Amy's Update

This is my latest art project.  I finished it about a month ago.  Starting next week, I am going to work 3 instead of 2 nights a week.  It may go back down to 2 nights a week in the fall.  Finally, I am getting acupuncture for the pain in my wrist.  I don't know if it is helping yet.  It's only been 2 weeks.  

I would like to remember Memorial Day and all our veterans, past and present. I would also like to remember their families.  They have all made the greatest sacrifice, and I thank God that I live in a country where we have freedoms and rights, so fought for by our veterans.  God bless the troops, and God bless America!

Final Israel

Acre-crusader city

Acre-courtyard

These are the last days of my journey throughout Israel.  It was an eventful trip.  Now as I read the Bible, I can remember the places I've been and envision the sites as they were during Biblical times.

Not only was I transformed in  

Acre-hall

Haifa-Bahai Shrine

 this way, I also was transformed relationally.  There were some great people on the tour.  Everyone was so nice and friendly, and so welcoming to me a person travelling alone.   A man even was so nice and friendly to me.  He paid me a lot of attention, spent time with me, 

Caesarea amphitheater

Caesarea

and we talked about many things.  It was nice, and it awakened that feeling that had died in me for so long. I had realized that I was so angry with men, and that I had a negative attitude towards them.  I came to realize that there were some  

Tel Aviv

Rabin Square

good men out there, and that they have feelings too.  It may seem simple and obvious, but it had not been for a long time for me.  So I am joining singles groups again, and on an online dating site, with better results this time.  I don't know what may happen in that respect, but I do know that this trip transformed me in more ways than one, and I am so thankful I got to go.  

Capernaum and Sea of Galilee

Peter's house

synagogues

 These 5 pictures are from Capernaum, an archaeological site. There is a modern church built over where was found Peter's home.  Jesus did much of his ministry in this area, including the Sea of Galilee, of which are the top 3 pictures. 

synagogue

Peter

We went in a reproduction fishing and boat and were welcomed with a fishing demonstration of Biblical times.  We also learned a couple of Jewish dances and sang some Christian songs.  That was the most memorable to me, to know I was on the same lake 

as Jesus. It even brought tears to my eyes, and made me fall in love with Jesus again..  

Nazareth and Galilee

 In these first 4 photos is the Basilica of the Annunciation.  Here is where Mary is told by the angel Gabriel that she is going to give birth to the Son of God. On the right is the Grotto where it happened.

In the next four photos is the place where Joseph's workshop is.  The statue is of Joseph.  

 This is the Church of the Beatitudes, from the Sermon on the Mount.  

It was in Galilee that I started to notice all the stray cats in Israel.  Everywhere I went there was a cat.  And like a magnet I was drawn to them.  I had to pet them.  Most wanted my attention, even one jumped on my lap and rubbed his face on my face, even though I was just squatting.  They called me the cat whisperer.  I don't know why there are so many cats. I was told the people don't mind it, they keep control of the rodent population.  But dogs are regulated, they have to be leashed.  I didn't see too many dogs, just a lot of cats.