Lodging #3

These are all more photographs I took at Spencer's cabins. The owner had beautiful hanging baskets at the main house. The flowers, canoe, water's edge, and boats all spoke well of the hospitality we experienced there and throughout Canada. Our expectations need be only the expectancy that your love is forever and true, and that you have a plan for us. You meet our need.

~~~~~

My God will meet
all your needs
according to his glorious riches
in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:19

Lodging #2

In the morning as we woke to beautiful light on the water at Spencer's cabin, I took a walk to see what I could see. I have found it valuable to look for the big picture and the small one. The awesomeness of the light streaming through the trees looked like the majesty of the Lord himself warming me and piercing me with His light. Yet my eyes were opened to the universe of small spider webs that spanned the grasses and became visible as the light caught them and brought them to my attention. Though small, I took pleasure in how they stirred my heart to praise and worship Him.

~~~

Stand before the Lord in awe.
Psalm 4:4

Lodging

One of the ideas to which we have become very fond is to not get lodging reservations for a trip unless it is the first night. We don't want to stay longer in an area if we feel like we need to get on down the road; or we decide we want to stay longer in a place than we might have planned. We have not had to spend a night in the car yet, so it seems to be working for us. Given that we were in moose and bear country it is a good thing!

Our first night, as we were close to Niagara Falls, we just stayed in a Comfort Inn close by. We enjoyed the Falls, and got on the way to the 1,000 Islands area, which had been recommended by our friends in Thornbury. The drive was very relaxing except for the ride through Toronto, which went on forever. Living in a huge metroplex in Texas, I was ready to get out in the country away from bad traffic and many people.

As the sun lowered in the sky and the road narrowed into small towns and farmland, I saw a vacancy sign on the side of a barn. We figured a two bedroom cabin at the side of the St. Lawrence River in the heart of the 1000 islands was not going to be easy to find. We spoke to the owner and got a cabin (very rare as fishermen come worldwide to stay there weeks at a time) for the night. It was an ethereal time to be set apart.

The owner saw my camera and told me to make sure to get a picture of the blue heron that fishes from the boat dock. She had shared how they had five the previous year, but they migrated during winter to a place with oil spill, and only two came back. I certainly wanted to find him, and he turned out to be very accommodating.

The sunset, sunrise, water, heron, stillness, and seclusion were all a wonderful way to settle in to a very relaxing vacation. I felt like we had been led to a hidden treasure. The God joke was that the woman who rented us the cabin had the same first and last name as one of my friends at church. That put a big smile on my face as I thanked him for his provision.

~~~~

You are safe in the care of the Lord your God,
secure in his treasure pouch.
1 Samuel 25:29

Reflections in Canada #2

This vacation in Canada took us through lots of waterways, country sides filled with vine-covered barns, lakes, woods, and charming towns along with two huge cities of Ottawa and Toronto. The terrain might not have been as breathtaking as some others we have traveled, but it had a pristine, quaint, restful spirit. We had lots of reflections to see with so many lakes mirroring their surroundings. But we also had many times of resting beside lakes as we took the time to reflect and rest.

These particular photos were taken in Algonquin Park around a huge rock that protruded out into the lake. It beckoned the passerby to come rest awhile. We both needed a break away from the loud and crazy city, and the triple numbers on the thermometer. It was good to not have an agenda, and just sit awhile on a rock, being quiet, and letting the peace wash over us.

~~~

Be still, and know that I am God.
Ps. 46:10

A New Creation

Yesterday was a very special time with my oldest grandchild. She had been expressing a desire to be baptized, so we gathered yesterday evening to witness the event.

Earlier in the day her mother made her a cake for the celebration to follow. Then we went shopping for a dress and shoes. We had the dress narrowed down to a few, when we realized that the blue one had butterflies near the hem. They have always symbolized a transformation into beauty; a new creation coming out from the cocoon.

We had some lunch, and Gram went to find some flowers. Nothing less would do for Faith than a dozen hot pink roses. She was aglow! I pray she will be a powerful example of love and redemption as she matures in her faith.

When Faith was born I wrote a song for her. The last verse:

My prayer for precious FAITH, my Lord,
is that she'll pray and sing and dance;
and have such joy within her heart,
abandoned to the GREAT romance with
YOU, the author and perfecter of our "FAITH"

~~~~

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!