Wishing Everyone a Happy and Safe Fourth of July 2026

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Elizabeth and I want to wish everyone a very happy and safe Fourth of July.

This year feels especially meaningful because 2026 marks America’s 250th birthday. That is hard for me to believe. I still remember the Bicentennial celebration back in 1976, when the United States turned 200 years old. Now, 50 years have passed, and I am 50 years older.

Time has a way of moving faster the older we get. When I was young, a year felt like a long stretch of road. Now it seems we blink, and half the year is already behind us.

Here we are, already halfway through 2026.

For our family and friends in the United States, we hope this Fourth of July brings you a weekend filled with good food, laughter, family, and memories. We miss the cookouts, the fireworks, and those simple gatherings that made the holiday special. There is something about the smell of food on the grill, children running around, and fireworks lighting up the night sky that stays with you.

We wish we could be there to celebrate with everyone, but we will have our own cookout here in El Salvador and spend the day with family. It may not be the same as being back in the States, but we will still take time to enjoy the day, remember the meaning of the holiday, and be thankful.

Please be careful this weekend. Whether you are traveling, grilling, watching fireworks, or gathering with others, take your time and stay safe. Holidays are meant to be enjoyed, but they are always better when everyone makes it home safely.

Here in El Salvador, the rainy season started in June, and the land is coming back to life. The grass is green again, the flowers are blooming, and the plants around the house are full of color. It really is a beautiful time of year.

Of course, all that beauty also means work.

The lawnmower and weed eater are back in action. We try to get outside early in the morning, just as the sun is coming up, and work for a couple of hours before the heat gets too strong. After 9 a.m., it can get very hot and humid, and that is when we know it is time to come back inside.

Still, I enjoy seeing the yard looking good. There is something peaceful about working outside early in the morning, hearing the birds, feeling the day begin, and watching everything grow around us.

Elizabeth and I are also planning some sightseeing trips soon. There are still so many places here in El Salvador we want to visit, enjoy, and share. This country continues to surprise me, even after all these years.

At the same time, I am doing my best to keep up with the blog. There is always something happening here in El Salvador, and 2026 has been a very busy year for news, development, tourism, and change. I enjoy writing about it, even if some days it feels like there are not enough hours to cover everything.

I am also working on my second book, and I hope to finish and publish it soon. This one is personal because it tells more of the story of my life in the United States and the path that eventually brought me here to El Salvador. It has taken time, but I believe the story is coming together.

I have added a slideshow of Elizabeth and me working around the yard and getting things back in shape for the rainy season. It is nothing fancy, just part of our everyday life here. But sometimes those ordinary moments are the ones that mean the most.

Once again, Elizabeth and I wish all our family, friends, and readers a happy Fourth of July.