TWA:SW 32 Giverny of the Desert: Arizona-Senora Desert Museum

As a flower lover, I found myself very disappointed a few times during our trip by missing the peak bloom season for wildflowers, such as the blue bonnets in Texas and poppies in California.

However, I was also caught off guard a few times by unexpected joys.

As it turns out, the peak bloom season for desert wildflowers in southern Arizona starts in mid-March,

and after the torrential downpours from yesterday, the Arizona-Sedona Desert Museum was alive with color!

In the desert, flowers pop whenever they get the chance, and this day was their BIG CHANCE!

Every direction and at every turn my eyes danced from garden to garden.

It reminded me of the potpourri of colors, shapes, and textures from my all-time favorite garden, Giverny (Monet’s estate outside Paris).

Each garden space was worthy of sitting for awhile.

Each setting spurred me on to meander more,

to see what else could be found.

I didn’t mention this last week in my post about Saguaro National Park, but the saguaros are the largest cacti in the U.S.

The largest saguaro on record was about 300 years old, 40 feet tall, had 45 arms, and weighed 3,000 pounds!

It was a perfect day for learning all about prickly stuff!

Prickly Hedgehog Cactus

Of course, we weren’t the only ones out looking for prickly pleasures that morning.

Butterflies were sipping nectar from the Mescal Bean Bushes.

Hummingbirds were humming among the purple penstemon.

Bees were busy on the Hairy-seed Bahia.

The Desert Bluebells were busy being beautiful.

And everywhere, flowers were basking in the sunshine!

The Arizona-Sedona Desert Museum also has a petting zoo . . . of sorts . . .

Red-crowned Amazonian Parrot

Really, this “museum” (mostly outdoors) has all sorts of exhibits in addition to their native gardens (which include some plants that can be naturalized).

Ruby-throated hummingbird resting in the Hummingbird Aviary

They have wildlife exhibits, where you can see many of the indigenous creatures that often can’t be found by causal hikers:

Mountain lion asleep in the sunshine.

Bobcat giving himself a morning bath

A (nocturnal) grey fox trying hard to get a good day’s sleep.

A coyote trying to decide if he should wake up or not . . .

A Mexican grey wolf, already thinking about what to catch for breakfast.

A lazy javelina snoozing under a shrub.
I think he was dreaming about breakfast coming to him . . .

For rock hounds (like me), the museum has excellent displays of native minerals.

Each specimen is displayed with name and information on where it can be found in Arizona.

Arizona’s state mineral: Wulfenite

Aragonite Crystals

Peridot Crystals and Necklaces

Calcium carbonate stalactites hanging in a cave

They also have a cave (of sorts) where you can see close up the delicate formations.

For those who long for water, there’s even a lovely aquarium . . . nothing native here now, but perhaps a reminder that at one time this area was under water!

Sea horses doing the tango

What a perfectly wonderful day marveling at all the bright and beautiful (and strange) things God has created!

“Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: ‘I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,
and will hold Your hand'” (Isaiah 42:5-6 NKJV).

The Blessing of Brothers!

I wish everybody could have older brothers as loving, loyal, and kind as mine. I have two, and they were my heroes when I was growing up.

Rob is eleven years older, and he has been almost like a father to me—a fount of information who pretty much seemed to know everything I ever wanted to know as a kid. He won a National Merit Scholarship and was a career rocket scientist (aeronautical/aerospace engineer). I thought everything he ever did was cool (even smoking for a while in college, although fortunately that didn’t last long or I might be a smoker today!) He was playful, thoughtful, generous, indulgent, and ever so funny. I wanted to be just like him when I grew up and have since discovered that my penchant for purple, Porsches, and pleasantness were all probably rooted in his personal preferences and character!

My brother Wolle was seven years older, and he was the perfect person to prepare me to be a good playmate for Alan, because he let my sister and me track around behind him for all sorts of challenging adventures, like building a 12-foot igloo (counting the cattail tower 🙂 ) in front of our home for Christmas one year. He could run faster than I could ride my bike and tied for first place in a 50-mile contest walking “Between the Bridges” (Marie International Bridge from the Soo to Canada and the Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas). After graduating from the University of Michigan, he rode his bike from Detroit to New York City, where he graduated at the top of his class in pharmacy school and ran in many a New York marathon.

They came to visit recently, and I realized again how much both nature and nurture have to do with what we’re like as people . . . right down to things like genetic propensities for tingling toes in our older years (though none of us have diabetes), as well as loving gardens, colorful flowers, and photography!

All this goes for my sister, Annie, too, with whom we spent much of the week. I could fill a book with all the fun and crazy things we did as kids, and if I live long enough, I hope to. But, the most striking thing to me is that in 70+ years our basic personalities, genetic dispositions, and tastes haven’t really changed much. We’re all the outdoor variety, can be stopped in our tracks by “Listen to the voice of reason . . . ” and definitely strive to be virtuous and peaceable.

Hidden Lake Gardens near Adrian, Michigan

While we were visiting, we tried to get out and see some treasured relatives, but we also made time to enjoy the beauty of nature. (Any of the following photos with flowers are from Hidden Lake Gardens.)

We spent hours with Annie and her husband, Ralph, talking about everything under the sun.

I have to say, although we are crazy about each other and love each other dearly, we have very divergent views on some of the topics you’re not supposed to discuss in polite company, like religion and politics.

Surprisingly, we can debate without anger and disagree without losing our respect for one another.

Alan and I are just studying a book together called The Divine Conspiracy,* by Dallas Willard, who was an American philosopher and taught at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for almost 50 years.

In discussing the Kingdom of God, Willard makes the point that anger and contempt ruin relationships. Jesus taught us to go beyond “thou shalt not murder” and resist the temptation to be angry with those who disagree with us because God will judge those who are angry “without a cause.” We can certainly pray for those who disagree with our opinions, and we can try to persuade them to agree with what we believe is true and right, but it is wrong to try to manipulate others or coerce them into agreeing with us.

While we were on the east side of the state, we also enjoyed visiting some of our cousins.

We had a delicious lunch one day at “The Venue” restaurant with our cousin Jean (technically our cousin Roger’s widow and our cousin by marriage), who recently relocated to Ann Arbor to be closer to her sister. Although I’ve seen her more recently, Wolle hadn’t seen her since Roger’s funeral, and Rob hadn’t seen her in possibly 50 years. 😦 Way too long to miss seeing a cousin, don’t you think?!

Back in GR, we had a wonderful time of catching up with our cousin Jim! Rog and Jim were our only Michigan cousins, so they were almost like brothers too.

What a privilege for our GR sons with their wives and children to spend some time with my brothers and cousin! Having great older brothers is such a blessing!

BTW, if any of you don’t have a wonderful brother or two, know that you can always “borrow” a good brother!

My sibs and I grew up in a home with an atheistic father and an agnostic mother, and my brothers do not share my faith, so I “adopted” my spiritual mother’s son for a spiritual big brother.

Bill and his wife (who led me to the Lord) have mentored me and modeled Christ for me these past sixty years, and I’ve been greatly blessed to have them in my life. Bill is one of my heroes too (and Gloria)! Thank you, Lord, for wonderful brothers!

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:7-9, ESV).

Oh, and I’d never want to forget Alan, who’s been my brother who “sticks closer than a brother” through all these amazing years of marriage! 🙂

(In case you’re interested in an excellent book, here’s one: * The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (1998). San Francisco: Harper, ISBN 0-06-069333-9.)

The 2023 Holland Tulip Festival—Very Special!

Last week my brothers visited.

One is from Manhattan Island (New York City) and the other from Rossmore (near the Bay Area of San Francisco, California).

We spent last Friday (with Alan too of course!) previewing the Holland Tulip Festival.

After all was said and done, Rob nodded approvingly and grinned: “Nancy will be so jealous!”

(Nancy has been his beloved wife for the past 58 years and also loves flower gardens but didn’t feel like killing herself to make it because they’d just returned from Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival.)

I give these details to say that my enthusiasm for the breathtaking beauty of Holland’s Windmill Gardens was corroborated by brothers who live in two of America’s premiere locations and have excellent taste. (That last bit about taste stands unproven, but wouldn’t you think visiting Michigan and their little sister says something about taste? 🙂 Okay, so at least it says something about love and loyalty!)

At any rate, if you’re thinking “Why bother?” when it comes to visiting Holland’s 2023 Tulip Festival, I would say, “Because it will thrill your soul!”

This year’s festival is May 6-14, but the flowers were superb when we visited May 5, so if you want to go in 2023, I’d say ASAP would be ideal!

Or, if you can’t make it this year, they’re predicting it will start on Saturday, May 4 in 2024, so maybe you could plan ahead and visit next year.

My brother Wolle, who grew up mostly in Michigan, said he’s always heard about the festival but never gone! (He just turned 80, so that’s a long time.)

The most spectacular thing about Windmill Island Gardens are the gorgeous flowers.

The 36-acre garden has over 100,000 tulips—that’s lots of looks for little leg work and easy for both elderly and youngerly.

Every path provides plenty of show stoppers to keep everyone wide-eyed with wonder.

In addition to the flowers, there are many other attractions, including “The Little Swan” windmill.

The gardens are also home to The Big Swan, “De Zwaan,” which is the oldest authentic Dutch windmill in America that’s still working.

The windmill is open to garden guests, and you can take a free, self-guided tour up five floors to see how the wheat is ground and turned into flour.

From the fourth floor, you can go out on a walkway that looks down from every side onto the flower beds below.

On one side of the park, there’s a carousel with brightly painted wooden horses to ride, and on the other side there’s a hand-crafted Amsterdam street organ where they host free demonstrations and traditional music every half hour.

If you like charming shops, you can buy all sorts of Dutch treats— both the edible and the classy souvenir varieties.

But, we really went to see all the delightful varieties of tulips.

For the past 94 years, Hollanders have been collecting tulips and expanding their gardens.

As of 2023, there are over six million tulips blooming throughout the city and area parks.

For those of you who could never visit, I hope you’ve enjoyed this “virtual tour.”

But, if you’re among those who could come, I hope my sharing inspires you to make it happen! (Yes, I asked the lady’s permission to take her dog’s photo.)

In case you’ve never heard, we’ve all been invited to join Jesus in the garden of life and drink from the fountain of life. To be born again by faith in Christ, not just visiting but abiding with Christ. There’s no entrance fee— Jesus paid it all for us! We can enter freely into His rest and have our souls thrilled by joy and peace as we explore the wonders of His love. We don’t have to wait a year, or even travel anywhere to experience rebirth, all we have to do is be willing and ask God to save us! God already said He’s willing and will welcome us: “The Lord . . . is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). This is not only very special, it’s the most special thing in the universe!

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
(Revelation 22:17)

The Birthday Club: Getting to Know Him a Little Better

Three times a year our Birthday Club Trio explores Southwest Michigan together, and this year the high points were a tour of Our Daily Bread Ministries and Calvin University’s nature preserve—both free and highly commendable.

However, the first stop was Anna’ House (restaurant) for breakfast—one of those special places you only go to for special occasions, both because the food is expensive and because the portions are large.

On the bright side, they always have new, interesting dishes to try, like my two eggs over easy on a platter of veggies dressed with balsamic vinegar. Not something I’ve had for breakfast before!

Have you heard of Our Daily Bread Ministries? I started using their daily devotionals (now published monthly) back in 1963 when I first became a child of God through faith in Jesus, although the ministry started way back in 1938 by Dr. M.R. DeHann and was known as Detroit Bible Class.

As we learned, the ministry “began with one man amazed at the grace and forgiveness of God in his own life, and it grew into a passion to reach people around the world with the message of God’s love.”

Today Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODBM) has an amazingly productive press. Their web press has printed over 1,036,000,000 impressions—the equivalent to a three-foot roll of paper extending to the moon and back 3.3 times (790,000 miles). You know the saying, “I love you to the moon and back!” Well, ODBM has been loving God to the moon and back for many, many moons!

It produces one of the world’s most widely read Christian devotionals and distributes more than 10 million copies in 37 languages every month. ODBM (Our Daily Bread Ministries) sends and receives so much mail they have their own zip code now!

Rochelle Traub was our tour guide, but she’s also one of the female voices you may hear reading the ODB messages. (You can download a free app for your phone or get the messages online at https://odb.org/).

Mike Hoatlin, greeting our tour group as we passed through.
Thank you, Mike!

All the employees we met seem very happy! 🙂 And why not? What a fabulous ministry!

ODBM is faith based (the devotionals are all given away free, provided for by donations from appreciative Christians who have a heart to support the ministry). There are hundreds of people who donate time and expertise in various areas to make everything work. Cindi (our birthday girl) was surprised and happy to see one of her friends there. It looks like a great place to volunteer!

In addition to the Our Daily Bread devotional booklet, ODBM publishes many other books and resources.

One of my favorites is a new publication called Know Him, a year-long devotional providing 3 verses each day (one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from the Psalms) all highlighting one aspect of God’s character (12 attributes covered in 12 months) with a prompt for reflection at the bottom of each page. It takes about 2 minutes to read and has been a comforting way for Alan and me to end our days before trundling off to bed at night.

In addition to printed resources, ODBM has audio, digital, and film projects to meet the growing global media needs.

Tony Terpstra, Instructional Designer for ODBU (University)

They’ve even started a program of college-level theology classes to help meet ministerial needs around the world. I believe some of the classes are free, but for $10 monthly one can access their library of 180 courses (and growing). This reminds me a little bit of my son Jonathan’s Aqueduct Project ministry. His classes are more limited at this point, but they are all free and “in-person” with lectures and group discussions via zoom (https://www.aqueductproject.org/).

While we were there, we met some long-time friends, like Paul Brinkerhoff (who was in our mutual care group for many years).

I also got to meet Dawn, who’s been a great blessing and encouragement to one of our sons in his career.

We also met some “old friends” we hadn’t seen in years! Cindi, Susan, and I just happened to tour with a group of chaplains, and one of them (in the middle of this photo with a name tag) recognized me from many years ago! John Campbell and I went to Calvary Baptist Church together back in the 60s when we both lived in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! How fun is that?!!!

Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens Map

For our afternoon event, we walked the nature trails at Calvin University’s nature preserve. It’s so close to us, yet we’d totally overlooked this quiet little gem.

Although nothing was in bloom yet, there were a number of drowsy garter snakes basking in the afternoon sunshine.

Along the trails there are a few provocative quotes for consideration.

So, we stopped for a while to meditate and drink in the chorus of frogs and birds—who all seemed to be singing their Creator’s praises! I can hardly wait to bring my family back here sometime to hike.

The day ended with presents, pie, and prayer—the perfect finale to our joyful day!

This plaque at Calvin tied in with our tour of ODBM. Even when there are no blooms in the woods and the floor is covered with dead leaves, our hearts can blossom like gardens when filled with the Word of God, which is ODB—our daily bread!

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:16-18).

TWA:SW (14) Learning to Dance at Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center

Happy Spring to you! I know some of you are luxuriating in the heavenly scents and sights of spring’s first blush where you live, but it’s in the 40°s here in GR. We still have patches of snow in the woods and nary a crocus to be found. Not much to dance about here this morning, but I’m dancing in my heart anyway, thanks to Susie!

Did you know there are 5,000+ species of native plants in Texas and over half of them are wildflowers? The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center features 900+ species and is considered by some to be the best site in Texas for viewing wildflowers. Now sprawling across 284 acres of both the Edwards Plateau and the Texas Blackland Prairies near Austin, the center belongs to the University of Texas and serves as both the state botanical garden and state arboretum.

I didn’t really know any of this. All I knew was that I wanted to visit my dear friend, Susie, who lived in Austin, and when I asked if we could stop by for a visit, she suggested we meet at the wildflower center and go for a stroll.

Pool at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Texas was cold and dry during the winter of 2022. Nothing much was growing yet, but the day was sunny and the strolling easy, so it still turned out to be an ideal way to spend our morning and enjoy nature.

Although the center now attracts close to 200,000 visitors annually, and there were a few groups visiting while we were there, it was quiet and peaceful. Alan instinctively dropped behind and meandered on his own, giving Susie and me lots of time to catch up. We were “residents’ widows” together back in the day when Alan and her husband were both doing their residencies at the University of Michigan. I used to count the hours Alan was gone each week. The record was 117, but most weeks he was gone more than 80.

In those days, both Susie and I had two toddlers, and our kids were best of friends. We lived close to each other and attended the same church. We started a ladies’ Bible study to help keep our sanity, and we loved to explore local playgrounds and gardens together.

(We found 9 brave blue bonnets, but never two together! It was 34° the night before, so most of the flowers were still snug in their beds.)

Since both of us were stay-at-home moms, we had the ability to support each other. The sense of being cooped up with little monkeys, combined with loneliness and isolation from thoughtful, adult companionship, were worst in the dead of winter when snows were deep and there was no place to let the kids run. Sometimes Susie would call me up: “Mrs. Armstrong, are you going crazy?”

“Yes! Are you?”

“Absolutely! Let’s go to the mall!”

So, off we’d go with our four rambunctious toddlers and let them explore the hallways and by-ways of Briarwood Mall, not too far from the campus.

Wild phlox blooming at the Lady Bird Wildflower Center, Austin, Texas

Through the ensuing years, we’ve kept in touch. Susie was my example of what marital love and loyalty looked like. I was quick to complain if I felt too abandoned by Alan, but Susie never complained about her husband. I marveled at her patience and compassion, and although I was probably a pretty grouchy wife during those years of stress, I’m sure I was a better person because of her company and example.

After a wonderful morning, we stopped at one of her favorite restaurants for lunch, Mangieri’s Pizza. Susie is one of my forever friends. Although we’re older and greyer than we were forty-five years ago, our love for Jesus and one another never seems to change. It’s a sistership born in heaven, and even though we hadn’t seen each other “in the flesh” for over 30 years, it seemed like we’d never been apart.

Our children are now grown and gone, as is Susie’s husband. She’s living in an assisted living center, not so much out of physical necessity, but more for convenience, community, and security. She’s active in several Bible studies and says that her little dog, Petey, kept her sane during all the social restrictions of Covid.

Most people would look at Susie or me and say, “What privileged lives,” and they would be correct. But, even those of us who haven’t struggled too severely with money or health issues have still felt the universal pains and pressures of life, which can be overwhelming. There’s a popular tune by the Inkspots with lyrics that go:

“Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine
Into each heart some tears must fall
But someday the sun will shine

“Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts
But when I think of you, another shower starts
Into each life some rain must fall
But too much is falling in mine”

I am struck by how stormy even the most privileged lives are. We feel like we’re going crazy when our children are little and stepping on our feet, and we feel like we’re going crazy when our children grow up and step on our hearts. Or, they’re not around and we feel lonely. Alan and I are in a wonderfully happy season now, but all that could change in an instant, as it did a couple of weeks ago for some of our friends when the husband died suddenly from a massive heart attack. It’s not about waiting for everything to turn out right, it’s about learning to find contentment in the journey. . . one day at a time, every day! Even the many hard ones. To dance in the rain . . . or in the drought. To treasure friendships when we can. To abide in Christ and allow His love to sustain us. Just as Susie was such a good example to me of how to love her husband, now she’s a good example to me of how to live alone. She’s still radiating love, and joy, and peace, and I thank God for her!

Moth on golden groundsel at Lady Bird’s Wildflower Center

 “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful [worried] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).

TWA: NE (16) Boldt Castle and Other Love Stories

Do you know the love story behind the Taj Mahal? It was a mausoleum built half a millennium ago by the Indian emperor Shah Jahan to honor his favorite wife. Chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, this ivory-colored (marble) palace took nearly 20,000 artisans and twenty years to complete. Today it’s valued at over a billion dollars and visited by millions of tourists every year . . . like Alan and me, who trekked halfway around the world to enjoy its incredible beauty!

Front View of Boldt Castle on Heart Island in Thousand Islands Region

Though but a dim reflection of the Taj Mahal, America does has one touching love story about a man building a castle for love of his life. George Boldt moved from Prussia to America in 1864. Although the son of poor immigrant parents, George became perhaps the most successful hotel magnate in America, managing and profit-sharing the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC, where he intentionally learned the name of every regular customer so he could greet them by name!

Although no one seems able to provide written documentation to prove this, the most common rumor is that “Thousand Island Dressing” was first made by a fishing guide’s wife who served it as part of her shore dinner, which was served to actress May Irwin, who passed it along to George Boldt, who had it added to the menu of his Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1894. (Did you always want to know this esoteric bit of trivia?? 🙂 )

View of Powerhouse from one balcony of Boldt Castle

Early in his career, Boldt fell deeply in love with the young daughter of his boss! He married Louise when he was 28 and she only 16. His intention was to give Louise the fabulous Boldt Castle on “Heart” Island on Valentine’s Day (which was also her birthday), but tragically, his wife died of heart failure at age 42 in 1904 before George had a chance to finish, leaving him two young children and a broken heart. George could never bring himself to return to Heart Island, so for 73 years the castle was left unfinished. Finally, in 1978, Boldt Castle was deeded to the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority (for $1), who have spent over 50 million and done an admirable job of restoring the castle.

Powerhouse of Boldt Castle

So, while we were touring the Thousand Islands Region, we stopped to visit Boldt Castle, with its Châteauesque architecture and flowing gardens. Only a few of the 120 rooms are furnished and open to the public, but the entire heart-shaped island is charming and well worth the visit. I’ll share some of my favorite photos from this lovely island:

Map of Heart Island

Flowing Gardens at Boldt Castle

Boat House of Boldt Castle

Alster Tower of Boldt Castle Complex

Gracious Parlor at Boldt Castle

A Bedroom at Boldt Castle

Cozy Sitting Room in Boldt Castle

One of the best secrets of the island is their amazing ice creams! Our tour guide, Brad, recommended a stop at the snack shop. Alan and I were among the few who took him up on his tip, but we were rewarded with two of the most incredibly luscious mountains of ice cream we’ve ever had: Roadrunner Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffle.

Roadrunner Raspberry Ice Cream at Boldt Island

The waitress encouraged us to get them in cups rather than as cones, which was mandatorially good advice because it took us a full half an hour to attempt finishing them! However, we couldn’t take them inside, so we ended up throwing some away. 😦 (If I had it to do again [and I recommend this to you], I’d buy the ice cream at the end and savor it on the boat on the way home.)

Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Well, I’ve got to quit before you run out of enthusiasm even for the photos, but I want to mention that the world’s greatest love story about palace building concerns Jesus Christ, who left his ivory palace in heaven (see Psalm 45:8)—infinitely grander than the Taj Mahal— and came down to earth in order to save you and me because he loves us so much more than any man ever loved any woman on this planet! Jesus didn’t build us a palace on earth, but he is building us something even more beautiful than we can imagine in heaven! It’s called “his Father’s house,” and that’s where he promises to take us when we die if we entrust our lives to his care.

The Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg in Russia

Have you asked Jesus to save you? I have, and I’m not only enjoying his eternal life today, I’m awaiting going to my Father’s House to be with him forever! I hope you’ll join me!

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:1-6, ESV).

TWA (23): Enjoying 180 Years of Growth and Change at Goodwood

I had great ambitions of seeing particular plantations with high ratings online, but due to Covid restrictions, I couldn’t always get reservations for what we wanted to see on the day we were actually available for touring.

Goodwood Museum and Gardens

Hence, instead of visiting Pebble Hill Plantation in Georgia, we visited Goodwood Plantation near Tallahassee, Florida, also on the National Register of Historic Places, although perhaps not quite as grand. Because the first mansion of Pebble Hill was built by Thomas Jefferson, it’s definitely more famous, but that plantation burned and was rebuilt in 1934, so it’s also newer.

However, if you have a penchant for history as I do, newness and grandeur don’t always trump authentic age, nor should they! Goodwood was built 100 year earlier, starting in 1834, but it was never destroyed, so what we saw was “the real deal!” (And, I might add, 10,000 sq. feet isn’t exactly shabby.) This 180-year-old plantation was established when our country was still young . . . 3 years before Michigan even gained statehood!

View of Goodwood Plantation from one of the Gardens

The main mansion at Goodwood is also filled with original family furniture, artwork, porcelain, glassware, textiles, and personal effects. For those who enjoy period pieces and costume dramas, it would definitely be worthwhile to take a tour (but book reservations ahead).

In addition to the main home, there are 17 other buildings and points of interest to explore, including a reflecting pool, skating rink, aviary, and the buildings designated for various industries, such as laundry, cooking, stables, woodshed, greenhouse, and sleeping quarters for the servants.

Fanny’s Cafe at Goodwood

Ah, and let’s not forget the all-important “Rough House,” which is now “Fanny’s Cafe!”

Each building has a sign explaining its purpose and practice, such as this one, which tells about the innovative water tower built in 1910 to provide more water pressure for indoor plumbing and a swimming pool.

Water Tower at Goodwood: The highest point in Talahassee, Florida

Good to know, since my first thought was a bone-chilling fear it had been built to observe enslaved people. Goodwood did begin as a plantation for cotton and corn, although by 1910 (of course) it was a couple of generations past enslaving anybody. In fact, five generations of different families have owned and operated Goodwood, and it’s no longer a “plantation” at all! It’s official title is “Goodwood Museum and Gardens.”

Ancient Live Oaks provide shade at Goodwood

The gardens are lovely! Although there is a small fee for touring the mansion, the 19-acre gardens are open and free to the public, so visitors can come anytime the home is open and wander around the buildings and gardens at their pleasure.

Pathways lined with huge live oaks

To me, the highlight of the gardens were the massive live oaks—probably also 180 years old—crowning the paths with majesty.

Camellias adorning the ground

Even the ground was robed with beauty!

Camellia

The camellias were almost past,

Amaryllis at Goodwood Museum and Gardens

but the amaryllis were in full bloom,

Climbing roses at Goodwood

and the roses were just coming into their own!

Roses for sale at Goodwood

The day we visited, there was a fabulous sale on roses at prices far below Jackson & Perkins. It was all I could do to keep from buying some healthy beauties, but we were near the beginning of our travels, not the end, so I had to resist!

Roses at Goodwood Gardens

Vegetables and herbs for sale at Goodwood Garden in April

I found myself admiring the pluck, ingenuity, and industry of the owners of Goodwood. Alan often told me he needed to “reinvent” himself to continue being relevant during his 40-year career as a physician.

Imagine trying to “go with the flow” and change with the times over 180 years!

Even longer, our country is soon to celebrate its 245th “birthday,” which might seem like a long time to Americans, although we’re but babes among the ancients of this world. Iran is the world’s oldest continuously maintained sovereignty, with a history dating back to 3200 B.C. China, with a population of 1.4 billion people, is also among the ancients as well as being one of the largest nations in the world. How do nations continue to remain stable and productive? How do families? How do individuals?

I am like a summer flower by comparison—easily disturbed, easily transplanted, fragile and frail. Who am I to stand in judgment over how well other nations are doing, or to imagine having any wisdom to share with the ancients of this world?

Indeed, I do not, although I can pray, and I know the One whose wisdom founded the world long before there were nations vying for significance and leadership.

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened . . . I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:9-10; 13-14).

Thoughts on Patience and Exquisite French Gardens

“Patience is the ability to let your light shine after your fuse has blown.”
(~ Bob Levey)

Sunshine and summer gardens . . . two of my favorite things! A month ago I wrote about “Peaceful Thoughts and Gardens,” but as I examined my photos of fabulous gardens, I couldn’t help but consider the years of meticulous care that go into producing a quintessential garden!

Château du Clos Lucé, France, established in 1471

For instance, the Château du Clos Lucé was once the home of Leonardo da Vinci and has been maturing for over 550 years—more than twice as long as America has existed as a nation!

The Palace of Versailles, first built in 1624 as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII

France’s most famous palace, Versailles, has expanded and been refined over hundreds of years. This long process of sowing and reaping, envisioning, building, pruning, and renewing speaks to me of the patience it takes to make something magnificent!

Gardens near the Louvre in Paris, France

In light of this, and building on Jesus’s parable about the sower (from my last post), I’ve found some thoughts on patience to share with you, and I’ll illustrate them with photos I took at some of France’s most stunning gardens.

Chateau De Villandry Gardens. Loire River Valley

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time” (~ Leo Tolstoy).

Gardens at The Royal Château de Blois, originally built in 854 AD. That’s almost a thousand years older than the United States of America!

“I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done.” Elisabeth Elliot, Through the Gates of Splendor.

Gardens of Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and died

“Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs” (~Leonardo da Vinci).

Pools and flowers at the gardens of Giverny in France.

“But we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5).

The Château de Chambord in Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France.

“Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience”
(~ George-Louis de Buffon).

Azaleas and Rhododendrens at Chateau De Cheverny, France

“Patience is the companion of wisdom” (~ St. Augustine).

Kitchen Garden of Chateau De Cheverny, France

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

Bois de Chassepaille, Chaumont. Loire Valley, France

“One minute of patience, ten years of peace” (~ Greek proverb).

Visiting Chateau De Cheverny with our two youngest sons

“Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself”
(~ Saint Francis de Sales).

Formal Gardens at Chateau De Villandry, France

“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake” (~ Victor Hugo).

Gardens of Chateau De Cheverny

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:3-4).

Chateau Chenonceau

“It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience” (~ Julius Caesar).

Exuberant flowers bursting with color in Giverny Gardens of France

“Who ever is out of patience is out of possession of their soul”
(~ Francis Bacon).

Meticulously kept formal gardens of Chateau De Villandry

“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience” (~ Unknown).

Water gardens at Bois de Chassepaille, Chaumont, Loire Valley of France

“One moment of patience may ward off great disaster.
One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life” (~ Chinese Proverb).

Château Royal de Blois, where Joan of Arc went for a blessing in 1429.

“In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19).

The Lourvre Quay. France

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11).

Wisteria overhanging the bridge at Giverny Gardens, France

“How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?” (~ William Shakespeare, Othello).

Formal Gardens of Chateau De Villandry, Loire Valley

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Profusion of flowers beside a lily pond at Giverny Gardens, France

“Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures” (~ Joseph Addison).

The incredibly beautiful gardens of Chateau De Cheverny in May

“Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All things pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God Finds he lacks nothing: God alone suffices” (~ St. Teresa of Avila).

Peaceful Thoughts and Gardens

“You can choose to live in the past—or choose to live past it. Make peace with your past before it tears you to pieces” (Linda Swindling, Ask Outrageously: The Secret To Getting What You Want).

Rose in the Musee Rodin Garden, Paris

Ready for some encouraging quotes about peace from around the world? I don’t know about you, but I’ve been struggling with anxiety lately, despite concerted efforts to “Keep calm and pray on.” Between COVID concerns, racial injustice, economic insecurities, rioting, looting, social isolation versus taking some chances on opening social channels again . . . that along with my beloved husband turning 70 and planning to retire in a few weeks . . . well, I’m ready for something to soothe my soul and comfort my heart. I hope what I’ve found will be a balm for you as well . . . so please take a few minutes to meander with me through french gardens while pondering wise thoughts!

Chateau De Cheverny, France

“The first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself . . . Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, and humility” (Nelson Mandela).

Honey bee gathers nectar from Johnny Jump ups

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jesus, recorded in John 16:33).

Apple Blossoms and Colorful birds in Giverny Gardens, France

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity . . . Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow” (Melody Beattie).

Red Valerian (Centhranthus ruber) from garden at Mont Saint-Michel, France

“Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you” (Job 22:21).

Kathi in a field of rapeseed (from which canola oil is made); Loire Valley, France

“May you find peace and purpose within friendships and fruitfulness without” (— Sara Ewing What? You’ve never heard of Sara Ewing? Okay, so she’s not famous; but she’s a very wise friend of mine!)

Pansies at Chateau De Villandry, France

“Peace is not made at the Council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men” (Herbert Clark Hoover, who was America’s president from 1929-1933, during our Great Depression).

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace” (Dalai Lama).

Gardens of Versailles

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee” (Augustine of Hippo in Confessions).

Giverny Gardens

“The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace” (Mahatma Gandhi).

Wisteria. Étretat France

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jesus, recorded in John 14:27).

A Million and Ten Thousand Flowers

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and haven’t experienced Rebecca Louise Law’s “The Womb” exhibit at Meijer Garden, I want to encourage you to take time to visit before this spectacular artistic creation ends on March 1.*

What is it? An entire gallery filled with a million flowers and plants from Rebecca’s personal collection plus ten thousand botanic treasures gleaned from Meijer Garden, all dried and strung from the ceiling in delicate chains on tiny copper wires.

Why? To give you an intimate and immersive experience of feeling like you’re personally enveloped in a warm cocoon . . . complete with the comforting sound of a beating heart.

In Rebecca Louise Law’s own words: “I like to capture and treasure small beautiful natural objects to create an artwork that can be observed without the pressure of time. Preserving, treasuring, celebrating and sharing the beauty of the Earth with the world is what drives me.”

And, who is Rebecca Law? She’s a British installation artist—born in 1980, grew up in a little village in the U.K, and studied at Newcastle University’s School of Arts and Cultures in England.

(As a fun side note, my daughter-in-law Gerlinde also studied at Newcastle University about the same time!) Law has exhibited at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Royal Academy of Arts and the V&A (all in London) as well as in galleries in NYC, San Francisco, Athens, France, etc.

So, this is a young and upcoming internationally acclaimed artist with a heart for beauty and nature . . . and the warmth of the womb, exquisitely portrayed through blown glass and paintings which compliment her sublimely sensual experience (in the best possible way) of being encompassed in a womb of flowers.

As I wandered through the quiet beauty, I felt more than anything a silent witness to the sanctity and miraculous nature of life. And death. The natural flow from life to death in the drying flowers.

I tried to imagine 1,010,000 flowers all fresh and alive with color and fragrance. Can you imagine?

Visiting “The Womb” Exhibit at Meijer Garden with my brother

Although I’ve been back repeatedly and taken all my favorite family and friends who’ve visited since the exhibit opened last September, it wasn’t until last weekend—strolling through the halls with Alan—that we realized he’d somehow missed seeing this exhibit!

We’d been there the weekend before and meandered through all the snow-covered gardens outside.

We’d visited Meijer Garden with the family at December when we admired all the Christmas trees adorned so brightly with ornaments from countries around the world.

How was it possible that he’d missed seeing this stunning exhibition? We had to walk right past the door into the art gallery on every visit, where the name of the latest exhibit is proclaimed clearly on the wall.

Is it possible that you—like Alan—are walking right past the door to a wonderful opportunity every day of your life without taking time to read the signs or explore the goodness within? It’s so easy to focus on what we know and already enjoy without taking time to look around. In this world of distractions and time measured mechanically rather than spiritually, are you missing out?

God is a God of abundance and joy, which He offers to each of us. Jesus taught in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The psalmist also reflected this thought in the Old Testament: “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light” (Psalm 36:7-9).

Looking Up from Inside “The Womb”

Although I think for many of us (at least in America), trusting under the shadow of God’s wings often leads to physical abundance, it doesn’t always. I don’t believe in a “wealth gospel.” However, I firmly believe in a gospel that brings spiritual abundance: “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness” (Psalm 145:7).

Notice what is abundant here: goodness and righteousness. If you want a life blessed by an abundance of goodness, righteousness, and the pleasures that flow from a life lived in the light of God’s presence, then please, please put your trust in God, our refuge and fortress, and in his Son, Jesus, our Lord and our Savior!

A Photo I Took Trying to Capture the Feel of Being Inside R.L. Law’s “The Womb”

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

Painting by Rebecca Louise Law

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:27-29).

*This exhibit has been running since September and will continue through February until Sunday, March 1.

If you go Sunday, March 1, it will be super crowded, but you will also be able to experience the first day of “Butterflies are Blooming” in the conservatory, which is always like a gulp of springtime air for winter-weary hearts. So, if you don’t mind crowds, that would be another excellent option. Also, the first photo is from Meijer Garden’s website. The rest are mine, taken at Meijer Garden.