The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate! Growing up, we were usually at my grandparents house right on the Atlantic ocean on the East Coast of Florida. The 4th meant a lot of family time, delicious food lovingly prepared by my grandparents, and history lessons. My grandmother, who we called Gaya, would cut up little squares of paper and put American history facts on each one and toss them in a bowl. We’d pull them out and read them aloud and I loved every minute of it.
We weren’t a huge family, but she’d have us grab whatever could be used as a musical instrument and make a line for a parade on the beach for to celebrate America. The daughter of a German immigrant, for whom the immigration and acculturation process was challenging to say the least, my Grandmother was proud of her country. And my Grandfather fought to protect it. I am grateful for the deep rooted sense of respect they instilled and in many ways their legacy of faith and love of country is what echos in my heart today and within the walls of the Hamlin home.
I love red, white and blue all year, any time, and of course most especially to celebrate the 4th of July. I think any piece you add to your closet can be pulled out this week, next month and beyond! So bring on the stars and stripes and have fun with it! What a gift to celebrate in big and small ways, especially this year, and God Bless America!
