Celebrating Victoria by-the-sea

   

    What is a blessing or to be blessed? 

   
   My dictionary describes it thus — “to invoke God’s favour upon; make happy; fortunate or prosperous; to praise or extol; a fortunate occurrence; approval." 
  

   The meaning I’ll use for now is — “a fortunate occurrence,” one that took place in my life last weekend. 

   

   I had the privilege of spending a weekend enjoying beautiful Victoria, the lovely city “by the sea.” 

   Our two-bedroom suite overlooking the harbour was comfortable and so adequate for James, Karen and myself. 

      

   James made an excellent choice when booking earlier. Close by, were interesting stores which Karen and I enjoyed checking out and of course, walking away with a few purchases. 

   We enjoyed delicious meals at the Canoe restaurant nearby. Karen recalled her dad telling of his wartime days being stationed during the entire time, near Victoria at the Esquimalt Air Force base. 

   It was during this period in Nels’ life that he was introduced to Jesus by a Christian friend, under a lamppost on one of these city streets. 

   So we decided we would choose for our Sunday worship, the same church her Dad had attended and that became so special to him in his early Christian journey. 

   

   All in all, our island adventure was a lovely one, and for me, so reminiscent of the lovely trips he and I used to share together there. 

   Of course, a highlight and the main reason for our visit, was to attend my eldest grandson Jonathan’s graduation from the University of Victoria. 

   

   What a thrill for me to see another grandchild walk across the stage, this time Jonathan James, to receive his degree, a neurobiology major. 

   Last year, it was Ashton Brooke’s year to shine as she graduated from the University of B.C. in Vancouver. 

   I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father who has permitted me to still be around and physically able to attend special events of my dear grandchildren, and also to enjoy my dear, great grand-children. 

   

   That was also an added blessing as I spent time having lunch, visiting Krista and Nathan with their two lovely daughters, Evelyn and Melissa. 

   The good life for me continues at the Okanagan Chateau. Plenty of entertainment to choose from, or not, lovely weather calling me for a walk, perhaps on an errand to the nearby mall, or just laze about on my generous patio. 

   

   I'm looking forward to a visit from Roger this weekend as he passes through on his way to Calgary to visit his son Brayden, who is now working in the city there.
Blessings! 

   Until another time, may God’s favour continue to rest upon you all.

— beulah

Time to hit the refresh button

     

     Today, upon rising, I felt really grateful for my good health and the ability to enjoy the precious gift of another lovely day. 

   
     Feeling a sense of awe that I am blessed in so many ways, I make my way down to breakfast awaiting me in the dining room. 

     Today, I would like to see those around me with fresh eyes. How can I concentrate on seeing hearts, not just appearances. 

     I believe I am often blind and too occupied with visible things to recognize my Heavenly Father’s Presence around me and in other’s lives. 

     I pause for a brief chat with one of our servers, who obviously begins her day very early — just to be here to graciously serve me and others. I was glad to have that moment to share my appreciation with her. "...man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b). 

     I would like my life to be more about, "the heart of things.” 

     The endless bombardment of ads, trains us to have eyes for much that is not always that important, as they often absorb our minds with shallow surface things. 

     These days, the subject of "sex” and the #Me
Too Movement seems to be confronting us — front, back and centre on the newsstands and in our daily news broadcasts. 

     

     I’ve been somewhat impressed hearing about the Catholic Bishop’s Sex Abuse Summit recently held in Vatican City — the Pope now pushing for zero tolerance and accountability from the Catholic Church.

     The long over due silence surrounding abuse, but now confessions from the clergy, many would say, is a positive step in the right direction. 

     A recent report — during the years between 1960 and 2016, we’re told, 6,700 priests have been accused of abusing children. Victims were silenced, as the abuse was covered up with the Catholic church destroying the files. 

     Now, the news media seems to think they have to expose the past sins of some of our former politicians. Perhaps it might help us to remember that we live in a fallen world, and all of us have and do sin in one way or another, and is one sin any greater than another in God’s eyes? 

     

     That is why we all desperately need the saving grace of Jesus, the only sinless human being that ever lived on our great planet Earth.

     It might help us to remember — Numbers 32:22 
"You may be sure that your sin will find you out."   

— beulah                                            

Snapshots from my family album: My father’s house

     “As long as our hearts are still beating and there’s breath in our lungs, our story is still being written.”

 — Unknown

     Now, already well into another new year, I am encouraged by Jesus’ words… "Do not let your hearts be troubled. 
     Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. 
     I am going there to prepare a place for you. 

     And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” 

— John 14:1-3

    I have faint recollections of my father’s house — the home where my father was born. 

     It was in a small community outside of Sackville, N.B., called Midgic Station. 

     As a young child, I recall our family occasionally visiting there on a quiet, Sunday afternoon. 

     A special black and white snapshot in our family album showed my Daddy’s home. With several family moves, that physical image has seemed to also have moved and now is nowhere in my collection. 

     I was fortunate to have a loving father that worked hard, caring for the needs of his growing family. 

     Fond memories include, occasionally being tucked into bed at night and Dad sharing a story with me or just chatting about my day. 

     Most families were large in those days, probably as the convenience of birth control was not yet in vogue. I was the “tail end of the litter” — the youngest of seven siblings.

     At my appearance, along with me came a twin sister, whose life on this earth was only for a few days. 

     I’m told she was the largest, and seemed the healthiest. However, it was not in God’s plan for her to remain a part of our earthly family. So he took her on ahead to our Father’s house. 

     Meanwhile, and much later, I am still wondering the “why” of it all. 

     The house in which I was born — dubbed “the house on the hill,” could also be called my “father’s house.” 

     I learned it was a specially designed home by my father for his growing family. It had many delightful features and was somewhat the dream home for my Mom. 

     Objections were heard from my five sisters when plans were being made for a trade — a move to an aging farm house, complete with barn, a few cattle and a small acreage. 

     My Dad’s reasoning — “I can’t feed my children on just a house.” 

     It would be from this farm house that both my mom and dad moved on to their “Father’s house” — their heavenly home. 

     While on earth, Jesus often reassured His friends “not to fear,” he was making arrangements for them in his father’s house. (John 14:1-3) 

     He also says to us, “I’ve got this. Nothing will get to you that didn’t get past me first. Fear not! I am with you.” 

     So this same assurance, which he gave them is the same provision awaiting us, his children. He wants us to be with him forever in his Father’s house. 

     Some say, talking about Heaven feels almost like writing out your will and so we don’t want to think about it. It is just that our finite minds cannot possibly comprehend the wonder of it all.  

     My life has been rather busy since the entrance of the new year. I was blessed to have had a delightful visit with Andrew and Melissa in January, a Penticton day-trip to enjoy shopping and sight-seeing, a movie at the local theatre, The Return of Mary Poppins and recently, a live show featuring The Marvellous Wanderettes — a birthday gift from my daughters and, an overnight retreat with the Resurrection Anglican ladies' group. 

     Now, the frigid cold keeps me inside, enjoying the warmth of my fireplace in my cozy apartment, writing and doing lots of reading. 

     

     My most recent book is, The Upside of Hunger by local author Roxi Harms. She recently visited our home to share her writings with residents here. 

     I have just returned from an enjoyable hymn sing with Gordon who regularly comes to bless us with music. 

     Life remains good in the (sometimes) sunny, but cold Okanagan.



— beulah