Dead Sea

Today we left Jerusalem to head out to the Dead Sea and surrounding area. First we went to Masada. My dad, myself, and another couple from our tour group took the snake path up to the top while the rest of the group went up on the tram I made the trip in somewhere between 25-27 minutes. It was a pretty good time. I wasn't in quite as good of shape as last time so I was a couple minutes slower.

After Masada, we went to an overlook of En Gedi and then headed over to float in the Dead Sea and to rub mineral mud over ourselves.
Afterwards we came back to Jerusalem and returned to our hotel a little earlier than usual. It was good for our group as I think they need a little break lest they succumb to tour and information overload.

Now again, its time for pictures of ladybugs daily adventures.

Here is ladybug on Masada. In the background behind bug is the ruins of Herod's palace.

Here is ladybug at the overlook at En Gedi:

Here I am with Ladybug at the Dead Sea. I am coated in the mineral mud. Think of a full body facial. It's supposed to be good for your skin. If nothing else it makes me look a little silly.

More Ladybug

So today I continued my journey through Terra Sancta. Ladybug and I visited the Western Wall, the ancient temple steps and the Shrine of the Book. I also went to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial, but I really didn't feel it was an appropriate place to take Ladybug pictures. Here, are a couple more pictures of the day in more detail.

My dad and I just outside the Western Wall:

Here is ladybug meeting with a friend in the Western Tunnels.

Back to the Wall

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Psalm 116:1

There are those moments in life when God's mercy and goodness is evident. Five years ago, Lori and I went to Israel together. Many of the pictures I've been posting are sites we visited together. One such place was the Western Wall. . .

A tradition at the wall is to leave pieces of paper in the cracks of the wall that bear written prayers. At the time we had no children even though we desparately wanted them. Lori left her prayer deep withing a crack along the wall, somewhere in the tunnel. I dont' need to tell you what her prayer asked for.

Now I certainly don't think the Western Wall has any sort of magical properties. Certainly written prayers placed at this special location do not carry any more weight than those uttered in silence anywhere along the world. Nevertheless, it was a special symbolic action--to leave a prayer in this place regarded as holy--to write something down that we wanted most.

Five years later we have not one, but two sons. As I walked along the wall I could not help but marvel at God's faithfulness and the gentle manner in which he has dealt with us. Certianly there have been painful struggles and trials. But in the end God has given us a family. We are so grateful to Him. In the spirit of Psalm 22: 22, I will declare His name in the congregation I will praise Him and acknowledge His mercies.

So as I walked along the wall today I did so in a spirt of thankfulness, and as I did so I once again left behind a prayer request hidden in the crack of the same ancient wall.

Jerusalem & Bethlehem

Just a few pictures today as I'm really tired and will probabl fall asleep at the computer if I try and type out something.

A view of the old city:



View from the Temple Mount:

Ladybug and I at Bethlehem:

Ladybug overlooking Shepherd's fields at Bethlehem:

Road to Jerusalem

Today we journeyed south from Galilee to Jerusalem. On the way we stopped by several sites. Of course ladybug made a few appearances. At Bet She’an he attacked a model of the tel pretending to devour its imaginary citizens and later visited the city’s ancient restroom. He also pretended to be part of Gideon’s army at Harod, and enjoyed the scenery at the Gan Hashlosha. Of course these places definitely make me miss Lori. Not that I don’t miss her and my boys all the time, however some of these places were special to share with her last trip so when she’s absent this time around its definitely noticeable. At the conclusion of the day we entered Jerusalem. It will certainly be a treat the next few days to be in and around the Holy City. Well that’s the report. Here are some pictures of ladybug’s adventures.

Here's ladybug terrorizing the model of Bet She-an

Ladybug & I are making sure we lap the water from our hands so we can be a part of Gideon's army.

Ladybug at Gan Hashlosha (Sachne)

And here is Ladybug as he arrives in Jerusalem

That's all for now. Talk to you tomorrow.

Up North

Today was spent in the Norther part of Israel & the Golan Heights. Its crazy how tranquil everything was and that we were at the corner of a region so marked by territorial disputes. We started the day touring the Golan, then went to Caesarea Phillipi (Banias), Tel Dan, and concluded the day at Hazor.

Hazor was again particularly meaningful to me as I spent a summer dig there in 2001. I think I might have to have a nostalgic blog about that in the near future.

. . . but for now my co-pilot ladybug would like to update my family in pictoral fashion.

Here is ladybug in the Golan Heights overlooking Syria.


Ladybug is hanging out at Tel Dan Nature Reserve. He very much enjoys the greenery and water

Here I am at Hazor with ladybug.

Well that's it for today. Tomorrow we have more sites to see and will overnight in Jerusalem.

Galilee

Last night we spent the night at a hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The above picture is the sunset we had the privilege of witnessing before we went to sleep (yes Lori iyou will have to expalin to Garrett that though it is a pine tree and a lake with mountains it isn't taken at Lake Tahoe). Today we spent the day around Galilee. We saw the places where Jesus spent much of his minsitry and did so many miracles. Its always one of the highlights of my trip to be in the Galilee. Many of the places in the Bible are ruins, other traditional sites are covered up by churches, or (perhaps) hidden beneath a modern hotel, drug store, or parking lot. The lake, however, is the same as when Jesus came: beautfiul, blue, and majestic in its silent witness of all the things it saw Jesus do . . .


Here are a few more pictures:



Here is Ladybug on a boat on the Sea of Galilee


And here is Ladybug trying to enjoy some St. Peter's fish. (Talapia caught from the Sea of Galilee).

More to come. . .

This week I'm in Israel. As a result this is going to be a working travel-blog. I'm accompanied on my trip by my assistant ladybug. The toy bug in these pictures is my accompaniment sent by my son Garrett. Garrett wanted me to take him with me (he chose ladybug specifically). Since G was unable to come with me he gets to see Ladybug in all sorts of places to see that we are safe and having a good time. Below are pictures of me with ladybug at the aquaduct at Caesarea and Ladybug on Mt. Carmel overlooking the vally of Jezreel (Armageddon).

Well that's it for now. More to follow.

Thankful

So I realize exactly how long it has been since I've made a blog entry. This last year has been quite the adventure. Problem with adventures is they are so much more fun to read about than to actually experience.

Thankfully, this adventure has come to an end, and by this adventure I mean the long experience we have had with a contested adoption. Today our son, is legally ours. There has been considerable expense, enormous sacrifice on the part of Matthew's birth parents, and miles of anxiety. Today however, we stood in front of a judge and legally adopted Matthew.

I could write a multitude of directions expressing my relief, love, commitement, etc. I could fill this space with stories of my two boys. Instead, I'm going to keep this post brief and just express my thanks to God for His mercy to our family. We realize how His hand was at work in every aspect of this struggle molding us as parents and shaping us as a family. So I want to take the moment to publicly praise God and recognize his providential dealings with the four of us.