Ali Elizabeth

“The Best Kind of Tradition”

When people ask me what my favorite holiday is, they usually expect me to say Christmas. Maybe Thanksgiving. But my answer has always been the Fourth of July.

Not because of the fireworks. Not because of the food, or the beautiful summer weather. It’s because the Fourth of July has always meant family. I know how blessed I am to say that.

I grew up in a family that celebrates everything, and I mean everything. Birthdays? We’re there. Mother’s Day? Absolutely. Father’s Day? Wouldn’t miss it. Christmas, Easter, graduations, anniversaries, random Sunday dinners. If there is a reason to gather, we’re gathering. And sometimes we don’t even need a reason.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that’s becoming more and more uncommon. So many families are spread across the country. Life gets busy. Calendars fill up. Before you know it, months, or even years, have passed without everyone sitting around the same table. That makes me appreciate what we have even more.

This past Fourth of July was another reminder of just how fortunate I am. Every year, my dad does his famous fish fry at my grandparents. The food could feed a small town, and somehow everyone still insists on bringing another side dish or dessert. There are lawn chairs scattered across the yard, conversations happening in every corner, and laughter that seems to carry long after the sun goes down.

Then as if the evening couldn’t get any better, everyone positions their chairs to the open sky for what has become the backyard fireworks display. The legendary Postle fireworks if I may. I might be a little biased, but I truly don’t think there’s a better seat for fireworks anywhere.

As I stood there this year, looking around at generations of my family all together, I found myself thinking that these are the moments we’ll remember. Years from now, I probably won’t remember exactly what was on the food table (besides grandmas famous potato salad, I’ll never forget that) or who won the bags tournament. But I’ll remember my grandparents’ smiles, kids chasing sparklers, my dad proudly tending the fish fryer, and the feeling of being surrounded by people who have loved me my entire life.

Now that I’m married, those moments have become even sweeter. Watching my husband become part of these traditions reminds me that family isn’t just something we’re born into. It’s something we choose to invest in, protect, and pass down.

Family gatherings aren’t really about the food or the decorations or even the holiday itself. They’re about showing up. They’re about making the effort to spend time together in a world that constantly pulls us in different directions. They’re about creating memories that become the stories your children and grandchildren will one day tell.

I know not everyone has the opportunity to experience family this way, and I don’t take it for granted. Every gathering is a gift. Every meal shared around a table is another chance to laugh, reconnect, and remind each other that no matter where life takes us, we’ll always have a place to come home to.