Because of my lovely job I had to work the ENTIRE holiday weekend, however I usually work mornings but since I'm working evenings this summer I got to see a different side of the 4th.
Saturday before work I went with Ash and Kez and we browsed through the booths and carnival down on Center Street, then I was lucky enough to get a party at work that night. A certain resident's family brought in a bunch of table decorations and ice cream options along with some family members and invited all of us to the celebration. WE had ice cream sundaes, root beer floats, banana splits, freshly popped (old fashioned style) popcorn, chips and dip as well as some snazzy festive blue raspberry lemonade/punch! After everyone was done eating my awesome boss came by with some fireworks and we wheeled everyone out on the front porch and had our own firework and sparkler show. The old ladies were so cute! After the sparkler went out she kept saying "someone blew out my toy". By then everyone was pretty tired but one of my ladies so after laying everyone down I snuck out the back door and watched the stadium of fire fireworks with my little lady and her family.
Sunday was of course a great day at church-I made sure to sport my red white and blue. Then it was back to work again. We had a patriotic performance, a yummy dinner then once again more fireworks! This time a residents family came in to do them with us and it was even more entertaining the second time around. The same lady from the bight before was cracking me up (she's deaf by the way) when a firework would end and she'd say "big deal!" hahaha.
Monday morning came bright and early! I of course and on my running kick this summer and this was the morning of the Freedom Run that I'd been "training" for. My dad, tanner, and I arrived at the starting line a little before 7am surrounded by thousands of people! Following the national anthem and pledge of allegiance the wheel chair races were off then 5 minutes later we took off. The run followed pretty much the same route as the parade so it was fun to run down the same roads packed with people who had slept out for or come early for the parade cheering us on. My dad is so great-he could have ran his own pace which is much faster than mine but instead he ran right along side me the entire time. I called him my personal trainer because he'd tell me to finish strong and give me other encouragement to make me do better and remind myself that I could do it.
I finished at 33 mins 41 seconds(dad was 33:40, he beat me by 1 second! haha and Tanner was 23 minutes something. crazy kid!). This was slower than my first 5K but it was about 10X harder seeing as how it was a circuit race that people run to get times for marathons. However it was actually a lot of fun and i'm glad I did it! also did I mention that this time I got my running t-shirt I've been wanting, I was pumped. thanks for running it with me boys : )
After the run we made our way back down to center street where my family had already staked out a spot for us. I hadn't seen the parade in years and I was quite impressed as how it was different than I remembered. I must say though that the soldiers they had in the parade made me a little but emotional. especially the ones that just got home and were walking up and down shaking every ones hands and high fiving the kids. can't wait for that to be Jake in a year! speaking of Jake his battalion truck was in the parade, I was holding Kezzy at the time that it drove by and we all stood up and cheered and I teared up as we told Kezzy "that's the kind of truck Daddy is driving now".
After the parade it wouldn't be the 4th without some great food! Mom made and amazing lunch of sloppy joes, fresh fruit, chips, etc... after that I was sooo ready for a nap but instead it was off to work again!
It really did turn out to be such a great weekend! I realized this year how much I've taken advantage of living in this country and the freedoms we enjoy. I hope everyone took a minute this 4th of July to say thank you for those freedoms and to say a little prayer for those who defend it. To all the soldiers, especially Jake, thank you for all you do for our country and for the sacrifices you make! Be safe and we love you!!
God Bless the U.S.A!!
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