Any personal reflections on this national holiday? Are you/we really free? I'll (Sal) be celebrating this year's (2007) celebration a little different than the year before. Lately, I've been reading a lot of WWII history-particularly my own family's native background-Philippines. I appreciate more of my current homeland-United States of America more as I get older. When I say current, I mean temporary because my true home will be or even now (in my heart) the Kingdom of Heaven! All the fireworks and everything is cool, which is actully a sign of hope for many of us here in America. However, we should also look underneath all the celebration and reflect where we as individuals or as a nation have been-where we started! We then will begun -if we haven't done so-to appreciate God's blessings-God bless America! (and that we shall bless other nations too and not "hog" it all!
My 2007 Experience
I had a 10-day or so vacation from my work, so I took advantage of this long streak of days off with family and friends. One of my goals was to finish this book-"Bataan Uncensored" (see WWII Filipino & American History)-ended up reading 3/4 of the 400 page book.
My first day (Thursday, June 28th of 2007) I hunged out with my sister and her boyrfiend in Maple Grove. We drove around the neighborhood to various shops. Then I had to get home before it go to late in St. Paul, which I stayed at my dad's place overnight.
On Friday, I just hunged out with my niece after taking my number one errand (take the lease out of my Toyota Corolla 00' that I finished paying off just 3 months ago-2 years of $250 monthly payments!). I even had the chance to play baseball with her for the first time-see pictures. That evening, my mom and I went to the Taste of Minnesota (sorry no pics) on the first day it opened. We didn't eat at all because we were full after eating Papa Johns (medium pizza for only $5 the day after Twins score more than 5 runs everytime-awesome deal.).
On Saturday, I just chilled with my mom just having a good conversation with her-catching up on family stuff. That evening my mom and I went to our first Saturday evening (5pm) service at Woodland Hills Church together.
On Sunday, we went to St. Pascals Baylon Catholic church in the first morning mass (@8:30am). Later in the afternoon, I drove all the way to Maple Grove to pick Thelma and Tyler up to check out the Taste of Minnesota (see pics), which we decided together to not stay for the fireworks. I ended up playing video games with Thelma and Tyler for awhile before gong to bed Sunday evening. I wanted to make sure I get a good nights rest because of my road trip the following day.
It is Monday and I decided to take Uncle Lou-Aunti Lita to Morris for the first time. Along the way, we stopped over at Alexandria (45 mintues north east of Morris). I wanted to pick-up some landscapping rocks in Menards for my house (see). I took them all over town before and after a chicken dinner from the deli at Willies Super Valu'.
The next morning (Tuesday, July 3rd of 2007), we all got up early to the morning sun. My Uncle watched one of the four DVD movies we rented for a week from the local library. Around 9am, we scheduled to meet a friend (Gene D., who was a missionary for "Navigators Ministry" in the Philippines for 25+ years) of mine from my local church at Don's Cafe. We walked back to my house (2 block away) after a good small rainshower and then got ready to go back home. I wished I checked the weather before we left around 11am (visited the famous horticulture gardens as we left town and stop to take a picture of a wheat field outside of Sauk Centre) because we went through 2 storm systems of the same that just went along I-94 going southeast. We didn't get home till 3:45am (almost 5 hours on the road-minus 1 hour when we decided to just wait in Albertiville to shop at Premium Outlets. Rest of the day, I just relaxed after a long drive and ended the evening by watching "One Night With the King" (see personal reflections on this movie based in Persia-Iran).
Yeah, July 4th-Independence Day! We all met at Ceo & Khua's house for a "last minute" (planned this 3-days ago) get-together. It was a pot-luck where we all brought different dishes. After, I went to hangout with old h.s. buddy Sean and Dan S. to watch the highy anticipated movie of the year-"Tansformers" (see my 80's nostalgia)! I then went over to see a friend of mine that I've mentored for years in Minneapolis. Late that evening, we (Mom and Aunti Lita) went to see the grand finale at the Taste.
I started Thursday with a workout! My Uncle, Aunt, and Sean all got together to play tennis early this morning to avoid the rise of temperature/heat throughout the day. I then took my mom early in the afternoon to Midtown Global Market south of downtown Minneapolis. We were watching the WCCO Noon News and they mentioned about a free health screening. I've heard so much of this multi-cultural market place, so i wanted to check it out. It was like the Festival of Nations, which we bought and tasted various ethnic-food! We came home and tried more of the various foods we bought.
Last full-day home, so I went to get some final errands done (e.g. oil change-where this guy opened up to me about his trucking life. I was waiting on Sean to call me to get together for lunch, but he was delayed with an errand withing his family. I ended up listening and watching the Twins baseball winning the doubleheader with a total score of 32-14 at Chicago against the White Sox! It was awesome! Between games, my mom and I went to Papa's again to try their awesome gyros (I decided to try something different-chicken pita wrap)! I ended up interviewing my mom to learn more about her family's side of WWII in the Philippines (particulary by Lingayen Gulf where the Japanese landed).
Last day, I decided to just leave and drive to Morris whenever I woke up this Saturday morning. I ended waking up around 6:30am due to the sun rising! I wanted to leave early to avoid the expected rising heat (97 farenheit is the expected high), so I was on the road by 7am (first had to drop something for my mom) and arrived in Alexandria (wanted to pick-up more landscaping rocks) around 9:50am. When I arrived in Morris around 11:30am, I unpacked my car and jumped on the computer to load many pictures I took from my camera phone that are in many of the links above. Later in the evening, it was too hot to just stay in my cool basement all the time, so I went with a couple of friends to Cottownwood Lake in Donnelly to cool off! Before my night ended, I watched one of the 4 movies that I was personally anticipating to see--very disturbing, but inspired to want to do something!
Events
*remember to wear red, white, and blue. Never went to a big July 4th celebration until I came here in 2001 while living in Morris.
Full slate of events for weekend in Hancock Published June 30, 2011, 11:04 AM .morrissuntribune.com
The Hancock Lions would like to invite the public to “honor our heroes” as they celebrate the Fourth of July in Hancock this year.
Events
Geographic
TWIN CITIES
-Minneapolis
-St. Paul Area
Taste of MN Fireworks at MoundsPark (July 4th 2011)
WISCONSIN
-Hudson
Celebrations
-Florida
Disneyland Independence Day Fireworks July 4th 2007
"On the 4th of July 2007, immediately following ..."
-New York
Macy's Fireworks New York City 4th of July Independence Day
"Macy's Fireworks New York City 4th of July Independence Day"
-Rhode Island
Happy **4th** of July (2007 Rhode Island Air Show)
"http://www.YouIncMarketing.com
Happy Independence Day, (Rhode Island Air Show)(Ri Air show 2007. (Galway air show)
Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious fourt of julyand ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen and Amen." Virginia Gazette on July 18th, 1777"
-Washington
INDEPENDENCE DAY - 4TH OF JULY, 2007 IN SEATTLE
"Gasworks Park fireworks show in Seattle.
http://thepoint5.spaces.live.com/"
God Has Blessed America
-ESL
Geographic
WISCONSIN
-Hudson
History
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com European: United Kingdom-English & British of England-Britain Outreach
Let There Be Fireworks
"One of the founding fathers of the United States, John Adams, offered a prediction about the celebration of Independence Day, but the first part of the quote is usually omitted. So, as we celebrate this special day in U.S. history, let there be fireworks and devotion to God. Boy, am I excited! For more information about this ministry visit these sites: Ministry Site: www.jamescroft.org Blog: www.walkingwiththegiantblog.org Podcast: www.walkingwiththegiant.org "
Revolutionary Independence Day ~ Happy 4th of July
"A 1903 tribue to our Founding Fathers in the cold snows of Valley Forge"
Independence Day, 4th of July, 1940 Promotion
"Patriotic trailer shown in theaters prior to the Fourth of July, 1940."
Today in History for July 4th
-Other "Side" Story
Independence Day
"Day one: July 4, 2009.
Follow the project-
Subscribe to http://www.youtube.com/thisdayintheUSA
& also daily on http://theumpteenthtimes.com"
Focus on the Family Daily
The Founding of America 2 (00:28:30)
"Historian David Barton shares fascinating evidence that many of America's Founding Fathers were Christians whose faith guided them in the establishment of our nation and its government. (Part 2 of 2)
Get Web-exclusives, resources, guest bios and more for The Founding of America (Part 2).
"
*was listening to this on my way to the Twin Cities for the July 4th Weekend Vacation in 2011
Related Sites:
Wall Builders
Compass.org
"Over 200 incredible Bible teaching presentations recorded live at Steeling the Mind Bible Conferences (including all the awesome Power Point visuals!)."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Life: Sin-Less, Rigteousness, etc..
Message
July 1, 2007 Sermon
"Pastor Mark Wittenmyer preaches an Independence Day message entitled, "Let Us Return to the Lord"."
*note: there is no perfect nation and the USA didn't start out perfectly (e.g. slavery) either!
Miscellaneous
Defining Freedom
"As we celebrate our country's independence, we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. This patriotic video is great for July 4th, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day or any tribute to our armed forces. Produced by Jitterbug Media and available for download at FaithVisuals.com: www.FaithVisuals.com ..."
Movie
Music
-Country
Carrie Underwood Independence day
"Carrie singing independence day On AI4"
Struggling With Greed? Lust? Gossip? Addiction? A Powerful Reminder Everyone Needs to See
Posted by journeyboxmedia
Struggling With Greed? Lust? Gossip? Addiction? A Powerful Reminder Everyone Needs to See from journeyboxmedia on GodTube.
Sports
Lou Gehrig Speech Yankee Stadium July 4th, 2009.
Geographic