Gills Rock is the place to be on July 4th, although I would believe that we all feel that way about our home town celebrations!  Gills Rock starts celebrating a week in advance and so we had huge fireworks going off every night by overly-excited tourists playing professionals-!!  I am thankful that there has never been any injuries from these pre-holiday celebrations.

We always start out the day at our local Christian camp out on Door Bluff.  This camp is run from a church in Zion Ill. and they do this breakfast as a thank you to those who support them and as a out reach to the community around them.  It was a beautiful morning and we ate together our on their screened porch, visiting with neighbors and folks who were up from Zion.  Side note --  I was so proud to be married to my husband as different men went out of their way and meandered through the crowd of teens and young adults around us, to greet my husband.  I did not know some of the men but saw the genuine respect for my husband as they greeted him.

I met and talked with a very fine young Christian man whom my husband and I both agreed is a stellar example of a godly young man for our daughters to watch and take note of.  We are shamefully lacking in this area in our community.


We headed home to relax and do some gardening.  I spent time praying while I was on my knees pulling weeds......... godly multi-tasking????  I prayed over our children and their futures and their mates.  It was good.

I was glad that Rick could relax some, as he always has to work on the fourth.

Later I went to my friend Kari's home and our little folk band played together for a time.  More folks showed up and then we had a potluck dinner together before most of us headed into Gills Rock to be with friends and watch the festivities there.


We sat on my FIL's land down on the water.  We used to sit on the hill which is the end of the highway ( only a turn around ) in Gills Rock as we are the tip of the peninsula.  I enjoy seeing friends but more and more I enjoy the peace and quiet with just a few folks around me, I think I am getting old!

Rick was not with us as he has the job of blocking the turn around from cars, helping the elderly and handicap folks, maintaining order as 2,000 people come into our little village to watch the fireworks.

The fireworks are shot off my the fishermen on what of the trap net boats.  Our son was out there for the second year.  Matthew's job was to hand the rounds of fireworks to the man who put them in the shoot.  He neglected to tell me he was involved with shooting the fireworks when I had talked to him earlier in the day, much to my chagrin.

The fireworks were beautiful as they went up over the water and then came down over all the lighted boats which were floating all around the harbor.  Because we have bluffs all around the harbor, there is a resounding booming as the sound waves bounce around the harbor, adding to the excitement of each firework.

We headed home afterwards and waited for Rick as he finished his job, helping people find their cars, find their keys, get unstuck from their parking places, and get everyone safely on the road heading south and out of Gills Rock.  It was a good year without any problems or alcohol related incidents.

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Posted by Haflingerhorses

We enjoyed our fourth too, on a lake. We went out on my husband's boat (I call it 'my husband's boat' even though it's really both of ours, because he is the boat guy - I'm the horse gal). My son and his wife, and a friend from the lake and his wife and two babies joined us. It was beautiful. I've never seen fireworks over a lake before. They did a fabulous job. It was fun being on the lake, too, with all of the other boaters.
The pictures are great!
Antoinette

• Permanent Link

Posted by Haflingerhorses

What's the name of the camp? Rachel's camp got cancelled this year. I'm looking for an alternative that I really like. Could you give me more information?
Antoinette

• Permanent Link