Grace & Kakabeka Falls - Day 4 Superior Lake Circle Tour

We found Grace Church on the internet before we came to Ontario and chose it as a place we'd like to attend this morning.

This Ukranian Orthodox building recently became home toGrace Church -- an Evangelical Free Church

 The people were so friendly and welcoming - the message was great. . . they made certain we stayed for coffee 





The interior of the church building had some beautiful features of it's orthodox heritage.

It was one of those churches where you immediately felt at home -- The songs were upbeat and encouraging. As we started the praise time it made me think of  a small part of the verse from Psalm 137, "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?"   

Yes, you can --  and

Sometimes when I am totally away from all that is familiar --is the time when God's messages get through more clearly.  Visiting another church while we travel helps T & me to see how big God's Family is.  

Another blessing  --we sat behind, Francis and her mother from England (don't even know her last name) She just glowed with grace and latched on to us -- (I knew she was a special person as I watched her lovingly care for her aged momma during the worship.)  We talked for the longest and shared some wonderful experiences. 

We saw Kakabeka Falls -- 18 miles west of Thunder Bay -- with the hard rain this morning -- the falls were thunderous!

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.James 4

This picture of the mist over the falls today brought this verse to mind . . . making every day count. . . .life is precious -- love your people well.

This trip has been to refocus - refresh -- renew -- and recreate ---

Particular words for refocus on this trip have come from these portions of the text --
"Except you remain in me and my words remain in you . . . apart from me you can do nothing."

Isa. 65:24 Before they call I will answer;  while they are still speaking I will hear.

Mark 4: Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.  (It struck me that this can be a daily process and a result of choices we make)

I

Thunder Bay - Mount McKay Day 3

We're all about taking our time and living with no schedule -- sooooo after Terry worked on his on-line teaching, we headed out to Mt. McKay overlook --

We had to cross this rickety old bridge to get to the look out -- it held us up -- though I did have my concerns!

So much dates back to late 1700's -- it's an area rich in history with the aboriginals, settlers from Scotland, Finland and Great Britain -- fur trading and exploration to the Pacific Coast











 Later, we made it out to Fort William and were able to watch the video of the early 1700 settlement that became part of the Boston Bay Company -- It is an interactive fort with a drive through exhibit of the early trappers and fur traders.


Spring is just now arriving in Ontario -- the plants resemble early March in OK.

After being at Gooseberry Falls I have been trying to find a Gooseberry Plant.  I grew up with my mom making the berries into pies --

International Gardens in Downtown Thunder Bay

Prices are quite a bit higher here in Canada -- Food prices --  sales tax and gasoline prices out the roof ($135.9 /liter --$5.16 / gal)

Kakabeka Falls will have to wait until tomorrow!

Day 2 Heading North

Today was a gorgeous drive from St. Paul, MN up Highway 61 along the shores of Lake Superior, waves lapping up the shore, tall Aspens and evergreens and the sun shone brilliantly on the water.  

We had the good fortune of finding a tourist information guide right as we started up the North Shore who excitedly told us all the "hot spots" for the best view of the lake.  

Enjoyed the best all fresh fish tacos at Emily's Lighthouse

FYI, there's a lot of great places to stay all along HWY 6` -- 'wish we'd known that b/4 -- but that's what this trip is all about -- DISCOVERY.  

Gooseberry Falls -- it was roaring today because of the 4 inches of rain they'd gotten in the past 2 days.

That gal is lying right on a narrow sea wall above a steep cliff

ve a steepcliff

 We leisurely made our way North all afternoon and what was to be a six-hour trip to Thunder Bay turned into almost nine.  It was worth it -- T even let me check out a yarn shop in one little village.
There were cabins dotting the shore line for miles --it made us wonder what it looks like in winter.

We've had strange responses from people when they would hear we were coming to Thunder Bay for vacation.  My nephew's wife, also from Canada -- asked her mother-in-law -- "Why Thunder Bay? -- I've never heard of anyone vacationing there" -- The Canadian Border Agent asked "What made you choose Thunder Bay as your destination?"  

Don't know if it was an official question to determine if we were doing some illegal business or what everybody seemed to be asking -- i.e. "what would make a sane person choose Thunder Bay Ontario?"  Sort of like the guy at McDonald's tonight who asked why we had come all this way from OK and if we we come on motorcycles. 

Makes you a little leery about this town -- 


It's definitely a port city -- very industrial  -- 110,000 people-- kind of reminds me of Prince George, BC on the other coast.--Not a touristy sort of spot with cute little artsy shops--at first glance more like a coal-mining town.  
BUT -- we've scoured the tourist books and there's a major Fort here, Fort William -- Sunday is an Annual Kite Festival -- there's several gardens -- and we want to locate some community gardens.



Getting to town later in the day, it was hard to get our bearings  -- so glad for their 16 hours of daylight -- otherwise it would have been impossible to find our way back to the motel -- thank you GOD, TB and GPS~
 
The Canadians are living up to their name of being friendly and hospitable.

Taking off - Day 1

It's all gone down but the shout! -- no it's beyond the shout -- School Year 2011-12 is one for the books!
As I finished Tuesday and turned in my last official close of school form, we hit the road for Terry and Jan's Amazing Canadian Adventure and Workcation (As Bethany calls 'em). Ten days to relax, renew  and refocus for the summer and fall classes.  He's teaching two on-line courses while we are away and I want to work on curriculum for this summer's KU which starts the day after we return.  We set out two main objectives and one focus (we're reading Mark's Gospel together out of a different translation.)

Couldn't resist posting a pic of this semester's wedding cake!!!

It's been a great year -- good students --and  teaching with my great friend and co-worker, Marinelle McPherson makes the days even more rewarding.. I enjoyed a new prep this year (Parenting and Child Development) and will have a new one for next year.   -- Financial Literacy  --I'm not teaching Marriage and Family Life next year -- so concluded the year with my last Mock Wedding a week ago.  (Don't know if I'll have the opportunity to teach that class any more -- but after 12 years and 2-4 weddings a year -- it's TIME!)


All roads lead to KC or at least for another week or so and we made a sleep stop at Bethany and Mat's for some Campbell time.  

Had to do a playtime at the park and one last lunch at our favorite restaurant in Prairie Village before the kids move to Tulsa next Thursday.  

 
Bethany and Mat went for their 18 wk ultra sound yesterday afternoon and found that they are having a little girl in late October -- they couldn't be more excited.

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Yesterday we arrived in Jefferson, Iowa in time for dinner with my  younger brother Bill and his wife, Char.  They have a lovely home out in a rural section of Iowa grain fields.  Char is the ultimate hostess and we stuffed ourselves with grilled pineapple chicken and homemade ice cream and a deeeelicious blueberry breakfast cake!!!

   We went to Wednesday night services with them and it was especially meaningful to worship with Bill leading the singing.  Both my brothers take after our  Dad in areas of Church leadership.  I know he's very proud of the part they play in Kingdom work.  

Hiking on their property this morn we found this live tree with the inside hollowed out by disease or a storm - still putting out leaves on top -- but inner core totally gone.  (I feel a sermon illustration coming on)

"One is nearer God's heart in the garden than anywhere else on earth" is the line from a well-known poem.


Those words came to mind when I watched the KU kids last night as they began working  to fill up another 4' square in their garden.  What is it about a pile of dirt and a shovel that can be so transforming???
As they arrived last night they were a little "attitudinal" (you know last day of school stuff) -- I found myself thinking -- can't imagine us getting much accomplished tonight.

 
Sensing we could have a few problems with following rules -- we made up our rules together -- they came up with some pretty  creative ones ("No kicking - I asked one little five year old who gave us that one if we'd had a problem with that before -- she said no, but it's a good rule.")   --then we headed for our garden plots.  them racing for their kid-sized shovels and climbing on the mound of dirt --In only a few moments I watch them relax, start making new friends with kids they had only just met and began slinging dirt into the wheelbarrow.  In a short time the square was full and they got to plant their own row of beans -- You'd have thought it was a priceless treasure they were burying.

In the garden - a grasshopper, a wooly worm or a butterfly captures their undivided interest. In a short time - they are dreaming of the day we'll have a pumpkin patch or how good the beans are going to be in this year's crop.


The kids absolutely LOVE the garden!


There's a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes over them in what they're making together -- creating a garden and building teamwork -- while learning about God's miracles of plant growth --and us praying for the seeds we're planting in soil of their hearts to reap a harvest of deep faith.

Some nights are pretty chaotic -- but it's a sweet conclusion to our evening when we circle up and slurp watermelon or enjoy some veggies and talk about what God is growing and how great our God is! 

Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.  Isa. 61:11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARSHALL!!

You know you're getting old when your baby is turning 30 --  speaks at conferences talking about things you've never heard or even thought of and can operate on the tiniest of critters (his research mice) to the frailest of elderly people.

<------
That's our kid who as a child could wear you out with a bazillion questions ---and was  quick with a comeback -- and then when he was in trouble and about to be disciplined could turn it all around to the point that, pretty soon you felt like you needed to apologize to him.


 --He's leaving his 20's and heading into his 30's.

Katie

AND NOW,  He's engaged to the love of his life!!!!

I just HAD to post some of my favorites . . .

U.

FIRST DAY HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL - BIG SIS BECAME THE JR. MOMMA

DADDY WAS ALWAYS THE ONE FOR SNOW ADVENTURES --

M & B were always partners in play -- from slip n' slides, to camping adventures and ramps from the top of the picnic table for their hot wheels-- Of course he'd never admit it, but he took his cues from his big sis on lots of matters when they were younger

Since his first job as a bag boy for IGA at 15 -- Marshall has worked at something --

Drumming his way through his teens and putting in 4 1/2 years at QT --- while he licensed in airframe and power plant Marshall was never still.  Little ones always loved Marshall -- I think it was his endless energy and because of that he was my
 he was my back-up for Children's ministry when he would come home from OSU for a visit and help me with the preschoolers. He could liven up a class of 5 year olds!

Marshall's always had a plan -- and a course to pursue  whether it was becoming a world famous drummer (his excuse for not needing to do homework his freshman year in high school)  or pursuing a dream of becoming a pilot and entering the Naval Academy.  When he discovered his love for the science of medicine he was able to devote countless hours prepping for those big exams.

 Marshall has always thought the world was right at your back door and loved to travel!  This was in Jasper Canada during his semester at Northern British Columbia CA - He went to Europe to see his friends after college and India and Nepal for a medical rotation.  Where to next???

We've never had a lot, Marshall- but the wealth of our family was in all the fun times we got to share together --whether it was  family projects or having company --traveling in the old airstream -- or seeing different parts of the world on various overseas missions--going with Daddy while he preached in different places.   Whatever we have been able to invest in your's and Bethany's lives will reap untold benefit for good in the lives of others.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARSH 



We love you,
Mom & Dad