My Two Countries Celebrate Their Independence

Today is Canada Day. I join our Canadian family and friends in singing their national anthem! “O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.” We sang those words many times when we lived there. I am so pleased to wish all my Canadian family and friends: “A very Happy Canada Day!”

Both of our two North American countries are celebrating their national holidays this week. Canada Day is July 1st and, of course, our U.S. Independence Day is Thursday, July 4th. Sorry, Britain, you’re not invited to these parties. In Canada, July 1st commemorates the 1867 formation of the Dominion of Canada, when the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada united and became a “kingdom in its own right.” This was an important step toward the eventual passing of the 1982 Constitution Act, making Canada a fully-fledged nation independent from Britain.

Our U.S. holiday was a large step toward independence from Britain. Pretty decisive, in fact. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress at the Pennsylvania State House in the midst of the Revolutionary War. In1783 the colonies won true independence from Britain, and it took until the end of the War of 1812 before the two countries could be allies.

Canada and the U.S. celebrate similarly with fireworks and barbeques. I celebrate both of these days because they really are beloved countries to me. U.S. gave me ME! And, Canada gave me my sweetheart! I'll admit I'm a little nostalgic today -- thus these photos of special times in Canada.

I am so grateful that I married a Canadian who stayed Canadian with great pride and honor for his native land. His family became my family and his country became my country. I sincerely meant it when I said in my wedding vows, from Ruth 1:16-17 “Wherever you go, I will go, Wherever you dwell, I will dwell; Your people will be my people, And your God will be my God.”

And, go with Him, I did. I was proud to live there, serve and work for an incredible university, The University of Manitoba, to be a member of many organizations: President of Women's Aglow, member of the German/American Club, Canadian Real Estate Board, and see our girl become Miss Winnipeg and go on to the Miss Canada Pageant and to be Canada's representative in the Coca Cola World Chorus at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. She's on the top row by David Foster. Our son’s entrepreneurial spirit and talents were etched in stone there where he got his official kick-start in business. We still have life-long friends and beloved family members there.

So, today, I’m singing "Oh Canada" which became as precious to me as my own "Star Spangled Banner". I'm grateful that my children have dual citizenships with the U.S. and Canada. Canada opened its doors to our family in so many ways and I just want to say, "Thank you, Canada, for your friendship, your patriotism, your pride of country and your willingness to partner with the U.S. in so many strategic efforts. God bless you....from sea to shining sea. God keep your land, glorious and free. Oh Canada we stand on guard for thee!"