Thank you Lord for your Bounty

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!

A Fall Day at the Beach

Whoohoo! We got to see salmon spawning an a creek in Seattle today! There was a cheer from the 6-10 people watching as they cleared each little riffle or log cascade. So cool- now I wonder which one was the clever salmon that thought of swimming upstream, AND taking his girlfriend along so there would be baby salmon the following spring????? No way- God had to have designed all that!

We enjoyed the beach on Puget sound, a bald eagle soaring overhead and American Widgeons (yes- I had to look them up in a bird book). All this 15 minutes from home. Now to purchase the flannel lined jeans on sale at Eddie Bauer, as the temperature was a balmy 45 degrees. But there was sun! This sign is a few miles from our house- at the top of the hill on a busy street. Only in Washington.

New Picture

The new picture is of a 1st century tomb in northern Israel- one of the few with the rolling stone still intact. It was just by the side of a road (the one to the post on the Lebanese border), no marker or other indication of it being anything special.

A Foodie's Tour

I thought that you might enjoy seeing some of the fabulous food we enjoyed on our trip. Israelis must be among the healthiest people- the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat! This is a typical buffet in the hotel- only one table of maybe 3, plus hot dishes!
Eggplant & vegetable salad, HUMMUS (of course), and a dessert selection.















A spice market in the old city of Jerusalem.








































Pomegranate juice stand.

Israel

Just a quick update. We have been here since last Tuesday. What an overwhelming experience- I seem to be getting so much more out of it this 2nd time! To walk around Galilee where Jesus walked- even taking a boat onto the waters where he walked. Having the joy of blessing Israeli soldiers at a base with some clean up and weeding. Although I thought I was done with Bermuda grass when we moved out of California! Seeing the F-16 flights at an air base (memories of Phillip's love of planes) Even seeing the joy and excitement of the Israeli high school boys watching a tank demonstration at a recruiting event. Most of the men in our group, even Jim, would have signed up if they let them. Men don't ever outgrow the love of seeing big, noisy machines firing. Meeting with a member of the Knesset, as well as the former Israeli security head (like the CIA). We also went to an observation post right on the Lebanese border- the UN right below us. The signpost was at the top of a hill overlooking Syria- only 35 miles to Damascus!

So here we are in Jerusalem: the Mt of Olives, City of David, walking though the water shaft that David's troops used to conquer the city. Yet to come: The Garden of Gethsemane and the Empty Tomb. Truly amazing. And of course, all of us concerned for our nation and praying together and trusting the Lord for the future of Israel, the freedom to spread the gospel, and wise government. More later-- SHALOM!