Holidays are a great excuse to spend quality time with the people you love!

Yesterday’s Independence Day celebration was no exception.

Everywhere I went I saw families laughing, eating and playing together.  There is nothing like a good stress reducer game to take your mind off your worries.

Does your inner child remember how to play?

My family started the day in Volcano Village at the parade and festivities as usual.  The parade was soggy, but we are a never say die community, so there has never been a Fourth of July parade that was canceled because of rain!

There was a very small crowd in attendance.

The folks who usually head up the hill to catch the traditional Volcano parade must have stayed down the mountain where it was warm and far less rainy.

We highlanders are a hearty bunch!  The rain just made the party far more intimate.

There were familiar friendly faces everywhere enjoying the local entertainment and food, and browsing the beautiful craft booths.  My what a talented little village Volcano is!

My daughters sang with their friends from the Summer Musical cast of Peter Pan.  That was really fun!  Most of the community will be there Friday for opening night as well!

Community theater gets much love and support from the Volcano community!  They seem to grow talent up there!

The talented cast members were followed up by super talented kids who wowed the crowd, a very interesting middle eastern dance display, and then the UPS guy rocked the place with his band.  Heck, I didn’t know the UPS guy was even in a band!

My teenagers were longing to hook up with friends to continue the party down the hill at the fireworks celebration, but everyone had family plans.

I was happy to accommodate so we headed to Queen Liliuokalani Park, where several of their friends’ families were headed.

As a single mom, living far from any family ties, I’m used to my kids craving family.  It used to make me sad that I couldn’t fill that void for them.  Over the years, I have seen them embrace the community as their extended family.  I feel such a healing from watching them create such a firm bond with so many people.

What a diverse group of people our family has become!

We got to the park shortly before the fireworks started.  My basket was heavy and I was worn out from the day, so I headed to the water and parked myself on a grassy patch under charming palm trees.

It was dark and smoky but my teenagers found friends easily before the fireworks got under way.  The technology age sure has created resourceful kids.  I had to laugh as I eaves dropped on their conversations to pin point each other.

They were a bit miffed that I wasn’t up for traipsing around the park to find their friends.  I knew where they were headed and I wasn’t worried about their safety, so I was happy to kick back and relax for a while.

My five year old would much rather have been with his sisters, but he snuggled down on our blanket and watched the fireworks all around us.

“Why are the fireworks not up in the sky, mom?”  He kept asking.  Though each time he said it, I assured him the big fireworks in the sky would start soon.

Once the fireworks display began he wasn’t disappointed!

I have never seen a fireworks show quite like that one.  I loved it, and I usually associate fireworks to pollution and waste!  Shoot, anything that scared my beloved dog was an evil thing in my book when I was 20 something.

Last night I opened up to the experience because my kids were excited about it.

Since the Queen’s Park is so close to Coconut Island, where the fireworks were being launched, the show was directly over head and the noise could be felt as well as heard.

My little guy was blown away by the awesome display!

Nick couldn’t even sit down by the end of it.  It was just too exciting!  The whole park exploded in loud cheering from the crowd following the grand finale.  It was so much fun.

The quiet following the fireworks show was a wonderful contrast.  I stretched out on the blanket and looked up at the sky.  The star filled night sky seemed to hold three clouds perfectly still over the palm trees above me.  It was like time stopped.

Through the smoky haze I could see families on a slow migration back to their cars, but every time I looked back up at the sky, time stopped again.  The feeling was so wonderful it gave me goose bumps.

Nick was really enjoying the whole experience.  I could hear his chatter about the colors of the fireworks, and the water lapping the shore, and the stars, and on and on …

Briana and Makayla returned and dug into the picnic basket, busy with laughter and reminiscing.

The timeless night sky kept me captivated while their happiness wrapped me in Joy and Appreciation.

You know, I wish I could say, click on the link below and download some of the joy that I felt in that moment.

If I could I would.  Since I can’t do that, I told you my story instead.  It brought me Joy to share it with you, and I hope it brought you Joy to read it.

You can’t create magic moments at will, but you CAN “Tune Your Heart to Joy in a Moment” at will!

Heart Math is all about Tuning Your Heart to Joy.  It is the ultimate stress reducer game.

If you click on the link I can get you a special discount for their wonderful products.  That is the closest I can come to offering a download of Joy!

Your Discount For Heart Math

Tune your heart to Joy and your inner child will remind you how to play!

 

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

 

PS– Remember everyday:

• Relax and Release tension
• Exhale Slowly
• Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter