Independence and Jonathan

Jonathan was born 2 years ago today.

We named him for:

His Dad (Jon's middle name),

Jonathan from the Bible (known for being a true friend),

Jonathan apples (David's favorite)

and. . . 

John Adams

We know Jon's name is spelled differently, but we couldn't resist. Let me tell you how cool today was in 1776! 

John Adams had been a champion of Independence all along and had answered the opposition the day before with the greatest speech of his life. Thomas Jefferson said that Adams spoke "with a power of thought and expression that moved us from our seats." One of the New Jersey delegates said that Adams was "the man to whom the country is most indebted for the great measure of independency. . . . He it was who sustained the debate, and by the force of his reasoning demonstrated not only the justice, but the expediency of the measure." The congress voted unanimously for Independence the next day (it was a miracle. . . . you'd have to read the circumstances surrounding it). John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife,

"The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. 

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more."  The information above was taken from John Adams by David McCullough, which I finished this week.

He had amazing vision, did his utmost with integrity, and put his trust in God. Someone worthy to be named after, I think. And what's funny is that our Jon, like John Adams, doesn't seem to have trouble making himself heard. :)

To celebrate Jon's 2nd birthday on this July 2nd, we met David in historic Philadelphia for lunch and got a little acquainted with the area John Adams, and our other "founding fathers", knew so well.

Beautiful, eh? This is just behind the Second Bank of America, where the boys were spellbound by a storyteller. We enjoyed seeing and speaking with the occasional person dressed in period costume, purchasing a copy of The Declaration in Franklin's old print shop, and winding things up with yummy gelato!

Then we came home, got cleaned up, and had some cake!

  

Happy Birthday, Independence! and Happy Birthday, little Jon!