Every year since we have been married, my wife and I spend most all of the major holidays with her family in southern Louisiana.
This 4th of July, my father-in-law decided that he wanted to smoke a picnic ham for our 4th of July lunch. Baked beans, potato salad and peach cobbler were also on the menu. As always, with everything my in-laws cook, the meal was delicious. This is the only holiday of the year when our family sits down and eats our meal around noon.
The biggest highlight of the July 4th holiday is seeing the fireworks on the Mandeville Lakefront on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. There is always something so truly special about being with your family and seeing so many other families celebrating our country’s birthday.
It was extra special this year because we celebrated 250 years as the United States of America.
Is our great country perfect? No, we could always be better. But, July 4th always reminds me that we are so blessed to live in the greatest country in the world.
Always remind yourself of what truly matters. Family, friends and the pursuit of ice cream (aka happiness).
Matthew Summerall is a Whitesboro native and a teacher at Whitewright ISD.