Our Fourth of July Celebration

Our family celebrated the Fourth of July in a delightful way this weekend. Dad flew in to visit from Oregon, so we thought it was only fitting to enjoy the holiday together by heading out into the great Utah wilderness and terrorizing the fish. We trooped through the Provo Sportsman's Warehouse, gathering fishing equipment (boy, I'm glad Dad was there - I'd have no idea what to buy!) and regrouped at home to pack lunch and supplies before trekking out into the holiday traffic. Once we dodged the parade-goers, we sped through Provo Canyon to try the waters in Deer Creek Reservoir. The sky was a brilliant blue with fluffy clouds moving across the sky in the breeze and creating shadows on the rippling water. After a good deal of time and no bites, we headed east a minute or so to Deer Creek and clambered down a very steep bank to perch at the edge of the water and cast our lines. Dad caught three fish, Kenny one, and I caught...a bunch of sticks and rocks. Sunburned but content, we headed home in the setting sun to enjoy some ice cream at the Malt Shoppe and an early bedtime.

Saturday, our glorious Independence Day, was kicked off with a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast by Kenny. Once we were full we headed up to Orem for a Fourth of July Tea Party. One of several around the state, it was well attended and we even got to hear from Mark Shurtleff, our Attorney General. Mike Bell, my good buddy from work who had told me about the event, came with his dad and the five of us sat on the grass and listened to inspiring words from government and business leaders. I even designed my own two-sided sign just for the party!

After the Tea Party we showed Dad some sights in Utah Valley, stopped for the requisite shaved ice, and had a fantastic dinner of rib-eye steak, corn, and watermelon courtesy of Kenny, then finished with apple pie and vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel. As night fell, we headed to a spot in the valley ahead of the crowd to watch the gorgeous fireworks display from the BYU Stadium and accompanying lightning from a nearby storm.

Sunday Kenny had to work so Dad and I explored nearby Utah Lake and were summarily impressed with the sprawling picnic and barbecue areas, ample fishing spots, and even boat rentals that convinced me that we will have to spend a lot more time in this beautiful and serene spot.

As I reflect on the incredible birth of our nation, I am worried that we have lost sight of the principles for which our earliest patriots fought and gave their lives. I wonder if America has forgotten the reasons for which we first declared and then enforced our independence. I pray daily that we might remember and uphold the principles of liberty, responsibility, honor, duty, and sacrifice that are enshrined in the founding documents of our nation and made sacred with the blood of all who have given their lives to preserve them. I pray that our leaders will remember that what is popular and convenient is most often detrimental to our liberty, that prosperity is achieved by spending less than we earn, that rights are inextricably tied to responsibilities, and that the government answers to us - we do not answer to the government. I am grateful to be an American, where I am free to practice my religion, vote my conscience, and determine my own destiny. I am thankful to the women and men who have sacrificed so much to preserve my freedoms and extend those blessings to our brothers and sisters around the world. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for his guiding hand and blessings and pray that he will continue to watch over our nation and direct our efforts to bring freedom to those who do not yet enjoy it.

A happy Fourth of July to my family and friends. Let us preserve and protect the things that make our nation great!

Deer Creek Reservoir:



Kenny and Dad scope out our fishing spot:




Setting up the fishing rods:



Overlooking my spot on the cliff:



Trying our new locale on Deer Creek:



A shot of the Tea Party in Orem:



Me, Dad, my friend Mike, and my signs:





Utah Lake - the marina:



Looking out:



Back toward Provo and Y Mountain:



Cleaning up after our upstairs neighbors:



The garbage collectors are going to hate this: