I love the Fourth of July in the Miss-Lou. It is just a fun weekend that gives us a chance to gather together to celebrate. My three kids and I spent our weekend at Lake St. John with Joe and Cindy Meng.

Joe and Cindy each have three kids from previous marriages. Cindy’s youngest two children Rob and Sara graduated from Trinity. My family got to know them quicker than her oldest, Katie.

When Cindy moved here to marry Joe, Katie had just graduated from high school in Mobile and was entering LSU. Even though we saw Katie during holidays and quick trips to see her mom, you could tell her heart was in Mobile. Other than family, she really didn’t have a connection to Natchez.

When Katie graduated from LSU, she went to work in New Orleans and, of course, along came Katrina. After that, she landed out in California and realized how much she missed family and LSU football. Fortunately for her mother, her life and my column, she landed a job here in Natchez.

As only fate would have it, Katie fell in “like” with a Natchez boy. When she moved to Memphis, I’m sure it was just a coincidence that the Natchez boy happened to be there also.

Friday night, Katie and Clifford became engaged at the lake. I could tell you about the smiles on their faces, the tears and smiles on Cindy and Joe’s faces, the whoops and hollers of the family and friends gathered around or even the fun Emily and her friend Maddie had witnessing the proposal right there on there on the pier. Instead, I will tell you how we all thanked our lucky stars that the young girl from Mobile that we had grown to love passed through Natchez at just the right time to meet a wonderful young man. Now no matter where she lives, we know Katie will be part of our celebrations in Natchez because she will always have a part of Natchez with her in her life.

After Friday, I honestly thought there couldn’t possibly bring any more surprise. But I was wrong.

After enjoying the flotilla we stayed to see the fireworks. This was the lake’s first year to do this and honestly I wasn’t expecting it to be nearly the wonderful display they produced. First of all, everyone on the lake who contributed to the fireworks, was given a small hot air balloon. These arose off of peoples piers into dark sky like little stars all over the lake. Close to 9 p.m. the faint sounds of music traveled from pier to pier as everyone turned the radios to the right channel where music was coordinated with the display. And a display it was. We all “ooohed” and “aahhhed” as the colors and sparkles burst through the air.

And there on a pier at Lake St. John, in the middle of Ferriday it hit me again — I am very blessed to live in the United States of America where my children can attend school where they wish, work where they wish and yet come home when they wish to celebrate with me. How lucky my children and yours are to be able to date and marry who they fall in love with, not someone picked for them. We all are blessed to live here surrounded by family and friends.

Thank you Lake St. John families, you did a great job and I know your tradition will continue to grow and inspire people on the Fourth for many years to come.

Christina Hall can be reached at christina.hall@natchezdemocrat.com.