Airports in Canada in March

For the funeral, I flew in some smaller planes for short distance flights (in Canada not so very short distance).  At home, it was -30 below that morning, when leaving.  But the time at the airport was magical.  A woman was playing Bach on a piano just outside the security area in in front of the big windows by Starbucks closest to the viewing area.  The seating was on park benches by the big glass front, and the effect was very uplifting.  I did get myself a cup at Starbucks--though I think I am boycotting them, I forget why, just now.  (What a world.)  I am also boycotting Paypal, I forget why, also.  They wrote me a note the other day, to please come back and use them.  It must be getting tough for them.

Upon leaving at the other end, I thought it was quite magical, too. The sun was rising over the mountains fringing the lower mainland valley.  I had a nice little banter over word usage with a man just before and during security.  He had walked the whole maze before getting to security and I had skipped through them by the side, missing about 20 meters of useless maze-walking.  We tried to find the best words for what I had done.  He thought I had "got purchase".  I thought I had taken "licence".  Anyways, there were a lot of business travelers and they were a lively lot, reading books and talking things over.

Managed to get away to Canmore once more / Summer 15

Some of my family live in Canmore in the Canadian Rockies, not far from the famous town of Banff in the National Park, only an hour or so from the even more famous Lake Louise and many world class ski hills...

A lovely place.  Here are a few new pictures.

We had some elderly among us, so we enjoyed the scenery mostly from restaurant patios, this time.  On the way down to Canmore, it snowed.  On the way back, the sky was full of smoke from forest fires from the Pacific Northwest.  But while we were there, the sky was just splendid, as you can see.

Maui 6 / Plants

Bamboo forest in the Beyond (after Hana)--an amazing hike.

Orchids in the Walmart Gardening Center.

You cannot imagine the shock of coming back to Alberta, in February, after this.

In Vancouver they wore boots.  In Edmonton the full gear was needed:  boots, hats, scarfs, coats.  It seemed like we had been on an intergalactic flight and ended up on a different planet, as everything was covered in deep snow...

Maui 5 / Sunrise

The sun rises over the Haleakala volcano at 7:00 AM.  On the way to snorkeling.

Maui 4 / Sunsets / Yoga

One thing to do, while in Hawaii, is to watch the sunsets.  Honolulu faces west.  Kihei and Lahaina face west, so this is the natural habit for every evening.  I, too, thought it would be fun to capture myself some sunsets, as they are provided free of charge and some of the most spectacular events for us to enjoy innocently and gratefully. 

The first night we were there, we hurried down to the beach, just after 6:00 PM.  We arrived barely in time.  One moment the sun hung above the water like in the first picture below, and in the next second it had set completely.  We don't have such rapid sunsets up north.  I suggested that the reason must be that the earth is thicker in the middle and flatter on the top.  A greater part of the circumference has to be covered in the same amount of time;  hence, the sunset seems hurried.  Makes sense to me, but shocking at the moment of observation.  

From then on, we gave ourselves a little more time, so we could see the sun, when it was still a few degrees above the horizon.  

It is quite interesting to view the people congregating on the beach for this daily ritual. There is the picture snapping, the last few dips in the water, the sticking your toes in, the hand-holding, the yoga poses.  Yes, there was one lady who sat in poses and then did a sun salutation.  I watched her.  Interesting.

My drop-in class yoga teacher in my home town wears a big cross.  I said to my daughter that I will wear a cross, too, just so people don't think I am a devotee.  

My floor exercises have done me much good.  I have learned to really enjoy my exercise and perform it anywhere and in a confined space.  I need my I-pad, my Bluetooth headset, and my mat.  And I am ready to go. I fuse all the different things I know how to do, and make sure I do at least 30 push-ups, and a minute of plank, etc.  I can mix and match things up, as I feel like it.  I can get through the hours and hours of music I have put on my I-pad.  It works.

If  I wanted to do a sun salutation at sunset (I have not yet wanted to do that), I think I would hesitate, as I don't salute the sun, actually.  I don't know what the Yogi thinks about at sun salutation.  I don't expect he or she thinks about too much, as they are not supposed to think, really, during practice.  

I don't know.  I'll let that one be. As the Bible tells us, the universe pours forth speech in which God is glorified.  God is glorified in the beauty of the sunset.  Something opens up our souls and makes us breathe deeply.  Something makes us love and rejoice.  It is not the sun per se.  It is the maker of the sunset.--Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him all creatures here below.  Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

Maui 3 / Haleakala / Volcanoes / God and gods

The first major excursion was to the top of the great volcano Haleakala that forms the south east portion of the island.  Our grown children were with us, and you can see them here hiking ahead of us on the sliding sands trail-- It was not my first volcano.  When we were young, Martin and I had a trip up the active mount Etna on Sicily.  The other year, we reached to near the top of several volcanoes on the west coast of the United States, Mount Ranier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams.  It was a stunning trip that our relations in Vancouver, surprisingly had never taken, though they lived so near.

A volcano is terribly impressive.  On the way up, in the car, I thought about how tall 10,000 feet are when rising right from sea level.  The Greeks have a Mount Olympus, which is about the same height, on which they thought the gods lived.  The Japanese have Mount Fuji, which I have seen from the Shinkansen.  The Japanese still worship at outdoor shrines.

 A volcano seems a living thing:  it could break out again, it may have active side vents, it may  have a little steady lava flow here and there.  On its slopes are often verdant forests or fields for grazing, or dazzling glaciers.  It is a monstrously impressive beast.  Definitely very huge for one thing.

On the south east side of Haleakala lies Hana.  We took the famous road to Hana, with its 52 one-lane bridges and breath-taking sights of ocean, waterfalls, forests and cars coming around the bend, all in turn or at the same time.  We loved Hana.  We enjoyed hiking to the waterfall.  We enjoyed the Piilani.  You can see it below.  A great garden was arranged around the ruins with plaques explaining about various plants and crops. My husband found it all very instructive.  I thought it stunningly beautiful.

While on the Hana side of the mountain, I thought about a simile, how God could be like a volcano.  We live and breathe on it, plant our food on it, are nurtured and elevated by it, while mostly unaware of its power.  It could break out.  Or it could peacefully supply us with all necessities and lovely vistas. It is entirely beyond our control.  We can't placate it.  We can't bribe it.  It could throw us into the ocean with barely any notice.  But presently, we snooze on it, enjoying its breath-taking life.

In the Bible we don't have much about volcanoes, as there are none in the region of Israel.  We have Mount Sinai and we have Mount Zion, which represent Law and Gospel, respectively. Truly, it is a more advanced way to contemplate mountains, than to think that the gods sits on them or that the mountain itself should be worshiped.  Still the volcano can serve as a kind of symbol, I thought that day.

I said to my son-in-law that I would bet there was human sacrifice on top of those steps.  I am guessing.  It would not be surprising.  The Bible, too, would have done away with that.  God always provided a substitute, as apparently, sacrifice has to be.

Maui 2 / Hibiscus pictures

Ok, ok, here are the hibiscus pictures.  The purple-ish one is the most unusual one to me.

Winter holiday / Maui 1 / diet and excercise

Forgive me, and don't be jealous, please, while winter raged, here, I have been on my second holiday to warmer climes, this season. -- We are not going to be snowbirds, but we may indulge, in our old age, God willing and as long as we are able, in the odd winter holiday; especially since my husband does hard work in the hospital all summer, when everyone else goes away...

So, we went to Maui for the first time, ever.  It was so very lovely.  The property we stayed on boasted a garden with all colors and types of  hibiscus, oleander and bougainvillea.  There were innumerable other kinds of blooming bushes and trees.

For the first time ever, I began doing my stretches, yoga and push-ups out of doors, on the trusty mat which I had brought along.  I noted a spot where I observed other people do that sort of thing, coming and going in the morning for their various sessions.  When I laid on my back, I could look up into a tree canopy.  What a discovery, after looking at ceilings and always being cooped up!  It seems a rather crazy thing to do even.

Since you have seen many pictures of flowers in your lifetimes, I will share with you the tree canopy pictures, for today.  Sometimes, my husband came along to guard me, while reading his book.  He should have exercised, too, but what can you do...  (His BMI is better than mine, so who am I to talk.)

I shall add, and brag, that I lost two pounds while on holiday and even while eating out, a lot.  I stuck closely to Costco cabbage salad, sardines, low-carb protein bar.  We had high-fibre bread in the morning.  When out, I ate a lot of fish and shrimp. My favorite place was the Cheeseburger Restaurant in Lahaina, which is right on the ocean, on the main street.  In fact, it is a famous main street:  a sign was on the road saying it had been declared a notable street in the US.   I had the raw tuna.  Martin had a BLT burger.  There must have been ten slices of bacon on it.

My sister phoned me today.  She plans to loose 12 kilos by the end of June.  She wanted me to set a goal.  I set a number that is 17 pounds lighter than today.  This would mean I should loose one pound per week until then.  It could be a realistic goal.

Also, see my favorite spot in Lahaina.  At the Cheeseburger, I had fish. The server was fun and efficient and from Montreal, Canada.  80% of the people on Maui seemed to be from Canada.  Next door was a beautiful Gelato shop with the deck overhanging the beach and ocean.  I was sorely tempted on the Gelato side of things, but the deck was full, and what is Gelato without hanging over the ocean?  Na.  It's cold, but all sugar.  Not good.

Arizona Trip / 3 / Church

Last Sunday, we attended divine service in Farmington, New Mexico, where a dear friend is serving as minister.  He is a blogger and a fine theologian, found here, at Expository Lutheran.

We had a Bible study on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed from the Large Catechism.  The children's lesson was also about the Creed.  The sermon was on the Parable of the Talents. --  One servant was given so many and produced so much.  Another so many...  Another buried his gifts in the ground saying that the King was a hard master! It is our job to tell others the Good News.  -- Take a gamble.  Take a jab at it.  You never know.  Use your talents.  Do Something.

Arizona Trip / 2 / November

This is a picture I took from the side of the road heading north from Kayenta toward Monument Valley on the Hopi and Navajo reservation. It was a very dramatic place.

As we were heading east on the 160 we came down from a plateau as the town lay below us.  There was a darkening sky to the east looking like a big rain storm and in front of it was heading a dust storm.  I was driving while my husband, who had caught a cold at the Grand Canyon, was sleeping.  I  decided to wake him up just to see this.

It did rain all the rest of the way to Farmington, after that.  And in Farmington it snowed on Sunday. We stopped at the Four Corners monument, too, where everything was slippery in red wet desert mud. My husband wanted to see the Four Corners very much, because he had seen it on "Breaking Bad."  I found it a little underwhelming as an tourist attraction, but my husband was very satisfied and had his picture taken standing in all four States, at the same time.  (This is quite something.  He never asks to have his picture taken...)

We noticed that many of the towns on the reservation had new McDonalds restaurants.  The burgers were well priced, as there was no tax charged on them.  The Wifi comes in handy, too.  Altogether a great drive.

Arizona Trip 1

Dear Blog:  I have been on a holiday.  It was very lovely.  We saw many wonderful things, met friends and family, and had languid dinners on warm patios, wine, dessert...

(Now I have to get back on my diet.  First protein day, today.  Egg.  Sardines.)

This is my favorite picture, from a favorite place, the artisans' market area in Sedona, down by the river.  We had an outdoor lunch at the Secret Garden, and it was just so beautiful and peaceful to sit there.

The picture is of the seasonal centerpiece of a fountain in the shopping village.  I bought some new age music from a man playing by the canal.  The CD is titled "Sedona Nights".  He said it was inspired by belly dancing music.  I gave him some snake arms and hip drops.  His flyer said that he does past-life regressions, at  $225 for two hours. Not a bad salary, eh?  All the personal testimonies in the flyer had to do with trouble with commitment, issues with mother and wives.  --  It makes you wonder.

My sister-in-law bought a bracelet.  Men sat on benches and in niches waiting for their women to finish shopping...  My husband and his brother sat in the Secret Garden, hopefully not dealing with with their problems with women in their lives. -- I doubt it.  They never talk about us.  Maybe they need a therapist to help them come to grips with the subject matter...  :)  Hehe.

Summer 2014 / What can we glean from this summer?

One more day of holiday, as it is the long weekend, and the full fall schedule is going to come down like a hammer.  The weather is paralleling the mood, by featuring grey skies and cool breezes--time to gather up our resources and fling ourselves into a new life of darker evenings and mornings, and fires, different kind of work, and so on.

There are many things that happened this summer I did not write about, but my favorite events are always meeting one on one with a person and having time to converse in depth.  I have met with several new salespeople, this year, someone who sold and installed security systems, our new property insurance people, an Israeli who sold skin care lotion from the Dead Sea, at the mall.  Some have flattered me, no doubt to help with the sales process, and some were genuinely interested, in that salespeople are often extroverts who really do enjoy other people.  On the other hand, I have hosted other women in my garden for tea and talked about life.  These are satisfying encounters.

Living in this part of the world, you are always dealing with individuals from diverse backgrounds.  There are recent immigrants, there are immigrants from various decades representing various waves.  There are people from Eastern Europe, from Japan, from the Philippines, from India, from Saudi Arabia, and there are also the pioneers, the Quebecois, and the indigenous people. It is really quite a melting pot and Canadians as a whole are very much a tolerant people, sometimes one might think to a fault.  It is a wonderful place to live.  If you don't have a chance to go away and travel, you can always meet a new person in the vicinity.  XO

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person;  having neither to weigh thoughts nor to measure words but to pour them all out, just as it is, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away."  George Eliot. 

What a beautiful saying.  I didn't know that George Eliot was a women.  It makes some sense.

Going North

I'm preparing to go North, again to serve in a community.  You may keep me and the team in your prayers, if you will.

September

Well, now it's October and I should be finishing the Becker.  If you are interested you might like to have a look at my pictures, as I was able to enjoy a very interesting holiday with my husband looking up relatives, as well as Facebook friends.  We drove down the coast of Washington state and Oregon returning via seeing the mountains of the coastal region.

The reading material along the way consisted of reading the collected works of Flannery O'Connor, American novelist and short story writer.  She has been mentioned much among my Facebook friends and she has certainly been a great discovery for me and my husband.  She rounded out the American experience for us.  The theology behind the stories made for great food for thought and discussion along the way.

Mount Hood on the South Face

Mount Hood's North Side with Orchards

 

From the lighthouse at Cape Disappointment

Oregon coast with rain

Astoria, Oregon

Mount Rainier at Paradise

Mount St. Helens from the closest observatory

Brothers and Sisters

I went up north with a team and it was the most wonderful experience.  There were a number of us and we barely knew each other and we were supposed to gel in no time flat and coordinate a weeks worth of activities for a town.

There were Lutherans from more than one synod, and Lutherans from the same synod with different spiritual temperaments.

We were people with varied gifts but not different outlooks.  We were instantly welded together by God's grace.    We complemented each other and bore each other.  We are all floored by this.  Thanks be to God.

Ineffable

The Lord's gifts are unspeakably amazing.

Back from a lovely trip to California