Bird Viewed from Balcony April 17

Sometimes the best place to be is right at "home". I was out on our balcony today, and look what I saw! There's 2 of them. I don't know if they are native to this area or just passing through on their way north after their winter vacation. Some BEAUTIFUL sites around ISRAEL!!!

Me and the Sea. The biggest distractor in my life - I've found - is me.

Life to the fullest. Full as can be.
Do I really want that? The good life isn't free.
Trouble is near. Take the bad with the good.
Praise God for both? I've been told that I should.

So often caught up in
what's the "to-do" list today
I forget to get past
the obstacles
so clearly in my way.
The grey will rain,
there's cleaning to do.
"I'm not able"
- someone's better -I'll leave that for
the other to-do.
The other to-do
list that's mine
or a to-do list for another.
Either way - it can wait
after all - there's
"alway's tomorrow".

We think that's the case
as we live out our days
then we look at the calendar and
sometimes feel crazed.
Oh - my! How the days
have flown by us this year!
Where did they go?
What did I hold most dear?
Was it my loved ones desires?
As I intended "to-do"?...
or was I really in fact waiting for
a better time for each "to-do".

To Do
Ta Da
When will we be done?
When can we have days that are
filled only with fun?
How about on that day
 when we follow the Son.
We "all" want to. We try to. We say that we do.
Yet, is it on our to-do list - ? - to say
"Christ, I'll follow you!"
I'll follow you thru this day,
lead each step that I take.
Remind me to follow
with every mistake.
But how do I know
that I'm on the right path?
Because you give me sweet clues,
and say "What you have a need for - Just Ask!"
I can see in the way
that you've answered my prayers
that you've guided me
even when I've denied you were there.
When I've felt to myself so proud
to have done
something wondrous
others say wow!
I deny that the Son
gave me the
gift that I needed.
I say Thanks! Yes, it's good, ...
just a little conceited.

Every word that I say
should show THANKS!
that God has led me this far
and he's leading me today.
If that's not how I act
and that's not what I say,
then maybe - just maybe
I am going the wrong way.

20 days

Today is already April 4! Wow. Only 20 more days and I'll be heading back to the US. 

Dig by our apartment complex

There's supposedly "construction" going on right next to our apartment building. My theory is that they are actually doing an archaeological dig...at least prior to any construction, to make sure they are not building on anything ancient that needs to be preserved. Because you never know when something old is gonna turn up that hasn't yet been discovered. See the guys laying down? It's 10 am! The worst part is, around here, the guys pee out in the open all the time. And the spot where these guys are laying is the same area where the workers walk over to to pee. There are porta-potties on site that are never used.

Purim

Last week-end, many of the Israelis celebrated a holiday called Purim. This holiday lasts the entire week-end from sunset on Thurs, to sunset on Sat.

I was surprised to notice this holiday listed on the calendars we put together (of animal photos Steve took in Africa) and sold last year to raise money for mosquito nets for Malawi children through Josephine's efforts with International Health Project. Have you ever heard of it?

This holiday commemorates Queen Esther's saving the Jewish people, from Haman, and his plot to kill all Jews in the Persian empire. This celebration revolves around food since Esther requested banquets with her King and Haman - So they give food to each other as gifts, and they eat special triangular pastries called "hamantashen" - or in Hebrew - oznai  Haman - Haman's ears.  I'm so bummed we missed out on eating some of those ears!!! I didn't read about them until after Purim. Also, this celebration is similar to the US's halloween - kids and some adults dress in costumes. We did see some of that.

These days it's Hamas that wants the end of the Jews. Haman. Hamas.
And I'm starting to like humus!

God knows how this will end.

Jihad bombing Israel

Lately, there has been an increase in offensive moves from Islamic forces to Israel. 50 missiles this past week-end, one on Sunday, more yesterday. Israel is retaliating: 9 in the West Bank were killed. This is the worst it's been in a while. Concerns are rising here. Please, if you think of us, pray that we remain safe.
And that Israel is able to continue to be free of war and deadly conflict, despite all the uprising in the surrounding countries and these provocations from the Islamic Jihad.

Week-end in Galilee

Friday and Saturday (Israeli week-end days) Steve and I travelled to Galilee and the area to the north.

We were our nearest to Syria during this trip when we went to the Golan Heights. We were right across the border from Lebanon as we hiked to see 4 waterfalls at the Nahal 'Iyyon Nature Reserve also known as "The Oven". This Nature Reserve is in Metula, which is the most northern city in Israel.

So, we've been the farthest north in Israel, and also the farthest south - when we were at the Red Sea.

We have also been at the lowest place on the globe - at the Dead Sea.

We have been near the borders of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

While we were away for the week-end, missiles were fired on southern Israel from the West Bank. The Israeli Defense fired back, and also destroyed two illegal tunnels which were being dug for the Hamas to enter into Israeli territory. Here's something I found while researching to understand more of what is happening here:

Hamas claims that the whole of Palestine – including what is now Israel – belongs to Islam.

Similarly, all Israeli leaders – Begin, Rabin, Netanyahu, Barak, Sharon, and Olmert – have always claimed that the entire land of Israel, including the occupied Palestinian territories, belongs to the Jewish people, stressing their deep emotions for every inch of it.

Israel is building settlements for Jewish people to live on the land in Israel which is not occupied by any individual Palestinian. Thereby staking claim to this land. This is my understanding. Recently Palestinians brutally murdered an Israeli family. Israeli gov't response was the approval of more Jewish settlements. 

Sunday night...a missile hit here in Ashqelon. Steve heard it, along with the immediately following sirens. No one was hurt.