Day 3...and Week 2

Week 2 for COVID-19 around here. We started hearing about it just before we returned from our trip to Israel, but it did not concern me yet. By the beginning of March, there was talk of possible cases in Ohio, and three were confirmed in Cuyahoga County on March 9th. This is where it started to feel real to me.

Colleges started to close the next day, and other businesses considered closing. On March 12, the governor announced an order to close or cancel events and activities for more than 100 people, and churches started closing, planning online services only. By Sunday afternoon, March 15, restaurant dining rooms were ordered closed, the "safe" meeting size dropped from 100 to 10, and my knitting group decided to meet virtually. Last night, at the 11th hour, the polls closed for health emergency, and Primary Elections were postponed. 

I have always heard that the only thing we can really count on in this life is change, and if that were the case, I would say that the impact of this new COVID-19 virus would be making an excellent case for that point all over the world. But there is something more constant than change, and that is God. 

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," and all that was in them.

--Genesis 1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things were made;...In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

  --John 1:1-5

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'" 

--Revelation 1:8

My time in Israel is a very recent reminder and reinforcement of the constant nature of God. On our third day of touring, we saw God's creative hand in the Mediterranean Sea...

In the workmanship of reconstruction around Herod's Theater, and the beauty of even the stone in the Archaeological gardens...

In the majestic views from high atop the monastery at Mt. Carmel... Yes, God has always been at work.

We witnessed the ingenuity of men, the makers God made, in the construction of aqueducts that carried water for miles well before modern plumbing. At the time, this WAS modern plumbing!

I could "Taste and see that the Lord is [constantly] good" (Psalm 34:8) as I enjoyed yummy falafel, hummus and salads at a fast food lunch. Based on the food alone, I know that God is good!

We finished up day 3 with a hike as we visited the Canaanite City of Meggido.

Perched high on a hill, several cities have been built here, one atop another, and many battles have been fought in this place. 

It is a good vantage point, from which to see approaching enemies, and this is believed to be the location for the future battle of Armageddon, the Battle of battles. (from Revelation 16:16)

But even in Meggido, where so much blood has been spilled, lives have been lost and families have been destroyed...

God brings beauty.

As I watch the news of COVID-19, and I struggle with how I feel about the effect this virus is having on the world (and my own community), I am trying to remember that God brings beauty. He is still working. He may allow illness, heartache and confusion, but God brings beauty through the hope of Jesus.

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" 

--John 4:13-14

As we continue to navigate change, remember to breathe. Call a friend. Video chat. When you must go out, do wash your hands and do not touch your face. See if elderly neighbors or those in poor health need an errand run...groceries, medicine, a bill mailed. Be the hands and feet that show love to one another.

And in the quiet moments that quarantine can bring, get plenty of rest, so you can stay healthy. Maybe learn a new hobby...perhaps knitting...who knows? You might just love it as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by. Breathe and Knit in Good Health!

Day 2 - Where's My Jacket?

I feel I must mention it. The elephant in every room - coronavirus. It's out there, and it is going to spread. There is little I can do about that, but I am trusting God, listening to the people who have done the research, and taking some extra precautions when it comes to the "germy" surfaces I encounter. 

I hope that you are doing the same. 

You know what else I am doing? Blogging! It is safe to blog, and safe to read blogs, at least with regard to catching a germ! So here we go with Day 2 of the Israel trip...

Friday, January 24th was our most interesting weather-day in Israel. The predicted high was 7°C (44°F), so I wore the heaviest cotton sweater I brought. I am (after all) naturally well-insulated, and look at that sunshine as we got off the bus to see where the shepherds may have encountered angels bringing the Good News of great joy!

I did not see our guide grab his umbrella, and the sky over us was lovely as we took in the views,

and walked down a sketchy-looking, slippery (wet from previous rain? or morning dew?), metal walkway with steps and thin railings...

At the bottom, there were a couple more low obstacles to jump, but then, Look! 

These were fields where shepherds took their sheep to graze...and the views were great!

Except in selfie mode. There must me something wrong with my camera phone, because I cannot be this bad at selfies...can I? (Trying to look natural?...lol!)

Anyhoo, while we were admiring the view, we were noticing little drops of rain...and they got bigger. But then it was time to go into this little chapel, 

with lovely paintings all around. This will make for great photos...

...if my phone stops jumping out of my hands!

It was raining pretty good when we headed for a cave that shepherds may also have sheltered in. 

Sitting in the cold and damp, watching the rain and contemplating the walk back to the bus, I could hear my mother in the back of my memory, saying, "I told you to bring your jacket," as parents do.

To be clear, I don't remember my mom nagging me like that when I was a kid, and she was blissfully unaware that I had not brought a jacket on this trip, as far as I know. I got wet, I settled my damp self into the bus, and we headed to Herodium...where I got that great Facebook profile pic in the wind!

There is also this picture, which a friend took after I had walked back down the mountain in the freezing rain...sans coat...lol!

We saw a lot of reconstruction here, which I assume looks much different than Herod's construction, leveling one mountain to build this one up for the site of his palace. 

Our group was keen to climb and see what we could see, but our guide saw the clouds and advised the half-way up point, rather than heading for the top. Smart guide. 

Next was lunch, with those long tables of yumminess! 

Then some shopping at a store where they create beautiful (and expensive) things out of olive wood. We did buy a small cross, and a couple of camels for the granddaughters, but I was much more struck by the piles of sawdust, 

and rough, unfinished pieces that are piled up and put to the side, waiting for their finishing touches. 

These photos make me think about God the maker. God, who made everything out of nothing, the master craftsman. When I knit, I end up with a masterpiece in yarn that I am usually proud of. So, if I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), is he proud of me? I believe that he mostly is, and sometimes he probably thinks, "Why didn't you bring your jacket?"

Our last stop was the Garden of Gethsemane, which was difficult to photograph.

There were a lot of people, and not much space to back up and get a good shot, even while we were walking around, toward the Church of All Nations...

...and this tree, over 2000 years old, which was here with Jesus on that fateful night. 

Visiting the shepherd's fields and the Garden of Gethsemane on the same day brings me right to Jesus...born to die for our sins, and save our souls, even though we we do not always listen to his good counsel. We are rough and unfinished. God is so good, and he loves and cares for us. 

Illness can be scary, and new viruses bring unknown changes to our everyday routines, which makes me feel so out of control. But God is still good, and I trust that he is in control, so I just keep doing the things I know to do. You know that means knitting!

Do what you need to do friends. Be safe and help to keep others safe. Remember that you can knit  and praise God with no personal contact at all. I will be doing a lot of both!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

4:20am - Is It Time to Get Up Yet?

As promised, here I am with the second installment of our Israel Travels! This one starts at 4:20am on our first day of touring, because that is the time that both Sweetie and I decided to stop faking sleep, and just get up. Jet-lag is sooo a thing! I picked up my journal, and started to think about what I would see, listing the expected sites according to the itinerary from the tour company: Qasr al Yahud, Qumran National Park, and the Dead Sea.

One of my goals on this trip was to just let go of my crazy desire to be in control of what happens next. I resigned myself to sit back, enjoy the ride, and concentrate on where we landed when we landed there. Mostly, this was a success, so yay!, because every day was a little bit different than I imagined it would be. 

One of the first things I heard on this day was morning prayers, broadcast from the mosque we could only barely see from our hotel window. Israel is filled mostly with people of Jewish faith (~74%), but Muslims, Christians and those who practice other faiths also reside here, and the morning prayers are those of Islam. I prayed when I heard them, the same way I tend to pray when I hear Reveille in the early hours while visiting my Army Boy on base, and it was strange and wonderful to think of a whole country praying together each morning.

After breakfast, we set out for the bus, to be ready to go by 8:30am. Our first stop was Qumran National Park, the site where the first Dead Sea Scrolls were found. There were caves, and sand, and the Dead Sea butted right up against the area.

I am dumbstruck by the fact that these documents, dated 1-3 centuries BC (before Christ), were here to be found in 1947! I am sure there are scientific reasons, but when I, in awesome wonder, see all that God has made and done, I know that it was His hand preserving these texts...preserving these sites...preserving His people and their faith through all these years. Yikes. The trip was already making my faith come alive!

Our next stop was Qasr al Yahud, or the baptismal site on the Jordan River. The day was a little chilly, and I was not disappointed that we could not enter the river to be dunked under the water as a remembrance of our baptisms. 

(The water levels were too high, and in truth, I had not packed my swimsuit. Thought about it before we left, but then left it behind...I do regret that just a bit.) There was still a small sprinkling that most participated in, and this was a lovely reminder for us all. 

Next was lunch, at long tables on the patio of a restaurant we passed. 

All of our meals were enjoyed this way, with dishes of hummus, smooth and creamy goat's milk cheeses, olive oil and herbs, baskets of pita and plates of "salads" containing eggplant and tomatoes and corn and so much goodness served to us. There were also main dishes of chicken, spiced ground-beef and more pita. 

From there, we stopped to view the Mount of Temptation. 

To be sure, I missed some things our guide told us, but looking back at my Guidebook, I think we were looking up from Jericho to the monastery that marks the place where Jesus was tempted, right across the Jordan Valley. Solemn stuff. But we know that Jesus overcame the temptation, so it is fitting that this was also the place for some whimsy. This young boy and his camel offered tourists a ride (for a fee).

After this, the Dead Sea, which was an amazing sight! 

1300 feet below sea level (at the surface) and so full of salt and minerals that it supports no life, not entering this salt lake is my regret about the swimsuit. But three from our group did go in, and although the water was rough, it was an amazing experience for them! 

At the end of the day, on our way back to the hotel, Pastor Micah asked what our biggest takeaway was from that first day. I was so overwhelmed that the only thing that I came up with was that everything here made me feel small: small in stature, compared to the mountains; small in importance, compared to all of this history; small in significance, compared to the greatness of God and all he has done for me. After thinking it through, I believe this is still one of my biggest takeaways. 

So, that's installment 2, which started at 4:20am and ended when I dropped off to sleep around 9pm. Has anything about my story surprised you so far?

Thanks for stopping by. I will be back with more soon, but until then, there is knitting with a deadline to be done! Praying that you are also Knitting in Good Health!

Taking Off...

Happy Saturday to you, Blogland! Last week I made my official return to this world I love so much...putting pen to paper (or you know, typing words to the blank, blog screen on my computer), and pouring out my thoughts is something I love to do, and I know there is at least one person out there who enjoys reading...

HI MOM!!!

But seriously, I have wanted to tell you about my trip to Israel ever since I got back! Well, I have wanted to tell you about the trip ever since I got over the flu that I brought back with me. In all honesty, we got back on a Friday morning (Jan 31), Sweetie had full-blown flu symptoms, I was starting to cough and calling the doc for a Tamiflu Rx (which I did get, and it did keep me from getting the fever), and we were down for the whole weekend (and then some...lol). I have no idea if it was jet-lag, illness, the daunting task of 10-day-old laundry and unpacking or the pile of work on my desk that wiped me out, but I had barely enough energy to knit for almost two weeks...so I did not try to throw blogging into the mix!

Now that I am back, I want to tell you about the trip! Trust me when I tell you that there are travel bloggers out there who will do a much better job telling you about the places I visited...but only Pretty can tell you what Pretty saw. My world and this trip are colored by who I am, and it is the same for you and your experiences. It is important that we tell our stories somewhere. So, here I go!

Before I even left for Israel, I bought a journal. You know, a spiral bound book, with lined pages inside, for writing in. On January 21st, the day we were scheduled to leave, I opened the journal, and took out my brand-new pen (why have a brand-new journal without a brand-new pen?) and wrote out a bit of my anticipation. There are also hints of anxiety in those first few pages, as I had never before flown over an ocean or been to any country more exotic that Canada and Mexico. 

We met up with most of our group at the Cleveland airport, and the rest met us in Newark for the flight to Tel Aviv. I took my first trip photos as we said, "See ya later!," to Cleveland. 

Then we had 10-and-a-half hours in the air to look forward to, and we were tired. I slept on that international flight with no problem. I skipped dinner, and I hope that I did not snore...!

When we landed, and deplaned, we caught a bus to our hotel in Bethlehem, an hour? ninety minutes? away, and settled in. It was evening by the time we had our luggage and room keys in our hands, and my first views of this new place were from bus and hotel windows. There was not much to base an opinion on quite yet. Then we had dinner.

Hotel breakfasts and dinners were buffet style, and I liked almost everything I tried. Hummus and pita (of course), the best I have ever had. Every vegetable and many of them pickled, and some things that looked vaguely like American food, but tasted far different than what I was expecting. I enjoy new food experiences, so this first taste of Israel was a very positive for me. 

I also love meeting new people, and there was plenty of that on this trip as well!

Shout out here to all of my new friends, especially if  you are seeing my blog for the first time!

These first travel days of the trip were exhausting, but there was so much to look forward to. This was the longest (and farthest from home) vacation Sweetie and I have ever taken, and it has whetted my appetite for more adventures! Traveling has also helped me to appreciate (as Dorothy learned in the magical land of Oz) that "There's no place like home."

I promise this is not the end of the story, but how many words do you really want to read in one sitting? I was gone for 10 days, touring for 8, and I took nearly 1,000 photos! Judging from my journal (I have filled more than half its pages on the trip and in reflection...so many Pretty words!), I could write a dozen posts without hitting all the high points! 

I promise that I will be back with more, but now I have some knitting to do. A certain January sweater (my annual thing) is not finished, and it beckons to me from the knitting bag...

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon, and in the meantime, Knit in Good Health!

Pretty's Back, Alright!

Hello, my bloggy friends! I am back. For the past couple weeks, I have been wondering if and when this would happen, and today is apparently the day! I have missed writing, but the rest has been good for my soul. 

I've spent much of my time catching up after the big vacation, both at home and at work, and I think I am nearly there. Who knew that the recovery period following a 10-day, international vacation was a solid month in the making?!? Anyhoo, here I am! The trip was great, and if you have not seen it yet, here is a peek at the video of some of my photos from Israel (Hint: the video is 13 minutes, 21 seconds, go potty first...I'll wait right here):

Looking at that again helps me reinforce my decision to take a little blog break. Before I left, I thought I would certainly blog this trip as soon as I returned. However, as you can see from the video, there will be more than one post...nobody wants to read all of it, or see all 1000 photos, in one sitting! So, over the next few weeks, I will let you know some of my thoughts and show you some photos.

For today, here's a photo of Gnome-eo, an Easter gnome so named by Dollface:

She requested knitted gnomes for decorating, decked out for holidays and also neutral. Since neutral is not my natural knitting style, I have started with the holiday gnomes. Lol.

I trust that you are all well, and I look forward to seeing you regularly again, blog friends! So until next time, thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!