July 1st

Happy Canada Day. I haven't always been really into the celebration of Canada specifically. For the first ten years of life it was the official kick-off for summer break, and for the last 12 years it's been my youngest brother's birthday. He turned 12 years old today! I can't believe it.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. When we walked out of the house around 10am it was already 24 degrees out! So we went for a nice walk out at the Eastern Passage Boardwalk (#20, by the way).

Luke drew this in the sand for Eric and I.

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Now on a separate, spiritual note. In our church, 12 is an important age for a boy to turn. It's the age at which they are trusted with and granted the power of the Priesthood. This is the power by which all things in our church are administered and provided. His duty at this first level of the Priesthood is to pass the sacrament each Sunday in church. I honestly don't know as much as I should about the Priesthood, but it was exciting to see Luke receive it today, and to be excited about being able to use it. (It's much better explained over here.)

So this afternoon we had a big family celebration with some good friends, a BBQ and some cake and ice cream. 

This year I was grateful for Canada because it's home. Eric and I were away for a while at the end of last year, and with everyone we met and everything we saw, we knew that Canada was home. I couldn't live anywhere else permanently. This is where I belong, these are the people I belong with. Here were are comfortable free to be this. To be whoever we want to be, however we want to be it. And this is where I want to stay!