Visiting National Dong Hwa University

#2025-1217B

Here are a few photos I took today when Fujun and his wife treated Jean and me to lunch at the Lakeside Restaurant on the campus of National Dong Hwa University. For more details, please see #2025-1217A.

這裡有我今天拍攝的幾張照片。今天中午，好友福均和美蘭於國立東華大學校園內的「湖畔餐廳」招待我倆共進午餐。更多活動點滴，請參見《月光小夜曲 at 吉哈克》。

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Photos Taken on the NTU Campus     (2019)

2)  走訪亞大 (On the Campus of Asia University)     (2021)

3)  Walking Nearby: "暑期特別巡禮"     (2023)

月光小夜曲 at 吉哈克

#2025-1217A

Today, Jean and I visited our good friends Fujun and his wife, Meilan. We arrived at their villa, Gihak Homestay (吉哈克莊園民宿), around 10:50 a.m. The four of us sat and chatted happily in a quiet room with floor-to-ceiling glass on two adjoining sides, through which we could enjoy views of the garden trees and a carp pond outside.

For lunch, Fujun and Meilan took us to the Lakeside Restaurant (湖畔餐廳) on the campus of National Dong Hwa University (國立東華大學). It was the first time Jean and I had visited this well-known university on Taiwan’s eastern coast.

After lunch, we returned to Gihak. Jean and Meilan continued their conversation in the light-filled glass room, while Fujun sat at the grand piano and accompanied my viola practice. I played Toselli’s Serenade, along with a dozen other pieces—all old favorites of mine, including 月光小夜曲, 海濱之歌, 榕樹下, 菩提樹, 秋柳, 至好朋友就是耶穌, 思慕的人, 心所愛的人, 黃昏的故鄉, and 孤女的願望.

Ah, what a wonderful afternoon it was. (Below, I have attached a video and several photos for readers who would like to watch and listen, including 月光小夜曲.)

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Visiting National Dong Hwa University     (2025)

2)  Happy Moments at Gihak (吉哈克) and More     (2025)

3)  Joy in Meeting Friends from Afar     (2025)

4)  月光小夜曲     (2025)

Taking Another Walk (再走一趟！）

#2025-1215

“How about taking another walk?”

“Sure. I’d like to.”

And so I did—after a brief conversation with myself.

The photos below show what caught my eye today as I enjoyed walking along both sides of Meilun Creek. What matters most is this: whenever I take a walk, I can always find something quietly marvelous.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  山水間，爭豔     (2025)

2)  漫步到對岸／繞一圈回來     (2025)

3)  風冷一花獨秀 vs. 地深萬水齊奔     (2025)

平安喜樂：The 2nd and 3rd Sundays of Advent

#2025-1214

About seven years ago, I posted an article on my blog, Mookoo’s Home, on the Third Sunday of Advent. Below is one paragraph I wrote at that time:

Jean and I have been grateful that the Lord our God has granted us so much. As the candles on the Advent wreath represent, we are given Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. In our church, we see two purple candles and one pink candle lit. The third candle, the pink one, represents Joy. What a great joy we have been given!

Seven years have passed in the blink of an eye, and much has changed. Now, Jean and I are staying in Hualien, taking care of our grandson James. The three of us have attended Sunday services at St. Luke’s together since July 27, when a Service of Release was conducted for the church’s vicar at that time. Officially, beginning August 1, Rev. Minglong Wu became our new vicar.

Rev. Wu leads us in celebrating the Holy Eucharist and preaches every Sunday. I find that I have come to appreciate his sermons more and more. They may sound simple at times, but they always teach me something—either by touching my heart or by stirring my thoughts. Take this morning, for example: Rev. Wu focused on píng'ān (peace) and xǐlè (joy) in his sermon and offered a vivid comparison. Píng'ān, he said, is like a single hit in a baseball game, while xǐlè is like hitting a home run.

Indeed, just as the three candles on the Advent wreath are now lit, we have experienced what we call pànwàng (hope), píng'ān (peace), and xǐlè (joy) in our daily lives and in our church life. Of course, we also remember “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit”—all of which may be simplified into one word: 愛, Ai, or Love.

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Note: The first six photos below were taken last Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent; all the remaining photos were taken today, the Third Sunday of Advent.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Children's Sermon     (2021)

2)  平安喜樂     (2021)

2)  新居祝福暨點燭禮     (2023)

3)  The First Sunday of Advent     (2023)

4)  The Beginning of the Church Year     (2024)

New Errands in Hualien

#2025-1210

This morning Jean and I went to Taiwan Bank in Hualien City for the first time; and this afternoon, I drove our old RAV-4 to the Hualien Toyota Service Center for maintenance—also for the first time since we came here.

While the car was being serviced at the bright, spacious, and easy-to-find Center, I spent nearly two hours in a comfortable corner of the guest waiting room. I had told Jean she didn’t need to come with me. Although I tend to get lost in unfamiliar areas, the Center is quite easy to locate: 吉安鄉中央路三段500號. From where we stay, I only need to drive along Jianguo Road for less than two kilometers.

As for Jianguo Road, I know it very well. Every morning—and several evenings each week—I take our grandson James to and from school or his tutoring class.

Yes, this Toyota Service Center looks similar to the one I used to visit regularly. The first three pictures below were taken in the men’s washroom, and to my surprise, the first picture is exactly the same as the one I used to see at the Toyota Service Center in Dali (see the 4th photo below), where I had my RAV-4 serviced for more than a decade.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  田莊所在‧布蘭卡民宿 (A Very Relaxing Afternoon in the Countryside)     (2011)

2)  平安喜樂     (2021)

3)  A Note in Pinyin: 定期保養！     (2022)

4)  RAV-4 定期維修     (2023)

5)  New Scratches!     (2024)