CLOSED $60 Anonymous Donor 4th of July Contest

Posted:23.06.2008, 07:34

My most memorable 4th of July experience was in the year 1993......mainly because they're was no 4th of July for us that year due to the horrendous flood in our area. That year, I was becoming a freshman in high school living in the Quad City area (Illinois, near the Mississippi River), and we had experienced one of the worse floods ever....almost just as bad as the one we're experiencing right now! I remembered that it rained almost every single day and the temps wouldn't get any higher than about 70 degrees F. On the 4th of July, the floods were at its worst, it was rainy, cold, and just miserable. Most of the events that were suppose to happen that day (even the fireworks) were pretty much cancelled! My family had plans to go to the Sunset Park 4th of July Family Fest in Rock Island, Illinois like we did in the past years.....but that was a no-go, because the park was literally under water......plus, it was rainy and cold that day. So we pretty much had to stay home and tried to BBQ and tried to make an effort to have a little fun. I was quite sure that alot of families that year didn't have a 4th of July because their houses were under water. All in all, my memorable 4th of July experience was not a fun one, but it's something I will never forget.

Posted:23.06.2008, 09:47

Every year since my Dad passed away, I always take my Mom to
the fireworks. We get our lawn chairs out and have some snacks
and drinks while we wait for the sun to go down. I really enjoy it
and I know she does too. Im looking forward to it again this year!
Thanks for the generous contest too!!

Posted:23.06.2008, 10:05

In 2004 I spent 4th of July having my youngest son! It was around 5pm that evening (we were getting ready to go eat & watch fireworks with family) when my water broke...and by 8:08pm that evening we had a new baby! I remember laying in the bed and being able to hear the fireworks but by that point in time...all I was wanting to do was sleep...hehe

Happy 4th Everyone!!!

Posted:23.06.2008, 10:09

HI ALL THE MOST FUN ON THE 4 OF JULY WAS WHEN ME AND FAMILY GOT TO GO OUT OF TOWN,WE SOPPED,BARBECUED,SITE SEEING,TOOK PICTURES TO REMEMBER,WE ATTENED A BALL IT WAS VERY EXCITUNG FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!1

Posted:23.06.2008, 10:10

I FORGOT HAPPyyyyyyyyyyyyy 4THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OF jULYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Posted:23.06.2008, 10:10

My most memorable 4th will be this year. My son has left for basic training in the Army and won't be with us to celebrate like we normally would. Normally, I celebrate watching the fireworks with my 3 children. We grill out for supper and then wait for dark to watch the big bang.

Thanks anonymous donor for the most generous contest!!

Posted:23.06.2008, 10:20

My most memorable 4th of July was about 2-3 years ago. I had a bunch of family and friends come over to my house, and we all camped in my back yard, we had about 5 tents up, and a pop up camper, there was about 25 of us in all. (I had a very small house at the time with one shower). But we all manage to shower. We ate drank and laughed for three days. Wish we could do it again, but as the years go by and kids get older it is to hard to get everone together.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL.

Posted:23.06.2008, 11:21

My favorite 4th was about 15 years ago. My youngest daughter was born with severe birth defects and she was a year and 1/2 old at this time. The time leading up to the 4th was the most stressful in my life, she had many surgeries and many other issues too numerous too mention and I knew that I had been incredibly stressed but didn't know how bad it was. My husband and I and a couple that we were friends with made some plans to go camping for a couple of days, it would be the 1st time that we'd had a get away at all and my mother kept my daughter. The moment that stands out in time for me was I sat down in a lounge chair and was just enjoying the sun and the peaceful sounds of the river flowing by and the beautiful sounds of nature.....I felt such a sense of relaxation and peace that I hadn't felt in such a long time. I wanted to just cry at the happiness and peace of it.

Sometimes we just don't' realize how stressed and keyed up we are until we get a much deserved and rare moment for that to be removed.....even if only temporary. I received a gift that day...of peace of mind and my spirit was renewed.

Posted:23.06.2008, 11:32

Wow! These are all amazing stories!! What a wonderful way to start my day - with inspiration!!

I guess the best 4th of July I had was last summer when we were visiting Alaska and had an improptu picnic with some old friends and my parents. We spent the whole day lounging around and reminiscing and Alan got a whole lot of history from my childhood/teenager years - but he married me anyways, crazy guy!!

It was just wonderful to be with my family and welcome him to our zany ways!!

Posted:23.06.2008, 12:10

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERY YEAR IS GREAT FOR ME I JUST LOVE HAVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TOGETHER AND WATCHING FIREWORKS !!!!!!!!!

THANKS DONOR FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!!!!!!!!! (HOPE THAT IS SPELLED RIGHT)

Posted:23.06.2008, 12:45

my favorite 4th of july was 5 yrs ago , my sweet precious granddaughter was born, yes she is a 4th of july baby, but she is terrified of fireworks LOL, last year she was telling her other grandmother ( who was setting off the fireworks) to : "get her ass on the porch ", I laughed my self silly, she will be 5 this year, but the 4th of july has very special memories for me now

Posted:23.06.2008, 13:23

I remember when we were camping one year in Montana, by a big lake. I hadn't been paying very much attention to it being July 4th. It was a clear night and my daughter noticed a fireworks display, then I saw a different one, and another one. All in all we saw 6 or 7 displays aorund the lake going on at the same time. It was awesome!

The whole sky lit up from all directions!

I think they call Montana the "Big Sky" state and that night we really experienced it.

EVERYBODY HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!

Posted:23.06.2008, 14:01

Any 4th of July is great for me, I get to enjoy my children we cook out , swim, sit in lawn chair's while they shoot off fire works. Any and every day I get to be home with them is the greatest.........

Posted:23.06.2008, 16:23

My most memorable 4th was in '98. We were living in Hawaii and had a giant deck that looked out over the ocean. It was actually a house and we lived on the top floor. Our good friend and downstairs neighbor decorated our entire deck with palm branches. We had a Texas-
Hawaiian BBQ with dishes from both cultures and invited friends and family.
Fireworks are very big in Hawaii and the people next door shot them off for hours. They did a traditional chinese display of a roll of thousands of firecrackers that are attached to the top of a telephone pole and the bottom was lit.
It was amazing how loud and long it lasted. We lived in Hawaii for 12 years and after almost 9 years back in Texas, which I love dearly, I still miss the beauty and ohana (family) of the islands.

Here's to enjoying food, family & friends this 4th, where ever you are.