And I Traveled............

After an amazing journey to France in October, I was one of the first to sign on the dotted line when they offered the chance to go on another pilgrimage...this time to the Holy Land.  

Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would get to travel overseas and I was less likely to think that one of those trips would take me to Israel.  

But, the day arrived and so did I...in the church parking lot ready for the very long series of flights.

We flew from DFW to Frankfort and from there to TelAviv.  About 40 hours wide awake before we reached the first of our two hotels in this holy land.

Before our luggage even arrived in our rooms, I walked out on our balcony to see this beautiful boat sailing on the Sea of Galilee.  If we never went any further than this, it would have been worth the length of the trip.  What an incredible sight....was this how Jesus saw it when he stood on the shore?

I can only imagine.

The view from our balcony was gorgeous but the history of where we were was even more overwhelming.  What a great beginning to a much anticipated journey.

The first morning took us on an hour drive north to Seppphoris, a major Jewish city.

It was the sight of great market places, theaters, and synagogues. 

Archaeologists worked tirelessly under tents still uncovering remnants  of a 2000 year old city.

They knelt bent with brushes carefully exposing mosaics and artifacts.  How incredible that this many years later they are still discovering what lies beneath piles of dirt.

Seeing the ridges in the old roads was surreal.

Just a few of the intricate 2000 year old mosaic floors in this old city.

Next stop...the sight of the first miracle of Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana.

The gardens were just as I imagined them.  Maybe too many biblical movies or just what I wanted it to look like but it did not disappoint.

What I did not expect was this...what they believe was one of the water jugs that was filled with water and then turned into wine by Jesus.  It sold about three feet tall and I am not sure what the diameter was but it was big.  Six of these....

It is hard to wrap your mind around the reality of the sights.  

Just the beginning of our journey.

 The last stop of the day, the sight of the Annunciation.  It was here in this area that the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she was to be the Mother of Our Lord.  If only we could stop long enough to reflect on the reality of where we were standing, but the tourist were many so we looked and moved on.  Only later could we actually grasp where we had been and what had happened there.

One of my most memorable moments had to have been chosen to serve at the mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation.  Out of the 30 on this journey to be standing above the sight of the Annunciation serving at this special mass was more than a privilege.  I have had so many spiritual highs today.  I can only imagine what lies ahead in the next seven days.

Back to the hotel to enjoy an adult beverage...

 and dinner.

The food was amazing, the day was amazing and we have only just begun.

Sad Day.......Perfect Sermon........

It is the fifth of July.

The day after what was the perfect fourth of July!

Family, lake, tubing, laughter, and fun in the sun.

It is one of Americas favorite holidays...including mine! 

 But the day after....always sad.  I never forget it.  

I did not go the the lake the summer of 2002.  I stayed home. The family went.

Matt and Kim were returning from their honeymoon and packing for the long road trip to Cali to begin their new life.  This is where I wanted to be.  There would be other fireworks but I did not know when I would see them again.

We had a fun two days going through wedding gifts, wrapping carefully and packing.  

Then they were ready to head out.  Newlyweds on the way to a new life.  They were excited.

That was it for me.  I would never hug Matt's neck again.  But I was here to watch them pull out and for that I am ever grateful.

Our sermon at church today must have been for me.  Father Dankasa talked on our second reading....2 Corinthians 12: 1-10.

It is one of my favorite readings.  It is typed and placed in my kitchen and I read it daily.  Today Father explained it differently, though there are so many different interpretations of it's meaning.

"Three times I begged the Lord about this that my sorrow and pain might leave me but He said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.'  I will rather boast gladly of my weaknesses in order that the power of Christ may dwell within me.

Therefore, I am content with my weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for 

the Sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Beautiful words, beautifully spoken and reflected upon on a day when I am not strong but with Gods grace and a deep faith, I know that I have strength.

I have leaned on God so many times and He has never let me down....
for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Bullet Points........

The last few weeks have been crazy!

Actually I live a crazy life and would not change that but this summer has been packed full and has flown by.

Before I find myself in the middle of September I thought I would jot down a few things that have been happening.

 I have become a true fan of coconut oil.

It is a cure all.

I admit I have been sucked into a lot of crazy remedies that do not work...like Dr. Oz's recommendation of milk of magnesia to cure wrinkles.  DOES NOT WORK!
I had a burn and someone recommended this.  It worked!  Dried up and healed in no time.
Hair conditioner...YES.  Slather it all over your hair and wow!  Your head smells like an Almond Joy for 30 minutes but shiny and smooth in one treatment.  Once a week for me.

My flowers look great.  This years abundant rain has been incredible.  By this time of the year I am so tired of dragging a hose around and watering plants I am ready to let them die.  This summer just about everything still looks good and the times I have had to water have been minimal.
Happiness!  Loving rain!

Ozzie is back.  Only temporarily but while Drew and Heather babysit a friends two dogs for a couple of weeks, we are keeping their dog.  Ozzie is a dream dog.  He never barks, he is placid and friendly.
He is also a walking hair ball.  You can see fur flying when he runs by.  The time I do not spend watering flowers, I do spend with a vacuum.  I hate it!!  But, it is teamwork when someone needs help.  We can do this!

The great zip lock bag!!  Never had such a great travel tip!

Fold all of those clothes and pack them in a 2 gallon bag.  Squish out the air and seal.

I have totally over packed for a 10 day trip to Israel because I had so much fun with the bags.

I simply cannot wait to open my suitcase and observe the state of my zip locked clothing.  

And speaking of.....

Just a few days until I board a plane for a 14 hour flight to the Holy Land.  I truly do not know what to expect.  I have read, I have researched and I have truly prayed that this will be the journey that I want it to be.  I know it will not be like France.  That was an experience, but this will be an entirely different experience.  I want to embrace this journey for the right reasons.  I never dreamed this would be part of my life...what a gift.  

And last on this random bullet list...ice cream, or lack there of.  I am just about tired of trying to find a replacement for Blue Bell.  There is just not a replacement.  We have tried them all...even gone to Braums to get a couple of gallons.  You cannot match Banana Pudding or Moo-lenium Crunch.  I have done some research and I do not think that Blue Bell will be back on store shelves anytime soon.  It does not seem that it would be that difficult to come up with a tasty ice cream, but based on the  tests that we have done here in our home kitchen...nothing comes close.

We are in mooring, as is much of our state.  

Blue Bell lets get those trucks rolling soon!!

Lake Bash 2015......

Two weeks into summer, Father's Day weekend and another Lake Bash happened.

I must admit I am tired!

I worked my way through four days of vacation bible school (missing the last night) and packed my car for our annual family get together.  It is an undertaking to say the least.

I am very grateful for Tim and Mandy who have graciously accepted the baby portion of the family because I honestly do not know where I would put everyone.  We are up to 29 family members....and growing!  We were short 4 members this year and the Bergeson's made a quick trips to Baton Rouge to welcome a new grandchild....and that is where I would have been too!!

That still left us with two full houses and a crew that probably used two bath towels each everyday....

maybe I need to install hooks because repeating the use of a towel is a totally acceptable behavior!

Fish were abundant.  After four years of severe draught they were probably glad to be swimming freely and feeding on whatever was hanging on the end of a hook.

In order to compete in the "olympic" games every fish had to be carefully measured and recorded on the scoreboard.  We take this whole thing very seriously!

Even the kids are part of the event that always causes a little friction if you are a point off on the leader board.

While some find it relaxing to park themselves in a lawn chair with a trashy summer novel, we are totally into minnows, earth worms and water fun.

Yes, this is totally me pretending like I am young a vibrant and can swim on out to the floating island and climb on board without being pulled in like a beached whale.  It is not just age.  It is weight, arthritis, and the inability to maneuver any part of my body anymore.
It served to entertain my grandchildren and the other part of the crew that was watching from the shoreline.  

Two three year olds on a hot dog.....

no fear in this family!

One of the greatest part of the weekend ...watching all of the kids join in on all of our games!

A shower cap and shaving cream brought more laughter than Richard Simmons in his gym shorts.

Do not give a Shubzda family member a can of shaving cream....

We finished the night with thunder storms, tired kids, about ten more loads of laundry, and lots of great memories.....

I will sleep in tomorrow and then start planning for 2016 because despite the chaos it is the best weekend ever!

VBX 2015.......

Yes, I did!

I just spent another week with a group of kids at Vacation Bible Experience 2015!

And it was just as much fun as last year.

 I clearly remember being so excited when I took on the task of pre-school leader for bible school last year.  I also remember the sheer exhaustion after spending four hour days, five days in a row with 17 four year olds.  By the end of the week I was beat but so in love with my kids and the fun of sharing Jesus with them.

 There was not question I would be back.  When you think you might have lost God, share a week with children.  

This year was different.  I did not have a group of small children.  I had a group of 10 children raging in age from 5 to 11.  That presented it's own different challenges.  How do you present things to such varied ages?

 I found out it is pretty simple.  Jesus is universal.

Good Christian music, lots of movement, and you have unbridled enthusiasm!

 God has the power to provide, to comfort, to heal, to forgive, and to love us forever!

 I am not teaching bible school.  Every year I am learning that kids have a heart for Christ that is so beautiful.  They love, they share, and they accept.  They are open and willing when we as adults are so set on a path that we are fearful to veer off of.

 It is beautiful to watch the youth in our parish be so willing to give so much of themselves to guide those younger than them.  

It is exhausting...I am tired...

but my name will be on the list next year when they post the volunteer list.  

It is beyond a shadow of a doubt the best job in the world, and there is not even a salary attached.

"And God is able to provide you with very blessing in abundance"

2 Corinthians 9:8