FIREWORK DISPLAY IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS IS CRUEL TO ANIMALS!

We live in a residential area and recently got new neighbors because the elderly neighbor that lived across from us passed. It was once a pretty peaceful setting here, even along the busy highway that, by the way, is busy. 

Our new neighbors are young and obviously do not respect that close neighbors may have dogs who would be terrified to go out at night and be surprised by a very professional looking firework display right above their home. 

Let me set the scene. It was bedtime. One last potty before bed so out we go. We are behind a privacy fence so - pretty safe, right? Bubbles got half way through her pee and suddenly a firework display shot into the sky lighting up our entire yard and sounding like the end of the world. My dog was so terrified - I thought for sure she'd escape our yard beneath the fence where there was an opening. My heart was pounding! She RAN and by then the yard was darkened. I called for her and she did not come and so I went to the door to wait for her HOPING that she would run to the door. Luckily she was there waiting on me. We went inside and she trembled for the longest time. I did too. 

Why! Why is it okay for people to put off fireworks in a residential area where houses are so close together? 

There was a time when I loved my home. But so much has changed here. It is time to move on. Husband would never agree to a move though, so I am trying my best to be content. 

The Fourth of July. 

Generally a day of celebration. I just did not feel it.

Bittersweet

A REPOST FROM 2015

My mom loved holidays.  She loved the food, the family get-togethers, the time with her kids, grandkids and grand-dogs.

 I can still hear her laughter.  Her complimenting the potato salad and asking for a piece of cake.  I can see her smile.

But with life comes the sting of death as well, and the 4th of July fireworks that were heard from her hospital room on the night she left this world will always echo in my mind and will be a reminder to me that our lives are simply a dash in time.

Our birth -  Our death.

Hidden beneath that tiny dash is the gift of life that God gave to us.  We can use that dash complaining and whining about our lives and the state of things or we can see every day as a new opportunity to move forward in a positive way.

Life can be tough.

 I think if we take "life" too seriously we can easily become depressed and withdrawn.  Yet...  If we don't take "life" seriously enough we can become stagnant in our growth as human beings.

Somewhere there's a happy medium.

Mom was fun.  She always had a smile and to my knowledge she didn't pay too much mind to current events or the state of the world.  She loved everyone and treated everyone equally.  She loved God and she loved Jesus.  What I admired most about her was that she would never say or do anything to hurt another person, not intentionally anyway.

I'm thinking it has been twenty-one years now.

I believe that when someone you love dies, a piece of your heart goes with them.

Tonight as I hear the sound of booms and bangs from the 4th of July fireworks in a distance,  I will be swept back in time...  standing in that quiet, hopeless hospital room, holding her hand and thinking about a hot summer's picnic beneath the willow tree in our yard as she asks me to pass the potato salad, please.

Born in the USA

The fields were alive with fireflies twinkling, creating their own brilliant firework display and Bruce Springsteen was bellowing out 'Born in the USA' from the sound system.  Then the show began!  My nephews had been collecting fireworks all year and this was the night they'd been waiting for.  My oldest nephew is a firefighter and took every precaution to make this a fun and safe event.  They did a wonderful job and we had so much fun!!  

How was your Holiday? 

Grandchildren having fun!

Granddaughter - Rissa

Grandson - Jake

It's About Survival

This year we chose to just wing it.

The forecast was hot and dry and just

the thoughts of having an itinerary for the 4th caused

my hot flashes to return again and again and again.

Hot flashes in 95 degree temperatures are dehabilitating.

So we packed our beach bags with ice cold water

and sun block and headed for the pool.

Fireworks and Dairy Queen Blizzards were later...