Category Archives: Travel

On the Banks Of the Liffey

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People many times before and since my return from Ireland have asked, “Did you go because you have family ties to Ireland?”

The answer is no. As far as I know noone in my blood-line is of Irish descent. I don’t know how I managed to come from Massachusetts and miss out on Irish blood but there you have it. I am not Irish. But I have long been a fan of Irish music and if there is any reason for going to Ireland beyond my daughter’s desire to go then that is it. The music  inspired me to the act. And I found it a profound thing that just about everywhere I went on the island reminded me of a song.

Dublin brought up this tune from my childhood:

 

We spent the day touring Dublin along the banks of the Liffey. At this point in the trip I was sleeping in short bursts as my arms were continually waking me up in the night, or maybe it was just jet lag manifesting. At any rate our touring was done by about three. Amanda napped. I soaked my arms and by six we were eating in the hotel restauraunt. I had a lamb burger. Yummy!

 

From Boston To Dublin And Wicked Tired

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So these are the chronicles of my recent trip to Ireland.

I think I told you all before I left that I was tired. By tired I mean asleep on my feet with certain pieces of my anatomy in a constant gyration between pain and tingly numb. I badly needed this vacation.

My sister dropped Amanda and I off at Boston Logan sometime around 5:30 P.M. which gave us three and a half hours before our flight. We were through baggage check and security by 6:15 P.M. and that with me being pulled out of line for a full body scan ( yeah, I forgot my glasses in my shirt pocket again).

Us on the way to Ireland.

Us on the way to Ireland.

We ate supper at the café down towards our gate and then watched as our airplane pulled into its dock.

Ireland 005

Here’s a question. What do you do when you have three hours to wait for a plane? Amanda and I talked and talked over coffee, a thing we would do throughout our 12 days together. Perhaps that was one of the things I liked best about the trip…. the conversation!

Oh yeah and our game of “Whose Line Is It.”

Ireland 007

I love the prop game. If you think this is funny you should see me as Princess Amidala. That unfortunately is on Amanda’s camera.

Despite my weariness I think I slept for just over an hour on the flight to Ireland. My hands started throbbing an hour into the flight and when the pain ended a two-day long tingle session started in. Even in this though God provided. We landed and stayed in Dublin those first two days; So I was spared from gripping a steering wheel. By Sunday when I had to start driving my hands and arms were much restored.

Our rooms, in Dublin,were not quite ready for us when we arrived at the Hotel Alexander;  So we stored our luggage with the front desk and took a tour around O’Connell Street and Trinity College:

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By noon I was fading; By one o:clock or two cups of coffee later depending on how you mark time, we were in our rooms and I plummeted into dreamland for a few hours. Not even caffeine could keep me up! God knew I needed the rest and so He provided us with the most comfortable beds of the trip those first two nights. It was like sleeping on clouds!

Our resting place in Dublin.

Our resting place in Dublin.

Longwood Liasion

Posted on by under Photography, Travel, Uncategorized
Water Gardens

The Walk to the Water Gardens

A few times a year I try to break away for a time of solitude and prayer. Such times help me to refocus and gain some much-needed perspective on life. Sort of like climbing to the top of a high hill and being able to see the lay of the land below.

Rose Wall

The Rose Wall

A few weeks ago I had the chance to break away for a day a prayer at Longwood Gardens just outside of Chadds Ford PA.

My son and I arrived at Longwood after a late breakfast.  We walked the gardens together through lunch time and then he headed off to work leaving me with a six-hour block of time to read the Bible and pray.

Joe at the waterfall

Joe at the waterfall

Lately I have felt a bit overwhelmed by the scope of work I see God opening up before me. I brought many of my concerns about my own ability to Him that day. In response He took me to the words of Hebrews Chapter 11

” Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.”Heb. 11:1

 

 

The Webb House in the Meadow Garden

The Webb House in the Meadow Garden

As I pondered how I should address my current responsibilities in faith I took a long walk through the meadow garden.  During the course of that walk I stumbled upon this sign.

New Image

I realized then, that every time I begin to get a handle on the pace of life the pace of life seems to quicken. The answer I was left with was to rest in the flow.  God also reminded that I am not alone in the boat. If the work is increasing then the labor force has to increase as well.

Eye Of Water Brook

The night is coming on fast and there is still much to do. God showed me that while I might see a corner piece of some of that work even that much is not mine to do. I don’t have to do everything I see, only those things I see my Father doing.

Evening At Longwood

When my son met me at 9 that evening I felt ready to take on these new challenges facing me in ministry.

When was the last time you took a day to pray and get your bearings? What has the Lord been telling you in your prayer time??

lONGWOOD 249

 

The Netherlands 2013 Day 6

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Keukenhof Gardens

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. ISa. 61: 11

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Keukenhof Gardens

 Do not be afraid, land of Judah;
    be glad and rejoice.
Surely the Lord has done great things!
22     Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
    for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.
The trees are bearing their fruit;
    the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.
23 Be glad, people of Zion,
    rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
    because he is faithful.
He sends you abundant showers,
    both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
    the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—Joel 2: 21-25

 

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Keukenhof Gardens

26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26,27

Keukenhof Gardens

Keukenhof Gardens

I hope you enjoyed these photos and Scriptures inspired by Keukenhof  Gardens!

The Netherlands 2013 Delft Continued

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As promised here are more pictures from Delft the city of the Royals.

A flower shop behind the Oude Kerk. Delft

A flower shop behind the Oude Kerk. Delft

One of the most exciting things I did in Delft was to climb the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk. The church is the burial-place of the Family Orange. While the sanctuary and royal crypt are amazing the climb up the tower is absolutely breathtaking. From the steeple you can see all the way to Rotterdam and Den Hague. Warning: this is definitely not an activity for those with a fear of heights!

When in Delft remember it’s only 278 steps to the top!

Lightning Rod Cross

Lightning Rod Cross

The Netherlands Day 4 1/2 and 5

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Brenda and I left Amsterdam and trained to Delft.  By the time the train stopped at Delft station and we made it to the town square it was well past lunchtime. So we stopped at a little cafe called Rossio’s

Yummy fresh Dutch bread!

Yummy fresh Dutch bread!

After our lunch the waitress was kind enough to hail us a cab and we taxied to our hotel, a place on the outskirts of town called the Shanghai. We were surprised (though I suppose we shouldn’t have been) when all the channels on the tele were in Chinese.

But I don't speak Chinese!

But I don’t speak Chinese!

Fortunately we were given free tokens to the bar downstairs. When Brenda and I went to get our free coffee we noticed Ice Road Truckers was playing on the public set. So back in our room we fiddled a bit with our TV  and lo and behold English started coming out! Huzzah!

Not that we watched a whole lot because we were there to tour!

Here are some shots of Delft:

After visiting the Oude Kerk we visited the Nieuwe Kerk which is the burial-place for The Dutch Royal Family.

Hey! Come back tomorrow for more of Delft!

The Netherlands 2013 Day 4

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I think my sister roused me around 5:30 A.M. So that we could have breakfast (fresh bread, cheese, fruit and coffee of course) before catching our train from Womerveer to Amsterdam Centraal. Brenda does not have a car so our journeys were primarily by mass transit.

Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Centraal

We hopped a tram headed for the Free University where Brenda had a speaking engagement before we could trot off to Delft.

Apartments in Amsterdam

Apartments in Amsterdam

A Lone biker by Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam

A Lone biker by Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam

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It’s an unwritten rule in our family that early is on-time, on-time is late and late is unacceptable (Dad’s rule). Naturally we arrived a half hour before the missionaries. So we took those moments as a photo op for the Amsterdam skyline.

 

Brenda gave her lecture on drama in ministry and we had a photo opportunity with veteran missionaries George and Muriel Thomasen.

Brenda teaching

Brenda teaching

 

Brenda, Muriel and George

Brenda, Muriel and George

 

Once Brenda was finished it was back to Centraal and off to Delft!

 

 

The Netherlands 2013 Day 3

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At Last the Plane

A Haibun

The trunk slams. A hug, a kiss and she’s gone. I’m left standing on the corner with my bags. Checked in, belt off, shoes in the box. Then some old guy says “Put out your arms.” He pats me down. “Thanks,” I say. I’m through. Sitting in the window as the sun goes down.

The Em’rald Isle

Winks Golden before sunrise

Brownie magic.

Four hour layover means Irish breakfast in Dublin: Black and white pudding, ham, boxty, eggs, ‘shrooms and hot tomatoes. No tea for me just a strong black coffee. First on last off the plane.

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Train from Schipol

Zaandam bus to Womerveer

Pumpkin greets me.

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The Netherlands 2013 Day 2

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Day two into my vacation and still no plane…I had a little farther to travel on this journey before I could even board the jet. God told me in advance I had things to do, necessary preparations, before I could take my window seat on flight 613.

In 1997 I went to England on a missions trip in April during my daughter, Amanda’s birthday. She wasn’t happy. This year I was scheduled again to be gone to Europe on her birthday. I joked with her that her birthday was really good to me and that she should have them more often. Still I wanted to make sure we celebrated together before I left.

100_1634We traveled up to Keene, New Hampshire and had a birthday dinner at The Olive Garden and then walked through the Old Colony Mill Mall. We stopped to listen to this gentlemen playing the piano. We visited Michael’s Craft store and then drove into Dublin to visit a favorite used bookstore of ours.

100_1637On our way home we stopped for some photo opportunities.Winter has not entirely left our region but spring is on its way if the rushing of the rivers is any indication.

I’m just curious what are your vacation preparations like?

The Netherlands 2013 Day 1

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This journey does not begin on a plane. It begins in an art gallery. 100_1627My friend Clayton was playing at the Greater Gardner Area Art Show on Friday night the 12th. I felt I should go. I suppose it was work. I suppose it was relaxation. In my world the two things have a tendency to become blurred. Is work a got to or a get to ( If you are wondering about that read my post https://josephelonlillie.com/2013/04/06/got-to-or-get-to/) ? What about vacation? Is it a got to or a get to?

100_1628When you enjoy your work,  so much of it is an adventure. When you understand you are called to your position,  a day in the office can be the same as a plane trip to a foreign country.

100_1630You just never know what’s around the next corner: Pleasant surprise or terrifying trouble. When the Shepherd of your soul has sent you into a thing…when you know He is with you either thing becomes just a tool in His hand to bring blessing.

This is a good starting point.