What July means to me

Here we are to the month of July...over halfway through the year. People say that after the 4th it is all downhill and that school is right around the corner...ugh! Several people have birthdays in July. My daughter was suppose to be born in July, the 28th, but she held out and chose August as her  birth month.
I was suppose to be born in July, the 4th but I showed up a month and a day earlier than planned. Instead my oldest niece was born on the 4th. I was the ripe old age of 7 years old when she was born. A few things about her arrival made an impression on me.
My neighbor growing up was born the 3rd of July, the year before I was born and her name is Lynn Marie too.
My uncle passed away on the 4th of July, and I remember details of the night before and morning of his passing even now and I was just a 4th grader. I have no idea why his death left an impression. It might be because he was the first person close to me to pass away, I'm not sure.
The 4th of July holds lots of great memories for me otherwise. My dad and brothers making the trip down to Missouri to bring home illegal fireworks and all the fun we had with them! (except the one time my mom was goofing around and thought she'd play a trick on my dad or brother and toss a firecracker as they started the pickup and thinking it was back firing. Instead the firecracker had a short fuse and her thumb was injured. She took it in stride and spoke of it years later with a laugh as the trick was on her instead of them). We always had a picnic on the 4th and either shot off our own fireworks or watched the ones from Independence in the evening. Great memories.
The 4th of July was, and probably still one of my favorite holidays, it does not require a lot of work, no shopping for presents and the menu can change by whatever the cook wanted to make. No holiday shopping for items to keep traditions. No 4th of July outfits like at Christmas or Easter. It could be burgers or steaks on the grill or whatever you want. You eat outside and relax and spend the day as you like.
Independence, IA has a great parade, I rode my horse in it a couple of times. It is a real parade with floats, and bands and all the things that a real parade has, usually lasting well over an hour. I still miss the Independence 4th of July parade and it has been years since I've seen it. 
So as busy as life is as this month starts I have fond memories and lots of special people who celebrate this month of their birth!
Here's to hoping it is a good month, full of lots of blessing, happy memories and time spent with great people.

Positive thought of the day: What beautiful weather we finally have. It has not rained in 24-hours, it has cooled off and less humidity and the best of all the sun is shining. : )