Going Back To the Ship From Thira, Santorini

Psalm 19 (NIV)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in Your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Our Last Dinner on the Ship

Our wonderful waiter with Jerry and Judy.

The waiter's art work.

Home

We have been home for two weeks and are completely over our jetlag. Nana met us in the airport.

She went down to Portland and brought up our son, Joseph, what a big surprise! He gave us the news that – he and Gina are moving up to Washington next month. He has been in California for almost ten years now. It will be so nice to have them near.

We will be adding more pictures.

Kitties in Israel

OK, I have to do this! I do love dogs, but we have had a few cats in our lives that have also made me a cat person. (If you're a cat hater, just try and do your best to survive this post, and while you're at it be sure and pet the cat that has found its way into your lap, just as cats do to all those who say they hate cats!) :-)


I lead this post with one of those amazingly cool signs that I have found all over the world. I have NO idea what the Hebrew says, but when you look at the graphic, who needs a translation?! I'm sure this will make all the kitties happy, as who in the world has to have a sign saying to clean up after your cat?

This next kitty was following me around Vered Hagalil, greeting us as we came to Israel!

This kitty looks like it took a wrong turn in Egypt, and that it is right out of Pharoah's palace!
This kitty was passed out in the shade of the stones of ancient Israel... wish I could have joined him at the time! This little guy looks kind of scary, but I had to share the picture because he reminds me of my little rescued ragamuffin of a cat that my daughter brought home many years ago. ...rotten cat...And here are a few more miscellaneous kitties that found us during our travels. Did you know that Israeli cats like french fries?!?

OK, now last, but not least, Cindy found this "Israeli Fire Cat" at Yad Vashem. Not to be outdone by Dalmatians, even 101 of them, here is an official "Fire Cat"!

Our group and Cindy on the Mt. of Olives

Naomi Street

One of the fun things we've done over the years is collect names of streets, lakes, etc. with the names of our kids on them! A few days ago we found Naomi Street in Jerusalem!

Floating In Clouds Of Gold

How do I describe the water here and the life underneath it? Perhaps if you're used to the tropics and the Caribbean this would be "old hat", but some how I don't think so. I find myself relaxing deeply on each dive, and even on a relatively small aluminum 80 I'm getting 50 minute dives, ended by the instructor's insistent call that it is time to go up. The life is amazing, and I keep wishing that I had a more powerful strobe to capture images in better color.

Then, finally, I stop thinking technicalities, air consumption, and even picture taking. My breathing slows and I just float. I slowly come up to coral mounds in the middle of sand flats... essentially islands of life in the sand. Most of them are surrounded by fish, some of them in the hundreds. Small glass fish school in shimmering curtains. Different types of anthias school in clouds of gold and crimson, and as I control my breathing I drift into the middle of them, floating in clouds of gold.