it.

And you know what?  It was such fun!  Wes didn't even take it personally when Lucy and Spencer walked out in the middle of his impressive poem recitation.  (I think they made it back in time to clap.) 

We plan to continue this tradition - a formal dinner& devotional program - every year on the Sunday before the Fourth.  You're all invited! But you have to be part of the show!  Anything goes! A quote from a Founding Father, a poem, a song, a piece of art, a war story!  Get to work!  We'll see you next year!

(Lucy is already vacillating about what to prepare =)