Tasty, Tasty...

Mmmmmm....

Tasty appetizer bar...

My brother Carl, youngest in the clan, recently hosted the annual summer barbecue beginning with his favourite appys...we all enjoyed it tremendously.

This is also the season for incredibly juicy and vitamin-packed fresh fruit:

Oh those bing cherries..."Cherry ripe, cherry ripe, ripe, I cry, full and fair ones come and buy..."  lyrics to a song my sister Herta sang at a school music festival many years ago...

Raspberries always evoke emotions...years of picking them as a reluctant teenager, then growing them ourselves and marketing them, while our own kids were now picking them for us...I love the tartness of this wonderful fruit.  Coupled with hearty toast and some aged cheese and a strong cup of coffee seems the perfect breakfast for me.  I freeze lots of them and enjoy them throughout the winter.

Strawberries... the first of the seasonal berries - so good on cake and vanilla yogurt...

"Who satisfies your mouth with good things 

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Psalm 103:5

Pre Birthday Celebration

Today, June 15, was wonderful.  It was a beautiful sunny day and a few days before my birthday.  My friends Lorna and Lyle came laden with gifts of love:

...flowers

...a picnic lunch

...dear friends Lorna and Lyle

....all the right touches

...a special coffee out to cap off a beautiful day.  Thank you dear friends.

"A friend loves at all times..."  Proverbs 17:17

Father's Day

Here it is July already and I had a number of posts ready on the back burner last month which I will now post.  The sentiments ring true  today non the less, even as they did when I first typed them weeks ago and chose the pictures for them.

We never made very much of Father's Day it seems and yet it's so important and wonderful to remember to honour those special men in our lives.  I am reminded of my own dear Dad who has been gone for ten years now.  He loved flowers and often brought flowers home for my Mom when he did the shopping.  I thank God for Al's Dad.  He nurtured Al through tough economic times on the family farm and taught him important life lessons.  Although he was already gone when Al and I married, I can see from his photos and listening to stories of the past that he was a wonderful, kind and gentle man, like Al.

 Then there is Al, the father of our three wonderful children.  I want to honour him today with this photo of our prolific carpet rose in our former garden.
And though Al enjoyed the beauty of the flowers he loved and enjoyed his children and grandchildren much more deeply and was proud of them.

With this strong orange flower, the tiger lily faithfully coming up each year, I honour my two wonderful sons and my equally wonderful son-in-law.  I thank God for them, am proud of them and pray God's blessing on them.  They are wonderful Dad's. God bless them...God bless all Dad's today in a very special way.

"Honor your father and your mother 

that your days may be long upon the land

 which the LORD your God is giving you."  

Exodus 20:12

Peace

"My peace I give to you." John 14: 27

A foxglove against the old wagon wheel in our backyard on Dundee.

In my reading today Oswald Chambers says:

"Health is physical peace...health is the perfection of physical activity."

 

The detailing of the pansy...so exquisite in every way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chambers continues:
 "Holiness is spiritual peace...holiness is the intensest spiritual activity."

Diminutive and dainty

Jesus says:
 "If anyone loves me...we will come to him and make our home with him." 

Amazingly wonderful is:

- "the abiding of the Trinity with the saint".  Chambers

Now it's up  to  me to believe and accept by faith 

this peace, this abiding, this rest.

"Lord I believe, help my unbelief."  Mark 9:24

Lupins last June on Dundee gave me so much pleasure

"He is able to keep you from stumbling 

and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory 

with great joy."   Jude 24

Beauty All Around

A beautiful azure sky...

Pretty pink asters...

 A generous burst of fuchsia tinted flowers-such exquisite tiny blooms...

 A grand cornucopia of complementary colors -purple salvia, willowy pale grasses and other colorful beauties all form this graceful display.

This is what I see on this day -

"Let everything that has breath praise the lord!  

Praise the Lord!"

"...a song of praise is fitting"

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  Psalm 147:3-4

These wonderful verses were part of my Scripture reading this morning...and I am experiencing the truth of them and thank God for His kindness to me.  In fact verse one of this Psalm opens this section with:

"Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;  
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting."

A year ago I was laid low with septicemia-a serious bacterial blood infection.  I needed to be hospitalized and stabilized with intravenous antibiotics. It attacked all my systems.  It was a nightmare for me, for Al and for my children who rallied around us stalwartly.  Then came the recovery time - forever, it seemed.  Among other things my garden suffered along with me.  I had no desire or energy to do a thing-just couldn't. I took these photos last June while still in our house to show the faithfulness of God.  I didn't do a thing about it and here was the color coming up beautifully to cheer and encourage me.

"And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

While growing up in my parents home my father made sure we had good classical music available.  He purchased Haydn's Creation early in our lives and we put those two LP's on Sunday after Sunday as we ate our noonday roast beef dinner, a large family around a large dining room table.  I also had the privilege of singing The Creation in our Bethel Choir, a  community choir conducted by Menno Neufeld, a tremendous musician, conductor, pianist and inspiration to hundreds of us who loved choral singing and also to pianists and vocalists.  Just this week my brother who inherited my Dad's extensive record collection blessed me with a cd of a copy of the original records we had.  As I type this I'm listening to the grand and glorious strains of:

  "The heavens are telling the glories of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork..." - all in German - just beautiful -and I'm transported to a time more than five decades ago!

I remember taking this photo through my dining room window little knowing that in just over two months we would have sold this lovely home with the beautiful garden which had blessed me so much over the 27 years of living there, and would be living on the 14th floor of our beautiful condo, with a new view.  Little too, did I realize that my dear Al would not be around to see another June.

Now my view would be severely diminished without Al's editorial help and my whole life would be so severely diminished without him.  And yet, "God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds".  Thank you for this promise Lord.

All the way my Savior leads me...

It's wonderful to receive an affirmation when you don't expect it or invite it.  This is how I was affirmed yesterday about God's watch-care over me, over us.

It was time to have the van serviced.  It hadn't been done since the last time Al had it done in late December.  What was so surprising was that when I returned to pick up the vehicle the mechanic showed me the corroded cord of the radiator.  It fell right off when he touched it.  How glad I was that it hadn't done that while I was out and about somewhere in our busy little city.  Those kinds of things are overwhelming for me at this time in my life.

I'm so thankful that Al had prepared me so well for this time.  He also alerted me as to when to get the tires rotated, to make sure I had the oil changed on schedule, and to look after the finances promptly and accurately, just days before his passing.

That December 19 Al took me with him to meet Brad at Dolphin Motors and to let me know that they would take good care of my vehicle.  Later when our car had been serviced Al insisted we pick up donuts and coffees for the men at the garage.  They were delighted. Little did we dream that exactly six weeks later,  Al would have passed into the presence of his Heavenly Father, whom he loved and served.

Brad told me yesterday that he was devastated by the news of Al's passing.  Al left a wonderful legacy - I am so grateful.

As soon as I drove away with my now-in-great-working-order van the songs of an old hymn written by Fanny Crosby in 1875 and which I hadn't sung in decades popped into my mind.  Sing it with me...

All the way my Savior leads me;

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my Guide?

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know, whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,

Cheers each winding path I tread;

Gives me grace for every trial,

Feeds me with the living Bread.

Though my weary steps may falter,

And my soul athirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see;

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me

O the fullness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father’s house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal,

Wings its flight to realms of day

This my song through endless ages—

Jesus led me all the way;

This my song through endless ages—

Jesus led me all the way.

And thanks too, to my brother who chauffeured me to and from the service station several times...another great affirmation.

(photos from our garden taken two summers ago -top photo taken in park)

"Where E're You Walk..."

What would I see today that I hadn't seen before?  It was cloudy and overcast with showers shortly before I left but now it was mild and sweet.  I really noticed the trees today, towering and stately evergreens, lofty and airy deciduous trees and smaller species such as the beautiful white Dogwood, British Columbia's floral emblem... 

-as soon as the blooms are spent, this Dogwood tree will once again blend into the background totally unnoticed until next spring...

The Lilac tree I'd enjoyed over the past two weeks, still deliciously fragrant...

-no tree here, just purple perennial salvias among waving, wispy grasses and aspiring day lilies...

-beautifully barked birches...

...and the trees reminded me of songs and poems I'd learned in school
 so many years ago...

"When I see birches bend to left and right 

Across the lines of straighter darker trees,

I like to think some boy's been swinging them." 

Robert Frost

-canopy of birches...

"I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

  

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me.

But only God can make a tree."

 Trees by Joyce Kilmer 1886-1918

...among the weeping willows...

a Douglas Fir seed cone tells me the name of its parent evergreen overhead.*

Trees, trees everywhere...and even though it isn't necessary to seek out their shade on this pleasant spring day I'm reminded of George Frederich Handel's  beautiful composition,

HANDEL: "Where E'er You Walk" - YouTube

 

"Where e'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade;
Trees where you sit shall crowd into a shade,

 Trees where you sit shall crowd into a shade."

-and among the reeds and rushes and trees at waters' edge,
 the pretty yellow water iris are nodding their heads...

"Where e'er you tread, the blushing flower shall rise,

And all things flourish, and all things flourish,

Where e'er you turn your eyes, where e'er you turn your eyes

Where e'er you turn your eyes."

It is another glorious day...thank you, dear Lord!

*there is a legend about little mice in the forests, scurrying to safety at the sound of danger.  The mice scurry into the nearby evergreen cones scattered on the forest floor with only their tiny hind feet and tails exposed.  Now you never need go wrong identifying the Douglas Fir tree by its cone.

"He Shall Feed His Flock..."

Those wooly little lambs with the sheep on the hillsides is a thrilling sight.  And I was pleasantly surprised recently when I came upon this little flock not far from where I live and of course it brought Isaiah 41:10 vividly to mind...

"He shall feed His flock like a shepherd...

...He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in his bosom...

and shall gently lead those that are with young."  

And I am comforted.  I miss my dear Al, my husband and friend.  Al left this world just over three months ago to be with the Lord.  He has been safely gathered up into the arms of the great Shepherd.  I miss him but others do too- my dear children, grandchildren, his sisters and family and friends miss him.

 I paid a short visit to his grave-site early this afternoon.  First I drove by my parents graves and thanked God for them.  They gave me a goodly and godly heritage.  Just down from there I passed my sister Erica's grave, and thanked God for her. By now I had to shed a few tears and thought that was okay.  Approaching Al's grave I took fresh courage and stood for sometime at the foot of it.  The air was warm and fresh and beautiful, fragrant with blossoming tree and shrub.  I thanked God for the terrific man He had given me for almost 46 years.  Life is not so vibrant and beautiful and fun and meaningful for me right now, living in this new dimension.  I miss the dynamics of our every day life, the ups and the downs, the comings and goings.  I miss Al's wonderful care for me, his gentle spirit, his love and his faithfulness.  Time and again when observing the Mallards on the lake I notice the drake and hen faithfully together.  Yet the other day I observed the mama duck alone with her one duckling.  I was wondering if she missed her mate. Geese apparently mate for life.  What a beautiful testament.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."  Revelation 21:4

Under His Wings

I had been watching for them.  After my first missed photo-op of these beautiful downy-coated goslings, I remembered to take my camera.  A few days later I spotted them at the far end of the pond, in fabulous formation with  mama in the lead and papa bringing up the rear and the little ones gracefully gliding along.   It was too far away and again, no picture.  But yesterday, there they were foraging for goodies near the walkway, all fourteen of them - 14- and oh the protectiveness of the parents...

...goslings, unconcerned looking for goodies...

...goose and gander both so vigilant...

...papa hissing at another goose trying to crash the party...

...an unfamiliar sound brings them all scurrying to water's edge...

...but they don't go in...

I think mama is saying,
 "Enough swimming for the day...you're nice and dry and it's almost bedtime."
 It was beautiful and reminded me of my Heavenly Father who keeps me safely under his wings. 

"He will cover you with His feathers,
 and under his wings you will find refuge;
 his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." 
 Psalm 90:4

A Saturday morning walk

What a welcome treat to have company on my walk today, a new walk on a trail I'd never done before.  I had often gone to their neighborhood park, with my grandsons, but today was special, a challenge as their Daddy said.

...Jared and Daniel leading the way down Bateman Park road...

...to Stoney Creek salmon habitat...

...beautiful bubbling brook this Stoney Creek...

 Today was special because the challenge to the boys was to ride their bikes along this trail.   So we wound our way around and over this creek...

 ...and through an amazing stand of old-growth trees...

...two diverging cedars from one root source it seems...

...a lovely shady glen...

...one tree within another...

...and even a mothering tree...here we can see four new cedars birthed from the decaying
mother tree...nature doesn't waste anything...

The boys sometimes led, sometimes followed, sometimes rode their bikes, sometimes pushed them when the climb got steep.  But such good troopers they were even when the feet involuntarily slipped into the water.

...such fun adventure for Daniel...

and Jared...

...a beautiful day for a beautiful walk in a beautiful park with two beautiful boys!