Independence Day 2003 - At Our Place

We are nearing the end of the 227th birthday of the United States of America, and what a day it has been:

Walking to the President

This morning Mom, Keisha, and I went to the United States Air Force Museum to see President George W. Bush. We were not able to park at the museum and hence had to walk a major distance to get to the assemby. I'd have to imagine that it was about 5 miles one way.

Today was also a great day for the three H's of summer: Hazy, Hot, and Humid. The high today was in the 90's, and we were walking this long distance in the peak sunshine hours. Naturally we three got sunburned and a little dehydrated. Thank God for Aloe lotion.

We were outside from about 10:30 this morning through 2:15 this afternoon. That's almost 4 hours. As we were walking back, I jokingly asked Keisha if she wanted to do this walk again tomorrow. She replied, "I don't EVER want to come back here AGAIN!" We were blessed by a police officer driving a golf cart, who kindly took us back a significant distance to our car.

House Party

This evening we went to a couple's house in Kettering for a party. So many people from church were there, and we got to eat some good food. The hostesses organized a few neat games. In one game we had to attempt to shave shaving cream off a blown-up balloon as fast as possible without popping it. In another game we were paired up and one person had to try to make the other laugh or smile in one minute. The third game was the water balloon toss. It quickly got out of hand, mainly because the adults got into it as well. I was able to lead Keisha away from it all because I didn't want her to get caught in the crossfire.

After this, the one hostess brought out some fireworks and started setting them off. These were smokebombs. We knew it was time for us to go. For two reasons: Jennie has to go to work tomorrow, and the fireworks were almost out of control.

Fireworks from God

In the car on the way home, Keisha remarked that she still wanted to see some fireworks. As we looked at the sky, we explained to her that it looked like God was going to supply some of his own. Which he did. Remarkably. Thunder. Lightning. Wind. Flash flooding.

Nearly all the Inventing Flight activites wound up being cancelled for this evening. As were many of the neighborhood fireworks displays. We came home and watched the Washington, D.C. fireworks show on PBS instead.