I got this in an e-mail for July 4th, but I think it is worth posting as a reminder . . .
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; Another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
So, take a few minutes to silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free!
I am currently reading Thomas Paines
Common Sense, If you have never read it I encourage you to do so to gain an even greater understanding of what these men stood for!
Sweet Caroline Finals are OVER!!! Bittersweet for me . . . especially since I was so pumped for my math test AND the front side of my 5x7 card proved useless . . . since the test covered basically everything that I was less than confidant about . . . anywho at this point I just want to graduate and be done with school! What I really want to do now is paint something . . . I am just in a crafty mood . . . happens when I get super stressed. Oh . . . day maker. . . Toph picked me up after my final and had a dozen roses, a cherry coke zero, peanut butter M&M's, and tropical Mike and Ikes waiting on the front seat. I have such a sweet hubby!!!
So anywho I gave our living room throw pillows a makeover. They turned out fun and were a hayload of work (they are even cuter in person!!!) . . . but they calmed my nerves a bit and now I told Toph we need to go thrift store shopping and find something to paint red . . . yeah he is not too thrilled with the idea . . . but check this sight out and tell me that you are not inspired to re-vamp something!!! 
Tonight we went on a hot date and saw "Old Dogs" = FUNNY, chowed down at Chili's and watched Julie and Julia. Toph stayed awake through the whole thing!!! Miracle of miracles! Watch out because now I just want to cook! Fudge must be made sometime!
