Many of you have asked to be kept up to date on the state of the puppies. Well, they were born a week ago. Three boys if I am right about things. Mother and babes are doing just fine!
Mercedes in the early stages of labor. She did not remain this happy.
puppy!
the three boys
On my recent trip to The Netherlands, I had an opportunity to tour the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens and the surrounding fields of Lisse. Unfortunately like the rest of the world the gardens were about a month behind.
While I did get some beautiful shots indoors and even a few great shots of the outer gardens the tulip beds were nowhere near peak.
Still it is an interesting place and there was plenty to photograph; So I loaded up on photos. When I brought my stuff home I began to play with it a little. Here is what I like to call “Crazy Keukenhof”.
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
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
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
I hope you enjoyed these photos and Scriptures inspired by Keukenhof Gardens!
As promised here are more pictures from Delft the city of the Royals.
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
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!
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!
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!
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
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
A Lone biker by Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam
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, Muriel and George
Once Brenda was finished it was back to Centraal and off to Delft!
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.
Train from Schipol
Zaandam bus to Womerveer
Pumpkin greets me.
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.
We 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.
On 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?
This journey does not begin on a plane. It begins in an art gallery. 
My 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?
When 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.
You 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.
The Change
Daily Prompt: For many of us, winter is blooming into spring, or fall hardening into winter. Which season do you most look forward to?
Never the return of green and running falls
Dispelling ice from souls too long frozen
Nor summer sand burning toes
Ocean’s glimmer chosen for respite from the weary world
We do not covet autumn’s hues or
Changes come with dying splendor’s promise of the celebration
Of another time to seal away to rest, a winter solstice,
Snowy embrace!
My Warm Sun by JE Lillie
The thing we long for is just the change.
If you want to try your hand at the Daily Prompt go to: http://dailypost.wordpress.com/
Lillie-Put 