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A Note from Kristina
The Fourth of July has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember.
When I was growing up in Bear Lake, one of the highlights of the holiday was when my uncle would make a stop in Wyoming to pick up what we all considered the "good fireworks." As kids, we thought this was about as exciting as life could get. Looking back, I realize the fireworks were only part of the fun. The real magic was being together as a family.
These days, not much has changed. The Fourth is still my favorite because it means our family gathers for a day full of fun, food, and just enough friendly competition to make things interesting: My grandkids arrive dressed head to toe in red, white, and blue, ready for tie-dye shirts, the Dragon Slide, the Fish Pond, and our famous cornhole tournament. I should probably call it a competition because there are always a few adults who take it far more seriously than necessary: No names will be mentioned to protect the guilty.
We are lucky enough to live on the east bench in Providence, overlooking beautiful Cache Valley. When we were building our home years ago, I remember climbing into the rafters around the Fourth of July and realizing we had accidentally created one of the best fireworks viewing spots in Northern Utah. Every year we sit on our deck and watch fireworks light up the valley below-no crowds, no traffic, no folding chairs—just incredible views of Cache Valley, the Wellsville Mountains, and the people we love.
As for buying our own fireworks, those days are mostly behind us. My husband likes to remind me that fireworks are basically the same thing as selling a pile of cash on fire. After 23 years in real estate, I've learned to appreciate a good investment, so these days we leave the fireworks to the professionals and enjoy the free show from our deck. I still think a few bottle rockets are a reasonable financial decision.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, I'm especially grateful for the freedoms we enjoy, the community we live in, and the opportunity to build a life here in Cache Valley. Whether you call Logan, Providence, North Logan, Hyde Park, Smithfield, Hyrum, Nibley, River Heights, Preston, or Bear Lake home, 1 hope you have a chance to slow down and enjoy time with the people who matter most.
I hope your Fourth of July is filled with family, laughter, good food, and fireworks that are almost as good as the ones my uncle used to bring back from Wyoming.
Happy Fourth of July!