Shakespeare on the Green!

One of our favorite annual traditions is going to Shakespeare on the Green with our friends!  We like to get there early to stake out a spot, and then we have a picnic dinner before the play begins. This year the play we went to was The Tempest.

Trying on Ellen's hat :-)

The play had a little bit of an Italian theme added to it, so beforehand there was a group of singers going around and singing songs in Italian.

The play:

Intermission:

Mom won a quilt!

The end!  It was a very fun, memorable night!

Fourth of July Pictures!

We spent a very fun day celebrating the Fourth at our cousins' house.  It was so fun being with family and friends, playing in the water slide, taking pictures, kayaking, and watching fireworks!

Down the water slide

Taking pictures :-)

Cheese!

Dad did some fishing!  

Beautiful sunset!

Then we enjoyed some beautiful fireworks (somewhat sleepily I'm afraid)!

Happy Fourth of July!

     Happy Fourth of July to everyone!  I hope you all enjoy the celebration of this great day in our country's history.
     I want use this post to give a reminder of why we celebrate this day and of how blessed we are to be part of this country.  We celebrate this day because it is the day back in 1776 that we declared our independence as a new and separate nation with all the rights and responsibilities that goes with it.  It was voted on and accepted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.  Then it was signed and sent to King George of England.

Here is the last portion of the Declaration of Independence:

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, and contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which independent  States may of right do. - And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

     That is why we celebrate today; and because of the faith and courage of our founding fathers, we are blessed with freedom.  I am so grateful for the freedom of worship and of the freedom to homeschool in this country, and I am also grateful for those who gave their lives for our country and for those today who defend our country.

     We also must remember that God is the one who has blessed this nation and given us the freedom that we have, and He is the one in control over everyone.  

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he chose for his inheritance.

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;

from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth--

he who forms the hearts of all,

who considers all they do....

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,"

Psalm 33:12-15,18