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And we know that God causes all things to work together

for good to those who love God,

to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 (New American Standard Bible)

Wednesday, February 25

Vancouver to Pennsylvania

Via American Airlines

Driving from Abbotsford to Vancouver Airport.

I think we are getting out of here, just in time. 

We had six beautiful days – with only one drizzly day, but nothing like this.

Remember Kelly – from Dallas/Ft Worth – on our trip to Vancouver?  We were surprised to see her again.  We thought she was flying home yesterday.  However, she was just leaving Prince George yesterday.

She had just survived a fourteen-hour bus ride, and then several hours of waiting in the airport.

We talked the entire trip from Vancouver to Dallas/Ft Worth!  There was so much to talk about.

The plane was only half full.  She was across the aisle from us, and had three seats to herself, so I moved in next to her.

She gave us this photo – their engagement picture – and even invited us to their wedding.  We would love to attend, but a trip to Texas this spring is not workable – plus we just found out that we will be taking care of five grandchildren during that time – while their parents go to Switzerland and Italy on a business trip.

~~~

Daryl and Kelly

we wish you God’s best

on your wedding day and in your marriage.

~~~

Sunset – somewhere between Vancouver and Philadelphia.

Our last flight ended in Philadelphia at 1:00 a.m.  We were pleased to see Cerwin’s suitcase as soon as we walked up to the luggage area – but mine never showed up.  (It was delivered to our house the next afternoon.)

We got to bed at 3:45 Thursday morning, and slept until 8:30 when the phone rang.

Later that day we received pictures from Don and Darlene to show us what happened at their house after we left.

This is what it looked like when we were there. 

Snow would have been okay too, but we are grateful to God for giving us fabulous weather, plus great visits with ministry friends, and a wonderful two-day vacation on the island.

~~~

Don and Darlene were gracious, hospitable hosts. 

Thanks!

~~~

   I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace!

May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus.

2 Peter 1:2 (Contemporary English Version)

Tuesday, February 24

Heading Back to Abbotsford

Victoria, BC, to Abbotsford, BC

 We were excited to get a ride on Coastal Celebration, one of BCFerries largest vehicles.  It hauls 370 cars and 32 semis, plus 1,650 crew and passengers.  Maximum speed is 23 knots and it has 21,444 horsepower.  

However, we should have noticed that the line of cars was headed to the left of the ferry toward another ferry we did not see.

Internet photo 

Our ferry for the evening was Queen of Vancouver, a much smaller vessel, but it got us to the other shore quite safely.

Stats on Queen of Vancouver

Carries 338 cars and 1,708 crew and passengers

Service speed is 18.5 knots and it has 9,000 horsepower.

As we were driving into the ferry, we noticed these cormorants.

As soon as I could, I went to an outside deck to get a closer photo.

Our forward view.

After settling into front row seats, and visiting with Darlene and a friendly passenger, I decided to go for a walk around the outside deck.

As the sun settled into the western horizon, the tiny lighthouse on the east faithfully displayed its warning light.

I took this photo of Darlene and the friendly passenger through a window – from the outside deck.  Notice Cerwin and Don behind our passenger friend.  Also, notice my shadow in the lower, center of the window.

Don took this picture of me, just after I took the previous shot.

I continued around the deck and took this shot from behind where they were sitting.

 Before long we were approaching Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver), then made our way back to Don and Darlene’s home.

Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God,

He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy

 with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (Amplified Bible)

Tuesday, February 24

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

 The Butterflies

 As we entered the gardens, we noticed butterflies that had recently emerged, and were learning to fly – some had landed on the floor during their first flight.

 There were hundreds of chrysalis in the butterfly nursery.

 Some butterflies had recently emerged and were drying their wings.

 There were several butterflies that I could not identify.

This one looked kind of tattered.

The White Tree Nymph (also known as the Paper Kite, Tree Nymph or Large Tree Nymph) prefers coastal mangrove swamps and are common to Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan. This large beautiful white and black butterfly has a slow gliding flight.

 An Atlas Moth cocoon. 

We did not see a moth – and I am sure we would have noticed one – as they are very large.

Internet Photo   The Atlas Moth can be found throughout India, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia and Indonesia. They can stay in their cocoon for up to five years and yet when they emerge live only three to five days. It is the worlds largest moth in overall size with a wingspan of 6 1/4 – 12 inches.

The Golden Helicon can be found throughout Central and tropical South America.  

 They have a wingspan of 3 1⁄2 to 4 inches and prefer to live in a tropical environment.  

 Passion vines are their host plants. By eating the leaves of this plant, the butterfly becomes poisonous to birds, not enough to kill them but enough to prevent this butterfly from being bothered again.

 The Zebra has a wingspan of 2 3/4 – 4 inches. Adults roost communally in groups of 25-30 individuals. They are common to South America north through Central America, West Indies, and Mexico to South Texas and peninsular Florida. 

The Giant Owl Butterfly larvae are considered economically important pests because of the tremendous amount of foliage they consume. An individual larva can easily eat an entire banana leaf measuring more than 3 feet in length and one foot in width.  The adults feed on rotting fruit.

 They could be found every place in the gardens where there was a feeder with rotting fruit.

 I could not identify these pretty butterflies.

Do you notice something unusual on this tattered butterfly?

The inside of the wing is blue.

  I caught this picture and the next, just as the butterfly opened its wings.

 A worker called me over to this leaf to see the butterfly.  She said it is rare to find them with their wings open wide for any length of time.

 Stay alert!

Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.

He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (New Living Translation)

Tuesday, February 24

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

 I located one duck and six birds, though I understand there were several more of each.

A tropical duck.

~~~

I could not identify all the birds.

~~~

This appears to be a dove.

Spike is a puna ibis

The puna ibis is native to Peru and northwestern Argentina.

His main diet consists of insects, amphibians and small aquatic animals. All going well, Spike will live between twenty and thirty years.

I think this is a plantain eater.

 I tried many times to get a photo of this pretty yellow bird, but it always managed to avoid me.  This is the best I could do with its constant fluttering and flying.

 This looks like a pretty pigeon.

My favorite bird was Rocky, the red crested turaco.  He was the most photogenic, and seemed puzzled by my presence.

The red crested turaco is a fairly large, colorful, long-tailed regal bird that is found in the African Congo and Angola dense forest areas.

Although they are social among the species, they are shy and remain concealed among the branches and seldom come to ground, except for water.  They diet on fruit and berries and occasional insects.

“Rocky” came to Victoria Butterfly Gardens in October of 2002.  He is approximately eleven years old, and his favorite snack is banana which he will fly down and eat from the staff’s hands.

When he flies, the underside of his wings on the outer third, display a brilliant flash of red.

He enjoys sitting in a variety of trees and vines throughout the gardens where he can see what is going on around him.  He enjoys hopping up and down from one branch to another.

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of

power,

love,

and

self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation)

Tuesday, February 24

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

Flowers, Foliage, and Fish

I love the warmth and rainforest-feel of butterfly gardens.

It didn’t take long for the four of us to shed our jackets and sweaters.

This entry needs very few words, because the beauty of the flowers, foliage, and fish speak for themselves.