"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shewth His handiwork" Pt:4

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"We were to spend Friday night and Saturday in Toronto, 115 miles from London, with friends of Bill and Faith's and go on the Kirkland Lake Sunday.  Bob and Margaret Nye and their young son Jonathon, although perfect strangers to J.W. and me, were perfectly lovely to us.  The kind of people you seem to have known always.  Due to two accidents, construction work on the highway, heavy afternoon traffic it took us exactly one hour and a half to drive eight miles from near the airport in to Toronto.  I am sure glad Bill drove for us.  Of course at dinner my high-falutin' diverticulitis decided to act up.  I could not indulge too much in the delicious food and drink offered to us.  Bob and Margaret insisted we return to them when we left Kirkland Lake for home, but, we felt this would be too much an imposition so did not make any promise.

Sunday morning, although we hated to say goodbye to Bill for what we knew would be another year or more, we were anxious to be on our way.  After a nice breakfast Bob and Bill escorted us to the edge of the Metropolis (a city with the population of Toronto, 1,835,000 should be called a metropolis don't you think?) where we were to pick up Route 400 north.  We were glad they did.  Highway 401 which we took out of Toronto is a perfect nightmare.  nine lanes of traffic going in each direction, without overpasses, underpasses, exits and yields by the score.  I am sure a master-mind laid out the highway, I am equally sure that he was a raving maniac by the time he was finished.  However, I am told this was merely the belt-line around the city such as we have in the larger cities of the United States.  Downtown Toronto I was told have twelve lanes going each way and as many over and underpasses, exits etc., as the other.  I am glad I had no business downtown but if I had been asked to do so I bet I'd have made it.  Wanta bet?

We had a drive of 355 miles ahead of us over new territory.  Traffic was very heavy for the first 55 miles, the first Monday in every month is a legal holiday in Canada so people by the hundreds were off to the many parks, lakes and river for fishing, boating, camping and just picnicking.

After a long hard day's drive, and after counting off each mile that brought us nearer our journey's end we finally arrived in Kirkland Lake where our dear Faith and the grandchildren were waiting.  Needless to say that although they were not sure whether we would arrive on Sunday or Monday we were joyously welcomed.  Just time enough for a needed visit to "you know where" and we locked our car, transferred to the bus (Faith's Chevrolet bus) and we were off for a picnic supper on one of the many lakes which surround Kirkland Lake.

The weather was a bit chilly for us, Floridians who have allowed their blood to thin, but it was good for us, very invigorating.  They have no air pollution there and it is very clear.  Can you imagine sitting before a roaring fire the first week in August?  Almost like going swimming in the Atlantic on Christmas Day.  We will have proof if our pictures are any good.?"

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handiwork Pt 3

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"The garage owner said until they could put the care upon the rack, they could not tell us the extent of the trouble or just what is was, and since it was Saturday and getting late they wold have to get any parts that might be needed before the stores all closed.  Also is was so terribly hot there for us to have to wait for an definite time, he sent us on to the motel.  First telling us that as soon as the repairs were made he could bring the car to us, but he warned us we might have to remain over Sunday and with a big grin aided "and possibly Monday" saying they like to keep nice people there as long as possible.  We went to the motel, had a shower and a nice nap before dinner.  About an hour and a half later there came a knock on our door and it was the boy from the garage with our car.  To our great relief the damage, "No brake fluid and a minor adjustment necessary".  Carelessness on hte part of the man who did the last service job before we left home.  So we were out just $7.03.  Again this was an answer to prayer, for had it happened when we were going through Atlanta in a driving, blinding rain on Saturday afternoon, bumper to bumper traffic and no place to go off the road, a serous accident could not have been avoided.

After a dinner we could both enjoy and a good night's sleep, we were up and away early Sunday morning.  Another beautiful day's drive through the Lookout Mountains of Tennessee along the Tennessee River over the new highways to Monteagle.  Then on to Goodlettsville, Tennessee for a short visit with our dear friend of many years, Mrs. Herman H. Lowe.  After giving our promise to stop with her on our return trip home, we were on our way once more, the last leg of the first stage of our trip.

About 5:00 P.M. we arrived in Hopkinsville* where two of my dear sisters were waiting for us, we were sorry to learn that Della was in the hospital but happy to know she was well on the recovery road.  We had time for luncheon with my cousin Hazel, dinner one night with sister Elsie and Bill, a visit to the cemetery, a trip to the hospital to see Della and then our all-too-short visit had to come to an end.  We had persuaded sister Irma to go as far as Louisville with  us for a few days.  {*Barb the kids and I visited this house on our trip to the Creation Museum then down to Fort Donaldson back in 2010, no one was home, but a lady in her 40s or so from across the street said, that when she was a little girl, two older ladies had lived in that house}.

We had two nights and a day in Louisville with Eunice and Bob and here i once again unloaded the car, but I must be like the rolling-stone gathering moss as I roll along.  I left "stuff" at every stop we made, but so help me I had gathered so much more at each place than I left, J.W. threatened to hire a trailer or a truck to haul it home.

Thursday we left Louisville at 8:00 A.M. for Canada, over Interstate 71 to Cincinnati then picking up our Interstate 75 on in to Detroit.  When we reached Port Huron, north of Detroit, it was 4:00 P.M. but since Michigan was not on daylight saving time, we had lost an hour so decided to cross over into Canada before stopping for the night.  We crossed over ton the beautiful Blue Water Bridge which raises high over the St. Clair River.  This river is a part of the great St. Lawrence Seaway.  If you remember Bill (my dad) worked on the seaway several years when he was with Standard Dredging.  Port Huron is on the American side of the river and Sarnia, Ontario the Canadian.  We found a nice motel just on the outskirts of Sarnia and here we decided to stop for the night.  It was raining and a very cold wind blowing.  I was glad to have my all-weather coat with me, certainly put it to good use.

Friday morning we took our own good time driving the short distance of about 65 miles over to London where we were to meet Bill.  We had no difficulty in locating his rooming house near the university.  We were told by his unfriendly landlady that he was having exams and would not be home until 1:00 P.M. or 1:30 P.M.  We drove downtown as J.W. wanted to do some shopping for Boy Scout Equipment.  Since we had been in London before we had no trouble going directly to Eaton's in the Mall.  When we returned to the University we had only a short time then to wait."

48 Years

 

Some one with the last name of Adair has resided at this address since July of 1972.  Barb and I (according to the original deed paperwork) are either the fourth or maybe fifth owners.  Built in 1904.  Quite a bit of history here.  A bittersweet moment to see the sign.  God bless.   js

The heavens declare the glory of God, And the firmament sheweth His handiwork" Pt 2

"Our trip began at 3:00AM July 26th (1969) as we left our home on Avon Road in West Palm Beach and headed due north by way of the Sunshine Parkway and on to Interstate 75 which we followed all the way in to Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Here we took Interstate 24 to Nashville and U.S. 41 to Hopkinsville.

We saw the sun rise many miles from home.  Being very economical I ad packed the making for our first breakfast and lunch.  We pulled into a service center parking area on the turnpike about 6:30 A.M. for our coffee and doughnuts.  A nice shady roadside park somewhere in South Georgia served as a dining room for our lunch about 1:00 P.M.

Even the flat Florida highway over which we traveled and the rolling hills of Georgia looked good to us, for, we were on our way and had three weeks ahead of us in which to have fun and rest.  Did I say rest?  Well we could dream could we not?

The weather was a bit warm, or let us be honest and admit it was "hot" but our little eight year "young" Chevy purred along beautifully eating up the miles and with the air-conditioning working perfectly, we were kept cool and comfortable despite the heat on the outside.

We had planned to stop the first night just beyond Cartersville, Georgia (about 50 miles west of Atlanta) at the motel where we have stopped several times in the past.  A very near accident just one mile from the motel threatened to put an end to our trip then and there.  Saturday afternoon, heavy traffic, a red signal light ahead.  When I applied my brake, to my horror, I had none, the emergency did not help on bit either.  Thank to my reflexes being still on the job, the fact that I was in the right lane of traffic, and there was a graded but unpaved shoulder of the road handy, I was able to pull off the road and stop the car without the accident.  Whew!!!   Then we found there was no forward movement to be had from the car and when ewe put in it reverse there was no stopping.  Fortunately, we were directly across the divided highway from a wrecker service and service station.  Not knowing the trouble or what the cost of repair might be, we started to count our money to decided if we could afford to buy a new car if we could only make it to Louisville.  We received kindness and courtesy for beyond the call of duty from the garage people.  We called and made reservations at the motel, told the enough of our trouble so they would understand our lateness in arrival."

My granddad on the left (J.W.) and my dad, about 1985. (MS told me 84-85 time-frame)

"The Heaven declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handiwork" Pt 1

This is the headline of a book, recently found, that was compiled by my paternal grandmother Francis Adair nee: Fuller, sometime in the late sixties.  Born in 1900 in the southern United States (Hopkinsville Kentucky), oldest of seven sisters.  Married my grandfather as a second marriage (apparently scandalized for the day, a divorced woman).  Yet: one of the strongest memories of an adult that I hold from my childhood as the youngest, later second youngest, in what for the time was not an overly large family (six, seven and later eight children).  A woman who left an imprint on me, on my marriage, on my children (though they may not be aware).

Well, there is my introduction.  I may interject as I write out her book, I will do so in {brackets}.  But mostly I am going to try to be faithful to what she wrote.  A southern, Baptist, woman, in her late sixties, travelling from south Florida to the James Bay, in the summer of 1969 (I was just ten years old).  Here is her story as she wrote it, I have even left mis-spellings or America spelling as much as I notice.

"This verse from the 19th Psalm is one that I learned many years ago, while in the eight grade.  Until J.W. (my grandfather) and I made this 5000 mile trip this summer, traversing six states and two Canadian provinces, it was just that, a familiar and oft repeated verse from one of the many Psalms our beloved teacher Mrs. Moss required us to commit to memory.

Abraham Lincoln once said, and I quote "I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God."

I cannot see how man can look upon the earth and say there is not God.  The beauty of the lakes, rivers, rolling hills, winding roads through the mountains, the rich farm lands, bustling cities we saw were all things long to be remembered and evidence of His great love.  And man can say there is no God?

I do not claim to be a brilliant author, nor even a good story writer.  I did want to share our summer's trip and fun with my sisters and a few kind and interested friends.  I have been asked to report it this way.  I might say the request came after I had said I might do it this way.   So this is my way of telling you of our trip, and I hope you will not be bored.  Also that you will excuse any and all mistakes for I always seem to get a typewriter that makes a great many mistakes.  I never do you know.  Do wish all of you could have been with us."

That is all for tonight.  Hope someone reads this.  It is in an old binder with the type-written pages inside of plastic sheet protectors.  She was not much older than I when her and J.W. took this trip.  I look forward to sharing this with you.  Good night.   js

A stressful month (lack of faith?).  Last Thursday Barb and I were talking about a house we had offered on sometime back with no agreement.  Seemed we were miles apart and since it is a private sale, ackward. 
I had to travel Friday for business in Toronto and would be away, with our pending sale getting closer we were wondering where are we going to live.   We have looked at multiple homes, some very nice, some very interesting...
So; we prayed on it and made another offer, at our drop-dead highest we could afford.  With the idea being: by praying on it, that if they refused, or countered at a higher level then the door was closed and we would need to consider something else.  Less than 30 seconds after I pushed send on the offer, my wife's phone dinged, it was our agent letting us know that the final condition, the sale of the house of our buyer, was met.  So as of 14 Feb we don't have anywhere to live....  The offer we made, the representative said he would reply Saturday or no later than Monday afternoon.
The weekend was hectic, got home early Monday morning.  No reply...
By Tuesday we had still heard nothing, I sent a couple of emails without a response.   Finally, Barb and I talked Tuesday after lunch and decided we better phone.  Since it was a private sale, and awkwardness that the first couple of offers had seemed to cause last fall.  I was cautious.  We prayed on it and I said I would phone before the end of the workday.
Not even twenty minutes later, I felt compelled to phone.  On the pick up I was explaining who I was why I was calling and if they were going to respond.  At the same time the representative of the family was answering that he had replied and sent a couple more emails as he hadn't heard a response and really was trying to contact us...
Fifteen or twenty minutes later we had an acceptance from the lawyer.
It was all in His timing.

Moving?

Well.  Counter offered on an offer and it looks like we have sold.  This will mean a move, the homes we had on string have sold.
Of course, we moved here from Yellowknife in January, purchasing this home off of my parents (to help look after them because my father had cancer), dad died not long after we got here.  Barb and I have said since we bought this home, that The Lord bought it for us; He would have to sell it (due to my parents owning a lake property at the time, we hadn't actually walked through it in over tens years at time of purchase).  Looks like we will be moving in January again....  

It as been a good home, will be nice to move closer to grandchildren (if that is the Lords will).  Of course, new jobs?
Lots of things to pray about.  Taking a step of faith...   js

In Search of a Church

We live in an area where there is a shortage of Bible believing Churches.  There are some Baptist Churches locally, but they hold to the Central Seminary view of Gods Word.
We believe that God preserved His Word (as He said He would).
And we can find it in the English language through the Authorized (King James) version.
Of course, there are some who will condemn us with the 'King James Only' slur, though, if I held to that it would not be necessarily completely wrong.  I don't agree with the Ruckman position that God re-inspired His Word, correcting errors, why would He need to?
I hold, based on Gods Word and study, that we can have the pure Words of God (as He promised), preserved in the King James Bible.  Gods work, not man.
I believe that the other 'Bibles' are corrupted (with the texts and methods of translation).  Does this mean that they are not Bibles?  Of course not.  I can paraphrase the Gospel.  Does this mean it is not the Gospel?
It is a shame the times we live in.   js

Abortion

Quite a bit of talk about this issue the past while.  The left here in Canada and the US to our south are realizing that the narrative is changing.  People no longer believe that the child in the womb is just a clump of cells.  That by giving it 'un-human' sounding names ie: zygote, fetus, doesn't take away its humanity.  And of course, if it is human, what 'human rights' does he or she hold.
They're (the pro-choicer's) quite upset naturally because they have allowed themselves to be pushed into an indefensible (with logic anyways) position.  In other words, by passing legislation in Virginia (and Canada for that matter), that allow a woman to decide to terminate her offspring right up to the point of birth (and in Virginia's case, maybe even after), how can they say they are for protecting the life of children.  Children who successfully escape the womb have rights?  Five minutes prior: no rights?....
The pro-life side must take care also.  There are cases where medical authorities may have to make a triage decision to 'save the life that can be saved'.
I hold to life, in all cases I lean to life.  I fully understand that people die, having been training as a emergency responder, mine rescue, fire, soldier etc.  I know, that decisions have to be made.  Sometimes, not everyone lives. 
Hopefully calmer heads will prevail.  I have my doubts however, the pro-abortion side has pushed so hard, the pro-life side is (righteously so) pushing back.  Politicians are making hay.
The wisdom of Solomon is required, where to find it?    js

Praise the Lord

Well.  I have not been on here for quite some time.  Had some medical issues that tried to put me in the dirt, but by Gods grace, I am still here.
Don't know if anyone has read anything I have ever posted here (or on my previous BLOG).
Facebook seems to take most of the time of my generation now.
I will try to post things that are on my mind.  The Lord provides, life is good.
Have a great day, On Purpose!   js

Merry Christmas

We just completed our Christmas sing along at church.  It was a good evening of fellowship.  I was blessed to sing 'O Holy Night' with my daughter.
It was a true blessing.  I hope only the best of the season to any who read this.  Remember the good tidings that the angels brought was the fact that the Lord sent us a saviour, who paid the bill for our sin.  The Good News, the Gospel.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
Night.  js