Monday, May 26, 2008, 4:42 p.m., D.S.T., Nashville, TN~

Dear Journal~

Happy Memorial Day!  This is Johnathon writing; hope this finds you enjoying the day off from school (or work).  If you're not off from work, I still pray you're having a good day.

I am currently at Centennial Park here in Nashville; I've been here probably a good part of the day.  There was a special parade, a 21-gun salute to the fallen soldiers who have died protecting our nation, and special patriotic speeches and music.  Tonight the festivities will continue, with even more patriotic music, more speeches or recognitions, a special concert with Big and Rich, and then a mammoth fireworks display, which is said to be one of the biggest in the nation.

I performed earlier, as did Ronee'.  Now we will be digging into the picnic food.  I plan on eating a few cheeseburgers, potato salad, potato chips, tomatoes and lettuce, jello, and for dessert, ice cream sprinkled with chocolate chips.  Yum!! Just thinking about all this great food is making me hungry! :P

Right now, mama is getting the plates ready for us kids; we will then pray, eat, and wait for the evening's music, speeches, and eventually the Big and Rich concert and the biggie event of the evening, the fireworks.  I am really looking forward to the fireworks; it means that July Fourth is just around the corner, and I'll get to see even more fireworks!

I'll just have to remember to turn off my hearing aids prior to the fireworks display, or else they'll be squealing something fierce, which hurts my ears.  *OW*

Besides eating, watching the parade, listening to the speeches, paying tribute to our fallen military heroes, performing, and playing with my family, I've been enjoying the day off from school.  That's probably one of the best parts about celebrating Memorial Day!

School ends next week; then we go to the CMA Music Festival; after that it's to Las Vegas, Nevada, for Ronee' 's audition for "AGT", and then the July Fourth festivities.  After that, it's Cedar Point in Ohio (we're going for a week; we're flying up there), and the LeCajun Music Awards Festival in Lafayette, Louisiana, later that same month (August).  Lots of busy times ahead for our family!

I just hope we'll have some money left after we're done with all this traveling, or else we'll have to be washing dishes or flipping burgers for the rest of our lives, just so we can get back home to Nashville! LOL

Well, I am going to get my grub face back on, then enjoy the evening.  As you can imagine, I'm having the time of my life; I love these holidays off from school!  We need to have more of them during the school year! :)  Take care and God bless!

Happy Memorial Day, and remember the sacrifices our military people have made so we can enjoy the freedoms we do today!  God bless America, and God bless our military from ALL wars, particularly those who gave their lives for us!

~Love, your friend, Johnathon. :) *SALUTE!*