Fourth of July

Every year I come back to this post and add a few lines about how I spent the Fourth. A small tradition, and a way to look back and see how the day, and our family, keeps changing.

2026

This year we’re in Wake Forest. Lindsey, our daughter (five months old now), my mom, and me. My dad is in New York with family, so we’re a little spread out this year, but I’m grateful all the same. There’s something different about being around family for a holiday instead of driving somewhere to visit them.

We’re in the middle of a big move back to my hometown, and we close on our new home in a few days, which is why we’re staying with my parents right now. So much has changed in the last year. New job, new city, new home, a new little person in our family, and a new start. If you want the longer version of that story, I wrote about it in New Beginnings in a Familiar Place.

I did the cooking, which is my favorite part. We grilled chicken brats on potato rolls with sauteed peppers and onions. For the fixins we had potato salad, sauteed green beans with garlic, cornbread, baked beans, and a caprese salad. Beer of choice this year was Corona Light.

Next year I’m hoping to spend the Fourth somewhere near water. I love hosting, but my perfect Fourth is grilling out with friends and family by a lake or the ocean. I’m also looking forward to my daughter getting to experience it a little more. She’ll be a year and a half by then.