On a day when most of America celebrates its independence from England, our house was wishing to have a little bit of England with us.  

TLK and I finally found fireworks.   We went to Harrah’s in Council Bluffs.   The parking lot was full.  We kept driving and ended up finding a space in the parking garage.   We could watch the display by standing at the side of the garage.  It was lucky, considering how packed every other spot of the parking lot was.   People were parked on grass, sitting on folding chairs out there, and here we were, in the garage, with the perfect view, and no one else was there.

I can’t believe how brilliant fireworks get every year.   They had some that went up in the air, exploded, sent off sparkly things that went slow at first, but then went quickly.  It was my favorite firework.   I always think, “How do they engineer these things?”    I mean, really, how do they create fireworks that create huge smiley faces and hearts when they explode?

We waited for 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot.   It was that long a line.

We’ll go back next year, with Ian.  How exciting!

Here are some pics from our park excursion earlier in the day: Pics

GoDaddy says, “Happy Independence Day” (with redcoats and everything).

It’s been 3 months exactly since we filed our K-1 Visa Application with  US Citizenship and Immigration Services.   Sometimes it doesn’t seem that long ago (in patient, “It’ll happen soon” moments); other times, it seems like ages.

We’re waiting for approval on the US side, then approval on the UK side.  We should be able to have Ian fly over in late September.   Cross your fingers and say a few prayers for us, ok?

In other news, I managed to get out to Hobby Lobby today and just pick some flowers for the wedding.   Normally, I go into the store, start building a bouquet, get frustrated, put the flowers back, and leave the store.   But today was different.   I picked my favorite flower, ranunculus, to be accented with wild field roses (in red).    I also bought some cream zinnias and ivory rosebuds.

Photos to come.   I know you can’t wait.  

I sent off for our marriage license, too, which, handily enough, you can do in Nebraska without being there in person. (yay)