Monday, January 26, 2009

SHALOM from Israel!

We are having a great trip. I am seeing and experiencing things that I haven't gotten to on previous trips.
We feel very safe. Would have no idea there are any tensions over here at all.
Beautiful weather. I actually got a little sunburn on the boat on the Sea of Galilee!
 
I've posted some pictures from my trip here:
 
Tuesday will be out last day in Jerusalem. We'll leave at 2:00 am for a 6:00 am flight for Rome on Wednesday morning (yawn....) We'll spend a day and a night in Rome then back to the states on Thursday.
 
SHALOM!

Monday, January 19, 2009

A new way of living

This light weight backpacking has effected lots of areas of my life. I ask the question, "Do I really need this? "Can I get by without this and not compromise my safety?" "How can I get the most out of what I AM carrying?"

In the picture above you can see how it has effected my packing for my 10 trip to Israel and Rome. The suitcase on the left is the one I used when I went in '98. The one on the right is the one I'm taking tomorrow.

I'm envisioning the difference moving through the airport and all around on this trip. Also, just less stuff to keep up with.

I could actually carry it on the plane! But I got to check it cause I got a jar of peanut butter and a squeeze-bottle of grape jam... To go along with the loaf of wheat bread in there! (And my Skeletool!!!) Now if I had just gotten some ready-to-eat bacon... (You know... ISRAEL!)

Shalom y'all....

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The first time in 9 years

This is the first time in the nine years we've lived here that I have seen our pond begin to ice over from bank to bank.
It was 9 degrees on our deck yesterday morning and 12 degrees this morning.

Now if I just had those old hockey skates from my Kansas days.