I have a crush...

...on America.

Freedom 5K run, Car Show, Youth Soccer 5 v 5, Little League, A Walkthrough History, a Reading of the Declaration of Independence, an Independence Day Parade, Battle of the Bands, Hayrides, Culpeper Olympics, Dinner in the Park, Fireworks, and American Flags galore describe the 4th of July Celebration in Culpeper.

I'm enamored with the way that a small community pulls together by offering their hands, their resources, and their time so that a day of so many events celebrating America and freedom can happen.

Highlights from today:

~250 runners braved the hilly 5k course

~all the authentic conversations I had

~Relay For Life debuting in its first parade

~ D and the girls making the trip from Cville

~all the American flags lining the streets

~meandering through the park

~a hayride by a John Deere surrounded by American flags

~delicious cookout at Only Kat's

~ Only Kat's dessert creations!!!

~L saying "this is really fun"

~piling into Rav to go the fireworks

~laying on Janet's brand new red, white, and blue quilt and enjoying the 20-min fireworks show

Moral of the Story: My family is officially out of town today. Momma & Daddy are at the beach. Pagie, Jimmy, and Worth traveled up to PA for a wedding. It's the one day of the year that truly all are gone except for my Grams (but she's married now). I consider my friends family. I enjoyed spending it with probably 50 friends today. I felt so loved. In honor of the 4th and Thomas Jefferson...

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. "~Thomas Jefferson