Let Freedom Ring!

We had such a wonderful, fun time celebrating our countries freedom and independence!!!  Normally, we have plans away from home but this year was different.  We started the day with Mike being home with us!!!  After some pancakes with peanut butter spread on top, Mike and Matthew went to the driving range to hit some golf balls.  When they got back home, we all decided to head over to the pool.  It was so hot outside!!!  But when we drove up to Nickle Mines Pool, it was packed out!!!  I was surprised to see so many people there and always thought that everyone leaves town for the 4th.  Normally, we are at the cabin or with the Falcons old ball team.  We sat in the parking lot debating what we wanted to do.  The little ones wanted to stay and swim.  The older ones opted to go get ice cream and go back home.  So, we headed off to Bird-in-Hand Bakery for some ice cream.  It tasted good on the hot day!  Then we came back home and Ashlyn and I went out to Family Dollar to buy us some slip and slide water slides!

The kids slipped all afternoon while the rest of us sat in the sun.  Mike listened to an audio book.  I looked at some magazines.  Hadassah was using data on her phone while she soaked up the sunshine.  Everyone was happy to be at home!

 

Austin was given a moped ride!  And this was my view of the children having fun in the sun!

Then we got showered and refreshed and went to visit Mike's parents.  Dad Lapp is still lingering.  Still fighting a hard battle of cancer!  He is getting so thin!  His stomach is sometimes tender and hurting.  Mom is his bedside nurse and does a great job at keeping him comfortable!!!  We all try to help when we stop in for a visit!  Sometimes we help reposition dad.  We stuff pillows around his body to help keep him comfortable.  He has such a nice room to sleep and relax in!  Their home sun porch provides him with lots of sunshine and it's a lovely room filled with fresh flowers sent by loved ones.

We decided to go to Lititz to watch the big firework display!!!  We met Matt and Marlene and their family at the park in Lititz.  There was a candle lighting display going through the park.  Hundreds and hundreds of white pillar candles were set up and lit!!!  It looked so pretty!

 

Ashlyn and I went for a huge bag of popcorn before heading back to our seats to watch the fireworks!

This was Austin on the way to Lititz.  :)

We took the little car along for Austin to ride in while getting to our seats.

Ready and waiting for it to get dark and watch some fireworks!

And then it began!  Tons of lights and flickers and light strums and music all lit up the dark sky! 

I don't ever remember seeing fireworks with music playing.  It was so cool.  We jammed on songs about America and the fireworks complimented the music and words!  When it sang "red, white & blue", the fireworks shot up in the sky were red, white and blue!!!  The whole display was fantastic!!!

Here is Jessica and Ashlyn watching the candles being lit.

 

 

Thank you Lititz for the beautiful firework show!!!  We enjoyed it so much!!! 

 

It was midnight before we all got tucked into bed but we had a fun day together remembering our nations freedom and thanking God for being in our nation and hearts!

 

Happy 4th of July!!!