Oh Canada!

Monday, September 8, 2025

We overnight at the Grand Anara hotel in the airport and catch our flights with no problem. I pen a "Please Don't Wake Me" note for the flight attendants on the second leg. It's 10.5 hours of waiting for sleep. My watch says I doze for less than 2 hours.  zzzz

We get to Seattle and pick up our luggage within a half hour. Timothy is waiting for us and zips us home in good order. We hug him with thanks, unpack our luggage, toss the bedding into the dryer to heat and freshen after sitting in storage, and

fall into bed after 10 PM.

Tuesday

We're awake at 2:30 AM and can't get back to sleep until almost time to wake up. The lapse in rhythm is typical of jet lag, though we didn't used to feel it when we were younger.

We have breakfast with the kids: Kinsey makes pancakes ("See Oma, an old man with a mustache and sunglasses.") Melissa treats us to scrambled eggs and cherries. Ah, sweet cherries! We're usually in Seattle too late in the year for fresh cherries. What a treat.

A look in the spice cabinet confirms that there are too many options. Toss? When I open the glass jars, they are still fragrant and dry. Haven't been opened in years and were stored in the cool dark cabinet. I must think about that - tossing them was on my to-do checklist.

I call my mom to let her know we've arrived safely. We pick up a rental car, W does some banking, and goes for lunch with his friend Terry and son T. I head out on my own, sampling plump wild blackberries growing along the driveway. Yum.

I turn on a different street to see if it goes where I'm headed. Nope, I get completely turned around, circling through streets and neighborhoods I've never been in before. The development in the past years is unbelievable: apartments, new malls, shopping areas, and clusters of houses have grown in areas that used to be familiar.

The past few years, our trips have been packed and focused and I seldom get to drive alone. When I'm driving, I like to try a shortcut or new route. So I learn some new things in the unexpected miles before reaching my first destination.

I amble through the stores, checking out new trends in food, clothing, and decor. Forget about eating lunch! When I return to the flat, I'm hungry. I boil a few frozen pirogies from Grocery Outlet about 3:30 PM. Good enough. Along with sleep interruption, our meal schedule is askew the first week or so. This time zone is 14 hours "behind" our normal time.

I post our old piano on Craigslist: we're hoping it goes to a great home. It's resonant (tall enough for long strings) and has been kept in good shape since I was a music teacher and care about those things.

Supper is unbelievable. Melissa promised us steaks, which are seared after cooking in the sous vide bath. They are tender and seasoned well.

When he picked the guys up for lunch, Terry dropped off a freshly caught king salmon, hooked this morning. Timothy has cooked it to perfection.

K gets great news. She's made the next tier youth orchestra. She plays her audition piece for us, complete with vibrato, good rhythm, and double stops. Wow - her playing has taken a giant leap this year. Playing with an orchestra is incredible. You feel trampled and left in the dust if you're not yet up to its level. But the experience brings immediate improvement as you play along. (Cue memories of our orchestra dragging me through new music: I was not a good sight-reader but could play what I heard, so could reconcile the score with the sound the second time through.)

Isaac hauls out his guitar and plays a few songs for us as well. What fun!

Our apartment showcases relics of my parents' travels as well as our own. These East African souvenirs, picked up in the markets in the mid-1970s, now hang on our wall.

 Before we came, Timothy vacuumed the rugs and took away the spiderwebs so it's a pleasure to walk into the space we know so well. We're here for a day before we head up to Canada to see our moms. The flat is a mess of bags and boxes as we sort what goes to whom - when and where.

I throw the blankets into the clothes dryer to heat them up, do some reading and writing, and call it a day.

Wednesday

W falls over something in the night. I wake and am ravenous. I make noodles, have a cup of tea, and can't get back to sleep for 4 hours. Our sleep schedule is adjusting to a new time zone. (We get about 5 hours of rest.) We're packed and headed to see our moms in Canada today.

We're on the road about 7:00 AM after saying goodbye to our grandkids. W drives us 1 1/2 hrs north to have breakfast with friends and former work colleagues LeRoy and Lynette Johnson. She's made an egg casserole, blueberry muffins, and tea - our eating schedule is off. It's delicious.

Lynette has remembered that spekkelaas cookies are a special treat and hands over a bag from the Netherlands, plus some of her breakfast muffins = good eating to come.

The car overheats before the border crossing. Before we meet W's family, he pulls over and parks the SUV at the side of the road. No further! W's brother-in-law Gord comes to get us. We have his family lunch at C-Lovers (seafood), a favorite of W's mom. After taking her home, Gord comes back for W, who calls AAA for a tow to our hometown 70 km (40 miles) away. 

My brother sends an Uber taxi to the restaurant to return me to our hometown and Mom's house. The sun is out and hot! as I wait outside for 15 minutes. The Indian driver tells me about his family, growing up in Australia, joining his cousins in Vancouver 13 years ago, their cricket club, and what he likes about countries and food and community. It gives me lots of prayer ideas for him. Dropping me at Mom's, he drives back to W's mom's city where he picked me up.

At Mom's, two caregivers explain the routines of her care. I make supper (which she picks at and refuses) and hear the details of her day and her philosophy of life. She likes the ginger drink (bandrek diluted 4X) and sips as she talks. It's a precious time, not one I take for granted: Mom is 90 years old. 

Mom tells me over and over that I should get a good rest tonight "as someone will be here soon to give me the night pills." I explain each time that the caregivers are not coming for the next days: it's W and me. Sandy will bring her breakfast at 6 AM. W washes the supper dishes and joins Mom and me for an hour or two before heading upstairs for sleep.  W and I are beyond ready for rest. (Our Indonesian clock stands at 9 AM, so we've been "up all night" two days in a row.)

I excuse myself with "goodnight" and shared prayer at 7 PM. Mom turns on a favorite TV program while I close the drapes, make sure the doors are locked, and report it to Mom. After making myself a cup of tea, I'm off to bed as well.

Hopefully we'll sleep well. W keeps the night shift monitor beside him and his alarm is set for Mom's meds at 10 PM. I have trouble falling back asleep if I'm wakened while he's asleep within minutes. I'm glad W is already in deep slumber by the time I get to the bedroom. I'm completely done in: I've had 11 hours (counting generously) of sleep since we left Jakarta 57 hours ago. zzz

Thursday

Nope - 4.5 hours of sleep, though W gets up to give Mom her meds in the night. A flower is blooming in the living room, a gift from her son in Switzerland a year ago.

We walk a couple of miles to and from the Canada Pension office. The car's still in the shop. Late summer flowers are finishing their run.

Such different climates and plant life than where we live.

In the government office, cheerful and capable Marilyn helps us fill in the forms. We drop by the Main Street Church office to howdy and set up lunch.

I wake Mom, who chats, eats a big snack, and refuses lunch. She falls asleep when W and I leave for lunch with Ps Shaun. My rice & Thai green curry is good.

We have a lively discussion about Bible passages and our purpose in the world. I walk home while W goes for another discussion with a group of men. I'm at 7 km/4.5miles - feels so good to be outside.

I cook for Mom and she sends me on a few errands in the house. We find the family histories collected by uncles and my dad. There are old family photos, too. This one is of my paternal grandmother at her wedding in the early 1930s.

Then Mom and I agree: at 5 PM, it's time for a nap.

Read more:

* God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness. Psalm 57:3

* The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

* Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:7-11

Moravian Prayer: Holy Spirit, we are steadfast in our faith because of the calm you bring. Guide us and be gentle with us so that we may enjoy your peace and love. Through you, we pray. Amen.

The business of change

Canadian flag

Oh, the joy of good mentors!

Last weekend, we received excellent counsel on prioritizing our time and energy. We're up to date with thank-yous, and working away on informational materials, scheduling services, and calling friends.

Next week we're in Eastern Washington and the week after we're in Lacey and Everett. We're looking forward to serving. We love meeting leaders whom we've served in the past. It's a funny thing, how firmly our hearts are attached to the people and churches of the Pacific Northwest. We never thought we'd be moving to another part of the world.

American flag

Though there's a long checklist of practical things-to-do, the most important preparation for us is spiritual. We're gathering strength for the challenges ahead by praying and reading scripture alone and in community. We're drinking in the preaching and books. And we're listening to the wise voices around us

The uncommon season of preparation includes letting go of the past, relishing the present, and anticipating the future. From the past - After this morning's pickup, one Hummel angel remains from 18 boxes of Christmas ornaments, trees, garlands, lights, and decorating memories. Gone. Gone. Gone ... to a gal who does church events and is planning a pastoral thank-you event this month. She married a missionary kid and supports missions [of course!]. The second grand piano leaves the living room within the month; the desks are out of the office; the dining table is gone; our bed is sold. W's current teaching contract expires in May; I'm wrapping up projects, clearing my heart as well as my home.

Indonesian flag

In the present, each day is an adventure. Every morning, our best-laid plans start to morph; by evening, we've experienced a flow of words, worship, work, and play. I'm happily surprised by empty space and the progress we make. We still have company though the house is a mess. We visit with family and old and new friends. We follow our spiritual disciplines, keep regular commitments, and glance at our to-do lists.

In the future, who knows what God will do? I've never been bored when following Christ. My challenge is obeying completely, willingly, and with a glad heart. I don't want to be halfhearted or fainting with fear. God's love compels. So into the unknown we go.

Where are you headed? Is God calling YOU somewhere you didn't expect? In which ways are you living out the Good News?

Read more:
*At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. Zephaniah 3:9 ESV

*Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Ephesians 5:1 NIV

*Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28 ESV

Moravian Prayer; Our unwavering Foundation, we thank you for being our refuge and for your leadership and might! In our divided world, we pray we will serve you and change our speech to reflect your will for our unity. Amen.

CS Lewis, letter to Mrs. Ray Garrett, 12 September 1960:

"The whole lesson of my life has been that no ‘methods of stimulation’ are of any lasting use. They are indeed like drugs—a stronger dose is needed each time and soon no possible dose is effective. We must not bother about thrills at all. Do the present duty—bear the present pain—enjoy the present pleasure—and leave emotions and ‘experiences’ to look after themselves.

"That’s the programme, isn’t it?"

Waterton wonder

Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton, AB

We'd never taken the kids to British high tea in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It's not a likely scenario anyway, unless you drive winding roads to the north end of Glacier Park and across the border ... to Waterton, Alberta, and the Prince of Wales Hotel.

What a stunning surprise! The hotel overlooks a glacier lake-filled canyon.  Girlfriends and I, Waldemar and I, and thousands of other visitors have had tea at the Prince of Wales.

The lobby of the Prince of Wales Hotel

 Oh the beauty of a sunny day! The hotel's spectacular lobby stretches from the front door to the window wall overlooking the stunning view. Teatime (1-5pm daily) is in the post-and-beam-framed lobby with its soaring ceilings and old-fashioned iron chandeliers.

The servers and attendants dress in Prince of Wales tartan kilts. "Got me a dress about a month ago," joked the foreign student who served us. It all adds to the opulent atmosphere set in the middle of the wilderness.

A table set for tea: Prince of Wales Hotel

Our server set a tea stand with three trays of goodies on the white tablecloth. We started with the bottom tray of sandwiches, moved up to freshly baked scones (currant and lemon with Devonshire cream and berry preserves), and finished with the top layer of Saskatoon berry pastries, shortbread cookies, and other sweets.

The tea fixings aren't particularly good @ $30 each, though the house now uses Forte brand instead of their own specialty blend. (The house brand, in a free gift box with our receipt in the gift store, consists of indifferent Assam and African tea sweepings, packaged in teabags.) The scones were middling and the cucumber and butter sandwiches were ok, but the egg salad swirls were great. The pastries? To someone who grew up with excellent home baking (yay, Mom!) and a plethora of exceptional German bakers in the family, they tasted disappointing. The trays were pretty, though.

Harpist at the Prince of Wales Hotel

A young harpist accompanied our repast: the setting couldn't have been more wonderful. She got a gentle Canadian hand-clap when she took a break from strumming Gaelic and folk tunes. Her music brought back fond memories of playing and teaching harp. (Great background music, boring to practice!)

Of course, the company was fantastic. What a treat to share such a beautiful occasion, a milestone of family travels more than merely a meal.

Prince of Wales Hotel: view from the
lobby tearoom

After tea, we stood on the bluff overlooking the lake, cheering on the kayakers and windsurfers far below.

To wrap up the event, we drove through the town of Waterton to see if we could spot the infamous mule deer who wander through the streets. Nope, but we saw a lot of tourists around the restaurants, boutiques, and specialty shops that line the thoroughfares. Driving out of town, we slowed for photographers snapping a brown bear strolling through the meadows about 100 feet from the asphalt. Cyclists, tourists casually leaning on their pickups, and people with open car windows - they're just a short dash away if a bear becomes irritated.

Sometimes a glimpse of beauty restores our souls more than accomplishments, financial resources, or reaching a personal goal. It's well worth the trip to visit or stay in Waterton, a Canadian National Park town. It's not as jazzy or built up as Banff. However, the experience is unique between its blend of civilization, the polite and friendly Canadian locals, and the location in God's wild nature as carved between mountain ranges.

Read more:

*God looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28:24 

*Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” Micah 4:2a   NIV (admittedly way out of context! 

*God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20   

Moravian Prayer: Thank you for beauty. Jesus, we are overwhelmed at your concerns and resources to minister to the great needs of so many about us. Thank you for vision and grace to meet these needs. Amen.