Happy 4th!

Happy 4th everyone! This 4th of July is feelng quite different then all the rest. This is the first 4th of July without my dad being here with me. My dad was a Vietnam Veterean and was extreamly patricotic. This holiday was one of his favorites. We would have big barbeques and lots and lots of fireworks. When I was about 12 years my dad strated a new tradition, him and my mom would load up the car and we would head out to Gustine a small town in the Central Valley and we would stay with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. On the first day there we would go see the tractor pull and go to the live music festival. The following morning on the 4th of July we would wake up early eat breakfast and watch the parade, then we would spend the day in the sun walking around the festival they always had and eat more yummy food. When the sun went down we would go to the Gustine High School and watch the firework shows. They were always long and so much fun with music  playing on the speakers. After the firework show we would go back to my aunt and uncles house and my dad would set up even more fireworks which would last easily another hour! There are so many beautiful memoires of this holiday. Yet today I feel a little emptyness in my chest knowing that we wont be able to do this traditon anymore. I know my dad will be with me in spirit.

So today my husbnd and I will be heading out to my sisters property and have a big barbeque with family and good friends. I'm going to try my best to enjoy the beauty of today.

Happy 4th of July daddy!