Fourth of July Two Thousand and Nine

*The Declaration of Independence was prepared by the "Committee of Five," but primarily written by Thomas Jefferson.
*The Declaration of Independence was a formal document of the United States by listing colonial grievances against King George III
*Preamble is designed to explain the purpose of the resolution.
*John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (only two co-authors who also became the Prez), both died on the same day: July 4, 1826...the USA's 50th Anniversary.
*Fun Celebration Activity: Macy's Fireworks over the East River in NYC, have been televised since 1976.
*Fun Celebration Activity: PeachTree Road Race (10km), hosted in Atlanta, GA has been a tradition since 1970.
*Signers of the Declaration of Independence:

John Adams Samuel Adams Josiah Bartlett Carter Braxton Charles Carroll Samuel Chase Abraham Clark George Clymer William Ellery William Floyd Benjamin Franklin Elbridge Gerry Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall John Hancock Benjamin Harrison John Hart Joseph Hewes Thomas Heyward, Jr.

William Hooper Stephen Hopkins Francis Hopkinson Samuel Huntington Thomas Jefferson Francis Lightfoot Lee Richard Henry Lee Francis Lewis Philip Livingston Thomas Lynch, Jr. Thomas McKean Arthur Middleton Lewis Morris Robert Morris John Morton Thomas Nelson, Jr. William Paca Robert Treat Paine John Penn

George Read Caesar Rodney George Ross Benjamin Rush Edward Rutledge Roger Sherman James Smith Richard Stockton Thomas Stone George Taylor Matthew Thornton George Walton William Whipple William Williams James Wilson John Witherspoon Oliver Wolcott George Wythe Charles Thomson - Secretary of Continental Congress (only John Hancock signed and Thomson attested on July 4)

*"In God We Trust" is the official motto of the United States of America (1956)
(Thank You Wikipedia for all of this information)

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Great Holiday yesterday! Friday night we did fireworks @ home, sparklers even. I am not sure we did that much when I was growing up. I was on pins and needles, as far as safety (irrational even), hehehehe, and startled often by the sounds, but we had a LOT of fun! See the pictures below!

Yesterday we went up into the Blue Ridge Mountains to a small "dinky" town called, SUCHES, and spent the day @ Lake Winfred Scott. Beautiful little lake, situated in the mountains.

*POSITIVES: great weather, clean lake, mountain views, delish beverages, picnic-food, great floaties for water-floating, and great family FUN!
*NEGATIVES: A water snake, Mr. Too-Friendly, no lifeguards on duty, and the car sickness that lingered for awhile after the swervy drive up there.

Thankful for the history, context, and work that it took to gain our Freedom. And even more so, thankful that there is eternal freedom because of Jesus Christ.