If you’re like me, you probably have a busy day ahead of you celebrating the 4th of July holiday with family or friends. My two brothers are visiting along with their wives and children, and I’ll be hosting the BIG cookout tonight.
Thankfully, our kitchen is almost back to normal! Our countertops were installed earlier in the week, just in the nick of time. With new cabinets, counters, appliances, and flooring, our kitchen is starting to take shape! The only thing left to do is put up the backsplash behind the counters.
Anyway, the 4th holiday always reminds me of all things patriotic including the war America fought to gain her independence. Most people are familiar with the Revolutionary War in the late 1700’s which was when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
However, fewer people are aware of another war for independence that America fought. That was the War of 1812, about 30 years later. At that time, the young American nation was being bullied quite a bit by its former Mother Country. Great Britain had been illegally impressing American sailors, had been restricting trade with other nations, and had been supporting Indian tension along the frontier.
Of course, there were other more complicated reasons for the war, but essentially, the newly formed United States had the need to reassert itself to the growing pressure of the British in the North American continent. The new nation needed to prove that was indeed strong enough to be a nation in its own right.
The war lasted approximately two and a half years. It was brief but destructive. But it also gave the American nation one of the most beloved treasures it has known–our national anthem.
Yes, it was during the War of 1812 that Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces. The sight of those “broad stripes and bright stars” inspired Key to write a song that still inspires us every time we sing it.
As we celebrate the hard-fought freedoms of our nation this week, I pray we will remember all those who suffered and gave their lives so that we could have the liberties that we have today!
My newest book, Captured by Love, is set during the War of 1812 on Mackinac Island in my beloved state of Michigan. It centers around the many struggles that arose during the war including Americans losing their homes and land, starvation-like conditions, tense relationships with the natives, and much more.
Captured by Love officially hit shelves on July 1! So all this week we’re partying over on my personal blog! I invite you to stop by and join the fun. Of course a party wouldn’t be complete without a BOOK GIVEAWAY. Swing by for your chance to win one of 4 signed copies of my new release AND books by Siri Mitchell, Tracie Peterson, Julie Klassen, and Kate Breslin.
Click here to go to the party: Release Day Celebration and Giveaway
Blessings to you this holiday! How are you celebrating?
Jody Hedlund
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Oooh — War of 1812 — I remember studying that in high school. Though I’m Canadian so the perspective is definitely different. 🙂 It will be very interesting to read Captured by Love. A couple of my favourite historical novels have been set during that time…on the Canadian side, of course.
I’m sure the War of 1812 has a slightly different slant from the Canadian side of things! LOL And I’m sure it does from the British side as well. You’ll have to let me know how the book lines up with the Canadian perspective! 🙂
Happy 4th, Jody!! Looking forward to reading Captured by Love!! Congrats on your beautiful book AND your beautiful kitchen!! (Shared your post!!)
Hi Bonnie,
Happy 4th to you too! And thank you for the congrats! Hope you’ll enjoy Captured by Love and find some time to sneak in some summer reading! 🙂
Your kitchen looks wonderful, Jody! I hope you have a fun family cook out.
We already celebrated this morning by cheering the floats at our neighborhood’s annual 4th of July parade. We’ll take the kids swimming this afternoon, then BBQ for dinner, then watch fireworks. i love holidays!
Hi Becky,
It’s been a long month with the kitchen, but I really love how it all turned out. I can’t believe what a huge interruption it was in our family life and my working life too. It’s certainly not something I’d want to do again! At least for a VERY long time! 🙂
Hope you had a wonderful day with your family!
Hi Jody! That kitchen looks fantastic! I loved seeing the under construction pics (as well as the “keep out pet wall”, and I love seeing the finished product! Plans? Well, all our plans were washed out! My husband and I had planned to take our one-year old to the zoo for the FIRST TIME EVER, but it was pouring this morning, so that ended that idea. Then we planned to grill, but even though it has stopped raining, the forecast is still calling for more… so we figured we will grill tomorrow instead. So…nothing out-of-the-ordinary going on here. Does organizing cabinets sound like a way to celebrate the 4th? I’ve got to do something while being stuck indoors. Enjoy your day!
Hi Courtney! Yes, that “keep out pet wall” will forever be engrained in my memory! 🙂 It is fun to see the under-construction pictures and compare them with the finished product!
Sorry that your 4th was rainy and ruined your plans! I remember when we took my oldest son to the zoo for the first time when he was about 1. It was definitely a memory-making event! Hopefully you’ll have the chance to do that soon.
And I know all about organizing cupboards! Just had to do that as I put my kitchen back together. Yes, it’s definitely a “fun” way to spend the day! LOL 🙂
Your kitchen looks fantastic, Jody! Nice that it could be finished in time for the 4th. We’ll spend the day with my dad and one of my sisters and family. They live on a small lake that is great for watching fireworks. Especially happy to celebrate because Kansas has almost perfect weather today. Rare in July! Have a wonderful celebration and have fun breaking your kitchen in!
Hi Deb,
I’ve been having fun decorating the counters! Seems like a new kitchen is a good time to get a few new things for the countertops too (instead of the old, sticky baskets that I had there before!). Hope you had a fun day visiting with your family on the lake. 🙂
I’m just catching up (July5th) but wanted to say I LOVE your kitchen! I’m sure all the re-doing was a hassle, but well-worth it now. 🙂
We had a WONDERFUL 4th of July – – a big family cookout at my house, with lots of food, family, and fun! 🙂
I’m echoing Deb’s words about the weather – – our Georgia weather was delightful (and normally that word does NOT describe
July weather in Georgia, LOL).
Hugs, Patti Jo