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Fireworks! Parades! Barbecues! And Apple Pie...
Yes it's Fourth of July!!
Here are some ideas for your big day.

Holidays offer unique opportunities to gather with family and friends as well as outreach to your community.  We're also always looking for low cost options to make our budget go as far as possible while creating a memorable gathering.  We hope these suggestions will be helpful to you as you plan your Fourth of July holiday party or your next themed event.

Decorations & Theme Supplies:

Here are some websites that I use on a regular basis for theme decorating materials.

• Hobby Lobby: http://www.hobbylobby.com/
• Normally there is a coupon for 40%-50% off any one regular price item each week.
• Michaels: http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home
• Oriental Trading: Sign up for free Email alerts to receive sale info.  Often the emails will include coupons as well. http://www.orientaltrading.com/
• Giant Party Store: Will often have theme packages and close out specials.  Free shipping is sometimes available with a certain dollar level order which might be met by combining orders from several church departments  http://www.giantpartystore.com/

Fun Themed Flag Cake:

What better way to bring in the red, white and blue than with a luscious patriotic dessert!  This is a great one to let the kids help.  They will have fun and just my surprise your guests with their creativity.

Ingredients:
2 pints of strawberries
1 box cake mix (white or yellow)
1 1/3 cup of blueberries
1 tub of whipped topping

Instructions:
Follow instructions on cake mix, bake, and let cool.
Slice 1 cup of strawberries, set aside.  Cut the rest of the strawberries into halves.
Top the cake (in pan) with 1 cup of sliced strawberries and blueberries.
Cover with tub of whipped topping.
Arrange remainder of strawberries and blueberries on top of whipped topping to create the flag design.
Refrigerate until ready to enjoy.

Fun & Easy Fourth of July Kids Crafts:

     One of my favorites to do with little kids is a 4th of July Wreath.  (very easy!)

You will need to make:
Construction paper (Red, White and Blue)
Paper Plate
Glue
Scissors
Pencil

Trace the child's hand onto red, white and blue construction paper.  If the child is old enough to use scissors have them cut them out.  Cut the center out of a paper plate.  Let the child glue their handprints to the outer part of the paper plate.  

Here are some great links for more activities to engage your youngsters before or during your gathering.

• http://familyfun.go.com/
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/july4/
• http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/4th-of-july/

Fourth of July Trivia:

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Why did yankee doodle stick a feather in his hat and call it macaroni?  Back in Pre-Revolutionary America when the song "Yankee Doodle" was first popular, the singer was not referring to the pasta "macaroni" in the line that reads "stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni".  "Macaroni" was a fancy ("dandy") style of Italian dress widely imitated in England at the time.  By sticking a feather in his cap and calling himself a "dandy", Yankee Doodle was proudly proclaiming himself to e a gentleman of some social standing.¹

 

History:
On a more serious note, we thank God that we are living in a country built on Judeo Christian values.  Bill Federer's American Minute for July 4th recalls the signing of the Declaration of Independence as the United States of America was born in 1776.  May you all be truly blessed as you relish your freedom of religion, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness this Fourth of July.

The Declaration of Independence was approved JULY 4, 1776.  John Hancock signed first, saying "the price on my head has just doubled."  Benjamin Franklin said "We must hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately."  Of the 56 signers: 17 lost their fortunes, 12 had their homes destroyed, 5 became prisioners of war, 1 had two sons imprisoned on the British starving ship Jersey, 1 had a son killed in battle, 1 had his wife die from harsh prison treatment and 9 signers died during the War. When Samuel Adams signed the Declaration, he said: "We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come." John Adams said: "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival.  It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty."  John Adams continued: "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration...Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory...Posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we [may regreat] it, which I trust in God we shall not."²

¹http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/yankee.htm

²American Minute for July 4th, http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-07-04&view=View