WHY WE KEEP GOING BACK TO THIS SMALL-TOWN PARADE

One of my favorite Fourth of July traditions has become celebrating in small-town America. For the past three years, we’ve made our way to Cedar City, Utah, and every single time we leave saying the same thing….. We’ll be back next year.

There’s something so charming and special about a small-town parade. The flyovers overhead, which are my favorite, the school bands, fire trucks, American flags everywhere, and all the floats telling the story of our nation’s history. More than once, I found myself getting chills.

It’s a beautiful reminder that the freedoms we enjoy every day didn’t happen by accident. They were earned through the courage and sacrifice of countless men and women who came before us. It’s something we must remember…. not just on the Fourth of July, but all year long.

I shared a reel from the parade on Instagram this morning. If you’d like to experience a little piece of the celebration….. you can watch it HERE.

The older I get, the more I realize that gratitude absolutely is one of the keys to happiness. The more I pause to appreciate my family, my health, my faith, and the country I call home, the more joy I seem to feel in everyday life.

I hope all of my friends here in the U.S. had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend surrounded by the people you love. These simple traditions often become the memories we treasure most.

Tell me……….. what’s one Fourth of July tradition your family looks forward to every year?

~Shauna XO