Thankful Friday- 11.11.16

It is November 11.  The day that we, as Canadians, pause to reflect on the sacrifice of service men and women.  It is the day that we remember and thank our veterans for defending our freedom and rights.  I am so proud to be Canadian and I have immense gratitude for those who gave their lives so that we could live in this amazing country.  Thank you to who have served, are serving and will serve.  I truly owe you everything and I will always remember your sacrifice, honour and valour.  Thank you.

This week has felt like a hurricane and honestly, I am still trying to recover.  Today I want to share with you why I am so thankful to all those who have served this country.  Here are 5 things that sacrifice has allowed us to have.  I am so grateful I get to call myself Canadian.  

1.) Healthcare -  I love our healthcare system.  Is it perfect? No.  Is it awesome?  Yes.  Money is never a factor.  No one is denied proper health care in Canada.  I get the same treatment as the Prime Minister and that is how it should be.  We truly value our health care system and I am thankful that I have access to such an amazing system.  

2.)  Multiculturaism-  I get to practice my beliefs in my country.  I can freely attend church without repercussion.  My friends are free to do the same.  We are all free to speak the language of our choice and not suffer consequences.  We embrace our differences.  I am thankful for a country that accepts all of its people, regardless of race, religion or culture.

3.)  We Take Care of One Another-  Do we always get along?  No.  BUT, when push comes to shove we stand up for one another and help each other out.  When Fort McMurray suffered a horrible forest fire, the rest of the country pitched in money and supplies to people who had been displaced.  People opened their homes to strangers who had no where to go.  I love that about our country.  Caring for each other is one of our greatest assets.

4.)  Education-  This one is huge for me.  I have always loved learning and attending school.  I have always been a voracious reader and I passionately believe that education is a right that everyone should have.  I am thankful for an education system that is universal and accessible to everyone.  In many countries I would have been denied the right to go to school simply because I am female.  This is deplorable.  I am so thankful for my right to education, afforded to me by many brave men and women.

5.  Democracy-  I have a voice in my country.  I can vote.  I can run for office.  I don't think people realize how amazing this is.  In fact, voter apathy proves that people don't appreciate this right the way that they should.  Remember what is at stake.  People died so that we could have a voice.  People laid down their lives so that we could steer our country in the direction that we choose.  Excercise that right or someone else will make decisions for you.

I love my country and I will be forever indebted to people who sacrificed their lives so I could live in freedom.  Thank you.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I leave you with this song.  It is a wonderful expression of sacrifice and a reminder of what has has been given for us.   

 

The Trews- Highway of Heroes

High Five For Friday- Happy Canada Day! (Day 1 of Blogging Month)

Happy Canada Day!  My beautiful country turns 149 today.  For this week's H54F, I have decided to tell you about my 5 favourite places in Canada!  I am going to count them down:

5.) The Yukon-  This territory is filled with magic.  I went with my family when I was 11 years old.  We got to go gold panning, admire the wildlife (bears, sheep, and moose) and experience the midnight sun.  It doesn't get dark in the Yukon in the summer.  It is a really cool thing to see!

4.)  Calgary, Alberta-  We love this city!  There are so many great things about it, but my favourite place to go in Calgary is the Calgary Zoo.  I LOVE visiting the penguins, gorillas, giraffes, and hippos.  Miss. E loves the meerkats!  The city has great food, shopping and beautiful parks!

3.) Banff, Alberta- We go to Banff almost yearly.  It is a beautiful town nestled in Banff National Park.  The mountains are breathtaking!  We like to do mountain hikes, go skiing, enjoy the great restaurants, and shop!  It is such an amazing place to visit!

4.)  Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island-  We visited Prince Edward Island when I was 10.  It was absolutely enchanting.  My Mom had read the Anne of Green Gables books to me when I was little and I was enthralled.  We dragged my Dad and brother to every Lucy Maud Montgomery historical site on the island, including Green Gables itself!  (The author based her books on an actual house).  We saw the Enchanted Forest and strolled down Lover's Lane.  I loved every minute of it!  The Island also boasts beautiful red soil, delicious seafood (lobster, anyone?), and awesome historical sights.

5.) Manitou Lake-  This place doesn't have a link because it is a small, alkaline lake in Saskatchewan.  You can't fish in the lake (nothing lives there except the Manitou Monster) and there has been little for development in the park.  My parents grew up in neighbouring towns and they put a cabin at the lake when we were kids.  We used to go all the time!  It is my happy place, the place where I can always find calm.  My parents have fixed up the cabin and we love to take Miss. E out there.  It is my favourite place in the world.

Have an awesome holiday weekend!  If you want to join in the link up, please check out the lovely ladies below!  This is my 1st day in a month of blogging and I hope you stop back to see some of my posts!