Man, I love the Fourth of July—even when there are on-and-off showers and then the sun finally comes out and makes it steamy.

It's OUR day, our US of A day - the day WE took and no one can take from us.

And I'll be damned if I'm the one who will ever let go of the glory that is this Republic - its founders and the sacrifices made by patriots from that point forward to the present.

I managed to get our big one and all the little American flags out to festoon the yard first thing this morning - while, of course, sneaking that one Marine Corps flag into a pot to keep all the others company. They look snappy as hell. 

There is no grander flag on Earth and no finer place to fly it than your own front yard.

We've got Dr. Alice coming over for ribs, which Hubby has had smoking away for hours already. I've salvaged some peaches and managed to throw a streusel together that looks pretty tolerable. Ebola called in from England in good spirits, even though he spent nine hours at the airfield today instead of the three he was supposed to.

Our hearts are full of gratitude and love. We know how very blessed we are.

We have to stay home because the Scottie doesn't do fireworks well. Living in Florida, land of the big legal booms, five minutes from the Alabama border with a fireworks manufacturer right there, our neighborhood looks like San Diego did when all seven bazillion fireworks went off at the same time.

BIG BADDA BOOM

So we've gotten into a routine of favorite movies - The Patriot, Last of the Mohicans and, if I can get major dad really mellow, 1776.

I know every word of every song.

There are parts that still make me sniffle to this day all these years and viewings later.

I'm a big red, white, and blue sap.

I hope you are somewhere where you can feast your eyes on something quintessentially American, and thank God for it. Be it the flag in front of your house, the Star Spangled Banner playing before an event, or a baseball game.

Or, especially, your precious family and friends - living here in glorious freedom in this most wonderful and blessed place on Earth.

WHEN IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS...

...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 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, 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.

The courage it took to affix your name to your death warrant. And to stay the course to form that new nation whatever the cost.

May we have the courage it takes to keep it.

GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Happy Birthday, dear friends.

#SemperFi