Our Trip To The UK Part~10

5 Feb

 A Slice of Life

By Bill Lites

Bill

 

Then it was up to the Moffatt Woollens Mill at Ladyknowe House, in Moffat, the most northern point of our trip, where I bought a really great Harris Tweed sport jacket and DiVoran bought a beautiful turquoise 100% Argyle sweater and matching pair of knee socks.  We both loved our Scottish items and wear them every chance we get, on those really cold (but very few) occasions we have here in Central Florida.  That is, until DiVoran washed her sweater in hot water and you know the rest of that story.  Boo Hoo! 

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While we were in Moffat, we just had to visit the home of Dorothy Emily Stevenson, DiVoran’s favorite author.  And yes, Robert Louis Stevenson was her grandfather’s brother.  It seems that D. E. Stevenson, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland spent many years of her life with her husband James Peploe, in Glasgow, until Glasgow was bombed, in the early 1940s.  it was then that she and James moved to Moffat.  Like DiVoran, Stevenson had started writing when she was very young, but because of family duties, and WWII, didn’t start publishing her novels until later in her life.

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Not long after leaving Moffat, we saw the Scottish West Highland train moving across the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, and what a sight that was!  Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, crossing over the viaduct offers train travelers spectacular views down Lochaber’s Loch Shiel.  The view from the road wasn’t bad either.

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We had planned to travel North all the way to Inverness, Scotland but a huge Atlantic storm moved in from the West, and we decided instead to head back down the Eastern side of England.  This took us thru Newcastle and Durham, to our next stop in the city of York, as we tried to outrun the storm.  One of the things I learned on this trip was that a cup of hot tea will take the chill off of those cold windy English days.  And, one of the most popular teas used by our hosts in most of the B & Bs was called “Ty-Phoo Tea” brand English Blend, and I learned to drink it English style, with milk and sugar.  Of course, DiVoran already knew all this, having been the hot tea drinker in our family for years.

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The city of York is bounded on the North by the North Yorkshire Moors and on the West by the Yorkshire Dales, which is “Harriot Country” made famous by author, James Harriot (James Alfred Wight), who lived and wrote of his veterinary practice in the countryside around the town of Thirsk.   Also in this area is the famous Robin Hood Bay, dating back to medieval times.  A 15th century English ballad and legend tells a story of Robin Hood and his band of merry men encountering French pirates who had come to pillage the fisherman’s boats along the northeast English coast.  After a brief skirmish, the pirates surrendered to Robin Hood, and he returned the loot to the poor people in the fishing village that is now called Robin Hood’s Bay.

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We were told that a “must see” in York was the York Minster Cathedral of circa 1100, and they were right.  There is evidence that there has been a church of one type or another in this location since 627 AD.  The present cathedral now sits on the ruins of structures from at least three major time periods, and their structural differences can be seen.   There is Norman style 1070-1154, English Gothic style 1230-1472 and Perpendicular Gothic style 1730-1880.  Under Elizabeth I, there was a concerted effort to remove all traces of Roman Catholicism from the cathedral, and it became the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England.   It is an absolutely magnificent cruciform shaped edifice.  The outside is beautiful, but the interior is indescribably spectacular!  There isn’t room in this blog for all the beautiful pictures of the Cathedral, but you can Google the “York Minster Cathedral” and see it all for yourself.

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—–To Be Continued—–

 

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Chinese New Year Celebration

3 Feb

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistI don’t stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, any more, but this year, I received an invitation to attend a Chinese New Year celebration with my friend, Annie, from Beijing, and I was delighted. Her Bible study group has socials just as our church does, but their native language is Chinese and they are like a family here in this challenging country of ours.

I knew red was the color for Chinese New Year and, wanting to be cooperative, I bought a red sweater for the occasion. Inside the house where the party was, though, I was the only one in the twenty-five person group who didn’t leave her shoes at the door. I became slightly embarrassed and told Annie I would take them off. She said no.

“There’s no good reason I can’t do that,” I said.

“The floor’s cold,” Annie answered.

My answer was … “Okay.” You see, I don’t like cold feet any more than anyone else does.

Annie and I chatted, in English (of course) while we waited to get to the potluck dishes. “It’s in my bones to take my shoes off in the house,” she said, “but I don’t insist my daughter and husband do it.” Her husband is American and their daughter is “mixed,” as Annie says.

When you think about the pictures you’ve seen of Chinese New Year, you think of a dragon parade, firecrackers, and chi-paos. I hope I got that right. That means those gorgeous satin dresses with the Mandarin collars and frog closures. One little girl wore a green one to the party and she looked lovely. The women’s Bible study leader wore Chinese style dress as well. I was glad.

The host, a gastroenterologist, asked me if it was all right if they said the blessing in Chinese. My goodness yes! I was amazed that he asked. The food was good. For the fun of it, I tried using chopsticks to lift noodles from a serving bowl. I felt eyes upon me, but there were no giggles. Laughing at a person would not be polite and the Chinese people I know are nobly and graciously polite. That’s something else that’s bred in their bones.

These friends of Annie’s treated me like royalty. I felt it was because of the tradition of respecting their elders, but I’m sure they would have been as kind and attentive to any guest. A steady stream of women took turns coming to chat with me at the table.

When Maddy heard that Annie and I met in art class, she began to tell me about Akiane, a young woman who paints pictures of Heaven. She’s only sixteen years old now, but when she was five she visited Heaven, as the four-year-old Colton did whose story is told in Heaven is Real. It was difficult for Maddy to talk to me in English, but she persevered. She told me about the paintings and about Jesus and Heaven. She got someone’s phone and showed me the paintings and they are indeed incredible.

In olden times, oh say 4712 BC, or so, when the traditions of Chinese New Year first began, folks believed a dragon would come and eat them during that season, if they didn’t frighten it away. By the twelfth century they had fireworks that worked fine for the purpose. Our celebration had no fireworks to scare a dragon away, but we had something better … prayer and a recorded sermon. Everyone sat quietly and listened. The sermon was in Cinese with an English interpretation. Annie thought the sermon a bit long, and I had to agree, but she was impressed with the expertise of the interpreter.

It’s wonderful to meet Christians anywhere and at any time. There’s a common love of Christ and of God’s word that binds us together. What a miracle. We are truly brothers and sisters in Christ and it’s not only satisfying, but it can be a lot of fun as well. “When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.” (Christian Hymn, “When we all Get to Heaven,” words Emily D. Wilson, tune, Eliza E. Hewitt)

Chinese

Chinese New Year

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Daddy

2 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

My Daddy was quite a guy.  As I’ve said before, he was born in 1892, and was 20 years older than my Mother.  But he was a good Daddy, and really was a “Daddy” rather than a stiff “Father.”  I was, occasionally, exasperated with him in my teenage years – I guess as all teenagers are with their parents – but loved him dearly.  He died when I was 25 and pregnant with my first child.  I always regretted that neither of our children got to know their grandpa, and I miss him still.

 

But he could be really funny.  I remember that, when Mother was working in accounting at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, she would quite often invite some of the single, lonely, homesick airmen to church with us on Sundays, then to our house for Sunday dinner.  Around the table, one of Daddy’s favorite things to tell these guys was that he was from a large family.  He would state that there were eight boys, and each of them had five sisters.  Then he would pose the question: “How many of us children were there in the family?”  You could almost see the steam coming out of their ears as the wheels turned as they computed the numbers.  While most got the joke within a reasonable time, I remember one young man staring at Daddy, eyes bulging out, and said “58?!!”  Then Daddy would howl with delight and inform them that all eight boys had the SAME five sisters!  There were only 13 children in the family.

Since Daddy was older when he and Mom married (45), they started their family rather quickly.  When my brother was born, Daddy was so proud that he sent off a telegram to his parents.  Mom told me that his dad sent back a nice, long, newsy letter about everything going on in Louisiana.  Then he ended the letter with:  “Son, we are happy to hear about the birth of your son.  But you must realize – it just RAINS grandchildren down here.”  Mom said Daddy’s balloon just deflated at that!

 

T.J. & Mattie Lites with 10 of their children. Daddy is back row, 4th from left

T.J. & Mattie Lites with 10 of their children.
Daddy is back row, 4th from left

Being the farm boy that he was, he loved to finish the meal with a slice or two of a tomato, rather than dessert.  He loved the desserts, as well, but….

He had some “sayings” that we always enjoyed.  Well, enjoyed MOST of the time.

  •    The traffic will eventually all run by (sometime eventually took longer than others – and Fred always said, “well, Daddy was right again”
  •    This roast is just no good – it just falls off the bone!
  •      As you know, breakfast (lunch/dinner) is one of my three main meals of the dayGranny, Aunt Jessie, Daddy - in his p.j.'s - Mom, Dora Bowers, DiVoran Lites - 1961          Granny, Aunt Jessie, Daddy – in his p.j.’s – Mom, Dora Bowers, DiVoran Lites – 1961 

Once, when Fred and I were visiting Albuquerque, Fred had gone out driving with Daddy.  That evening, Fred related this story of the day, but could hardly get it out for all his giggling.  They were driving along – Fred driving – and Daddy cleared his throat, turned his head, and spit.  Unfortunately, he had forgotten that the window was still closed!  Fred said Daddy cleaned off the window then turned his head back to Fred and sheepishly said, “that’s only the second time in my life I’ve done that.”  Fred said he had to “bite his tongue” to keep from laughing out loud!

Bill Lites in Albuquerque, NM

Bill Lites in Albuquerque, NM

It’s such fun to remember my Daddy.  But the best part is knowing that some day I will be reunited with him and won’t ever have to leave him again.

Bill Lites in the stocks - Williamsburg, VA

Bill Lites in the stocks – Williamsburg, VA

Bill Lites with daughter, Judy Wills, and granddaughter, Charlene Lites

Bill Lites with daughter, Judy Wills, and granddaughter, Charlene Lites

                    

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His Way, My Way

1 Feb

Sometimes I just have to disagree.

I received a newsletter that made my head shake. The theme was one most people find logical, accepted, and even embraced with fervor.

Does the title, “I Did It My Way” ring a bell?

Yep, it’s Ol’ Blue Eyes’ song that my friend mentions in his newsletter. The lyrics and Frank’s melodic voice stir hearts and sparks “Oooh’s and ahhh’s.”

Not me, though. I like his singing. But the message in this song roils in me. Let me tell you why. I tried doing it my way– letting my inner strength drive me forth, my dreams plunge me forward, and even attempted to let my abilities and skills open doors. This tactic works, quite well, I might add. Until, without warning, your world crumbles and pain filters like venom. Then your solutions are elusive and dark times threaten to suffocate you.

I’ve been there. And found when those times strike, reality flashes like lightening. Then my efforts show their true colors–, my feeble ways, my limited wisdom, and my weak efforts to change my circumstance accomplish nothing.

But before you knock me off my soap box, one more point: those who sing, “Do it your way” haven’t rolled in the mud of despair, or been stuck in the trenches of desperation. Some still insist, “Do it your way,”

God says,

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8).

Father, I confess I need you to keep me focused on your ways, your timing and your ability to accomplish what I cannot. I relish in knowing that it’s your power that is at work in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

  • What have you been following lately?
  • How will you change your ways?
  • How free do you feel when you let God have His way?

His Way

Janet Perez Eckles,

Grateful for the privilege of inspiring you…

My website in English

En Español

My story (video)

Inspirational video  just for you.

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Word Association

31 Jan

From My Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders

Is there a secret to having a good memory?
If there is, won’t you share?

As a military wife, I found myself always
in a social setting-
meeting new people everywhere.

I tried “word association”
where you picture things in your mind.
For instance, when I met a Mrs. Finnifrock.
I pictured a dress with a fish tail on the back-
truly one of a kind.

SO, what did I call her when we met again?
All I remembered was the fish tail!
Instead of “Mrs. Finnifrock “
“Mrs. FISHBACK” was my anxious wail!

P S. “There” seems to be the most common name
We hear it everywhere-
When memory fails, and the name won’t come,
We cheerfully exclaim, “HELLO.There!”

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Get Over It and Move On

30 Jan

On The  Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

My friend DiVoran and I were having a lively chat one day when  get over it came up. On the surface it seems like a rude, heartless thing to say, but is it?

I remember the times I said  “get over it and move on” to my teenage daughter after her first big heartbreak. She really hated when I said that, but what I was really saying was, work through this, stop letting it control you.

It takes courage, faith and work to overcome a broken heart, hurt feelings and disappointments. We don’t get over it without dealing with the situation. These are the actions I use when I need to get over it.

First I pray. I let God know I am counting on Him for help to accomplish these steps.

  • Determine to accept the situation. I don’t have to like it.
  • Accept responsibility for my actions. Yes, even if I feel justified.
  • Grieve the loss. I believe a time of grieving is a vital part of healing.
  • Choose to let go of the pain or anger. I can’t heal as long as I am hanging on to it.
  • Best of all, forgive.  Carrying a grudge can be a mighty heavy load.

Do I do this everyday and in every situation? Nope, but I wish I did. Guess I’m still  learning.

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Our Trip to the UK~Part 9

29 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

When Hadrian’s Wall was completed, it is said to have consisted of many “turrets” and what were called “milecastles” used, not only for defense purposes, but also to house the upwards of 10,000 Roman troops required to man this massive defense system.  It is theorized to have been for the purpose of separating the Roman Empire subjects from the “Barbarians” to the North.  However, a number of theories have been presented by recent historians, that if not wholly, at least partially, the wall was constructed to reflect the power of Rome, and was used as a political point by Hadrian.

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I didn’t realize it at the time, but have read that only 20 years later, another Roman Emperor, Antoninus Pius, had expanded the Roman Empire in Britain another 100 miles North, and constructed another barrier between what was then the Roman Empire and the “Barbarians” to their North.  Construction of this wall began in 142 AD, at Antoninus Pius’ order, and took about 12 years to complete. The Antonine Wall, as it was called, is a 40-mile long stone and turf fortification built across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde.  The Antonine Wall was designed with 19 forts and 6 fortlets spaced along its length, and was manned by as many as 5,000 Roman troops.  However, for military, political and economic reasons, maintenance and occupation varied at both Hadreain’s Wall and the Antonine Wall over the next 300 years, by which time both had been abandoned by the Romans.

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As we traveled north, next we stopped in Dumfries, Scotland where we visited the Robert Burns Center and drove across what is advertised as the oldest arch bridge (1431 AD) still in use in Scotland.  The next day we visited the unique triangular-shaped 13th century Caerlaverock Castle with its high towers and moat.  It was a stronghold of the Maxwell family from the 13th century until the 17th century. Then in the early 17th century, they built a new lodging within the walls, described as among the most ambitious early classical domestic architectures in Scotland.

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One of the interesting features of the Scottish countryside was how rocky the soil was.  The people had to remove the stones so they could cultivate their land so, over the centuries they have used the stones for everything imaginable.  They built houses with them, they built fences with them and they lined the roads with them.  Some of the country roads are pretty narrow, and when you are driving on one of them (on the left side of course) at night, with four foot high stone walls on both sides of the road, and you meet a car or truck coming the other way, it can be mighty scary, take my word for it!4

                                   

At the “Locharthur House” B & B in Beeswing, Dumfries that evening, we met our wonderful hosts, Mr. & Mrs. Schoolings, and their cute little redheaded daughter Elizabeth.  The next morning “Beth” invited us to follow her around as she did the chores.  We saw her special fuzzy lop eared rabbits, her five young red pigs, and the cows in the field down by Loch Arthur.  Of course she had on her Wellington Rubber Boots or “Wellies” and we didn’t, and as a result we got our feet sopping wet trekking thru the field with all its early morning dew.  We were amazed when DiVoran asked Beth how old she was and she told us she was 12, and then added, “I’m wee for my age.” What a grand time we had experiencing the busy life of a young Scottish Lass and all her animals.

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                                                                    —–To Be Continued—–         

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Divine Sparks

27 Jan

My Take 

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistI recently read that prestige is the most important thing to any human being. How do researchers come up with these things? It rings true, and yet there has to be something more, something better. I think its love. Love is as essential to sustain life as the basic need for food and shelter.

And, oh, the things we’ll do to get love, translated attention. I desire attention. I want to be validated, it’s important for people to respect me.

When I was a young mother, our baby thought the earth centered on her. That was hard for me because until that time I thought I was the center. Then I found out that everyone thinks that at first. What a surprise!

I did many things to stay in the center of the universe and get all the love and attention I needed. Mostly I tried to please other people. Sometimes I tried to please the right people and sometimes the wrong people. Trying to please the wrong people can get you in lots of trouble.

I knew God was out there, but I had no idea that he wanted to meet my needs. The first time I remember hearing about Jesus was in my five-year-old Sunday School class with Auntie Elvira. She never had any children of her own, but we were all her kin as far as she was concerned. She told us stories from the Bible and we learned to sing, “Jesus Loves Me.” That was nice. My parents loved me, Jesus loved me, and Auntie Elvira loved me.

God has always been in my life, but the next time I remember becoming aware of him was one day when I looked out my bedroom window at the majestic mountains and knew that the One who had created them knew me and had created me too.

When I was twelve, I took over teaching the Sunday School from another teacher, who was sixteen, because she was ill. I liked learning and I liked teaching, and some of what I learned must have stuck with me, because I received from it a desire for cultivating a life of connection with our Lord, which I have done. I find it immensely gratifying. I’m so grateful my Lord and Auntie Elvira reached out to me. I visited with Auntie Elvira when she was very old and told her so, and I visit with God frequently to thank him, too.

**********To Be Continued**********

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Surprising Relatives~Part 2

26 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

 

Some years ago, I became interested in genealogy.  I was so excited about it all, and I mentioned to Fred’s Dad that I would love to have their family history.  He rather turned me down flat with a “don’t you know that in five generations you have about a million people?!”  That went no where.  But later, I realized that I wanted something different.  So I approached him again about it, and he started in, again, with the “don’t you know….”  I stopped him and said, “No Dad, I want YOUR childhood memories…and Mom’s childhood memories.”  “Oh.”

And so, they both began writing their memoirs.  Dad would type his up, and e-mail them to me to make whatever typographical corrections that needed to be done.  Mom hand-wrote hers and sent them to me to transcribe.

After they finally said, “we’re finished,” I put them in book-form and made copies for all the family.

I had asked Fred’s parents about pictures of the family, and they both said there just weren’t any.  I was quite disappointed, until one day, on a visit to their home, I stumbled upon four picture albums!  I was so pleased!  I now had pictures that I could add at the appropriate spots to highlight the narration.  And so the scanning process began.  The whole project was a fun thing to do, and definitely a labor of love on my part.  Now all their children, grandchildren, great-grands and on down have not only memories of how these two lovely people grew up, but how life was, back in those days.  I only wish I had started this process when both of my parents were still alive.  I can only go by pictures and what little I gleaned from my Mother before her death.

In any case, during this time, we made a trip to Washington state to visit with Fred’s parents and both of his sisters.  It was just after Emily had told us about making the connection with Walt and Pauline Eby.  While spending a few days with Emily and Ron, they invited Walt and Pauline over to dinner, so we could share family stories.  I had taken the rough draft of Fred’s parent’s Memories book with me, and after dinner, I asked Walt to look through it.  Unbelievably, he had some of the originals of the pictures I had in the book!  Amazing!  He was so happy to read the stories, and know a bit more about this side of the family, and how they “related” to his parents and his Uncle Bob and Aunt Eleanor.

While it shouldn’t be, it’s always surprising to find relatives in the most unusual way.  And God has a way of bringing us together and making that family connection that is so very precious.

 Proverbs 3:6

Kitty and Charles Wills under the Engagement Bell at Wheaton College.
Kitty and Charles Wills 1980

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What to do When Fear Attacks

25 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Eckles Peres

“I took my small dog for a walk one night,” my friend Ian said, “the area was dark except for a light near the big fountain in the courtyard of the apartment complex.

I heard my neighbor yell from her second-floor balcony. But the sound of the water in the nearby fountain drowned her words. So I returned the greeting. Since it was Christmas time, I assumed she had yelled out ‘merry Christmas’.

Then her shout became louder, ‘Look behind you, Ian’!

I turned. And my eyes caught the glimpse of a big, furious javelina charging at me and my small dog. Heart thumping, with one swoop I scooped my puppy. And I took off like a bullet. That’s when I had my Forest Gump moment. My neighbor shouted, ‘Run, Ian, run!”

Ian had his neighbor, but we have the Lord shouting to our soul,
run, run as fast as you can’. When would He say that? Each time we’re being attacked by the beast of fear.

You’re been there, haven’t you? During dark nights, out of nowhere, with no warning, fear charges at you. Fearful money will run out. Fearful our kids won’t grow up like we want them to. Afraid of losing our health. Fearful to be alone. Afraid to stay with the wrong person…afraid to leave them. Afraid we’ll never heal from the heartache.

Goodness gracious, God is shouting to you and me, “run, run from that spirit of fear.”

And with the same authority as David did, with the same assurance and assertion, we declare: “The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1-2

Father, how foolish to be afraid, knowing you’re the stronghold of my life, of my decisions, of circumstances, relationships and my future. With your power working in me, I have the strength, the courage and the authority to defeat any attack of fear. In Jesus name. Amen.

–What has you afraid today?
–Is your fear one that God cannot overcome?
–How will you display that new courage found in Christ?

Legacy

Janet Perez Eckles,

Grateful for the privilege of inspiring you…

My website in English

En Español

My story (video)

Inspirational video  just for you.

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