Moments with Marilyn

Valentine's Day

2012-02-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

A Valentine's Day thought:

"Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new." Ursula K. LeGuin

Day #21 - Tango anyone????

2012-02-04T15:38:00.000-08:00

When in Buenos Aires.......let's tango!!!!!

Day #20 - Monica

2012-02-04T15:33:00.001-08:00

We were so excited to meet John's girlfriend, Monica. She is a delightful girl, pretty with a great sense of humor, talkative, friendly, spiritual and confident! George and I liked her a lot and look forward to getting to know her better.

Day #19 - Sorry, more penguins!

2012-02-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

One last day with thousands of penguins, no exaggeration! We took a bumpy bus ride to Punta Tombo which is a protected area for penguins in Argentina. It is hard to see just how many there were but trust me there were a lot.

Penguins are monogamaus and return to the place they were born each year to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. They usually lay two eggs about a week apart. The biggest, oldest chick is given the most food. The younger chick is just an insurance policy! Sometimes there is enough food for both but sometimes, well Mother Nature can be cruel. Both of these guys look healthy.

The chicks have downey feathers so they don't swim

The parents feed the chicks for couple of months but when those downy feathers are gone so is the free food! The parents just leave them and the new adult chicks figure out how to get to the ocean and swim and fish. This fellow looks like he is about ready to be independent. I like his punk penguin look!

Here is a Mom, or maybe a Dad, feeding one of the chicks. Cute how she holds him in place with her wing!

These three babies just wouldn't leave Mom alone. She kept trying to get away from them but they kept following her everywhere. Guess they were hungry and waiting for the other parent to return with a belly full of fish!

Loved this family picture!

But this one reminded me more of our attempts at a family picture when the kids were little. Some squawking, Mom exasperated and only one looking at the camera! (that would have been Mary)

This is as close as one got to me. You are not supposed to approach them, but they can approach you. They are wary but curious.

Definitely a day I'll remember for the rest of my life!

Day #18 - Handsome Hunk!

2012-02-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

With his Antarctic explorer beard and minus 35 pounds George is quite the handsome hunk! I'm one lucky girl!

And in a tux, wow! I think we should go to more formal things just because he looks so good! Sort of James Bondish, I think

Day #17 - Wanderfire - Falkland Islands

2012-02-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

Sir Ernest Shackleton's wife once said of her husband that he was 'blessed or cursed with the wander fire'. I sometimes wonder if my 'wander fire' is a blessing or a curse! But I do love our travel adventures!

Never in a million years did I think I'd one day go hiking on the Falkland Islands.

Along with John and Katherine and our new friends Chuck and Nancy, we decided to forgo one of the planned excursions and just asked some of the locals for advice as to how to spend the day. A short taxi ride took us to 'Gypsy Cove" and we spent the rest of the day hiking back along the beautiful bay!

There were interesting birds....

And even a few penguins!

Some shipwrecks......

And the brightly colored roofs of Stanley.....

George and I couldn't resist a little fun with the street signs!

Lovely day in Stanley, Falkland Islands!

Day #16 - Four pounds!

2012-02-02T16:22:00.001-08:00

Why I gained FOUR pounds on our cruise:

Chocolate Cake

Delicious pie

Coconut Cake

More chocolate cake!

Please note that every single one of these has fruit. Shouldn't that be healthy and not cause excess weight gain?

Of course if you couldn't find a dessert on the menu that was exactly what you wanted that evening, there was always the ice cream option and if you asked nicely they'd put whipped cream and chocolate sauce on top! And if you really couldn't make up your mind, they'd give you two desserts!!! FYI, Katherine only gained 1 pound on the cruise! And yes she did eat every bite of both of these desserts!

As you left the dining room, you could have a napkin full of after-dinner mints.

And then go to the "Dessert Extravaganza"

If that still wasn't enough sweetness, there were always the chocolates for a bedtime snack!

The four pounds are not my fault....it was a conspiracy!

Day #15 - Cleanliness is next to......

2012-02-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Germs are not good things anywhere but especially on a cruise ship. Before you went through the buffet lines there were smiling helpers to remind you to 'wash your hands'. I loved these automatic 'hand washers'.

Putting your hands in the openings activated a 10 second soap and warm water spray! Felt good and certainly felt clean! I think they should put these in schools and restaurants and malls.

If that weren't enough to keep us germ free, hand sanitizer was available everywhere on the ship. By every staircase, every restaurant, every common area, as you left the ship for ports and when you came back on board, you could get a squirt of a very nice smelling and non drying sanitizer. I'm happy to report that we didn't get sick!

Day #14 - Penguins AGAIN!

2012-02-01T17:02:00.001-08:00

We had seen penguins before on the trip but it was just so exciting when we saw our first penguin on an iceberg! I'm surprised the boat didn't tip from all the photographers rushing to capture this Kodak moment!

What we didn't realize as we cruised into Esperanza Bay, is that every iceberg had penguins! Lots of penguins!

Penguins diving!

And penguins swimming!

Penguins lining up!

Penguins on their bellies!

Penguins everywhere! This particular penguin is a 'Chinstrap Penguin' and it is easy to tell why.

While one parent enjoys a "Mom's Day Out" or a "few hours with the guys" on the icebergs, the other stays on the land to take care of the babies. Actually the parents take turns feasting on krill in the water and then return to regurgitate the fish into the baby's mouth. The babies are almost the same size as the parents but have downy feathers and can't yet go in the water. When the downy feathers are gone, the parents simply stop feeding them. The little guys figure out how to feed themselves pretty fast! Can you find the babies?

Day #13 Glacier

2012-01-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

Again a quote from Michael Wilcox - "Glaciers poured through the valleys wedged between mountain walls which bore that tremendous pressure in the constant struggle between ice and stone. Here was the whitest white nature brings forth. Here shone the purest light, one which magnifies the distance and gives everything within the range of the eyes a translucent clarity. Here the most pristine waters rose and fell in the gentle ocean swell."

Day #12 Sunsets

2012-01-31T19:23:00.000-08:00

Just one of many incredible sunsets in Antarctica!

Although the sun technically 'set' every night, it never got dark. There were a few hours of twilight until the sun was up again. It is 11:34 at night in this picture and that is natural light coming in through the window.

Pictures had an almost magical quality!

Day #11 - 'Hot' tubs!

2012-01-31T16:07:00.001-08:00

We had a great idea for a photo....the four of us in the hot tub with the Antarctic as a backdrop. Only one problem with that idea! The 'hot tub' on the outside deck was anything but HOT. I'd say just barely above the temp of the Antarctic water. Since we didn't want to become icebergs ourselves, we just stuck our legs in.The hot tub on the enclosed deck lived up to its name and was a fun place to warm up!

Day #10 Icebergs

2012-01-31T16:01:00.000-08:00

To quote Michael Wilcox, "The light played upon the surface of the icebergs displaying blues that put the sky to shame and inviting a dozen new shades into the wheel of color."

Day #9 Seals

2012-01-31T10:22:00.001-08:00

These two seals seemed to be enjoying an afternoon hanging out on an iceberg! One was calmly napping while his buddy checked out all the tourists with cameras.

Seals on icebergs became common place! Hardly worth the effort of using the zoom lens!

The spotted guy is a leopard seal....a dangerous predator in these waters.

I suppose that seals are only predators in the water, not while sharing a pleasant afternoon on an iceberg! Maybe these are just especially brave penguins! Maybe they are playing "chicken'!

I do think seals are cute. Maybe not quite as cute as penguins but definitely cute!

Day #8 Sunny Antartica

2012-01-31T06:42:00.001-08:00

I thought it was beautiful the first day when it was cloudy....and it was.... but with blue skies and sun it was simply breathtaking.

Day #7 - Antarctica!!!!

2012-01-31T06:30:00.000-08:00

We crossed the Drake Passage, which is supposedly the roughest patch of water in the world, a day early. Our wise Captain decided to skip our last port in Argentina and make the crossing ahead of a storm that was reported to have 30 - 40 foot swells. I was thankful to have this calm Dutch gentleman in charge, instead of a showboating Italian. Chilling to read about the tragedy of the cruise ship in Italy while on a cruise ship!

I woke up early, looked out the window and got my first glimpses of the White Continent - Antarctica!

Day #6 Penguins!!!!

2012-01-11T15:49:00.001-08:00

I think penguins prove that God likes to laugh!

You have to smile watching them! They are just so darn cute!

Day # 5 Amalie Glacier

2012-01-11T15:40:00.001-08:00

Looks cold huh?

Day # 4 Rain and waterfalls!

2012-01-11T15:35:00.001-08:00

We felt right at home looking at a waterfall in the rain! We were in Chile but it looked and felt a lot like Oregon!

Day #3 Cleaned up!

2012-01-11T15:32:00.001-08:00

Our tour guide from Texas said, " Y'all shore do clean up good!" I felt like I was going to the prom! It was a really fun formal evening!

Day #2-at sea!

2012-01-07T09:56:00.001-08:00

I did it! I am on a cruise ship!

Anyone who says that you can't feel a big cruise ship move is not being honest. Here's a poem my lunch companions came up with today for my blog.

It has been a moving experience

I've had my ups and downs

But it has been swell.

I say thank heavens for motion sickness patches and spectacular sunsets!

Day #1

2012-01-07T09:34:00.001-08:00

Santiago, Chile

I love traveling with my beautiful,cheerful sister-in- law, Katherine. Here we are at a huge statue of the Virgin Mary high on the hill overlooking Santiago.

Brothers George and John are good traveling companions too!

Reading challenge 2012

2011-12-31T13:36:00.000-08:00

I've been inspired by one of the Young Women from our old ward. She is an avid reader and book reviewer. In fact she read 139 books last year while finishing her degree at BYU and starting nursing school! Very impressive! She participates in several on-line reading challenges so I decided to start my goals for 2012 by accepting a reading challenge. I thought this one looked like fun so....here is my first goal of 2012! To complete the Eclectic Reader Challenge! These are the genres:

Literary Fiction
Crime/Mystery Fiction
Romantic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Young Adult
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Non Fiction
Horror
Thriller /Suspense
Classic
Your favorite genre - I decided to change this one and read a book that was written the year I was born....I hope that is allowed!

Here is the link if you would like to join me!

http://bookdout.wordpress.com/challenges-2012/eclectic-reader-challenge-2012/

Armed!

2011-12-31T13:35:00.001-08:00

Do you think I am adequately armed to do battle with King Neptune?

Dramamine non drowsy
Regular Dramamine
Chewable Dramamine
Bonine
Wrist bands
Ginger gum
And the most important.....transderm scopolamine patches!

Practicing

2011-12-28T19:27:00.001-08:00

I just added the 'Blogsy' app to my I-pad so that I can blog while we are on our trip. So these are just some of my pictures of 2011 added to the blog while I figure this new stuff out!

Four of my favorite males: Johnny, Matt, Scott and Jackson!

Jackson looking longingly at the beach on our one rainy day during Christmas weekend

The view from our room in Hawaii. No grey rainy skies on that trip!

Christmas Memories

2011-12-27T19:45:00.001-08:00

A bonfire on the beach

Finding the perfect tree

Sun on the Oregon coast in December....a miracle!

A very happy dog!

Great food, (even if I do say so myself) fun games, thoughtful gifts....nearly a perfect Christmas .....the only things we needed to make it perfect....Mary and Mark!

Ornaments

2011-12-27T19:21:00.001-08:00

Every year I have gotten our kids a Christmas ornament. Usually they reflected a particular milestone for the year or a special hobby. Last year I decided to change the tradition and have everybody make an ornament. I have been pleasantly surprised at how enthusiastic our sons have been about my 'craft activity'. Last year we made seashell ornaments. This year we went for the rustic look.

The only bow from the only female!

Traditional look from George!

Creative, traditional look from Scott!

Fun modern twist from Matt!

Some humor from John!

And no complaints from anyone!

Football Crazy

2011-12-27T16:04:00.001-08:00

Can you see a theme to our gifts?

Barca!

And.......Hala Madrid!

King of Kings

2011-12-18T17:15:00.000-08:00

Friday night we went to the Portland Ensign Choir concert. When they sang Handel's Hallelujah Chorus and, as tradition dictates, we all stood to honor the "King of Kings", my thoughts took me back to the Presbyterian Church in Lonoke, Arkansas. Singing Christmas carols in that sanctuary is such an important part of my childhood Christmas memories. Silent Night, Away in a Manager, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem......candles, children dressed to enact the Christmas story, garlands......so many sweet memories as we honored the baby born in Bethlehem. What an amazing miracle that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords was born 'away in a manager, no crib for his bed!"

How thankful I am for Him and for the sweet assurance that although He is truly the King of Kings, he is also the Good Shepherd who knows and loves me. My testimony of Jesus started as I spent time each Sunday of my childhood and teen years looking at this stained glass window depicting the Good Shepherd.

Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King!

Amigas in Espana!

2011-12-13T16:56:00.001-08:00

For most of the 5 years we lived in Spain, I led the music in Primary. Keep in mind that I don't sing or speak Spanish very well so the fact that I could do this successfully was a modern day miracle. I truly loved all those sweet little children. One especially memorable family was the Abellans. Their Primary age children all had Bible place names....there was Betania, Galilea, Canaan, Israel, Judea, Nain and Nazaret. I sometimes was lucky and one or more little girl came to sit with us during sacrament meeting. Now thanks to Facebook, I'm friends again with those girls, now beautiful young women! Judea leaves Barcelona in January to serve a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. I hope to give grown up Judea a hug next summer!

Here is a recent picture of the family, minus Betania, who is as married mother of three living in France and brothers Israel and Patricio. Aren't they beautiful young women? Their Mom and Dad must be so proud of them. I smile every time I think of the strong women they have become!

One Sunday years ago the little girls excitedly gave me a gift. The swan statue is hollow and inside was a note where they had written all the English words they knew. I was so touched then and I still feel warm memories of Sabadell Ward, and especially the Abellan family every time I look at it.

Christmas makes me feel nostalgic for Barcelona. Those five years changed the lives of the Lewis Family forever!

North vs. South

2011-12-04T14:52:00.000-08:00

Our friend Vinu has told us many times that there is a difference between southern India cooking and northern India cooking. He is from the south of India and says that most all the Indian Restaurants in America cook northern India style. Last week he took us to a southern India restaurant called Chennai Masala. And yes, Vinu is right the food is different.

We ordered a family size dosa. Yep, I think something 3 feet long would definitely qualify as 'family size'.

Dosas are made from rice flour. The menu said, "A large lacy delicately browned crepe". After tearing off a piece there were several sauces to use as dips or to eat with the dosa. My personal favorite was the potato & onion masala. A sort of Indian style mashed potatoes, spicy and delicious!

We also had poori.

These are lightly puffed, deep fried wheat bread, again served with the Potato Masala. Yum! Are you surprised when I say that I gained 2 1/2 pounds the day we went here?

Symbols

2011-12-04T14:45:00.001-08:00

I loved these restroom signs in the commuter airport in Hawaii!

Reminded me of one of our favorite restaurants in Barcelona called "Citrus". I had to use the restroom there. I stood for awhile looking at the two doors. One had only this sign:

And the other this....

Hmm.....

Kalaupapa

2011-12-03T21:42:00.000-08:00

This trip to Maui I wanted to do something different and since I'd just finished reading the novel 'Molokai' about the old leper colony on the nearby island we made plans to fly over and ride mules down to the settlement. The flight was only 25 minutes on this SMALL plane.

Seriously small! This is my view of the pilot. It was just like sitting in the back seat of a car. I could have reached out and touched the pilot.

I think it was an 8 passenger plane! Here is a shot looking back from my seat.

From 1865 until the 1940's when sulfa drugs were invented, people with leprosy in the Hawaiian Islands were sent to this isolated peninsula to live. Children were checked at school and if they had leprosy they were taken from their families and raised in orphanages here at Kalaupapa. All the patients arrived by boat from other islands. The huge cliffs up to the rest of the island made this a virtual prison. About 17 elderly, former 'patients' continue to live here because although they are free to leave, this island area is home.

We rode mules down the 3 1/8 mile trail that has 26 switchbacks and a 1664 ft elevation change. The mule skinners said that they matched us with our mules based on looks, personality and karma! I'm not sure about 'in looks' but my mule EB and I both like being first in the line. She only has two speeds, slow and slower but she managed to always be in the lead! Since the trail was rocky and steep, I was happy for her to take her time. We were told to sit back and hold on and that is what I did. No need to steer, the mules knew where to go. Do you see any resemblance between EB and me?Here is a sample of the rocky trail! It was pretty difficult to take a picture while holding on for dear life!

In some places there are stairs but they are rocky and uneven. George is on the 2nd mule. EB and I were way in the lead, naturally. Although at this particular moment she was stopped having a rest break.

The cliffs in the background are what we rode down. You can just barely see the trail if you look carefully.

The peninsula is stunningly beautiful. This is the area where the patients were brought ashore.

There is an LDS church in the colony. The last LDS 'former patient' died only a few weeks before our visit. Most of the 'former patients' are in they 80's.

The graves that you can see are for priests and nuns who made taking care of the lepers their life mission. The area behind the stone fence is a grave yard for patients. Most of them were too poor to purchase a gravestone.
This is Father Damien's grave. He is the priest from Belgium that made such a difference here. The quality of life improved dramatically under his leadership. He eventually died of leprosy and was buried here until his remains were sent back to Belgium. The vatican is in the process of making him a Saint. I think he deserves the designation.
Such a unique experience from start to finish!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-27T21:19:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite things to do while living in Spain was to share our "American Thanksgiving" meal with our Spanish friends. This year we introduced our friend from India to turkey, mashed potatoes and gravey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie! I think he liked it all!

Matt and Scott drove over from Boise and seemed to enjoy Mom's cooking too. We missed Johnny and Mary and Mark. I'm sure as time goes on it will be harder and harder to get all four of our children home for the holidays. We are so thankful for family and friends and the chances to be together!

Now let the Christmas craziness begin!

Maui Memories

2011-11-27T20:45:00.001-08:00

It's raining in Portland but I'm remembering the sun in Maui as I pick my 10 favorite pictures!

Nakalele Blowhole

Sea Kayaking

Snorkeling

A picnic on the 'road to Hana' while enjoying the wild ocean action and being terrified watching the young teenage boy dive into this!

Hiking to a Waimoku Falls....

A sunset sail....

A short plane trip to Molokai and a mule ride to visit the leper colony which is now a National Historic Park. A separate post about this is coming!

We rode DOWN the cliffs that you can see behind George!

And plenty of time for relaxing and reading on the beach!

When do we get to go back?

I can't believe we're in Maui!

2011-11-13T23:18:00.001-08:00

As our plane taxied to the gate at the airport in Kahului, Maui, a little girl a few rows behind us was so excited that she just couldn't stay quiet. Her sweet little, super excited voice just rang out with "I can't believe we're in Maui!!!!!!" The smiles and laughs from the adults on board confirmed that we all felt exactly the same way.

Dogs and Love

2011-10-30T16:47:00.001-07:00

Ten Commandments

2011-10-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

This year I'm teaching a early morning (7:35-8:50) class for the youth in our church who are in the 9th - 12th grades. We call it Seminary. In states with a big LDS population, the school district authorizes 'release time' seminary. In Idaho our church has a building right by the high school where classes are held all during the regular school day. 'Release time' seminary classes are a part of the student's regular school schedule. Here in Oregon there is also 'release time seminary' but because of the smaller number of students there is only one class scheduled and students just walk across the street to our church building for a class period. Other churches are starting to ask for release time religious instruction for their youth also. I think that is great!

In other parts of the world, high school age students can attend 'early morning seminary' which is held before school either in a church building or in a home. Sometimes these classes start at 6:00 a.m.!!! George and his siblings did 'early morning seminary' in Chicago when they were growing up. With Spain's late night life style, seminary in Barcelona happened from 9:00 - 10:30 at night 5 nights a week. I just couldn't imagine my teenagers coming home on school nights at 11:00 so our kids participated in the 3rd option - 'Home study' seminary. They worked on their own from materials supplied by the church and we sometimes got together with a couple of other families for a lesson.

This is my first time to be a seminary teacher and I love it! One of the goals is to have the students memorize 25 scriptures from the Old Testament and one of those is the 10 Commandments. I just was taught this clever, rhyming way to remember the commandments in order. I think it makes remembering them so easy....I decided to share it.

Commandment#1

Think of sun

Son of God

Thou shalt have no other Gods before me

Commandment #2

Think of

Zoo

Big lion statue in front

No graven images

Commandment #3

Think of

Leaves on a tree have veins

Don’t take the name of God in vain.

Commandment #4

Think of

door – the chapel door – Sunday

Keep the Sabbath Day Holy.

Commandment #5

Think of

Hive –

a family of

bees

Honor thy father and mother

Commandment #6

Think of

If you hit someone with a stick you might kill them.

Thou shalt not kill

Commandment #7

Think of

You can’t get to Heaven if you commit adultery

…not commit adultery

Commandment #8

Think

Steel Gate

Thou shalt not steal

Commandment #9

Think

Billboards signs

They can tell lies!

Thou shalt not bear false witness

Commandment #10

Think

Mother Hen covets her chicks & wants them under her wings.

Thou shalt not covet.

5Ks

2011-10-16T14:52:00.001-07:00

The year I turned 55 I decided to run a 5K. I have never liked to run. I hated it in PE and have never been able to understand how anyone could enjoy running. But that year I just felt like I wanted to do something to prove to myself that I wasn't all THAT old so I trained and participated in a rainy Women's Fitness Celebration in Boise. I actually enjoyed it very much! Each year since I've set a goal to run three. This year George ran them with me.

We did the Lake Run right across from our apartment here in Lake Oswego.

Then we ran in the Mt. Tabor Doggie challenge. That one was particularly fun since people run with their dogs. You keep on your toes avoiding the dogs and leashes!

Yesterday we ran the Blue Lake Run and we both got awards! George's recent loss of 20+ pounds has turned him into a 'lean, mean machine'!

Although I got better times with each race, I still didn't accomplish my 'time' goal. That is because I have been pretty casual in my training. I remember talking to someone once about the promise in the Word of Wisdom that you will "run and not be weary, and walk and not faint." Her comment was that if you don't run you will be weary! I can testify that is true. Like most things in life, dedication and hard work pay off! So here's to more diligent training over the winter and improved times next spring and summer!

I stole this off a friend's blog as it applies so well.

Lonoke High School

2011-10-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

The buildings were I went to school from 4th - 12th grade have been torn down. I know it is progress but it still makes me feel sad. My mother went to school in those buildings.

"There is something about the loss of a school that tears at the soul. Memories of teachers and plays and music performances cannot be bulldozed from the mind." From Dogwood by Chris Fabry

Delicious sensations!

2011-10-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

From the book, "The Postmistress"

"She had the delicious sensation of returning to a place she had once loved but forgotten, like a room in childhood."

I just made my first trip back to Lonoke since my mother died two and a half years ago. I really worried about how I would handle being there in that little town that I love without my mother and my Aunt Mary. As it turns out it was a wonderful time! I was reminded that I still have family that loves me and that I love. I still have friends that I have known all my life and we still care about each other and enjoy each other's company. Most of all I was overwhelmed with a thankfulness for having grown up in this town.

My childhood and teen years in Lonoke could be summed up in the town logo. Truly growing up in Lonoke was 'life as it should be."

9/11 - I Remember

2011-09-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

I remember that morning ten years ago today. Normally we didn't watch TV before school but that morning Johnny happened to turn it on so that he could set the VCR to tape a soccer game that was gong to be on later in the day. He came into the kitchen and told me to turn on the TV. I did and I remember feeling confused at what I saw on the screen. He had to explain to me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. The TV anchors didn't seem to know what was happening either, until that second plane hit. Then we knew we were under attack. I stayed glued to the TV all day and watched in horror as the towers fell. I listened as the reporters talked of thousands of deaths but also reported the lines of New Yorkers around the Red Cross Centers waiting to give blood. They spoke of off-duty firemen, policemen, nurses and doctors rushing to the scene to help. Strangers embraced strangers. Help and offers of help came in from all over the world! The TV anchors referred to our 'common humanity' but the thought came to me that actually it was our 'common divinity'. This song by Janice Kapp Perry came to my mind on September 11, 2001. It came into my mind again today. We do have a divine nature. We are children of God. I'm thankful for that knowledge and I will never forget.

My Nature is Divine

Why is it when I hear a baby cry
My arms reach out in love I can't deny?
Why is it when I see my neighbors need
My heart is touched to do a kindly deed?
Why is it when I see someone alone
My instinct is to share the love I've known?
Why is it when I sing a hymn of praise
My spirit yearns to follow in His ways?

Could it be
Oh could it be a sign
that deep within
this simple soul of mine
I sense by some miraculous design

My nature is divine?

Why is it when I touch a fevered brow
I know that I must give relief somehow?
Why is it when I see someone with less
I'm urged within to share my goods and bless?
Why is it when I see a soul in sin
I long to share the light I have within
Why is it that a joy beyond compare
Distills upon me when I kneel in prayer?

Oh could it be a sign that deep within
This simple soul of mine
I sense by some miraculous design
My nature is divine?

City of Roses

2011-09-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

Portland is sometimes called the 'City of Roses' and here's why.....

And remember it is September!

Where in the world are George and Marilyn?

2011-09-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

Looks like Japan, huh? But actually we are in the Portland Japanese Gardens! There in the background is Mount Hood, looking like a watercolor painting on the horizon.

We spent Labor Day with George's boss who is visiting from India. It was lunch at the Peruvian Restaurant and then the Japanese Garden. A lovely day!

George in the Gorge

2011-09-03T22:05:00.001-07:00

"George in the Gorge" just has the right ring doesn't it? Actually George, Marilyn, Martha and Larry enjoyed a great lunch and a lazy afternoon at Skamania Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge.
What a beautiful place! I want to come back for a weekend get-away and enjoy the pool, hot tub, hiking and a massage....not necessarily in that order! And I want to spend some time doing absolutely nothing in one of the comfortable chairs while I enjoy the view up the gorge!

If you are paying any attention to what time it is, you can check this sun dial.

And yes it was about 3:10!

Random thoughts from Education Week

2011-09-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

I've just finished typing my notes from Education Week so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite random quotes:

Acts 12: 1-7 - In these verses we read of James who was killed by the sword and Peter who was rescued from prison by an angel. Was Peter more righteous than James? Had he prayed more? Had the people prayed more for Peter than for James? Sometimes life gives us the 'sword' and sometimes we get the 'angel'. We don't always understand why things happen the way they do but adversity will come to us all! When it does, we need to 'turn outward' and serve. There are times when we may be the saving angel for someone else going through trials.

Neal A. Maxwell, "Patience is tied to faith.Lack of patience shows that you think you know more than God."

I'm not sure where this quote comes from but I love it. "Sometimes He calms the sea and sometimes he lets the sea rage on and He calms the child."

"Grace isn't a booster engine but a constant source of power. Grace is the presence of God enabling power. We aren't earning heaven we are learning heaven!" Brad Wilcox

If you’re going to enjoy thinking about it in the future, if you’re going to laugh about it later, enjoy it and laugh about it NOW! Randall Wright

Soccer weekend!

2011-08-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Scott we enjoyed a weekend of soccer! He got us tickets to the University of Portland Women's game on Friday night. It is the first time I've gone to a UP game without a rain jacket! This time the weather was perfect, the game exciting and Portland won!

The U-14 Boise Nationals team that Scott helps coach was in Portland for a tournament so we got to spend time watching youth soccer again. Sitting on the sidelines with a group of parents seems so totally normal to us. My eyes automatically go to the tall blond players, even though I'm really there to support the tall blond coach!

And Barcelona won yet another trophy! That's 12 in three years! I love soccer!

Education Week

2011-08-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

With apologies and compliments to my Education Week buddy, Jan who did this post about our week.......http://jandegiulio.wordpress.com/ I'm going to steal her post and adapt it to my blog.

Education Week was wonderful this year. I went with Jan De Giulio. We had a great time learning, laughing, visiting and eating together. She is the perfect ED Week partner! It was fun to have Jan's daughter, Terrah, join us for a day and go to a few classes with her. I will write more about the classes later. Here are a few fast facts.

About 36 classes taken.
Tons of good stuff learned.
114 pages of notes taken.
Seven pages filled with inspiration that came into my mind as I listened
New goals set.
Lots of excitement about teaching the Old Testament this year

The most amazing facts are below

No fudge eaten.
No ice cream eaten.
Only 2 Amazing BYU brownies eaten. How I did this I will never know! (But I admit I wish I had one right now!)
One over priced Costa Vida Salad at the Marriott Center eaten. Learned my lesson there! It’s almost a crime how much they jack up the price to sell at BYU.
Found out the bathrooms in the BYU Art Museum are amazing, with no lines EVER!!! I did not share this secret with anyone lest they be overflowing with people when I went in them.
The Cafe in the Museum is a great inexpensive place to get a good lunch.
Two dinners at the wonderful ZUPAS!
Weight gain ZERO!
LDS Women can take over a men's bathroom when the need is great!
The speakers I've heard for years, like Michael Wilcox and Randall Wright, are still favorites and still inspire and teach me.
My favorites list can grow longer with speakers like Brad Wilcox and Anthony Sweat and Kenneth Alford.

I've been to BYU Education Week over 20 times and each year is fantastic. For those who may not know what it is...it's five days filled with classes from 8:30 in the morning until 9:25 at night. Classes range from religious to financial planning to parenting to history to music to mental health and diet and exercise. There is something for everyone. This year there were 20,000 participants ages 14 to 96. I'm serious about the 96 year old! Some people stay in the homes of family and friends, some in motels and some in the dorms. Jan and I were in the dorm. Fun late nights talking and talking and talking! A great week in every way!

Birthday Celebration Part 3

2011-08-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

Crater Lake National Park

Yes, the water really is that color!

I read in an old travel guide that Kodak used to send their apologies along with customers' photographs of Crater Lake, because they thought that they had goofed in the processing, so unbelievable were the colors of the water.

There is only one place where you can access the water. The hike down is pleasant but getting back up is quite the workout! They say that the hike back up is equal to climbing the stairs to the top of a 65 story building. I'm happy to report that we made it!

There was still SNOW! But we had a perfectly clear seventy degree day!

Doesn't this little guy look like he is posing for the tourists? One of our fellow hikers asked, "Is this Simon, Theodore, or Alvin?" I just learned that he is actually a golden mantled ground squirrel!

Crater Lake should actually be called "Caldera Lake" as a caldera is what happens when the center of a volcano caves in upon itself. The gigantic eruption of Mount Mazama occurred around 7000 years ago and was 100 times stronger than the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens. Mt. Saint Helens sent ash as far as Idaho but Mount Mazama sent ash as far as Nebraska! That's quite impressive! I'm pretty sure that an explosion like that now would wipe out million of people. It did make a beautiful lake which is the deepest in America and the cleanest and clearest in the world. The Rangers will drink from the lake to prove how pristine it is. All the water has come from snow melt and rain. No rivers run in and no rivers run out. Years ago, before people were concerned about such things, steelhead, trout, and salmon were introduced into the lake. Now environmentalist want them out, so you can fish the lake with no license and no limit! The Ranger thought that they were fighting a loosing battle with the fish.

The island in the middle of the lake is actually a cinder cone that formed sometime after the eruption. It is called Wizard Island. Next time we come we want to take the boat ride out and hike to the top.

These 100 foot tall spires form a surreal landscape. The spires are 'fossil fumaroles' each marking a spot where volcanic gas rose up through hot ash deposits, cementing the ash into rock. Most are hollow inside.

I think it looks like the set for a futuristic movie!

On a completely different note...on the way home we saw the Medford, Oregon temple!

Sigh! It was a super birthday celebration and now I guess it is back to real life!

Birthday Celebration Part 2

2011-08-07T21:25:00.000-07:00

Friday we drove down to Ashland to the famous "Oregon Shakespeare Festival" to see "Love's Labor Lost". Confession time here! I always think I SHOULD like Shakespeare. I'm an educated person with a college degree and an avid reader. But I will have to admit that for the first ten or fifteen minutes of any Shakespeare play, I sit there listening, totally confused. They could be speaking Chinese for all I'm following the storyline. Then my brain shifts into 16th century English mode and I start enjoying it. I laugh when other people laugh and I know why they are laughing. I understand what is going on....at least most of the time!

I had a bit of help this time as I had read the synopsis of the play beforehand. Good thing because there was all kinds of confusion from disguises to mis-delivered love letters! Pretty typical Shakespeare! I love the comment in the playbill about "Love's Labor Lost", "At the center of this play lies the question of balance: How do we allow access to both our heads and our hearts? This is journey that begins as we enter into adulthood and a challenge that remains with us for a lifetime."

Beautiful Elizabethan theatre! Here they are preparing for "Pirates of Penzance" which was being performed that evening.

A totally different night from the Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy game! But equally enjoyable!

Birthday Celebration #1

2011-08-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy....LA is the #1 team in the division and have won 14 straight. Timbers are next to the last in the division and have had a less than stellar season......it's their first season in the MLS.

Outside the stadium they were selling shirts that said, "Beat LA and that English Guy". Do you know who they're talking about? None other than that very fine looking superstar - DAVID BECKHAM!

He is a one fine looking man! I know he has long hair and a headband and a scruffy face but he is handsome enough to make this old lady's heart go pitter patter!

And he can still bend it like, well bend it like Beckham!!!

What he couldn't manage to do last night was to score any goals or make any assists!

The Portland fans are crazy. Hundreds are in the stands behind the goals. They spend the entire game on their feet and have an inexhaustible number of cheers, some of which involve choreography! Get a load of this skirted cheerleader!

Every time the Timbers score, Timber Joey cuts a slice out of a huge log.

And holds it up to the hysterically happy fans!

Last night he got to use his saw three times.....final score...

Timbers 3 and LA 0!!!!

Our friend Vinu got introduced to American sports crazed fans!

Part 1 of my birthday Extravanganza!

Washington Waterfalls

2011-07-24T19:49:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we went on another hike on Mount Saint Helens. Last fall when we were here it was a rainy day and we only caught a few glimpses of the top. Today was gloriously clear and sunny!

Our destination today was to hike in Lava Canyon. In ancient times, a forest covered a deep valley here. Then, 3,500 years ago, Mount Saint Helens erupted, sending a massive mudflow down through the canyon, filling it with volcanic rock. Over the years, the river carved a path through the rock, forming a canyon with waterfalls, deep cuts and towers of harder rock - Lava Canyon. Later mudflows covered all of that, and eventually forest grew back over the whole thing. Then on May 18th, 1980, Mount Saint Helens erupted again, melting 70% of its glaciers in an instant and sending millions of cubic feet of mud and rock blasting down the side of the mountain at about 45 miles an hour. George compared it to a giant power washer! That eruption cleaned out the forest and rock, exposing Lava Canyon for the first time in thousands of years.

The hike had a really fun suspension bridge. I loved all the different styles of crossing the bridge I observed....from the crouched and 'holding on for dear life' approach to the 'lets see how much I can actually get it to swing' people. It was interesting when hikers from these two very different groups were on the bridge at the same time!

I'll never tell which members of our family fell into each group! This is the view over the side of the bridge.

Here's a great view of the canyon with the suspension bridge at the top.

There was also a 40 foot ladder to take you down to the canyon floor. Once you were down there it was like a different world! Reminded me of Hawaii!

It was a wonderful day and another memorable hike!

It never gets old....

2011-07-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

We went to the Oregon Coast on Saturday. The beauty there is breathtaking. I don't think I'll ever get tired of these excursions!

Fog rolling in.....

Shipwreck......

Astoria Column

My only complaint is that it is JULY and we're still wearing sweatshirts. Will it ever be summer here?

Ode to Pelicans

2011-07-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Lewis enjoyed sharing this cute little poem with his grandkids....

A funny old bird is a pelican

His beak can hold more than his belly can

He can hold in his beak enough food for a week

I don't know how in the hellican!

Scott

2011-07-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

So many adventures ahead!

Lion, tigers and bears......

2011-07-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

Lions.....

Tigers....

Bears.....

And more bears......

Wolves....

Penguins......

Chimps....

Giraffes......

Horses.....and big boys who still love them....

John, Scott and I went to the Oregon Zoo!

Happy birthday Mary!!!

2011-07-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

My mother always said that Mary was a 'dear person'. I happen to completely agree! She has always been kind and thoughtful. The memory of Mary that I want to share is one that her Dad told me and I've thought about it so long that it seems like my memory as well.

At the end of one of Mary's birthday parties when she was probably 5 or 6 years old, each child got a helium filled balloon. Kids that age love balloons and Mary was no exception. George took some of the children home. As Mary walked one of her friends to the door, the other little girl somehow lost her balloon and it was taken away by the Colorado wind. Mary immediately ran back to the car and gave her little friend her own balloon. A completely selfless act by my little girl.

Mary still has that selfless spirit. She has served in Primary, working with the children at church, for all but about 6 months of her married life. And best of all she never ever complained about it! I'm proud to call her daughter and friend. I hope to learn from her fine example!

Mary also looks good in pictures. I have photo album after photo album with pictures of Mary and her brothers. In the majority of them, one of the boys has a grumpy face, or has his tongue stuck out, or his eyes crossed or is making a silly face. Mary just always shows us her beaming smile

Happy birthday Mark!

2011-07-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

Mark has the first birthday in our family each year. This year I decided to share a favorite memory of each person in our family on their birthday.

Mark works all week and spends hours each day dealing with the public. On Saturday he likes to enjoy the peace and quiet of home. Mary had planned an outing with about 20 people from their ward to go to dinner and then to see "Wicked" at the Kennedy Center. Here's my blog post about that evening. http://bondia2000.blogspot.com/2011/07/wicked-evening.html

I know that this was NOT something that Mark had any interest in doing but he did go. And I know the main reason he decided to go was that Mary wanted him to. I love that he loves our daughter enough to sacrifice his free time and do something just because she wanted him to! Thanks Mark for being such a good, caring, loving husband and a fine man. We're glad you are in our family!

This is Carriage House Automotive where Mark spends his days working hard to support his family.

Trying out my iPad

2011-07-12T14:23:00.001-07:00

I am trying to figure out how to blog from my iPad without calling in my IT people! My husband! Did I do it?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Home

We love waterfalls!

2011-07-10T22:04:00.000-07:00

Hiking in Oregon is spectacularly beautiful!

My favorite part is all the waterfalls. Yesterday we saw "Triple Falls"....

"Ponytail Falls"

"Oneanta Falls"

And "Horsetail Falls"! And that was just on one five mile loop!

An absolutely perfect day!

A Capitol Fourth

2011-07-10T21:23:00.001-07:00

Mary, George and I braved the crowds and went down to the Capitol to see the July 4th concert. We got there at about 3:00 and secured seats on the steps for the 8:00 concert. Luckily the sun went behind the clouds so we didn't cook for 5 hours! I enjoyed visiting with the people around us and people watching. Some people really got into the patriotic spirit!

How's this for a bow?

The MC for the concert was Jimmy Smits.

Matthew Morrison of 'Glee' fame and Kelli O'Hara, a Broadway star, sang, "Tonight" from West Side Story. I love that song!

Did you know that Steve Martin is a very talented banjo player? He even writes some of the songs for his band, Steep Canyon Rangers. This was George's favorite part!

Mary and I loved hearing and seeing Josh Groban.

We also saw Little Richard and heard the National Symphony Orchestra. And after the concert more, fireworks and the 1812 Overture, only this time with the Washington Monument in the background!

Civil War Fireworks

2011-07-08T11:41:00.001-07:00

Antietam Battlefield - Sharpsburg, Maryland

Mary and Mark live close to many of the Civil War Battlegrounds. For the last few years Mary has gone with friends to the Antietam Battlefield to watch the fireworks. The year we were able to join her, along with 15,000 to 20,000 others, to listen to the Maryland Symphony and the amazing fireworks. This picture gives some small idea of the size of the crowd! There are no pictures of the organized way that number of people left the fireworks at the end. The battlefield is off a two lane road that everyone had to use to leave! It was a marvel of organization and cooperation!

Mary and I went to the field at 10:00 in the morning to secure a place right on the front row in front of the artillery. We left a tarp staked down and it was still there when we went back at 8:30 in the evening! Because of our excellent spot we got the full effect of the canons during the 1812 Overture!!!

The fireworks just went on and on. Every time I thought it was the finale they started again. And when the fireworks did finally stop, the artillery continued for 3 or 4 more minutes. I understand "Shock and Awe" a little better.

At the bottom of this picture you can just barely see the artillery....we're talking modern stuff, not civil war canons!

Out and About in DC

2011-07-08T11:17:00.001-07:00

Mary and I spent an afternoon in the Washington DC Temple.

And a day walking in our nation's capital! I saw a T-shirt that read, "I walked my feet off in DC"! That about sums up our day but we agree that the best way to get to know a city is to walk.

We walked by the White House which was pretty calm, except for about a million tourists and the protestor who has been there since the Bush administration! I think he is still protesting war in general and in Iraq in particular. The press corp even seemed to be missing. I guess they assumed there would be no news over long 4th of July weekend!

I kept hoping Michelle would come out to weed her garden but no such luck!

While roaming through the National Art Gallery enjoying the art and the air conditioning, I saw a couple of familiar faces...friends from our ward in Oregon! I couldn't believe that in the tens of thousands of tourists on the National Mall we just happened to run into Nora and Clay! Small world!

I'll never get tired of seeing the sites in our beautiful Capital City!

Volt

2011-07-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a post for our 'foodie' Scott!

We had the chance to have lunch at Volt, Chef Bryan Voltaggio's restaurant in Frederick, Maryland.

I admit I hadn't heard of him before but he was on Top Chef on Bravo TV. The food was excellent! I'll also admit that there were many words on the menu that I didn't know! The extremely attentive waiter explained the dishes to us and everyone was delighted with their choices!

composition of market vegetables maroon carrots, fennel, upland cress, petite herbs, banyuls vinaigrette

yellowfin tuna tartare jasmine rice, chili oil, petite cilantro, wasabi whitefish roe

sheep’s milk cavatelli country ham, broccoli rabe, parmesan

“spring garden” beets, carrots in timothy hay, radish, coffee soil, cherry glen farm chevre

mahi mahi maroon carrot, black forbidden rice, radish, soy air

marinated hanger steak rick’s yukon gold potatoes, chive pudding, maitake mushrooms, applewood smoked bacon

I think we look as full and content as we felt! I'm not even going to mention the desserts but lets just say they were almost, but not quite, too pretty to eat!

Harper's Ferry

2011-07-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

The only good thing about having a daughter living on the other side of the country is that she lives in a beautiful place with so many great tourist things to do. My morning walks take me down this road and up to a civil war battlefield.

Harper's Ferry changed hands eight times during the Civil War. The high ground of Bolivar Heights Battlefield is just a mile from Mary's house.

Harper's Ferry is right at the spot where the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers come together. At the top of the picture is the Shenandoah and the Potomac is at the bottom.

The whole downtown is a National Historic Park where there are civil war era buildings, actors dressed in period costume to teach and entertain and lots of cute restaurants and shops. Harper's Ferry's other claim to fame is the raid by the abolitionist John Brown.

It's a beautiful place for sure!

Visiting Mary would be wonderful anywhere but I'm really glad I get to visit her in such a historic, picturesque place!

Chickens????

2011-07-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

In early June Mary and Mark got 4 little 'peeps'...tiny little chickens! This picture was taken on June 4th.

This picture on June 28. I am amazed at how fast they grow! Mary has named them according to their personalities. They are Curious George, Flighty, Nervous Nelly, and CP3O!

My very clever son-in-law is building a chicken coop for them. Soon the chickens will be moving in and I'm sure they'll be happy with all the space!

While I'm bragging on my son-in-law, I'll also show the boat he built last summer.

And his potato boxes for the garden.

And my great grandparents Victrola that had languished for years in my basement. Mark restored it and it works!

Mark never ceases to amaze me!

A 'Wicked' Evening

2011-07-07T16:36:00.001-07:00

Mary organized a group of twenty of her friends for a fondue dinner and 'Wicked' at the Kennedy Center.

I didn't waste time taking pictures of the cheese fondue, just the yummy chocolate! The "Yin and Yang' dark and white chocolate creation was pretty but my favorite was the less photogenic, "Flaming Turtle"!

And to dip in all this yummy goodness - fresh strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, Rice Krispie Treats, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies.! My personal favorites were the pound cake and the bananas.

After dinner we all enjoyed the amazing play "Wicked". The 'behind the scenes' story or the real story of the Wizard of Oz was revealed through wonderfully clever music and dialogue! An unforgettable evening thanks to my daughter!

Daddy and Dads

2011-06-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to the Portland Mormon Choir's patriotic concert. One of my favorite numbers was entitled, "Armed Forces- The Pride of America". They sang the anthem of each of the five branches of the US military and as they sang a uniformed members came on stage carrying the appropriate flag. Members of the audience who had served in each of the branches stood to thunderous applause. When they sang, "Anchor's Away" I got a bit misty eyed thinking of my own Daddy who served in the US Navy. So today on Father's Day I salute him. This picture was taken when he was made a Chief Petty Officer. I think it was about 1958.

He died 32 years ago so although I've lived much more of my life without him than with him, he has had an influence on me. We share a love of animals and children. Daddy never met a dog or a child that didn't like him! The children who lived next door would come over to see if he could come out and play! The only one of my own children that he knew was Mary. She was a bit of a fussy baby but he could calm her and get her to sleep better than anyone else. You've heard the saying that goes something like, "Anyone can be a father but it takes a special man to be a Daddy." I was raised by a Daddy!

George's Dad has been another great influence in my life. Even though he has been gone now for 8 years I still think of him often. Every time I buy something that is a bit extravagant I imagine him shaking his head at me. Dad was one of the few people I know who wasn't impressed by 'things' but by serving and creating.

My own children are lucky to have been blessed with their Dad. Like his father he is also an example of quiet service. He just does what needs to be done and does it without fanfare or the need for applause. When George does something you know it will be done very well. He blesses our family every day and I am grateful to be his wife and the mother of his children.

When I started looking for pictures for the blog the first ones I came to are all from the 'Great Lewis Adventure" which was our first European trip in 1996.

Mary and her Dad in Bern, Switzerland

The Lewis boys and the new German hats...Berchtesgaden, Germany.

More food....and drinks too!

2011-06-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Almost 25 years ago when my cousin Bill was at the Jerusalem Center this was a favorite of the BYU students.

It's still there....same oven, same baker, and the BYU students still come here to enjoy pizza.

Not only does he bake pizza, he bakes bread for most of the neighborhood, including some of the bakeries. Not all homes or bakeries have ovens so the dough is brought here and then is baked in his large oven. Sounds like a good system to me!

It's a pretty traditional cheese pizza, except that it has egg in addition to the cheese. It wasn't my favorite....give me a falafel anyday!!

Good marketing idea here....Cana Wedding wine! Does it turn to water?

Jerusalem's answer to Starbucks....a mobile coffee shop! I'm told that in the hot summer he sometimes carries lemonade instead of coffee!

Galilee Branch

2011-06-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

The building behind us is the the meeting house for the Galilee Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a beautiful house that they have remodeled into a chapel, multi purpose room, kitchen, apartment for the service missionary couple, class rooms and even a required bomb shelter!

Unlike in Jerusalem & Tel Aviv, where the majority of the members of the congregations are temporary (consulate/embassy officials, ex-pats from various corporations, and college professors from BYU and other universities) the members here are permanent to the area. They come from all over as you can see from the boards announcing the hymns....

They sing in English, Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew! I'd love to hear how that sounds.

This is the view when sitting in the chapel.

Can you imagine singing songs about the Savior while looking out at his beloved Galilee? I remember the song from the old hymn book, "Oh Galilee, sweet Galilee where Jesus loved so much to be."

Middle Eastern Fast Food

2011-06-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

Although there are McDonalds in Israel, even Kosher McDonalds, the most common 'fast food' seems to be falafel. Falafel are deep fried balls of ground chickpeas and delicious spices.

What really makes them yummy are the tomatoes, cucumbers, hummus and tahini sauce that are also put in the pita!

Lynda, who lived in Jerusalem, took us to the 'best falafel stand in the city', which was just outside Damascas Gate.. It is what my mother would have called a 'hole in the wall'. There are no places to sit, you just order and take it with you. I think what made these especially good were the super good hummus and tahini sauces. They put just the right amount in so that they weren't soggy but deliciously moist.

If George liked falafel, I'd learn how to make them.

Meat lover George much prefers the other Middle Eastern fast food, Shawarma.

Shawarma is thin sliced meat, usually lamb but occasionally turkey or beef, also stuffed into pita with sauces and veggies.

Our tour group was about equally divided between the falafel fans and the Shawarma fans.

Food Obsessed

2011-06-16T16:54:00.001-07:00

You're going to think I'm obsessed with food and you're probably right since I have a couple more blog posts I want to do about food in Israel.

Salad and the delicious pita bread make for a great lunch. In the US I've never had pita that is so light and fluffy. It's probably a good thing I can't find that kind of pita here!

This was our St. Peter's fish lunch near the Sea of Galilee at Kibbutz Ein Gev. It tasted much better than it looked....you're probably thinking it HAD to taste better than it looked!

I never knew what these were but they must be good as it seemed that every sweet shop in the old city sold them.

How would you like to buy your fish here? You can get filets or fish sticks or shaped fish nuggets for the kids....or maybe a whole chicken....and its all been sitting out for hours on the ice.

Or you might want to buy your meat here....

I think I'd become a vegetarian....the fruit and veggies look a lot better than the meat or fish.

Food in Israel was definitely a big part of the whole experience.

Breakfast in Jerusalem

2011-06-16T16:42:00.001-07:00

In Israel it is easy to get the recommended 5 fruits and vegetables a day because they have salad for breakfast!

It looks pretty and tastes delicious! Who would have thought that fresh cucumbers and tomatoes would taste so good at 7:00 a.m.!

The fruit, cheese, and yoghurt is terrific too.

I'm afraid I never learned to appreciate these little fishes....

But the bread was a delight every single day! Yummy!

Jerusalem Bagels

2011-06-16T13:43:00.001-07:00

Hungry in Jerusalem? Find a cart selling Jerusalem bagels.

Don't even think of how many carbs these giants might contain....

Sprinkle on some hyssop. (According to the Bible dictionary hyssop is a kind of wild marjoram used at the Passover for sprinkling purposes in the purification of lepers and in the sacrifice of the red heifer. According to John 19:29, the sponge with the vinegar offered to our Lord on the cross was put upon hyssop.) It is available in all the spice markets and they also give you a little package with the bread.

Or you could just eat it plain...

Either way it's delicious!

Barca in the West Bank

2011-06-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

You probably know that our family lives and breathes La Liga soccer but you may not know that the West Bank area in Israel also shares our love of the Spanish soccer league. The evidence of true Barca fans is everywhere.

So strange to be winding my way through the maze of streets in old Jerusalem and come across a store selling Barca gear!

The Palestinians recognize the BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD!

Ok, I'll have to admit there are a few who love Real Madrid!

There are options to support either team but the majority definitely support Barca!

I did see a few Real Madrid posters.

including one on this bus!

At the Garden of Gethsemane I had a nice 'Spanglish' conversation with this Madrid season ticket holder. He also had noticed the abundance of Barcelona fans in the city!

Even though this little boy couldn't speak a word of English and I couldn't speak a word of Hebrew we communicated just fine saying, "Barca!" "Messi!" "Iniesta!" and smiling a lot!

This shop keeper was happy to sell to another Barca fan...although he probably would have been just as happy to sell to a Madrid fan!

Our tour guide got nervous when I took this picture because it is at the security check to go up to the temple mount. He was sure that it wasn't allowed but I'd already asked permission from the soldier. When our tour guide asked him, "Can she take a picture?" the soldier just grinned and put two thumbs up and said, "BARCA!!!!"

I used to say that our boys got along fine in Spain because before they spoke Spanish they spoke soccer. Never thought I'd say the same about myself!

Med Sea, Red Sea, Dead Sea!

2011-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Twenty seven years ago when I was last in Israel I was pregnant with Johnny and couldn't float on my back in the Dead Sea like everyone else. The weight of my tummy just pulled me over but this time, I am happy to report, I could float like all the other tourists!

You might not recognize me the next time you see me because they say the Dead Sea mud facial takes 20 years off your face....

We did swim in the Mediterranean, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and the Red Sea!

Check one off!

2011-06-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

Check one off my bucket list....I've snorkeled in the Red Sea! That's my cute cousin David who will soon be a missionary in Seattle!

Hezekiah's Tunnel

2011-06-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the Bible dictionary - "Hezekiah's tunnel is an elaborate engineering scheme extending about 1770 feet through limestone rock, bringing the waters of Gihon spring inside the walls of Jerusalem to the pool of Siloam. The tunnel was built during the days of Hezekiah, about 702 B.C., as a defense against possible attack from the Assyrian army. Workmen dug from both ends, in a zig-zag course until they met. The tunnel is still in use today."

Today you can wade through the tunnel in water that is about 3 feet deep in places. It was so fun! Here we are at the pool of Siloam after we had made it through!

This lady is my hero. She is 88 years old and kept up with everyone on the trip. I love her "I survived Hezekiah's tunnel shirt". I hope she wears it with pride and I hope I'll have her spunk and energy when I'm in my 80's!

Majdal Shams

2011-06-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

Majdal Shams, a little Druze village on the Golan Heights, was in the news recently because of violent border protests that resulted in 20+ deaths. Well, we had lunch there a few days before that! I'll always remember the unusual food. As you can see the women prepare these large flat breads by shaping them on a pillow and then baking them quickly on a perfectly shaped oven.

I don't know what they are called but when you spread on the locally made cream cheese and dribble on some olive oil, they are delicious!

Ancient toilets!

2011-06-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

We just couldn't resist a photo op on the Roman toilets.....these were the toilets for the rich, high society Romans in Beth Shean. Hmm....communal toilets flushed by a stream. I'm so thankful for real plumbing and private toilets!

Coney

2011-06-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

Psalms 104: 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

Proverbs 30: 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks

Ever seen a coney? They are about the size of a beaver but without the tail.

This coney is making his house on the rocks of the crusader fort at Nimrod.

Cousins at the Ancient Gate at Tel Dan

2011-06-13T16:32:00.001-07:00

The Boyle girl cousins on the trip.....Linda and Hannah Boyle, the wife and daughter of my cousin Bill; Annette Boyle, the wife of my cousin Doug; me (my mother was a Boyle); and Trisdan Boyle Fausett, daughter of my cousin Scott. Behind us is a gate that is considered the oldest in the world....3000 years old, that makes it from the time of Abraham! Amazing!

Shepherds, Sheep, and Goats

2011-06-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

"I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine" John 10:14

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10: 27

"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." Matthew 25: 32-33

We witnessed a graphic demonstration of these verses in Nazareth as we watched this shepherd lead his flock to safety for the night. First the sheep went into their pen, then the goats followed to go into their own pen.

Silver Falls in the Spring

2011-05-20T15:27:00.001-07:00

Last fall we hiked at Silver Springs State Park when Johnny was here for a visit. Everyone told us that the best time to go was in the spring because that is when you can see the 'big water'. George's sister Karen came to visit so we decided this was a perfect time to see if there are significant differences.

What do you think? Here is a picture from last fall.

And at the same spot this spring. Can you tell a difference?

Here's another comparison. Last fall....

And the same spot this spring......

I think 'big water' describes it perfectly!

Sleepy Little Puppies

2011-05-10T20:09:00.001-07:00

Guide Dogs for the Blind has 4 adorable tiny little puppies! I got to be a puppy wrangler for the afternoon. What a fun way to spend a couple of hours! These four are going to be the 'stars' at a GDB fund raiser. I think they were selected because they are especially cute!

After playing puppy chase, keep away and tug of war......

All they wanted to do was sleep!

Is there anything cuter than a sleepy little puppy?

How's this for a job description?

2011-04-27T21:15:00.001-07:00

Meet Chester! He works at Guide Dogs for the Blind. His job description is "distraction cat". Obviously you can't have a working guide dog who chases cats so part of the training involves letting Chester roam among the dogs so that they can practice NOT being distracted! I would worry about his job satisfaction but he spends most of his day sleeping and getting attention from volunteers and staff alike so I think he is content!

Ten Grands!

2011-04-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

I was intrigued when I heard an advertisement for a "Ten Grands" concert. Ten grands! Ten pianists! Plus it was a fundraiser for the Snowman Foundation which 'brings music to all kids, regardless of socio-economic status, cultural background, gender, or race, with a focus on the underserved and those with the highest need." Sounded like a fun night and it was!

Some songs featured all ten pianists, some were duets or quartets. Each pianist performed a solo. The music varied from classical to jazz to tango to a wonderful tribute to Michael Jackson. The Michael Jackson piece was arranged by one of the youth helped by the foundation....a blind youth I should add!

The winners of their "Young Artist" awards played an arrangement of Coldplay's song Clocks. I didn't even know that I liked Coldplay!!!

Tulip Festival

2011-04-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! Well, actually spring was here yesterday and we enjoyed it with our friends at the Woodburn Tulip Festival. Today it's cool and rainy once again! Yesterday was just a teaser but a wonderful one!

Acres and acres of amazing color!

Can you see Mount Hood in the background

Sharing!

2011-04-24T17:34:00.001-07:00

Look who's sharing the birdseed with the birds and squirrels!

All I can say is YUCK! I have been sweeping up the scraps and took away the place where he had been hiding. I don't want to share with him. I don't want him running across my patio when I open the door. I want him gone! My love of animals doesn't extend to rats!!!!

Nativity from China

2011-04-07T20:06:00.001-07:00

Last December I ordered a nativity from Nepal through a family in Utah. http://bondia2000.blogspot.com/2010/12/nativity-scenes.html When I found the nativity from Nepal there was also one I wanted from China but it was out of stock. It is available again so I ordered one. I think it is beautiful.

This Nativity scene was designed by a Chinese Christian man. The extra man in the central group represents God, the real father of Jesus. The Christian woodcarver patterns his designs after scriptures he read, so he wanted to portray both fathers of Jesus mentioned in the scriptures.

The Chinese characters written on the wood area are a beautiful Chinese translation of Isaiah 9:2. "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: those who lived in a land of deep darkness, upon them hath the light shined." Don't you think that scripture applies perfectly to what is slowly happening in China as the gospel is given to them?

Hail? Yes!

2011-04-07T13:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we didn't have just a normal Portland rain. We had thunder and rain so hard that I couldn't even hear the TV. Then we had so much hail that it looked like snow outside. And I loved it!

Jackson

2011-04-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

The last time our sons came to visit I think I insulted them when my first comment after "Hello" was "Where is Jackson?" They didn't bring him! I complained the rest of their visit so this time Jack made the trip.

Each time we drive to church we pass a "Dog Park". There are two separate areas.

Jackson needs an area designed for Ball Crazy Dogs!

Jackson has absolutely no interest in any other dog when he has, or can see, a ball. I think he is socially handicapped! No good grade for him in 'works and plays well' with others!

I'm so glad that Scott brought Jackson into our lives. We all enjoy him so much.

NRA

2011-04-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

George joined a shooting club and with that came a membership in the NRA. I asked him if he planned to put a "I'm in the NRA and I vote" bumper sticker on his car. I think not. Could be dangerous here in liberal Oregon! George, Johnny, and Scott enjoyed a morning of shooting last week. I was the official photographer.

I love these father son bonding experiences!

Portlandized

2011-04-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

We've been 'Portlandized'! Here we are sitting out in the pouring down rain watching the Portland Timbers play soccer!

I've watched games in rain, sleet, snow, and in wind so strong that I could barely stand up! I remember watching a game on Memorial Day in Idaho Falls while wrapped in a blanket and wearing all my warmest ski clothes. But I was watching my own kids play!!! We are becoming real Oregonians to sit out in a downpour to watch the Timbers!

It's coming....

2011-03-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

I smell it in the air in spite of the rain & clouds!

I see the signs all around me!

I know it's coming!

Spring!!!!!!!

Grief

2011-03-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the 2nd Anniversary of my mother's death. And it has been almost 2 1/2 years since my Aunt Mary died. I miss those two ladies. They have always been such an influence in my life. I thought the passage of time would lessen the sorrow but some days I think I feel worse than I did immediately after their deaths. I recently read this in a wonderful novel called "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand"

"It surprised him that his grief was sharper than in the past few days. He had forgotten that grief does not decline in a straight line or along a slow curve like a graph in a child's math book. Instead, it was almost as if his body contained a big pile of garden rubbish full both of heavy lumps of dirt and of sharp thorny brush that would stab him when he least expected it."

That expresses how I feel perfectly! I do smile thinking of them together in Heaven!

It's a tough job!

2011-03-14T20:05:00.001-07:00

Here's where Matt is spending his time these days. Pretty rough life taking the lift to work and snowboarding home at the end of the day! He also loves being around the search and rescue dogs. The one in the picture is Lilly who is looking for her ski patrol owner!His schedule is work for 4 days and then spend the next three days riding the mountain! What a nice life! It is really beautiful there!