Let Freedom…Rain?!

Day 32

My sister's front yard, shortly after all "hail" broke loose!

So, yesterday was Independence Day and I celebrated it with my entire family at my sister’s house. It was a fun-filled experience, except that we got hit with rain and hail! What the flip is that all about?!

It is common knowledge that Colorado is notorious for having the most unpredictable, inappropriate, inconvenient weather conditions (anyone living here will attest to this!); we get snow in May, we get 80 degree weather in January, we get…rain and hail on the 4th of July.

This isn’t the first 4th of July to be marred by rain and it most likely won’t be the last. I feel bad that because of the rain my brother-in-law Daniel was not able to set off all of the fireworks he purchased over the weekend. He drove up to Wyoming bright and early on Friday, where he bought an impressive variety of fireworks. He had them all ready to be ignited, set off and enjoyed by family and friends. And then out of the blue (or should I say gray and cloudy) the rains come down, followed by a freak hail storm with hail the size of jawbreakers!

"All the single ladies..." My nieces Savannah, Brooklyn, Catalina and Matteah

Fortunately, before the clouds burst and everything got drenched Daniel was able to set off many smaller fireworks, to the delight of the children and adults! (At least we got some sort of a “fireworks fix.”)

My nephews Josh Jr., Casey and Ben (nice gang sign, Ben!)

Anyway, I had a great time hanging out with all of my immediate family at the Shepard house, visiting with their friends and playing some very entertaining games. And isn’t that what really matters…that we have the freedom to do these things, the freedom to celebrate together?

"Who is that large, strange man with the kids? Egads! It's me!"

Thank you Jaimee and Daniel, for opening your home to me and the rest of your family and friends! Thank you for making the most of the unexpected weather conditions!