How did we spend our fourth of July?
Family. (Our little family).
Fun.
and of course,
fireworks!
It was FANTABULOUS!
We decided, at the very last minute, to get out of Dodge...I mean Dallas...actually, I mean drenching downpours...
Jonathan wanted to get me away from the house and others stresses. He really wanted to take me AWAY.
We always try to do something special for the 4th. It is Emily's favorite holiday. It ranks right up there as one of my fav's.
I know, I know, give me a reason to celebrate and I am a happy girl.
I love a holiday.
We have often spent our 4th of July at the Richens family BBQ. We really try to get there as often as possible. This is my mom's family. And this is no ordinary BBQ. They roast their own farm-raised meat. Lots of it! On spits in the ground, for hours. I believe the whole town turns out for the celebration. After the BBQ, we find a fireworks show in one of the towns nearby. I have always loved attending the Richens 4th. They are some of my most favorite people in the world. In 2004, we enjoyed the Richens BBQ with the family, the annual water fight that follows, special time with my grandparents and then hit the road and drove to Arches. We arrived in Moab just before the fireworks, followed the line of cars heading up the hill and watched a gorgeous display of fireworks launched off the top of the mesa. Spectacular!
It was just too far to go this year.
We were also invited to go to Yellowstone with the Lloyd family. Again, just too far.
We also had a great invite to have a BBQ with Stacy and my nieces.
However,
As we started talking about it, the 4th would be our only chance to take off for a few days and have a family vacation somewhere. The kids have camps, band, and their other activities resuming this week.
But where to go?
Jonathan looked into some places nearby. We HAD to get out of the TX rain though.
We started to look for someplace in Oklahoma or Arkansas, off the beaten path but not too far of a drive.
I went on-line in search of the "best fireworks show in the heartland" and my search led us to Branson, MO.
Not a terribly far drive from here. Jonathan found a little cabin in the woods between Beaver Lake and the White River in AR.
I checked the forecast for that part of the country, not much chance of rain.
Let's GO!
He secured the cabin on the morning of the 4th and after we got our home in 'showable' condition, we were off!
And so it began, our official 4th of July marathon, the race against the sun.
Could we get to Branson before dusk?
I love the open road!
Our trip took us through Southeastern OK and Northwestern AR. Breathtakingly beautiful country.
There are parts of AR that remind me so much of VT. Beautiful rolling green hills. Trees. Pristine lakes.
As we drove closer to MO, we kept a constant watch on the horizon and the clock. Would we make it? We should. We had plenty of time. The winding (or crooked as they call them in AR) roads took a little longer to navigate than we had originally estimated.
Sun going down.
Not to worry.
Fireworks in Branson were on our agenda!
The MO border, not far to go.
What did we see?
RAIN!
Lots and lots of rain.
SHEETS of rain.
All travelers had to slow to a snails pace due to the torrential downpours.
I let out a laugh. A wicked laugh. The kind of laugh that needs no words to explain my thoughts.
Seriously, we drove all this way for....more RAIN?
We made it to Branson, just in time. (PHEW!)
Elated. We beat the sun.
And arriving right behind us?
Yep, you guessed it, the storm.
The sheets of rain,
along with the most natural show of fireworks!
We continued on our path to where the man-made fireworks show was scheduled. Not ready to give up. We had come too far.
When we arrived at our destination, the Chateau on the Lake, (click here) Jonathan got out in the pouring rain and lightning to find out the status of the fireworks show. One of the guards, Lloyd (a kindred spirit), told him that "it would have to be raining pretty hard for them to cancel." (Hmmm..., are they seeing what I am seeing?)
I thought the blinding showers along with the fantastic lightning meant we were done for but they appeared to be optimistic.
Lloyd suggested that we stay right there by the entrance to the Chateau. So we did. They had to postpone the show a couple of times but at 9:30, after most of the spectators had gone home, with still some drizzle falling from the sky, and some of God's own fireworks, they started their show.
It was SPECTACULAR!
One of the best we have ever seen.
And Lloyd was right, he had given us a prime location for viewing.
We were right below the launching zone.
They seemed close enough to touch.
It was well worth the drive, the wait and the rain.
All in all,
it was a real BLAST!
Lots more to come about our weekend getaway!
I am so glad you got to get away and have a Fantabulous time! We all need that to rejuvinate the body and soul. Beautiful firework pictures. Looks like it would have been an incredible show. Can't wait to hear more!
Posted by: Kim | July 09, 2007 at 01:09 PM
Crooked roads for crooked people ;)
We had a great time! We beat the sun and dodged the rain!
Mar, you are getting real talented with that camera, marveloous shots!
Love ya - glad to get you out of Dodge on a Ford!
JD
Posted by: Jonathan | July 09, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Beautiful pictures....absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Valerie Chandler | July 09, 2007 at 09:51 PM
How fun!
Posted by: Stacy | July 10, 2007 at 05:23 PM
The fireworks were amazing!! I loved them. They were some of the coolest fireworks I have ever seen!!
This was one of the greatest 4th of July's!!!!!
Out of all the fireworks I have seen, my favorites were in Branson and in Moab!
Love ya mom!
~Emily
Posted by: Emily | July 13, 2007 at 11:09 AM
The fireworks were amazing!! I loved them. They were some of the coolest fireworks I have ever seen!!
This was one of the greatest 4th of July's!!!!!
Out of all the fireworks I have seen, my favorites were in Branson and in Moab!
Love ya mom!
~Emily
Posted by: Emily | July 13, 2007 at 11:10 AM