Independence Day

Yesterday was Independence Day, the 4th of July.  Our holiday started very early, about 6:10 for me and 6:30 for Ryan.  We had to be at the Dobson Ward 4th of July Breakfast at 6:45 so that Ryan and three others could pull in one more practice as a Barbershop Quartet.  That's right.  Our ward parties are always huge undertakings and can get a little crazy sometimes.  When we got there, my brother Michael and I got roped in to helping with balloons and strings.  The party started at 7:00 with a flag ceremony starring the cadets from Luke Air Force Base and the singing of the National Anthem.  The music for the song sounded like it was coming from one of those little keyboards we used to play with when we were kids.  The ones that had the one song where you could just push a button and it would play, and you would pretend like you were playing it.  Anyways, we sang, listened to some policemen, firemen, and a man who gave a speech.  I don't know who he was, but he was kind of monotone.  I was sitting next to my little friend Truman who turned to me and whispered, "He sounds like he HAS to give the speech."  There's a lesson for all of us...when we are asked to do something, lets act like we get to do it, not that we so painstakingly have to do it.  After the speech, the main guest of honor, Sheriff Joe, said a little something.  Apparently, the lady in charge has been trying to get him to come to our little ward party for years.  He came last year, and obviously this year as well.  Last year he spoke for literally 60 seconds and then left.  Needless to say, Ryan and I were not impressed.  However, this year he talked for a few minutes, and it was good.  He redeemed himself, especially because he and his wife (who is being covered up by a balloon in the picture) stayed for the whole thing.  The final act to go on before breakfast was the Dobson Ranch Barbershop Quartet, as they were so falsely called.  Let me go back a couple of Sundays.  We sat down for Sacrament Meeting and read through the program.  There was a flyer inside advertising for the 4th of July Breakfast.  On it was a list of people who would be appearing, and the Dobson Ranch Barbershop Quartet was one of them.  I turned to Ryan and said that I didn't know there was a quartet in Dobson Ranch.  Then after church, Ryan explained that he was asked, "Do you sing?," then responded with a "Yes" and was told that he would be in the quartet.  Three other guys in the ward were asked the same thing, and ta-da, the group was formed.  They practiced for three hours total, wore paper vests and styrofoam hats as costumes.  They did a good job.  (Their order in the picture is Chris, Travis, Ryan, and James.  James is partially covered with the streamers.)  Later that night we went to see Hancock; it was pretty good.  Then we drove around to see the fireworks that were going on all over the valley.  I love fireworks.

Lastly, I want to say thank-you to some people.  Thank you to all the men and women who volunteer to fight for and defend our country.  Thank you to my Grandpa Stevens and Grandpa Tawney for serving in the military.  Thank you to my dad for being in the Air Force for 20 years and for being the best dad ever.  Also, thank you for being ready to go to Desert Storm (luckily you didn't have to go).  Thank you to my brother Michael for serving in the Air Force.  Thanks for going over to Korea and doing whatever top-secret stuff you did.  I guess I'll never know, but thanks anyway.  Thank you to my brother Christopher for being in the Marines and serving two tours in Iraq, including the Triangle of Death, and for coming home safely.