After two weeks of steady working among papers and going through stuffs in the school closets. I am as organized as I like to be before school starts.

I think I managed to do almost all the things I wanted to do this summer - playing, resting, gardening, entertaining etc., except my Montessori work albums. I hope I will have more time to work on them during the school year.

As I passed the 60s milestone. I realize my body does not allow me to do as much as I used to.
I have to be more selective with my activities. This requires wisdom to discern. Drawing closer to God sure helps. His agenda for me is way more easy to me than the agenda I had for myself and I feel all along he is planning for me. Now, I engage myself in activities that are more productive and meaningful which in return bring me more satisfaction. And I am away from things and people who kept me busy for nothing.

Few year ago, another Montessori personel came into Sunshine Hills to open her school. She was pretty huffy because she is from one of the best training centre for Montessorians and she vowed to deliver a flyer of her school to every families in Sunshine Hills. She came to visit my school and didn't think much of it. I went to visit her school, it was instored with all the high quality equitments you can possibly name. The room was newly renovated and modern. I thought to myself, if I remain open a few years down the road, it has to be God's doing.

It has been 5 or 6 years from the first time I met her. I am still here. The last thing about her I heard from other parents is - she is expecting to close her school this year. All these years, I have a tremendous sense of peace. I know God sent me the families or he rejected certain ones for me. I have so much less anxiety. This year, my school is filled to the brim in September. Thank you, Jesus!

I have to write this about my friend Mary who is such an inspiration and encouragement to me.

Two months ago, sometime in the beginning of July. I got a call from B in Toronto that Mary's husband Carrie collapsed while dinning with his family. Mary left early inorder to pick up B's daughter at the airport. C was rushed to the emergency. It turned out that his main artery was cracked and he was bleeding profusely internally. They operated on him and he was in ICU for almost a month. He was in a coma for more than 10 days. Doctor's prognosis was not good.

I talked to Mary. Surprisingly, she was very peaceful and calm. She knows C is in God hand and God has a reason to let that happened. She accepts it even if God takes C away from her. She said she has learned so much from her many relatives' departure that God is God, he is in control of everything, there is no need and no use to fight with him. I sensed that deep down she still hope that C can be spared. But she is just going to pray and to let God have the say. Good thing their daughter Dominique left her architectural job in England and flew back to HK right away to keep Mary company.

Through the next few week. C started to move slowly his fingers, then toes, his eyelids etc. to finally coming out of the coma. We were so excited. Yet there were still a lot of hurdles for him to over come. He has to learn to breath again. Some of his fingers and toes are dead because the doctors had to lower his blood pressure inorder to operate on him. He didn't even want to swallow because it hurt so much. But Mary waited on him faithfully. Read him the gospel during her visit and explained to him God's way. Somehow, we all know that God is trying to get his attention, for he used to filled his time busily with exercises and studies even after he retires. Now he has time for God's words and understanding him in a deeper way because he has experienced him.

Whenever I praised Mary for her being so positive and upbeat, she gave the credit to God whose words brought her so much hope and comfort in her dark hours. She has been enrolled in a weekly systemtic bible study this past year for a commitment of five more years down the road. She is growing spiritually by leaps and bounce. She lift up my spirit whenever I talk to her. We can't wait to see what God has instored for her whole family.

I am so thankful for my two months off school. For twelve years, it used to be a two weeks or one month holiday in the summer. We ended up spending most of our time doing house repairing, painting and other urgent things. If we had a weekend to relax, we are pretty lucky.

Twelve years after living in BC, I visited Victoria two times briefly plus a couple of days around Parksville one summer with Aunt Loretta and Kathy. I beat the record this summer. Went over to the island a total of three times. Once for the tall ships, once for Long Beach and the last one to the gardens with YJ.

Driving with the help of GPS makes life so much easier. We went to the Butterfly garden first. We spent more time admiring the tropical plants than the butteries. But it is a sensation to have those beautiful things flying all around us. We were happy of the display. It was the first time I saw butterfly eggs laid on banana leaves. (Yesterday, I picked up a banana tree at Potter because it is half price, but I don't think it will do well in my yard. Hope they can take it back).

Then we went to Abkhazi Garden. Doesn't sound like a lot in the discription. But it was very interesting. The whole garden was grown on ignesous rocks and they have the most interesting verieties of plants. We had so much fun among the shrubs.

Then we met up with Regina at the wharf and she took us to a resturant at the gorgue with a beautiful flower garden. Price was good and food was good. Then we went back to her new home. A very nice bungalow which needs a lot of yard work. That evening, a fawn hop out from the bush in her back yard. But the poor thing had an injured leg. Regina tried to call the wildlife
rescue centre but the fawn disappeard later. I hope other neighbors spot it and send for help.

The next day, we went to the wharf to watch Regina took part in the dragon boat race. We were
on the opposite side of the wharf. There were 90 teams from all over the country, we couldn't pick her out from the crowd. But it was fun watching.

In the afternoon, we drove to Hatley Castle, it is so much advertised, so I expect a lot. But it turned out to be mostly greens except in spring time, there will be lots of rhodos. We didn't even venture into any part because the sun was beating down mercilessly and there was not any shade.

Then we drove to the Pacific Horticulture Centre. It works in conjunction with U Vic.'s horticulture program. The interesting thing is, they group all the plants to the same species. So it is more systematic than astactic. The day was so hot, even though there were a lot of shades, we were still panting. So we just quickly ran through the place and exited in a hurry.

We rushed out of the house early next morning because Regina had to paddle again for the final round and then she is leaving for England for a month to sail the tall ship. Return journey was smooth and uneventful. We were pretty lucky. A week later, one big ferry was pulled out from the schedule because something broke down. People had to line up overnight or 6 to 7 hours at the dock. Thanks to YJ who drove and kept me on track.

When it come to where is a good spot to spend a few precious days, the thought of the Long Beach kept surfacing in my mind. But this is summer time already. I was told places get booked a year ahead. So chance is very slim.



My friend Lois prayed for us. So we started looking into it. Fortunately, John found a web site which would relate our need to all available places. We heard from 20 more of them. We ended up picking one in Uclulet because they have boat ride. Then I found another one in Nanoose Bay for our first night stop over.



We took off by the ferry at 3p.m. on Thursday to avoid the crowd. When we get to Nanaimo, we tried to find a resturant. We parked our car next to a little French Resturant in down town area.
The music they played through their loud speaker was a French woman straining her throat singing one of the love songs. I was not exactly in the mood for it. Then John said he was hungry for meat ball. Great, at least it is not fast food. We drove around a bit. We were waiting for a traffic light when I saw the big sign of pasta sauce cross the street. So we parked beside it and went in. It is not a fancy resturant with decor of the 50's. We ordered our meals. In came a man sat down not too far from us with a guita. He started playing some catchy rock and roll music of the 50's and 60's. I almost felt like getting out of my seat to dance a hola. But my modesty kept me down. So I just tapped my fingers and toes. Later on, he played some beautiful Latino tunes. That sounded like a good start for a holiday.





Good thing we had our GPS for road guide this time. So it was no problem to find this renovated country home amid its 5 acres. The place was lovely with private entrance, posted bed, lovely decor and a jacucci. Debra's voice attracted me on the phone while I was inquiring and I had no hesitence to book it right away. She is in deed a very warm person and we felt at home right away. The next morning, we had a walk to see their farm, vegetable garden and cows. She served us a lovely home grown breakfast of eggs and fruit. Her husband Michael was very talkative and informative about the area, which made it a very pleasant time.





It took us about 3 1/2 hours to drive out to Uclulet. When we got to our place, the hostess said her husband would be doing a boat run for whale watch in 20 minutes. So we quickly followed her to the quai. No sooner, we were seated in a 30 feet boat with 6 other passangers. The boat passed through a channel of quiet water, as soon as it came to the open sea, it sped toward the on coming waves. We were bounced up and down on the water, I was afraid the bottom of the boat might fall out or I would be thrown out of the window. After about 15 minutes, Ken slowed down. He said that was the place where he sighted whale in the morning. The boat was still tossed up and down by the wave. After circling around for 20 minutes he gave up the spot and took the boat around the many little islands giving us a tour and a talk of different interesting histories of the area.

We saw some lonely sea lions perching on the rocks, the head of a sleeping sea otter wrapped in kelp. More than an hour passed, we headed back to the original site. Everyone strained their eyes for water spout on the horizon. I looked down to the deep green water beside me and wonder how deep it is. It seemed to be so much water around us, yet it must be like a drop in God's eyes. I couldn't help remembering what the psalmist says about the love of God,

"Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your water
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me..............." Psalm 42

I thought to myself, even if I didn't get to see the whale, it was still a very enjoyable boat ride. I spoke my mind to Ken out loud, then I whisper a prayer to God that it would be very nice if he could send the whale to our direction.

Ten minutes later, suddenly Ken shouted, ' there, there to the left far ahead'. He steered the boat dashing across the water. By the time we got close, the whale had gone down into the water. It would stay there for 10 minutes. We waited patiently, holding our breath, not wanting to scare the whale away. Then the spout came up again and we saw the arch of it's back, hugmungous creature! After rising and falling 2 or 3 times, it went into the water again and resurfaced after 10 minutes. Everybody rushed to the deck to get a good look. Ken kept reminding everyone to be careful to balance the little boat. I sure don't feel like swimming with the whale. Good thing the whale was cooperative and stayed in the area for at least 20 minutes.

It was 2 1/2 hours we'd been out. Ken started to sail toward the port. Far away, he spoted another spout, a much bigger one. He flew ahead, I saw a great body lifted up out of the water pointing toward us, then it went down, followed by the flip of it's tail. Every one on the cabin shouted, 'Ah..............' and then it disappeared, never to be seen again. We were pretty happy, at least we would'nt go home disappointed.



That night we dinned at a highly recommanded resturant. We were seated in the reranda of a house, like everyone did. John said it was too late to eat a big supper, so we both ordered soup and salad. We paid a high price for 2 bowls of water and a salad heaped on a 4 inches plate.



Early next morning, we got up early to find a resturant which served breakfast. (And there are not many in town). I had a plate of fatty food which later caused me terrible stomach pain.



We went to the far end of uclulet where the light house is, to watch the sea pounding on the rocks. I urged John to capture the waves in his camera so I can have a backdrop for my ocean display on top the entertainment centre in our living room.



Then we head out to Wickinninish Interpreter Centre We talked to a very friendly tour guide who pointed us to the tide pools. We found sea anemonaes and star fish that cling to the rocks. We poked around the tide pools. Couldn't believe I was in the place that I dreamt of for so long. We drank in greedily the beauty of the long stretch of beach which has been there of old. If I come back in a hundred years, it will still greet me with its rushing billows. How many lives had gone pass this breath taking place and vanished, leaving not even a foot print on the wet sand?

We went through different beaches and then on to Tofino. I went through the galleries looking for an ideal picture of the waves. Couldn't find one that I like. Dropped by Wickininish Inn on the way back and saw couple of them hanging in their hallway done by photographer Jacquline Windh. I didn't think I want to spend $500 on it but couldn't help thinking about the waves in those photos. They are exactly the ones I want. I got her info from a pamphlet and called if she has someone carrying her photos in Vancouver. But she said 'none'. And I was not going to waste our precious time to go to her home in Tofino to see the unframed one.

The evening, we bought hot food and breakfast from the local grocery store. They were much more satisfying to the stomaches and the wallet.

The morning before we left the area, we went back to the light house rocks in Uclulet to scoope up some tadpoles from the fresh water holes. I was never able to find any tadpoles in the lower mainland all these years. So here we were. Hope they would survive the trip in my little cooler all the way home. We said good-bye to Winkininish beach one last time, carried as much as we can its beauty in our minds.

It was a pleasant surprise when my old collegue YJ of HK Immigration office called me couple months ago and told me some of other collegues who are visisting the city would like to have a get togther. It has almost been 40 years I have lost contact with them. Thanks to Mary who hooks me up again. So we have our social time at a Chinese resturant.

SK wrote me after her return to HK and said she regret not having visit me at my home and have a more indepth talk. Since she will return next year, we will try to catch up with one another again. From her letter, it seems that she has also come to know the Lord. What a precious experience! I look forward to finding out how it happened.

YJ and I went out for dinner another time, she reminded me with stories of people I used to know but had since forgotten. It was kind of fun to hear about them again and laugh at the good old days. The following week she spent a Saturday with me. We went to the pool, had lunch and supper at home.

Yesterday, the day after John and I came back from Long Beach on the Island, YJ and I went to the festival at Granville Island. We didn't know what to expect but a lot of people. We weren't disappointed. Fortunately we found a space in the underground parking lot for the day. It was fun to go in and out different art stores. Then we saw quite a few art demonstrations and hands on lessons. Some of them are really fun and easy to do. There was sea weed weaving (I beat myself not bringing back the yards and yards of sea weed from the beach, for it would be such fun to do it with the children). Anyway, I beg her for a piece of seaweed to make which I can make into a rattle when I get home. There was Suminagashi (a Japanese water marbling art). After seeing it I quickly dashed into Opus Art Store to pick up the material. There were also glass blowing, paper remaking, ceremic and pottery. One old European gentleman was doing some beautiful 3D card cutting work. I asked him how he started the art. He said when he was growning up, his family was very poor, the children just about had only scissors and newspaper to play with, so he started experiment paper cutting and later add different skills to it. Isn't wonderful sometimes to be poor? It brings out a lot of otherwise hidden potentials. I can't resist buying the 'cherry blossom' from him.

We had wonderful oyster soup for lunch, then we are off again. We found this store which carries beautiful hand made hats and clothing articles from felt with wool and silk. The owner was labouriously preparing a big piece of felt design. It happened that last year, I was in a country store which carries these colorful bags of wool for felting. I saw some children's hand made products and asked the lady how they were done . She made it sound so easy that I ended up taking quite a few bags of wool home. But I have cold feet trying because I had never had experience of it. So this is a great opportunity to learn. We did not want to stand there for three hours to watch her alone. So we hopped back and forth between her and the other stores. Finally, we kind of saw how it was done. RJ picked a tiny little flower felt broach, it cost $30. I promised to make her one when I get around to it.

All in all, it was a fun day. Especially for YJ, who attended a boring wedding the day before and felt totally frustrated by it. We even left our personal touch on a beautiful communal painting. They are made by people adding colorful acrylic dots on it. It is a scene of the Grandville Island. I think it will be so beautiful when it is done. Like one of those French impressionist's.

We finally rested our poor feet at a very nice Cambodian resturant in China Town. Mmmm......good food.