Lake Louise

Half a reflection on the Vermillion Lakes

The Magnificent Rockies

Well it's a week and a half later, so I haven't really kept up with my resolution, but I'm back on to share the incredible week we had last week.

I really can't say much, the photo will tell a thousand words. I'm just very thankful that we had this opportunity, as it certainly brought me closer to my God as the Creator of the universe.
Every blessing He pours out I can only respond in praise, thanks & wonder.

After joining the Calgary meeting for fellowship on Sunday morning and just about doubling their numbers we picked up the hired vehicle and Shann drove us to up to our first destination, Banff.

Up to Date with Blog in Calgary!!!

Finally, can't believe it, but it's Saturday and we arrived in Calgary last night. Niccy and Cory picked us up in two's from the airport and this morning we commenced our rockies adventure.

I don't know how to describe the magnificence of the mountains and the greenness of the lakes, but today we had a taste of the week to come, and we were silenced by the beauty of our Creator's hand. None can compare to God most high... Stand Still.

Wow... so breathtaking.
At one point I couldn't make up my mind which side of the car to take the photo out of the views were that amazing.

We had a picnic lunch today by a lake and watched them fly fishing, would be cool to learn some day. Not sure if it's an Australian thing or not. I probably just haven't seen it yet.

We set out on a bear trail. It's all over Mum - don't worry. and don't think about it too much...we know the necessary precautions to take next time we meet a bear in the forrest.
The trail followed a creek up the mountain, with clear crystal cold water. Balanced on logs several times to cross the stream. Saw a beavers den today.

Tonight we had cyc and did the readings at Cory & Niccy's house. So cool to have fellowship with bro and sis all round the world.

It's time for me to go... I've had this on my mind for a while and my posts will now *hopefully* be more interesting as they'll be current and not just telling a story.
Please keep in touch. I love getting mail. God be with you all.

Heading West... stop in Detroit

The last week and a half have been very full of good times.
It was really only this last week that I actually started caring about playing Mose in a more competitive style (card game). The other girls, Kate, Shann & Cals had taught Pete and Karly the game during the time I was in Shelburne, so they had it down by the time I arrived. That first evening Tim came round for dinner and we did the readings and then started the card games. We mosed out. It was totally Brutal.
Managed to have quite a few servings of Icecream and cereal throughout the evening and morning.
Why do Americans think that flavoured and coloured cereal is good enough to get the heart foundation tick? Is it because there are other bits in it that balance it out??
Saturday was the corn roast and I enjoyed playing softball..with no scoring..weird. Was cool to see Kathy Betteley again, and to see her little man who wasn't born last time I was here.
Sunday we headed out to Royal Oak for meeting and then in the afternoon went to Livonia for a wedding shower. Totally different to what I'm used to. The couple unwraps their presents together and tells everyone watching who gave the items to them. I found the table tennis table and we spent quite some time playing on it.
A shopping trip later and we were back at the Style's parents helping Aunt Dianne cook up vege's to sort out our cravings.
Monday I went to Mary Style's 12th chemo and was amazed by how brave she is. It was soo good to see her again, and met her family and see their faith.
That evening Peterr & Karrly took us girls round for dinner at John and Kathy's to drop me off. Kathy had made a roast dinner. twas cool.
The next day we made another hospital visit. This time to see Grant. It was amazing. I was very emotional after visiting Mary and feeling her pain, but seeing Grant in hospital was good for me and I left feeling more peaceful. Each day he progresses in some way, and we need to keep praying that these improvements continue on consistently.
We went to Milford bible class that night, and so had been to 3 out of the 4 Detroit meetings in 2 days!
Kathy, Jon and I had a massive brunch the next day. Kathy made the bacon and eggs while I cooked up the pancakes and they tried pancakes the aussie way with lemon and sugar on them (sugar first of course!).
Aunt Lynn Perry took me out for the day and we visited two cidar mills, and partook of hot apple cidar and donuts and the proceeded to enjoy a lovely lunch together before making our way to the fashion outlets.
I'm surprised I could fit anything more in, dinner was spent at the Olive Garden restaurant with Kate & Cals, Pete & Karly and Kathy & I.
Sometime Thursday morning Kathy and I set off for Frankenmuth (an early German settlement). We did think it would be cool to do some shopping, but the furtherest we got was the restaurant. All you could eat. Is anyone surprised that I need to lose weight??? We ate. We took bubs and it was a battle of skills to keep him quiet and eating:-)
Then my bags and I were back at Pete and Karly's and I was saying goodbye to Kathy for who knows how long?? Hopefully we'll all be reunited at Zion really soon.
I packed. I was gold for once in my life. Then Martha came over to say hello and goodybe.
The parents and Dave came round and we had gifts time and then we were eating pancakes and playing apple's to apple's, then the parents went home and we began our last game of MOSE. I WON.

Our final singsong of the Moses Cantata was over and we had to fly to the airport... skates were on. But apparently Detroit is so lax that they'll check you through 5 minutes before boarding. Of course, I get the security check..but they did it in 5 minutes as opposed to the 15 mins in Rhode Island.
We're flying away.... only 2 more legs of the oversea's journey until we're having family time and then heading to India.

Shelburne

Camp Kumah was great in terms of getting to know a smaller group of people (most of whom had stayed on after Manitoulin and we had a good theme of Christ's return to look at for the weekend.
Sunday night the leftovers headed back to John & Lynsday Billington's for a campfire and some laughs.
I was then picked up oh so early the next morning by Ben Bowen and his mother who were heading past Manitoulin on their way to where Ben works.

Then I was heading into the peace of Shelburne and into Lois' arms.
We talked.
And then talked some more while outside watering the vegetable garden, and then just enjoyed the sunshine on the lawn.
Once again, I enjoyed amazing cooking by aunt Dorothy. Was lucky enough to savour some more of her fresh tomato salsa, and made the most of the fresh tomato's.
We spent time helping Kate Abel with Mj's wedding things, and took a couple of trips into town, and also made a very enjoyable hospital visit to Carmel Payne who had fallen off a horse and broken a bone or two.

All too soon Lois was driving me away. Away from the serenity that Shelburne offers... to be driven from Guelph to Toronto by Darryl Finlay and Drew Lawrence and his girlfriend, Kelly.

We toured Church St Church and then found a tasty Indian restaurant and enjoyed Indian cuisine while catching up with Chris and Jen Wubbels and Mike Payne.
I enjoyed the walk long walk to find the water and then hit the Wubbels' for the evening.

Next day it was quite hit and miss for me to get to the bus on time, and I had an interesting time dragging my now disabled case around the subway and then to the bus stop. I did make the bus. I won't hesitate to mention that it was running 5 minutes late.
Toronto airport.. far too busy. Apparently that day was one of the first days that ppl had to arrive for their flights an hour earlier and there were a lot of unhappy people waiting in the queue.
I was blown along the tarmack onto the plane, and didn't really enjoy the bumpy ride that much before arriving into rainy, but humid Detroit.

Singing in Detroit

At lunchtime on Friday I found out that I could travel with Meaghan Abel to Detroit (3 hours away from Hamilton) that afternoon to resing the Manitoulin Cantanta in the hospital to help cheer the Anderson family.
Cals, needing to take things easy after not being well was dropped off at Brantford, and we went on our not so merry way.
After arriving 30 mins late due to a flat tyre (or tire as it's correctly spelt in Canada) we sang our hearts out for them and were all glad when we heard that it had been a source of encouragement to them that night.
We arrived back in Brantford at 3 that morning and only arrived at the first study for camp Kumah 5 mins late. Thankfully we didn't know about Kumah Time then, but we didn't need to worry, as time just flowed during the whole weekend.

Niagra Falls

Thursday Jen Northcott picked us up on her day off and touristed with us to Niagra Falls.

I was as awed as the first time I was there. Such grandeur, such power in the water. I could've watched it for hours topple over the edge of the cliffs. It seemed like the shape of the Canadian falls had changed as well in the last couple of years.
We met up with Kate and Shann and the Hodge's who were hosting the Mitsos's for the week.

Another Maid of the Mist ride.... such a cool thing, and to take another member of my family there. Very Cool to share.

On one side were the falls, amazing and beautiful, and on the other side of the road a building was being errected to serve as further entertainment for man. I just wished that it could've been preserved in it's natural beauty.

We ate our dinner outside overlooking the falls, and then the unnatural lights came out highlighting the water in different colours for further effects.

Looking forward to the time when all amazing creation will be restored to it's natural beauty.

Manitoulin 2007

What a week. What a blessing to be there to learn about such a hero of faith. How many more kindred spirits can someone meet in a week??
It was just so good to catchup with many ppl that i'd met in 2004, and so many new ppl to meet as well. Most of the afternoons I spent out on the lake in a canoe with a friend, just enjoying the peace of the water and the solitude of the place.
Stand still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted amoung the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth.
So much was talked about in the first half of the week theoretically, that we were forced to put into practise from Thursday night when the news of Grant's accident reached the camp. At first it seemed like a nightmare, but the next morning when we heard more news we had to face the facts and believe that our friend was in hospital struggling for his life. If God be for us, WHO can be against us? And from the moment of the crash, miracle has followed miracle. We have to accept whatever the outcome knowing that all things work together for good.
The atmosphere of the camp changed. We had been given an opportunity to put our faith into action, and to fully rely on our Father, as Moses had learnt to do during his life. We worked together. The songs from the Cantanta really helped to lift our spirits on the Friday evening. So many amazing and strengthening thoughts woven into music and lyrics.
And then it was raining, and we were packing up, and moving our beds to the classrooms, and signing the photo's and beating the bus out the driveway, and wearyeyed clambering on board the cheecheeman for some more songs to cheer our spirits as we farewelled Manitoulin Island, and headed towards the pizza hut and on to the corn roast.

We had a little bit of a situation in James Dill's car on the way to the corn roast with Cals who wasn't feeling well, so Robbie and I joined them at a house and helped clean up the mess. Eekkk.. Abi tried to be a nurse, but James had it all downpat.

Then back to the cornroast and more cleanup and smellgood time for the car for the guys who were driving back 12 or so hours to New Jersey that evening. another eeeeeeeeekkk.

Driving back to Hamilton in convoy with Robbie parker, Sean L, Flave, Hannah DB, Levi & Jess, and co we were met with an accident. So we spent a couple of hours on the road with lights flashing and police cars and an ambulance and a tow truck all coming and going. Thankfully noone was hurt, only a car. But emotions are shattered and at the end of a pretty hard week all we wanted to do was rest!
We got back to the Markwith's at 12:30 and at that point decided that we would need to be sleeping in the next morning.

I was dropped round to Jen Northcott's and she drove Cals and I to the dinner of operation Monday. Unfortunately there hadn't been much operating on our behalf but there had already been some response to the leafletting when we arrived.

We spent the next couple of hours ferrying ppl to Brantford and enjoyed a last Timmy's experience with Kristin LoBello.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPP followed.

Then it was time to be treated to a Pennyslavanian Wood brunch.

A picnic down by the harbour followed after many hours and then we were being picked up by Steve and Cheryl McKay and driven to Cambridge to stay with Beth and Johnnie Abel.

Unfortunately my nurse act was called upon again the next morning. This time with no James. Weird sort of virus... you're sick, then feel fine and a couple of days later are sick again. Well... we just sort off hung out, and helped Cals get well at the Abel's. Sad but true. Learned that Jelly in Australia is 'Jello' over in Canada and helpful things like that. Poor Beth, she looked after Cals so well.

Parkerville

Time in New Jersey was great. It was just so lovely to spend quality time with another friend (Michelle, I'm missing you already) who I haven't seen in 3 years. We had lots of intense chats which were so long overdue. Most of them started way after midnight and as a consequence most of our mornings were spent catching up on sleep.
We had a bible class at Garfield (I'm thinking the whole ecclesia are Italians) on Acts by Todd Llindeblad (sP?) and then visited James Dill's house on the way to the guys flat for some more fellowship in singing time.
I really loved my time with Michelle and twas nice to get to know more of her family. Thanks so much Linda Jean and Robbie for looking after us.
At the end of the week we managed to pile most of our luggage (yes, we packed way too much) into Robbie's little black car and started the 12 hour ride to Hamilton listening to 'in him was life' the whole way. Robbie, I think of you whenever I hear that CD now!!
We spent the night before catching the ferry at the Markwith's in Hamilton. Was cool to meet another amazing family who were so hospitable. This worldwide family of ours are just so hospitable.
Then it was up early... far to early.... and hitting the Ferry.
Wow... we caught the later Ferry with the bus, and all the aussie's were there so it was cool to swap stories and fill in the 2 weeks between UKYC & Manitoulin.

And then.... we were driving down the long road, and finding Aunt Joan, and setting up tents, and meeting the camp group, and organising the meal schedules.

Beginning another amazing week.

A bored day

Is how I'd describe our experience at the Toronto airport. All I can remember was eating a lot. I should have finished the Harry Potter book then! (ps - I'm not a fan. I just started reading the final one and was hooked...but I still haven't finished it. Only reading it when we're at airports for long periods of time. Actually nearly missed my flight from Toronto to Detroit as I was immersed in it!!!)

Then we flew on the smallest plane ever to Rhode Island. We were picked up by Jill Lynde and transported straight to readings group. Wow, I'm still not sure how I kept my eyes open, but I did.

Next day was travelling to Mystic Sea Port with Bonnie, Avonlea & Simon Pride & Jill. Spent the day touring the ships and learning the history of the place. (actually can't remember now what it was that they fished for) But can remember the pirate story!
Sunday evening was dinner with the Pride's and we met Katie Schlagater who had just got back from Truth Corps the night before and heard all about her adventures. It was so lovely eating outside and just watching the night get darker while playing mose.
Sunday morning was Westerly meeting and it Heather Locke visited Westerly for the day.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch and then went to the cookout that was put on in our honour. It was unfortunate that we couldn't stay longer and enjoy more fellowship around the firepit eating smore's. All too quickly we were back at the airport boarding our next flight.
New Jersey, here we come!!

On to Canada

Our first stop in North America was St John's, Newfoundland. Not St John, New Brunswick, which is where our travel agent had made our tickets out to. SO after a little commotion at the airports, and a lot more flying than was necessary, we were being picked up by Caleb Coish and Elly at the airport.
It was lovely to meet the Coish parents, as we'd spent so much time in Adelaide with Caleb and Abs. We really had an Australian contigent staying there between us, Mike Higgs and Elly Brumby.
We touristed to the most easterly point of Canada, actually it might be North America and had a picnic lunch at Cape Spear. Was cool to be joined by Leah and Grace Evans and Daniel Camplin...some more Newfies:-)
Our last evening was round at the Evan's with a fire, sausages, marshmellows and the biggest cups of hot chocolate I've ever seen.
Then it was time for the worst flight time ever. We had to be at the airport at 4:20. To spend an entire day in the Toronto airport before flying on to Rhode Island.
We caught the flight and were rewarded with being upgraded to business class. Which would've been lovely for Cals, but it was kindof wasted on me not being a real early morning person. Besides, who in their right mind would want to start a 4 course brekky at 5am??? Though I was VERY thankful for the extra sleeping space.

Whirlwind tour of London

After UKYC, Kate Barr flew in, and Shann, Cals, Kate & I stayed at the Bucklers for the weekend and enjoyed their amazing hospitality. It was at that point that Shann & I decided that our bags were way too heavy to drag through London and we repacked and sent some things home to lighten up the cases.
Monday morning Mike Higgs, Bek Thiele, Abigail Coish, Cals & I all headed to London. We hit the ground running and spent the afternoon between the British Museum (which isn't that amazing when you are really really tired, actually would like to go back someday)& Buckingham Palace. I was shocked by the Palace. Why on EARTH would the queen choose to live right there with traffic going by right around the palace? But then I'm not the queen, and maybe it wouldn't be a good thing for the palace to be elsewhere!!
Katie Morahan met up with us in the evening and we split up with the other guys (heading on to St Johns and Bek busing back to Brum) and we went to the London eye and saw Big Ben. And what is so good about Big Ben? I'm not sure yet. To me it just seemed like any other clock tower in any part of the world but it had a name!!
The London Eye was great. To see all around filthy London was interesting. Actually I found the LE structure amazing, but if the view was just buildings I don't think I would've enjoyed it much at all. As you can see amazing architecture and man made buildings don't grab me much at all. But I did enjoy the view over the river as the sun set, and then Cals and I went on a cruise down the river which was really peaceful and relaxing. We had planned an nice dinner somewhere overlooking the river and then the only thing they had on the boat were pasties!! But we made the most of them, and the most of the plastic plates, and cutlery. And made the most of the cruise above the food on the boat:-)
Then it was back down the tube... so glad I didn't have to do it in rush hour. What an organised system of transport!
We were so thankful that we didn't have to carry our cases around with us the whole day. We then got back to the 'left luggage' and made a bargain with the nice guy for us to leave our baggage there, but to collect a few things for the night. It made getting back to Katie's apartment which she was sharing with her brother and sister-in-law so much easier.
We had a fly by night visit with Jonny Roberts and then crashed.
The next morning on our rushed exit to the airport, we randomly bumped into Justin Alderson who was staying with Jonny at the station!
On to the airport, and I must say, I have sounded slightly negative throughout this post, (but maybe it's because I've heard a lot about some British Icons, and they just haven't meant much to me.. ) but they definitely need to redo the London airport. Maybe it's because it's so busy that they never get a chance to, but the area we flew out from was like the old Virgin Blue shed that we used before our international airport!! :-)

Our 12 hour dash through London was fun. But I'm glad we didn't have any more time there. I much prefer scenery over the busy city lifestyle.

Where am I now???

With all the toing and froing of places we're visiting, there hasn't actually been that much time to sit down and have some quiet time to type away.
At the moment I'm in the Livonia Library in Detroit, staying with Pete & Karly Style's and from tonight for a couple of nights Jon and Kathy Betteley!!