In the last few days, we have visited several waterfalls and listened to their roar. Psalm 42:7 mentions “the roar” of God’s waterfalls. The pictures below are from Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes section of New York state. Amazing scenery supplemented by lots of water.
More pictures coming . . . . TLT
This is a new stage of life — not going to work every morning. How can that be? — there is always work to do. Oh, what I mean is not going to work for pay. I am still working; just working at some different kinds of things.
But I like going to meetings, developing proposals, and calculating various statistics. Oh well, I will have to make my own meetings, proposals, and statistics. There is a lot on the social security and medicare front to be calculated over the next several months.
Let’s just say for now that I am not working for the summer. Who knows what
September will bring?? Maybe some new opportunity. In the meanwhile, there is father-in-law’s grass to mow!
There is much to note in the first chapters of the book of Isaiah, the prophet. I reflect on the following from the English Standard Version:
Notice the phrases: learn to do good. . . neither shall they learn war anymore.
The old spiritual says, “Ain’t going to study war no more.” What would life be like if we stopped studying war between nations, between tribes, between families, between individuals, within families, within marriages, within organizations?
What if we gave our energies instead to learning what is good? As our pastor said last night, what if I gave my energies to doing what is good for you and what if you gave your energies to doing what is good for me?
A number of years ago, when we were going through a challenging time, a couple of friends showed up at our door with the movie, The Gods Must be Crazy. We had a wonderful time, laughing together. From this act of goodness expressed to us in the midst of their busy lives, we received great encouragement which we still remember and, in a sense, still experience today.
The Apostle Paul says this another way:
. . . . TLT
Well, we have some of the boxes emptied and as you can imagine “she who must be obeyed” wants the old boxes p
ut in the trash right away. So contrary to my high view of beautiful boxes extrapolated in my May 7th post, it looks like the trash for these worthy helpers.
But wait, maybe there is someone who needs them for another move! Shouldn’t we store them for the future? . . . for the eventuality that we or others might need them? . . . someday? . . . . TLT
I am sitting here looki
ng at the slide show of all the beautiful people at Tyndale and listening to the Boston Pops playing their usual mood music (for some of you, that means “elevator music”). So many good memories of working together on myriad projects . . . thanks to Sharon and all who helped in putting the side show together. I have it set as a screen saver on my computer for the next while and so I see your smiling faces regularly as the pictures cycle through.
Would you believe that the weather has been colder here than it is in Toronto? But that will change soon. It is just a cool, damp time here and the flowers, grass, and 
weeds are growing at quite a pace. This is what one could call “English weather.” There will have to be lots of lawn work as soon as the sun comes out.
Yesterday was the day for lots of transitional paperwork on the car and drivers’ licenses which is now done and we are thankful. Joyce managed to “catch” a stomach bug over the weekend, so our progress has been a bit slower than she would wish. But wonderful friends here already had goodies on hand for us to eat, which we have really enjoyed and appreciated.
Our great thanks to all of you who helped in the transitions with moving and loading boxes and taking us out to eat at such special places and also the farewell reception and cake. We are so blessed and loved!
The pictures are of the overgrown garden except the last one which represents Yan’s lunch at the Jerusalem restaurant . . . . TLT
We made the trip (650 miles; 1000 kilometers) from Toronto 
to Wilmore safely, arriving here today a little after 5 p.m. We had lots of rain — sometimes rather heavy — sometimes just drizzle. There was no cruise control on the truck, so it was a challenge to keep it running at a constant speed and for Joyce following along trying to keep pace.
However both the truck and the car had no troubles but used lots of gasoline which tends toward the expensive (under-statement), as you all know.
The countryside here seems a little like a jungle (green and overgrown) since there has been so much rain. We will have plenty of mowing and trimming to do.
The pile of mail is overwhelming but most seems to be advertisements.
Thanks to all those who helped with the loading and packing. I am sorry that we cannot reveal your identity to the world without a security release. Nevertheless, we thank the Lord for all of you! And He knows who you are. . . . TLT
Less than four days to go! It will be sad to leave our friends here at Tyndale. They have embraced us as family and we are forever grateful. The happy part is that more friends await us back in Wilmore. How blessed we are! A friend here in Toronto, thinking about us moving back “home”, was wondering what our home in Wilmore is like. So for her, and perhaps others of our friends here, I’m including some pictures of Talbott House. Sure will be good to be able to work outside in my own yard! . . . jlt
Well, we are in the midst of cardboard boxes. Not really that many since we are not moving a whole household of stuff–only an apartment’s worth.
I have always liked cardboard boxes. They are just nice and you can use them to make stuff like forts and armor and science projects and also use them as places to store junk you do not need–ever.
I have this theory that there should be a finite number of box sizes. Everything in the world should fit into a small, medium, or large box. The fact that there are an infinite number of sizes and shapes of boxes insults my structuring of the universe.
Then, there is the battle wit
h Joyce over keeping boxes. She is for getting rid of them right away. I am for keeping them (the nice ones) in case I have to send something back or in case I have to move something sometime. Computer boxes are definitely defined as “nice”–in case you are wondering.
Now, for this move, I am making Joyce put almost everything in a box — no loosey-goosey stuff. That will, of course, make the truck easier to pack. (Speaking of geese, several Canada geese couples have hatched their goslings on our campus doorstep and thus are spending or have spent a lot of time squawking to keep us humans in check.) In truth, it does appear that there are some things that will not fit in boxes but will have to go on the truck anyway.
Oh well, this is sounding a little obsessive compulsive.
I guess I will go and pack another box! . . . . TLT
My sweet friends, Sheri, and Josh and Nyah, came by this morning to say good-bye. During this past school year I’ve been “helping” Sheri with homeschooling her two—Josh who is six and Nyah who is five. (Of course there’s also Scott [Dad], but he’s busy all week trying to keep Tyndale’s facilities—physical plant—running well. Not a small job!) S
heri and Josh and Nyah and I have typically spent a morning each week together. We’ve played with magnets, we’ve tried to grow flowers from seed, we’ve colored and decorated Easter eggs; we’ve played the games Set and Ten Days in Asia; one week we went to the Ontario Science Center; and yesterday we went to Edward’s Gardens. Josh and Nyah have been my surrogate grandchildren—mine are woefully far away! They have sung for me, danced for me, run races (with me counting out the seconds), written precious notes to me—they have loved me! Sheri has been my good friend as we have simply lived life together for a few hours each week. Today Sheri and Josh and Nyah came with these flowers you see, and loving notes, as well. Thank you, Dear Friends. I love you, too! . . . . jlt
This morning our friends hosted a wonderful farewell brunch for us. It was delightful! Lizzie made luscious crêpes, giving us a selection of toppings such as raspberry/chocolate and nutella/banana, accompanied by real whipped cream, of course! Then there were scrambled eggs, bacon, multiple fruit options, a plate of watermelon, and juice and Starbucks’ coffee. Sheri and Scott, Sandy and Lorne, Adriel and Daniel, and Lizzie and Ben, along with six little ones, blessed us with their presence and well-wishes. After a wonderful brunch we laughed and hooted as we 
attempted to outwit the other team playing Catch Phrase. I think we finished in a tie. (And little Cora and Jonathan, Liviya and Abe, and Josh and Nyah were pretty much the world’s most ideal children—playing happily together or just being beautiful babies!) Then came the gorgeous cake that Sheri made! You can see it above. It was the culmination of our special morning together. How thankful we are that God has given us wonderful friends to bless us during our Toronto sojourn. It just doesn’t get much better than this! . . . . jlt
 | Melanie Kierstead on Becoming Poor |
 | Jane Wang on Becoming Poor |
| Kierstead, Melanie on New Beautiful Cushions |
 | Sandylegrow on Jeremiah |
 | adrieldriver on Jeremiah |
Hillside Laughter 