J is for July 4th

The fourth of July is a day my wife and I remember well - it's the day that Chris and I were married, over 26 years ago! And many around the world celebrate along with us, as it is also the anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence...

... except, of course, it isn't...

It's now generally accepted that the Declaration of Independence wasn't actually signed on the Fourth of July — the Second Continental Congress had officially voted for independence on July 2nd 1776. The final text was agreed and officially adopted on July 4th 1776 and copies given to be various political committees, but the majority of the 56 people who signed the official (and larger print) copy did so on August 2nd 1776, with others following at a later date. John Hancock (president of the Congress) signed his name on the earlier drafts and again on the official version (and was the largest and therefore most visible name - hence why his name is now a popular pseudonym for a signature).

There you go...

Emerging

I'm coming to the end of my period of convalescence. The next step is to look forward to emerging from the home where I have been cocooned for the last six weeks, regaining my independence and resuming my place back in 'the real world'. (Okay, so 'cocooned' isn't strictly true, but I have been reliant on others to run me around much more than is usual. It will be nice to get my hands on my car keys once again. Perception is everything!). Prayers are appreciated for Wednesday, which is when I see the specialist again.

The occasion seems a bit like starting the New Year all over again!

When attempting to ready myself for a return to 'normal service', I have been challenged by a prayer which I read on a blog lately, and quote it today. I've rewritten this slightly.

Lord, remove the obstacles in my life that prevent me from seeing You. Help me to see Your beauty with fresh eyes today. If there are things and/or people in my life who are blocking my blessings - please move them aside. I declare that 2011 will be a year full of abundance and overflow and I don't want anything standing in the way of that! Amen.

Please stand by.

“We will be restoring normality just as soon as we are sure what is normal anyway.” - Douglas Adams.