Massachusetts Countryside

Thursday past, my friend Brenda came and got me.  The two of us traveled to one of Louisa May Alcott's early childhood home called The Fruitlands.  We also traveled through the countryside and visited some lovely places.  Like me, Brenda also enjoys photography; the two of us enjoyed photo opportunities together. 

Massachusetts Countryside:  [I was made aware that my last pictures posted extra large, so I have deleted them and will now try again.]

Hugs...

Pictures of L'Abri

FYI:

When I titled the pics of Ming Hui & Jung Won, I had their names spelled completely wrong.  Sorry. 

October 16, 2011

Friday morning October 14, 2011  L’Abri day 6

L’Abri offers an incredibly unique experience.  Tomorrow afternoon will complete my first week here.  Happily, I’ve finally learned the layout of the house as well as all the names (and roles) of students and staff.  I’ve figured out the schedule and am no longer the last one to arrive at meals because I couldn’t figure out where everyone was!  Ugggh.  I’m coming to know a lot about many of the people here and their unique back grounds, why they chose to come, and the like.  I’ve even enjoyed my first day off exploring the Massachusetts countryside with my friend Brenda.  At this point, I finally consider myself a full fledge L’Abri student, and things I only wondered about before make sense now.  While I am loving this experience, it is also eye opening and challenging.

Sad to say, I did not before realize how dependent I have become upon modern conveniences such as easy access to the internet, my own transportation, and the ability to access, via the market place, anything I need or want when I need or want it.  Also, I’m used to making coffee if and when I want it, and eating what I choose rather than what someone else chooses for me. Wow!  Also, I have known for a long while that I am quite independent, but L’Abri is giving me the opportunity to realize just how much so.  For example: right now, I’m feeling some frustration, because I want to continue writing this entry, but I’m watching the clock in the corner of my screen telling me that I need to report for chore assignments in nine minutes…so, I am writing furiously in a frustrated effort to get my thoughts entered before…  I’m so very much not used to this… ummm….  The discipline is good for me, yet as with most discipline, it is challenging until you get used to it!  I can see why this is good for me, and I’m glad I’m doing this.  It’s been only 6 days—feels like much longer.  Good, but hard.

Hugs…

Dears,

Oh my goodness, our brothers and sisters of color certainly know how to actively worship with charisma and pizzazz!  Whew!  Very inspirational! We just arrived back from church this morning.  During my stay here, I am worshiping at an African American Fellowship in Framingham, MA.  I enjoy it tremendously!  Today was Ladies Sunday, and the majority of the women wore white clothes with purple accents.  My goodness, that was so beautiful!  And, one thing I really enjoy is the way the clergy and choir enter the church.  They do so in a spirited processional to the beat of Southern Gospel music. It surprised me how touched I was the first time I witnessed this.  The preaching is spirited as well—no one dozes off in these meetings!  It has been fun and spiritual.  The Keyes are members of this church, and they enjoy being in the minority. 

I continue to be challenged here at L’Abri, and it is good—excellent for me really.  I am learning much about the Old Testament, and I mentioned to my mentor yesterday that perhaps, when all this is over, I may actually understand the Old Testament in a similar way as the New Testament.   

I’m a little sleepy, so think I might catch a few winks before I have to head down for lunch.

Hugs…

I will finally get some more pictures posted.  Photography is one of my hobbies, so do forgive so many pics to share!  Enjoy... 

L'Abri is fabulous!

Hello Dears,

I've finally got a few minutes at the library where I can get on line to up-date...

Dears,

October 9, 2011:  So far, so good!  I’m settling in well at L’Abri, and thus far, it is great.  Not exactly what I expected, but then whenever is anything we’ve never experienced exactly what we imagine.  It’s actually better, I believe, in that the students and staff make you feel right at home, and they keep me up to snuff on the schedule, etc. 

First thing I did after putting my things away was to go to the huge library in L’Abri’s great room.  The first book I picked up has been amazing!  I don’t have it with me at present, so will have to guess at the title: Letters from a Skeptic by Boyd and Boyd, or something close to that.  Anyway, I rested from my journey in the library while reading, and it was wonderful.

I’m currently sitting at the local Starbucks and just had an interesting conversation with a gentleman from Orange County, California; his name is Clark.  Clark and I were talking about some alternate books written about Moses—books with a different perspective.  One of the books, he tells me was pinned by Freud.  We had a nice conversation about different perspectives on Bible history, and I was able to share a little about my confidence in the historical accuracy of the Old as well as the New Testament.   I have invited Clark to join my blog family, and he promised to do so.  So, having said that, Welcome Clark; I look forward to your following along on this journey.

I was going to describe L’Abri to you now, but instead, I spent time chatting with Clark; so, I’ll save introducing you to L’Abri and my fellow students for another entry.

I need to let you know that in order to encourage study, L’Abri does not offer internet service.  So, though I will most likely write each day, there may be several days between postings.  I have to walk a considerable distance to get to Wi fi, and though I will enjoy the walk, I have to work it between scheduled activities.  So, please bear with me and keep checking in.  I will most likely send out an email after each posting, so as to give you a reminder.  It means the world to me that so many of you are checking in, even though I realize you are still having a hard time getting comments posted. 

Blessings to you all, and I do hope you will write me soon.  I look so forward to hearing from you.

Hugs…

October 11, 2011  L’Abri day Three.

Greetings! I am loving it here!  Can’t believe the blessings that continue to flow my way! 

Massachusetts L’Abri is located in an old mansion (my friend told me this is on a mansion technically in that it has many rooms, but that homes like this are common in New England) built by a farmer as a gift for his daughter in 1840.  It is amazing to reside in a home that is 171 years old—charming is an understatement! There are at least three kitchens that I know of (get this, one is called “the butler’s kitchen;” how cool is that!  And, I’ve counted at least five fireplaces.  Of course, the fireplaces (modified with wood stoves) are a must in the winter, as this house is far too large to heat simply by oil.  There are three floors (including the cellar which contains the laundry room, work shop, bike storage, tool shed, and room after meandering room of I have no idea what) and two wings off the main portion of the home. I still get lost when trying to navigate my way from place to place.   Curling plaster, chipped paint, and creaking floors only add to the incredible charm of this well decorated and lavishly ornate Colonial style structure.  And (this is the best part) there is this huge library with gorgeous mahogany walls and book cases.  I believe I could fit the better part of my Winchester home into this one room alone!  Amazing! The grounds are a lush green and lovely as well with trees, a  garden, and many differing areas.  There are verandas, stone patios, old wooden porches, and the like. What a lovely environment I am privileged to stay in.  Such a joy!

We maintain a well held schedule here.  We have the basic three meals, as well as Morning Tea, Afternoon Tea, and High Tea on Sundays, also Coffee at 8:00.  The day begins with breakfast at 7:45, and they won’t start any meal without everyone present.  Meals are served in a variety of locations, so it’s a challenge for me to find everyone from meal to meal.  We split our days between study time and chore time.  I do studies in the mornings and chores in the afternoon, while some of the others do the opposite.  We get to chose on this.  An example of chores is to help with meal preparation, prepare the outside of the house for painting, doing laundry, etc.  Yesterday, I opted for laundry, and it was a huge chore.  I hung a total of 7 loads of laundry out to dry, and I washed 5 loads.  But, it was fun, because, besides enjoying the work, I listened to lectures the whole time on my i pod.  Wonderful!

The lifestyle here is quite “earthy” for lack of a better word.  Clothes are hung out rather than to waste energy on dryers, greens are taken from the garden, eggs from the chickens, the house is kept cool to save money, the laundry soap is homemade and the like. Everyone pulls his own weight, and there is no TV, cable, or internet service (that I am aware of).  Somehow, life feels simple and serene —less cluttered and more real.  It stirs a longing in my heart for less… if that makes sense, a longing for life in the “real.”   

Yesterday, I was blessed with a lovely little miracle—a true God thing, I believe.  Well, before coming here, I was a bit apprehensive because I knew I would be staying in a dorm with quite a few young women (late teens and twenties) mostly.  I felt like, I may not fit in well.  Before people, especially young people, get to know me, I am often perceived as a bit conservative and reserved, even though this is not really me at all.  I felt concern that my presence in their dorm might interfere with the girl’s free flow of youthful conversation and activities.  In addition to this,

I have grown quit accustomed in my life to having my own space and much time alone.  I thrive on this, actually, and felt concern because in this environment one is in almost constant community.  So, before coming here, I asked God to help me learn to manage in such a strong community environment with almost no time or place where I could be alone.  I talked with Him about my apprehension, and though I didn’t dare to ask for an exception to be made for me, I secretly hoped there might somehow be a little nook they might need to stick me in for whatever reason.  Well, it would appear that God worked a small little miracle for me, and I am thrilled.

Yesterday morning, Sue (a member/worker here) came and asked me if I might be willing to move to the guest room, as they needed my bunk to make room for an incoming student from England.  I was a bit stunned, at first, because this was too good to be true. Of course, I jumped right in on this, and I’ve got what I consider the cutest room in the entire house!  I even have a large dresser that I immediately moved into, hooks on the walls where I could hang my things, and a lovely chair.  Amazing!  Now, I can bring my studies right here to my own darling little room, and I feel incredibly blessed—beyond measure blessed! 

I will take some pictures of everything and share them with you, so you can better enjoy the blessing of L’Abri along with me.

As for my studies, I can’t believe how much I am learning.  Already, it seems I have worked through more of my questions than I would have thought possible.  I’ve been listening to a series of lectures on Redemptive History by Sandy Richter.  I would recommend anyone hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the Old Testament or to work through issues with its overall themes to read or listen to anything this woman has to share.  She’s brilliant, and her insights shed a light that I never thought possible. 

In closing, I want to share a comment that Dick Keyes made during prayer time yesterday morning.  He was talking about the financial challenges that all the L’Abris face as non-profit organizations.  He shared how it’s a constant struggle month to month, and how he sometimes wishes there was just some great endowment to provide the security they/we all desire.  But then, he said, he is realizing that perhaps God prefers that we live “on the edge,” that this is his will in order that our dependence on him is recognized and his provision is continually received with gratitude and thanksgiving.  He said, “we need to just embrace that,” and know that God works through this tension.  In these troubling times, this reality may become more and more of a lifeline for many, I know, it was well received by me.

Hugs…

    

October 11, 2011, later in the day.

Lunch today was lovely, not so much for the delicious food (thought it was really good) as much as for the environment and style.  We enjoyed what is called: “Silent Lunch.”  During Silent Lunch, no one is allowed to speak at all for one hour.  We are encouraged to bring a book, journal, or tablet so we could read and/or write while enjoying our meal.  Mary Francis put on the most lovely music, ARVO PART LLINA (Spiegel Im Spiegel) which added the perfect touch in creating a unique and inspiring experience!  Enjoyed it very, very much!    

Will close for today...

Hugs...

October 13, 2011  Thursday afternoon.

Just arrived back at L'Abri after spending a day with my dear friend Brenda.  I hadn't seen her since she left Salem, Oregon 8 years ago to move home to Massachusetts. 

She and I had a very pleasant day today.  We traveled through several small Massachusettes townships, and I just loved it!  The "tree peeping" season has just began, as it has in Oregon, so the drive was lovely. 

We went to the Fruitland home of Louisa May Alcott and her family.  It felt so great to put my hand on doorposts, stone fireplaces, and furniture that I know she enjoyed.  Somehow, when we actually experience the places famous people enjoyed, it tends to take on a new meaning--somehow it's more real, I think.

I will post some pictures of her childhood home tomorrow once I've gotten them up-loaded to my p.c.  In the meantime, I will now post some pictures of L'Abri for you to enjoy.

Hugs...

Opps, I've run out of time to post pics.  I promise, I'll be back tomorrow p.m. and will post then...

Hugs...

Photos of New York City and Up-state

Finally some pictures--I hope!

Hello Dears,

I have heard from several of you that you are having trouble leaving comments.  I will ask Alex to post me a comment and then to tell me exactly how he made that happen--step by step.  Then, I will pass that information on to you.  My friend Donna has successfully posted comments, so maybe she will do the same to help us all out.

I am currently back at the Boston Union Station.  I spent three days traveling by train, and a great deal of that time was spent at the Union Station in Chicago; but, you already know that story! 

Last night, when I arrived in New York City, I decided to check my bags and step out into the city for a short while.  I ended up spending several hours, and I loved it!  I’ve been to NY before, so wasn’t trying to do a lot of sight seeing, but it was a hoot anyway!  Times Square never ceases to amaze me with how, no matter the time of night, it’s bustling with what seems like thousands of people!  Way fun!  And, the lights are so bright, it’s a light as day in some places.  Amazing!

I also revisited the Empire State Building.  As a child, my grandfather shared home movies of his family’s trip East, and I was enthralled by his clips of Times Square and the Empire State Building.  I dreamed of one day experiencing them for myself.  That dream was realized 13 years ago when I was blessed to bring my youngest son Daniel to the Northeast.
Loved it then—still do! 

Well, I’ve taken some pictures and will try to post them.  Haven’t done it before, so I hope it goes well. 

After this post, I’ll board the Public Transport and head to L’Abri!  I’m eager and a little nervous.  I don’t know much of what to expect, and I’m committed for a 40 day stay.  So, here goes…

Hugs…

P.S.  I will post the NY pics first, then follow at a later time with other shots from Boston etc.

Travel Detours

It’s 5:30 a.m., October 4, 2011. 

The morning, thus far, has been flawless.  All is well in the Portland Airport where I am sitting with my Starbucks, granola bar, and boiled egg (compliments of one of my housemate, Marci, who boils them by the dozens). I spent the night at Kitty’s and she dropped me off at this morn at 4:30 two hours before my flight leaves (Anxiety reduction = arriving early at airports). Three cheers for PC printed boarding passes, curbside check-in and a carry-on with wheels!  Yipee! Today, I have a flight to Chicago and then after a wait, it’s on to Boston!  Will arrive about 7:30 P.M. Boston time—that will be mid afternoon for you.

Last night there were plenty of hugs and kisses from precious grandbabies and my kids.  Several of us met for pizza at Josh and Susie’s so we could enjoy some time before my departure.  Gee Wiz, at the moment it feels like seven weeks is nearly an eternity; but, I’m confident I’ll settle in quickly and will feel at home in no time!  When my time to leave arrives, I may not want to return… 

Speaking of going, I best close and catch you later.  Boarding in 10! 

Hugs

2:45 Chicago time, Same day October 4, 2011.

Had a nice pleasant flight.  It still amazes me how quickly I got here.  A couple years ago, it took me three days by train to get to this same city!  It seemed that most of America was under cloudy skies today, but of course, from my vantage point, the sunlight was brilliant with little more to see than white fluffy clouds below. 

I’m reading the book Choosing To See by Mary Beth Chapman.  Excellent books thus far, though it is also somewhat sad in that she is sharing her journey of grief after the death of their young daughter Maria a few years ago.  I enjoy her writing style: engaging and very sincere.   

At the risk of scaring you away due to the length (and the weight) of this entry, I will share here a page from the book that is especially meaningful.  If you are in a hurry, you may decide to pass by this section and revisit at a later time.  It’s well worth revisiting, though, meaningful insights.

Page 24:  “So here I am, putting down these words one by one, because God has surprised me over and over… I have come face to face with evil and what part it plays in our lives, past, present, and future.  I am realizing though that God is God and He is purposeful in destroying what evil intends for harm.  He is surprising me in good ways beyond what can be measured on this earth!  I am living what I once only read in Genesis 50:20-21 where Joseph tells his brothers, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done… So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children…’” Even in this free fall of pain, I’ve landed on a solid foundation and my faith has held… on most days.  I have learned that God is good… always.  Hope is real.  I have found even in the awful pain of tears and grief so intense you think it will kill you—that my family and I can do hard.  We’ll never get over our loss, but we’re getting through it.  And so I have prayed that our journey through the shadows of loss might be of some help to those who have experienced similar pain… that our stewardship of this story would comfort many.  But, I need to be clear…This book isn’t just about…Steven and I… It’s about a story… a story God is writing.  All along the way, He has changed my story…I’ve had whole chapters added and deleted and strange plot twists that I never saw coming.  The truth is, I was born with a plan.  I wanted life to be safe and predictable.  My plan was to marry someone with a nice nine-to-five schedule and have a tidy, organized life—everything under control.  Absolutely none of that came true!  And, if it had—if I had lived the life I thought I wanted—I know I wouldn’t have experienced the grace or the miracles of God in the ways that I have.  What I’ve found is that it’s in the most unlikely times and places of hurt and chaos that God gives us a profound sense of His presence and the real light of His hope in the dark places.  So, [this book is about] God… and how He can comfort, carry, and change us on our journey, no matter how hard it is.”

Bless you Mary Beth!  Whom of us cannot relate… perhaps not today, but at different junctures in our individual journeys.

Quote for the day:

Love of God is pure when joy and suffering inspire an equal degree of gratitude.—Simone Weil

Thank you for joining in Joy of the Journey.  I do hope to hear from you either on this site, or via my email.

Hugs…

October 5, 2011:

I just settled in on the Amtrak… Such a welcome rest after yesterday’s long day of air travel.  Our flight from Chicago to Boston was delayed by over two hours, so not only did we end up with more time to kill at the airport than any of us wanted, but also our arrival in Boston was quite late.  As a result, the public transportation I was planning to use to get to my hotel room ran every hour rather than every 20 minutes… Uggh!  So, there I was, close to 11:00 p.m., standing on a street corner in the rain, in a not-so-great part of town (quite shady, actually) waiting for a bus.  A young couple offered me a ride, but I declined riding with strangers.  Finally, I decided to just pay the price, and I hailed a Taxi to get me to my room, expensive, but worth it.  I arrived well after midnight.  The hotel wasn’t anything to write home about either.  But, I was so tired, I didn’t really care much.  The sheets were clean—no bed bugs!  (I checked…)  I feel asleep quickly, very pleased to have a day of bustling airports, man handling luggage, figuring out public transportation systems, impatient and unfriendly staff, and all that fun stuff that often goes with travel, behind me.

Today, I rose early, eager to navigate my way back to South Station Boston, so I could check my bags and take a nice walk.  All went well, and I enjoyed a two hour walk through Boston’s beautiful and historical downtown.  I will post some pictures.

I was eager to visit some of the sites my youngest son Daniel and I had seen 13 years ago when we first visited the New England states.  I didn’t take the entire “historical walking tour” that Dan and I enjoyed then, but I did revisit some of those sites.  Boston is such a beautiful city with its numerous sidewalk carts, old cobblestone streets, and historical buildings.  I fell in love with it years ago and was not disappointed while visiting again today.

I am currently passing through the scenic country side of Massachusetts.  Very beautiful!  Just left the Worchester train stop.  Oh my goodness, this city is pretty and very old with tons of red brick buildings and gorgeous old churches.

I’m feeling quite sleepy, so will close and take a nap here in my comfy seat.  I so enjoy the train!

Hugs…         

October 6, 2011

Well, all can't go well forever, and I've certainly happened upon a major glitch in my plans!  When I chose to travel back to Chicago on the train, it was not so I could go to Chicago, because I've been here numerous times before; rather, my reason was to catch the Amtrak Cardinal.  I was to have a 5 hour lay over here at the Chicago Union Station, then the Cardinal was to take me down through Indiana, north eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, DC, and on up to New York.  My whole purpose for the train trip was to see West Virginia and Virginia. 

Well.... found out today that a cargo train derailed and has blocked the entire Cardinal route for several days.  Ugggh!  So, my only alternative is to miss the Virginias and those places I was so excited to see.  Instead, I have a 6 hour longer lay over here in Chicago, which will total 12 hours by the time I leave here, and I will only go through states where I have already been.  Ummm...  One good thing is I will be in New York a little earlier, so perhaps I will be able to take the subway out to see some sites.  I would like to go to Ground Zero.  So, my lay over in NY will be over 8 hours.  I believe I could probably take the subway down and back from ground zero in the time I have.  Anyway, perhaps I will try to do that.  Ohhh...  but, I am so dissappointed not to be going to West Virginia.  Now, it will be a whole other trip just to get back out here again to go there.  Ummm... Well, it's okay.  Fortunately, no one was hurt in the cargo train derailment, so this is just a detour, not a devestation.  

My train ride was pleasant yesterday and last night.  I had dinner with some people on an America by Rail tour.  Her name was Kathy and his was Ron.  There was also a lady named Barb.  They are all retired educators Kathy and Rick were principals, and the Barb was a school developer.  Kathy and Rick retired about ten years ago then became pastors of a non-denominational church in Indiana.  Barb was obviously quite wealthy; she had stories to tell about her vacation homes here and there.  Ummm...   

 I've gotten some pictures of Boston, Albany NY, and here in Chicago.  When I can’t get a shot of something I’ve seen, I sometimes take a shot of a post card, provided it’s something I saw myself.  So, if you suspect something might be a little too perfect, it just might be a cheater picture! –smile-- But, they will only be one or two shots...

Would love to hear from you.

Hugs...