July 1st...and 4th!

When we moved to Canada, it was very easy to forget that we were now in a "foreign country..." not the grand 'ol US of A any more. Living in this province is so very much like living in Maine that it is easy to forget it is not the same place!

Sometimes, however, there is a certain aspect of this country that brings us back to the reality that this is Canada. One of those times is the first week of July.

Really, it doesn't seem like there should be too much difference. Canada celebrates a national holiday on July 1st, which is very similar to our Independence Day in the states. There are parades, fireworks, and lots of fun cookouts and fun community events. It really feels like the 4th of July!

So what is it that we miss, then, about the USA at this time?

The flag.
The salute.
The national anthem.

These things are missing from the festivites...and it makes it feel a little "off." So while we have fun celebrating anyway, we do still have a soft spot in our hearts for the USA. I guess that is to be expected!

Well this year, Canada did a good job, because we got to celebrate on both days...thanks to a little spat in the weather!

July 1st was on a Monday..and we had big plans. Every year we put a float in our local parade to promote Vacation Bible School. Our theme this year is "The Great Flood." We had a big ark planned as a float, with lots of "animals" {disguised as little children} in it. We had 1,500 invitations printed, tracts stapled to each one...we were ready!

So was the flood. How appropriate.

While I doubt the real animals in the real ark were carrying umbrellas, our float was very well received. Partly because of the irony in the situation. :) Partly because we were willing to be out there walking the streets in the pouring rain, giving out Gospel tracts and invites to VBS. And candy. The candy probably helped.

We have found that entering the parade is a very effective way to not only get the word out about our VBS, but to get Gospel literature into people's hands. All told we had 3 people refuse it...and they were all teenagers. For the most part, young and old alike were willing to take our literature, way more than you would reach by standing in the street with tracts.

But back to the float...this ark didn't fare the flood very well, it started filling up with water! The kids were using their umbrellas to try and scoop it out, haha! We were all soaked to the skin by the time it was all over, but we had a grand time!

{We did have a lot of invites left over, so we are actually going to be in another parade this weekend to finish them off! Hopefully the weather cooperates a little better!}

The remainder of the day managed to clear off enough for us to enjoy some truck pulls and ox pulls. Although I'll be honest - watching truck pulls is about as exciting as watching paint dry. The ox pulls are my favourite. :)

Fireworks were scheduled for that night...but because of the weather and increasing fog, they were postponed.

And this is where the Canadians got Americanized.

They scheduled the fireworks for the 4th!!

Picture swiped from a friends FB page...because this bad blogger didn't take her camera!

It was fun for us to celebrate both days. While we would have enjoyed the fireworks any night they had them, it was neat to feel like we were celebrating both days. Hey, nothing wrong with two holidays in one week, is there? =)

We were a bit concerned about Judah...this was his first experience with fireworks. But he liked them! He just looked a little shocked through the whole thing, but didn't cry. We had warned him they would go "bang, bang!" so now he likes to repeat that. :) After it was all over, he said he wanted more...so I guess that is a good sign!

All in all, it was a memorable week, and certainly a memorable float! We're praying that others will find it memorable too, and want to know more by coming out to VBS. Will you pray with us for fruit from our efforts?

How was your holiday week? Which day did you celebrate?

Thankful to be a Christian!

Yesterday was Canada Day here in Canada. It was very similar to Independence Day in the states, which was nice for us, since we will miss our traditional celebrations on Sunday! We started out the day with a parade, followed by a family cook-out (hamburgers with relish! Yum!) and then at the end of the day went to watch the fireworks. I had forgotten how pretty fireworks are, its been several years since I have seen “real” ones. (No offense Ryan and Matt, your “fireworks” the last two years were nice, but just don’t compare!! :)

I was overwhelmed with thoughts while we walked through the crowds last night waiting for the fireworks to begin. Maybe it was because I knew almost no one, or maybe it was because I have been living in a bubble for 5 years, I don’t know. But the one thought that struck me was how thankful I am to be a Christian and the privilege I have to live a life pleasing to God. I have to admit, just as you would, that sometimes the world holds out their “fruit” from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” and tempts us with some of the pleasures it holds. But seeing the lives of the people that surrounded me last night, I have to say that there was nothing alluring about it. It was obvious the effects of sin on their lives. Dad said in his message last night, that Adam and Eve gave up perfection for what they could not have....and while I am certainly not perfect, I would not want to give up my victorious Christian life for those “pleasures” that will not last.

At first my pride wished I was not different from them. It seemed that many people were staring at us, maybe because we are an obviously unfamiliar face in a place where everybody knows everybody, and is most likely related to them. Maybe it was because we were the only people in the whole crowd wearing skirts. Whatever it was, it made my flesh wish to be “one of them,” to be dressed in a way that I wouldn’t be noticed. But as I thought about that, and noticed the obvious unhappiness and lack of joy in the eyes of those people, I was reminded of the fact that we are commanded to be “different.” Not only are we commanded to be, but I suddenly found myself so thankful that I am different! So thankful that I don’t live a lifestyle like they do. Thankful that I can hold my head up high and fulfill my mission as an Ambassador for my King.

I can’t expect any different from the world because of their lack of salvation and lack of a knowledge of the Holiness of our God. But I can rejoice in the fact that I am a Christian, and thank my God for the life that He has given me...not a life of bondage because I can’t do what they can do, but a life of freedom without the guilt and despair it would bring. I am so thankful to be a Christian!

Life has purpose now it never had before,

There is meaning to each day and even more;

For a joy and peace I can’t explain is mine,

Since I found new life in Christ my Lord divine.

I can go directly to the Lord in prayer,

He has told me I may boldy enter there;

And He listens as His promises I plead,

I find mercy there and grace for every need.

And the hope of heaven’s glories fill me so,

Where I’ll live with Christ forever more I know;

That is why the things of earth I loosely hold,

I’ve eternal riches better far than gold!

O it is wonderful to be a Christian!

O it is wonderful to be God’s child!

O it is wonderful to have your sins forgiven!

O it is wonderful to be redeemed,

Justified forever reconciled!