I adore July 4th.  It has always been one of my favorite holidays.  Maybe it has something to do with the simplicity of it, those hometown comforts...the family flags brought out from the attic, kids gathering in the street watching bottle rockets take flight, the sweet stinging smell of firecracker smoke, potluck picnics, the local marching band leading the parade, the coming together of families for no other reason than to enjoy each others company.  Just maybe.

Well, this year, Brian and I decided to celebrate the holiday in true small town fashion in Sawyer, Michigan.  It was the perfect July 4th retreat...a quaint vacation beach town with sprawling farm land, featuring dozens of locally owned wineries and adorable B&B's (ours was The Rabbit Run Inn).

I thought I would share these few images because of something the wedding officiant shared during Mindy and Chris' ceremony last weekend.  He said you should not only take photographs of the places you vacation, you should put them up as a reminder of the joyful times you have spent together, so you can always say to each other "Remember when..." to instantly relive those happy memories.  I thought it was beautiful advice for the newlywed couple...and for those of us not-so-newlyweds.  So, here's my reminder to my sweet husband, Brian...who laughed at me while I took half of my images from the window of the moving car!  Remember when...