July 4th

I need to record the 4th of July for myself, for a couple of reasons. First, I am NOT a crafty person and I made something I was excited about. When Russ and I took our trip down the coast in June I saw a HUGE American flag made out of cedar planks. It was 5 ft. by 3 ft. and cost $90. We couldn't fit it in our car, but we took the measurements and I was determined to make one myself. I went and purchased  the cedar planks, my good friend supplied me with some paint and a stencil with 50 stars on it and I had it made in one evening with a cost of $12.50!!

The most time consuming part was the taping between the stars and stripes. I made this one evening while Russ was at the church in meetings. He arrived home around 10:30 pm and when he got out of the car he said, "well there's a sight I never thought I'd see."

Here's my finished flag!!

I really wanted it to hang on the lake house and finished it just in time for the 4th of July.

The second reason I wanted to record this day was because it turned out to be such a special day. 

Over the past several months our ward has been experiencing more trials than usual. I have been very concerned and upset by all the events that our taking place & kept asking myself, "what can I do about it?" I love the scripture in Mosiah 18:8 where Alma teaches us how we should live after we're baptized,

"…and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; Yea, are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort…" After thinking about this scripture and praying about it I decided to invite many to the lake for the 4th of July. We had a wide variety of people there of all ages and I was a little worried about how everyone would "mesh" but the amazing thing was that everyone bonded soooo well and had a great time. It turned out way better than I could have hoped for. We ended up having 33 people there, with two non-members, a couple less actives, several single sisters, the Bishop and his family & the Ward mission leader and his wife. It was the first year we haven't had any of our kids there, but I felt so good after it was over that I felt like I'd had family there. I get emotional now still thinking about it. We played games, went boating, ate, ate and ate more, sat in the hot tub, had a big bon fire and watched a great firework show. Several families didn't come that I really wanted to, but its a start. I know when we put forth the effort to try and help each other the Lord prepares a way for the spirit to be there. 

Here's most of our group on the 4th…we love them!!

One of the highlights at the lake on the 4th is a boat parade. Everyone has buckets of water balloons and as the boats drive around the lake people on their docks and in other boats have a HUGE water fight.