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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Celebre, Célébrez, 庆祝, Celebrate!

Doesn't the word celebrate make you feel good? You just know there's going to be a party, a get-together with good friends and family or even having your own party! The fact is there is going to be cake! But I digress...


Today is Independence Day and Americans everywhere are celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I love seeing the American flag in front of homes. I love the parades and waving the flag proudly. I especially love seeing a little three year old waving one too! Fireworks are spectacular as well. I love all of the festivities! I decided to to share a few facts about Independence Day!

On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson sent a letter to Roger C. Weightman, declining an invitation to come to Washington, D.C., to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was the last letter that Jefferson, who was gravely ill, ever wrote.


The first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776. He described "pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations" throughout the United States.

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.

John Hancock was the first and only person to sign the Declaration on July 4, 1776.

On December 13, 1952, the Declaration of Independence (along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights) was formally delivered to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where it has remained since then.


In the summer of 1776, when the Declaration was signed, the population of the nation is estimated to have been about 2.5 million. (Today the population of the U.S. is more than 300 million.)

No one who signed the Declaration of Independence was born in the United States of America. The United States didn't exist until after the Declaration was signed! However, all but eight of the signers were born in colonies that would become the United States.


I am so thankful to be an American. I will never forget however, what I will always celebrate...

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; His love endures forever. #Psalm 107:1

I am so thankful to love the Lord and be loved by Him! I am not only thankful for my citizenship but also for all that he has given me. I celebrate everyday for love I am SO not worthy of! 






Have a wonderful 4th of July celebration!


This has been a contribution for Christian Writers. This month's theme is 'Celebrate'. Check out the links on the right side of the page for more wonderful posts!



24 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed the baby pictures, and didn't know half of those fun facts! Happy 4th Suzette!!

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    1. Thanks! Aren't those facts just awesomeness?! Happy 4th!

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  2. Suzette, wonderful post! Loved all the facts, many of which I didn't know. And what sweet babies! Do you have triplets???

    Blessings to you on this joyous day of celebration!

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    1. Thank you and blessings to you as well! No triplets but I did have them average a year apart each! YIKES! Starting from the top, they are 6, 4 and 3 now. I miss them as babies!!

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  3. Great post. Like Cindee, I'm wondering if those are a colection of photos or those sweeties are all the same age? Peace and Blessings

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    1. Thanks! They might as well have been considered triplets since I had them so close together! They grow up too fast!

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  4. celebrate each moment cos they grow real fast...but then you already know that
    great post
    biiiiiiig hug

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  5. Suzette - thanks for the reminder that God has blessed us greatly in the USA - we should celebrate and ask Him to continue to be with us.

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  6. This was so enjoyable. I learned a few new facts to remember next year. Thanks Suzette!

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  7. I was especially interested to find out that no one signing the Declaration were born in America. It reminds me that none of us are really citizens of this earthly world, are we?

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  8. Very cool history facts. There is a list out there in Google-land called "Whatever happened to the signers of the Declaration?" I lot of them perceived that document as signing their and their families death warrants.

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    1. It's really crazy how it all came to be. Very interesting.

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  9. Thanks for the notes on our Independence Day! One of the wonderful things a regional company (I think just regional) does is to post a full page ad in the local newspaper on holidays such as July 4th, Easter, Christmas. In it they quote the Bible and famous people who talk about their faith. The company is Hobby Lobby and similar to Michaels crafts - except HL is always closed on Sundays with a sign on their door that says they're closed so their employees can attend church and spend time with family.

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    1. Christine, Hobby Lobby now has over 500 stores nationwide, and all of their employees have access to the company chaplain if they need counseling or comfort. An ad like the one you saw runs in large papers all over the U.S. every year. They also run one at Christmas, if I remember correctly.

      (I was briefly an HL employee; helped in the setup of a new store in my area.)

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    2. I've never heard of HL, sounds like a great company. Chick-Fil-A does the same thing. Love it.

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  10. Great facts, adorable babies! Excellent post, Suzette.

    Here's another fact for you: My dad was born on the 4th of July. He's the oldest of five. Grandma told me once that July 4, 1943 was the end of her Independence Days. ;)

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  11. Hahaha That's awesome. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. Such a great and informative post, Suzette! And adorable babies! Loved it! Thank you!

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  13. Suzette, I greatly enjoyed this. Thank you. I love the Psalm you quoted! Great facts here! I also love the patriotic lay-out. Nice. And the precious babies are icing on the cake! How sweet!! (My babies are 31 and 24.) Very informative and pleasing post. Good job!

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  14. Loved the fun facts, Suzette. And the adorable baby pictures!! (Sorry for posting late.)

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