Memories ... (mostly personal)

I don't know about you, but 4th of July conjures a multitude of memories for me...family gatherings, lawn badminton games, Mom grilling burgers on an outdoor wood burning fireplace, fireworks on our gravel farm driveway. Looking back some six plus decades later, it still doesn't get much better than that!

On one corner of our front parch today I have a "heritage corner" - a cream separator like my father's early model before electricity came to our Kansas farm. The two milk cans are two of those I actually handled when helping as a teen with twice-daily milkings. Of course, they were shiny stainless steel those days. Begonias and Coleus...Mother nearly always had a prolific shaded garden of these colorful summer plants outside the north entrance to our home.

Thankfully, our parents provided my brothers, sister, and me with more than fun, chores, and shelter (not necessarily in that order). They taught us the greater values of faith, family, and service to others, all combined with integrity, responsibility, hard work, commitment. Traits and values I appreciate more and more as the years go by. So as we, like you, celebrate freedom and independence at our home this weekend, I'll also be celebrating a precious, priceless personal heritage. (Which reminds me - I need to put out my flag and water my plants.)