Library book sale

We struck gold when we browsed the book sale tables at the library one morning this week.  We placed our stack of books, many of them chosen for the August visit of the Hudson girls, on the patio table, and settled in for some good reads.  It was so nice and we were so comfortable that we brought a tray out for an alfresco lunch and read.  Poppa Martin is reading "The Wind in the Willows."

A Lofty Experience

Soaring the heights in an open cockpit airplane was my first lofty experience last weekend.  We drove out to the boonies to meet up with old friends that we hadn't seen in about ten years.  Brian and Hope had flown their Pietenpol (Similar to Mart's last plane) to a fly in with about a dozen other small planes on a friends farm.  I took this photo on takeoff.  That's Mart, right, waving.

My second lofty experience was of a spiritual nature.  After spending the night at a historic B&B in Dundas, we went to morning Mass at Christ the King Cathedral in Hamilton.  Being surrounded by sacred art, sacred music, and partaking of Holy Communion, is quite an uplifting experience.

Poppa Martin's Birthday

Martin and I enjoyed a fun outing for his 69th birthday on Friday.  We took an hour long drive to the southern most point of mainland Canada, called Point Pelee National Park.  We are standing on this point in the picture.  The waves from Lake Erie come from two directions.  Then we went to another part of the park where there is a boardwalk that goes through a marshy area.  Many people from all over the world come to see the many species of birds there.  We were thrilled to see a Wood Duck while we were there.  I told Martin that was his birthday present.  We had a good look at it with our binoculars.

Eternal Perspective

Each morning this year, I'm taking a little extra time in my morning prayers and scripture reading to become acquainted with some Christians from the past. I found an old (1959) edition of Butler's Lives of the Saints while living in Lompoc, California. At a Thrift Store--that was having a sale! Five books for $1. I got these because I had some book shelves that needed filling, and these looked good. This was in my tearoom days, and I was way to busy to read these old-fashioned books. There is a time for everything. Now, I have time. And I have more of an awareness of how quickly time passes. How do I fill my time. I listen to the concerns of others and I think about my own concerns, and sometimes I feel we overlook the big picture, maybe the most important part. This morning I ran across this advice from St. Augustine:

"Not only think of the road through which thou art travelling, but take care never to lose sight of the blessed country in which thou art shortly to arrive. Thou meetest here with passing sufferings, but will soon enjoy everlasting rest. In order to labour with constancy and cheerfulness, consider the reward."

I might say something like, don't sweat the small stuff, the best is yet to come. But I like the way St. Augustine said it, back in the A.D. 400's. He had a way with words.

Never forgotten

Just two years ago, many of our large extended family gathered in Oklahoma to savour the final days of my mother Phyllis with us. Sometimes I like to reflect back to another time to gain perspective on the present. Our whole world revolved around the crisis of mom's brain tumour in 2010. Each of us had to grapple with how we would deal with the loss of our mother, sister, aunt, wife, grandmother. She left a big emptiness in our lives when she left this earth. But, thanks be to God, He is big enough to fill any gap, and we can carry on until our time comes to join Him and our loved ones in heaven. I thank God for the heritage of faith that my family has nurtured in us. My aunt Lois has left us now too. What comfort we shared with our aunt and uncles who remain and share that faith, our most precious gift, as we gathered in Arkansas this time to bid farewell to Aunt Lois.

Cousins Then & Now

We six were great chums growing up on Park Point in Duluth, MN. Butch (Ruben Jr.) was the oldest, then me, the twins, Howard & Harry, then Nancy, and then Rod. Our moms, Phyllis & Lois, made sure we had lots of beach time, birthdays, and holidays together. Fast forward nearly 60 years as we gathered at a picturesque cemetery in Heber Springs, AR to lay Butch, Nan, & Rod's mom and our Aunt Lois to rest. Just two years after our mom, Phyllis went to heaven. We've all lived full lives and haven't seen each other much over the years, but it was good to be together for a brief time and reconnect before going our separate ways again.

Happy Homecoming

This is a picture of my mother, Phyllis, and her sister, Lois, as young girls and best pals growing up in Duluth, Minnesota. My mother died nearly two years ago. Aunt Lois passed away just yesterday. I imagine after a warm embrace from our Lord, Aunt Lo would squeal with delight to see "Phyl"! Please click on the picture to make it bigger to better see the cute expressions on their faces. Thank you Lord Jesus for giving me this happy picture of two sisters who are now with You! Aunt Lo was 84, mom was 80 when she passed. They both had lived full lives and taught us much. They are both missed, but we look forward to a GREAT reunion some day.