Israel - The Sea 6/1/2017

This was a new experience for me.  One year ago, we were flying over the Mediterranean Sea on our way to the Holy Land.  But even from the air, the past was clearly visible.  The harbor near the ancient city of Perga, where Paul once sailed to, and where John Mark left for home.  The isle of Cyprus and the coastline of Paphos where Paul preached the Good News of Jesus to the proconsul.  And as we landed in Israel, watching the sun set over this ancient land.  

The next morning, I was sitting on our balcony, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, hearing the waves and the sounds of voices speaking and praying in the languages of the Holy Land.  All while I was reading God's words.  All of the sounds around me, and I hear His voice, too.  

"The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.

The God of glory thunders.

The Lord thunders over the mighty sea." (Psalms 29:3)

Survived, but...

We survived Harvey. 

We were on vacation when word of the Hurricane came, and its threat to the Houston area.  We were too far from home to get home before the weather made it impossible to get home.  

We were far from home, and never had a chance to prepare.  A close friend, who lives in an area with mandatory evacuation, moved his family into our house for a few days while we were unable to get home.  Having someone there helped relieve our stress a bit, and we feel for them as they are under increased stress.  We prayed that the worst indeed is past and not yet to come.  The unknown is stressful.

We were able to get to the Dallas area and stayed with Cindy's brother.  Got there around 4 pm on Sunday.  At the time we didn't know when we would be able to get home.  It was tough.  It would have been nice to be in our own house, even with the storm raging. But being up in the Dallas area meant we were safe, and having someone in our house helped because they could tell if the house was fine.  They and other neighbors checked on creek levels.  But still, very frustrating. 

Cindy contracted Shingles while I was in Abilene in early August for a reunion.  She felt well enough to travel for our vacation to see the August solar eclipse, but she was still in pain as her body healed.  She tired very easily. 

Just after we arrived in the Dallas area, I talked Sunday night to our son-in-law. He went to the ER with chest pain the previous Friday morning. They ran tests and confirmed he had  a heart attack. They performed a catheter and stint to repair the blockage. Two days later he came home good as new. But this was a "bring me to my knees" scary.

We prayed as they begin to make changes and adjustments as a family to continue improving his health. And for our daughter as she processes the events of the weekend.

Prayer was all we had for many moments.  Our friends who have already lost much.  Friends who have had to leave home.  

Then on Tuesday, my Dad & stepmom were evacuated from their house.  They moved in with my sister, who lives nearby.  We now know that they took some water in their house.  Not much, but enough to keep them from moving back in for several days.  I am helping where I can.  

We made it home on Thursday, and on the next day I went to their house, walking about a mile in waders through the flood waters. A little water got in the house. The front two rooms have soggy carpets, and some damage in the walls of one of those rooms and also in another tiled room walls.  Throw rugs in two tiled rooms were drenched. There was also some water in their bedroom, carpets only and not in the walls.  Thankfully, their cars in the garage appeared to be dry.

I was grateful for the 3 young men who helped me carry across the street through high water the heavy and very full garbage bag of necessary items from the house, and the other 3 young men who let me ride in their jeep to the high ground where Dad was waiting.

On Monday, I spent most of the morning at the house with two young couples from their home church. The young people pulled the carpets from three rooms and the closets.  Some furniture was also tossed.  I got to clean out the defrosted freezers and fridge. 😝 

About 6 inches of sheetrock and baseboards were removed from two rooms. More baseboards also taken out of the bedroom closets.  The only damaged furniture (so far) was from the living room. Some clothes from closets may need to tossed if not cleanable.

My stepmom's son came to help with more cleanup and sanitizing the house, spending lots of time trying to make it more livable when they can move back in.

Cindy is still in a lot of discomfort during this long recovery from Shingles.

By the grace of God we survived Harvey, but at times I have felt completely overwhelmed.  Sometimes faith is tested by the big challenges in life.  Other times, it is tested by one body blow after another, a roller coaster of ups and downs in a few short days.  We're still here, still faithful.  We are not the same as two short weeks ago. 

Well-Watered

Little Lilly,

Welcome to our family, precious one.  We knew the day was coming soon, and Mamaw and I were filled with joy when your Daddy sent us the first picture and message that Lillian Elizabeth “Lilly” Riddle has joined our family.

We rushed to see you as quickly as we could.  Your Nana, Grandma, and big sister had already arrived.  As one family we loved on you and stood in awe at the gift God had given to your Mommy and Daddy.

We all especially loved watching the wonder and joy of your big sister, Katie, as she held you and smiled at you.  The most precious moment came when you were getting your first bath.  Katie turned to her Grandma and said, “My eyes keep getting watery.”

It was tears of joy, and tears all of us shared with Katie.

We all were, at that moment, a well-watered family.

Little Lilly, before you were born you were prized and cherished.  Mommy could feel you move while you were still inside her.  She would tell us of the excitement Katie had when she, too, could feel you move.  At Christmas just before you were born, we could see your Mommy’s shirt move around as you wiggled around inside.  

Our God has also known you, even before any of us did.  He loves you and looks forward to you learning about Him.

When you came home for that first time, I prayed, thanking God for your safe delivery;  For your Momma that she rests and stays well, for your Daddy who loves you, your Momma, and your sister;  For your grandmothers, Nana, Grandma, and Mamaw.  And I prayed for your parents that they may remember the experiences they have had with being a Mommy and Daddy to raise you with wisdom.

We do not yet know what opportunities God will give you as your grow.  But we pray you will continue to have a well-watered life.  

On our way home, Mamaw and I stopped at a little cafe for lunch.  There was a message from God on the daily menu, and it said:

"The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." (Isaiah 58:11). 

And for the next several days, God reminded me of this message over and over again.

I am grateful for the garden He has given - a wonderful family; For the springs of love that make it grow;  And for the new, precious Lilly.

Love you, my little one.

Always.

Papaw

What's Important

A reminder of what's important - Cindy & I were playing with our granddaughter at a playground.  A young woman was here with her three children.  

As we played (and helped occasionally with hers), she commented, "Y'all  are so sweet. It really makes me miss my parents right now."

 

A taste of France and the Swiss breadbasket

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

Wednesday was a day of traveling, but not without some spectacular scenery.  After we left beautiful Grindelwald in the morning, we headed west along Lake Thun.  We continued further west into the Fribourg Canton of Switzerland, the beginning of the French region of the country.

 

 

Our destination was the enchanting village and chateau of Gruyeres, an early 12th century walled community and castle in the Fribourg Canton.

 

The community was a beautiful stop, and we loved wandering the plaza and old walls, and enjoying the views from the hillside.

 

 

 

Our lunch was, in a town with the name of Gruyeres, cheese! We had fondue and raclette, and dish where the cheese is melted under heat and scrapped off with a knife.  A tasty and quite filling meal.  Dessert was the local meringue on a bed of raspberries covered in a heavy cream. 

 

 

 

As we headed toward Zermatt, our route took us along the edge of Lake Geneva (we could see France) then we followed the Rhone River valley back into the middle of Southern Switzerland.  The Rhone is one of the most agriculturally productive in Switzerland, and either side of the highway was lined with fields and orchards.  Apricots were in season, and peaches soon to follow.

 

 

 

Soon we reached the valley leading to Zermatt.  Vehicles are not allowed there, so we transferred to a train for the last 20 minutes of the journey.

Our hotel room overlooks the Matterhorn (wow), and was very near the Zermatt church.  In the cemetery behind the church are buried victims of climbs of the nearby mountains, and two heros, a father/son team that guided the first successful climb of the Matterhorn.  It was a sobering place.  

 

 

 

 

Top of Europe

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

While all of days have started with breakfast, today was interesting.  The hotel is host to at least two other groups, both nearly twice the size of ours.  Our group wanders in for breakfast , couple by couple, over a two hour window so the staff and food selections are not overwhelmed.  These larger groups eat as a unit and if you arrive just after they do, there is very little food or service available until the kitchen can catch up.  So, we adjusted our breakfast choices accordingly to what was left.

We walked over to the train station for our morning cog-rail train ride up to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe at 11,333 feet.  We changed tracks at a nearby village of Grund.  I find it interesting how a railed train can change tracks, but fascinating how a cog-rail train does it, transferring to a different set of cogs.

 

The ride up was steep and beautiful as we passed fields and hills covered by the deep green grass and wildflowers.  The air turned cooler as our altitude increased, and the mountain views grew more wonderful.  

 

 

Twice we passed through "half-tunnels" - open on the downhill side - where the tracks hugged the edge of the steep hillsides, but don't go through the hill.

 

We changed trains at Kleine Scheidegg, a very crowded station as many groups were waiting for transfers up or down.  We eeked our way through the other groups and reached our loading area. At least by traveling in a group, we had a private car (well, 1/2 a car).

The final leg up was 50 minutes long and most in a long tunnel through the Monch Mountain.  Much of the tunnel is only one track wide, but in two spots it widens to two tracks for passing.  The uphill track is on the siding, and additional tunnels allow the passengers to disembark, use the toilets within the mountain (an interesting travel claim), or view the snow, ice, and peaks through large panoramic windows. 

 

At the train station beneath the Jungfraujoch visitor complex, we exited to a special dining room for a lunch of bratwurst, rosti, and ice cream for dessert.  The views were the real treat where we could see the beginning of the glacier surrounded by the mountain peaks, and five brave souls crossing the ice field.

 

 

Our excursion through the complex started with the elevator to the top of the Sphinx, the enclosed glass structure atop the Jungfraujoch.  The complex is built in the saddle between the Jungfrau and Monch peaks in the Bernese Alps.  Snow & ice are common year round.  The outdoor viewing platform encircles the building and there isn't  a bad view in any direction.

 

Next we got to play in one of the outdoor snow areas, at least play with snowballs. 😊. Sadly, we didn't have time to enjoy the snow bobsleds or zip line of other structured activities.  But throwing some snowballs at friends (and wife) was sufficient.

 

Other sights within the center included a panoramic film on the mountain, a tunnel describing the building of the train route and station (including a memorial to those who died in the process), and an ice palace - tunnels made of ice and filled with ice sculptures.  

 

The three hours up there went far too fast, and by 5 pm we were back in Grindelwald.  Later that evening, Cindy & I and two friends walked through town and explored the village cemetery.  It was well taken care of with flowers on nearly every grave.  Many graves marked those who had died by avalanche or lightning strike atop the nearby mountains.

 

As fun and as beautiful as this part of God's creation is, it was a reminder that humans can enjoy and use the earth, but we cannot control it.

Up and Down in the Alps

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

Today, everyone was pretty much on their own.  We chose a mid-morning start on the gondola to Grindelwald First (pronounced with an "eh" sound for the vowel - it means little summit). The Grindelwald-First cable car line takes 20 minutes to ascend to the top station, passing through two others).  We had great views of Grindelwald below us, the mountain peaks becoming more dominant across from us, and the beautiful green of the hillside beneath us.  

 

 

 

Once at the First station, we replenished our water bottles, got out the hiking poles, and set out.  This particular trail is 3 Km long (1.8 miles), and considered "easy".  Easy is apparently a relative term.  The beginning of the trail, nearly a third of its length, is a continuous ascension of 200 of the total 400+ foot gain.  Cindy has improved a lot in her ability to walk long distance and handle stairs, but without the hiking poles I'm not sure she would have made it.

 

But she did great, and we both got to enjoy together the spectacular scenes of creation displayed in the multitude of wildflowers, fresh snowmelt streams, and rocky hillsides.

 

 

 

Our destination was Bachalpsee, a small lake sitting in the mountains over 7400 feet above sea level, and over twice the elevation from our hotel this morning.  The lake is fed by the snowmelt.  It easily reflects the surrounding hills and serves as a beautiful foreground for the peaks of Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn, and Eiger.  You may have seen it before - gmail uses a scene from Bachalpsee as part of its mountian theme background.

 

 

 

  

We spent time there resting, and watching the people and often their dogs enjoying the mountain air and water.  One dog we had seen going up really seemed to have boundless energy.  He would roll in the snow, run well off path down fairly steep inclines, and swim in the lake.

 

 

 

At the end of our hike, we had lunch back at the First station, then prepared for another thrill - the First Flyer.  This is a zip line between the First station and next station down, a drop of about 600 feet.  We were hooked up to our harnesses, and soon zipping down at over 40 miles per hour.  We covered the distance in 45 seconds.

 

 

We continued the day relaxing back at the hotel - massage for Cindy and a swim in the pool for me.

Grindelwald may be considered "touristy" by some, but that does not make it any less beautiful.

A fun day with my favorite traveling partner.

 

 

Into the Bernese Alps

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

Our Sunday began as we left Luzern and headed southwest to Grindelwald.  The drive was lovely with photo opportunities right & left.  Sometimes the best you could do while the bus was moving was to just put your camera against the window & click away.  

 

We stopped at an overlook of Lake Lungren and enjoyed for a few minutes the spectacular views of the lake and hills beyond.  

 

Returning to our drive, we passed a Swiss military airport in the valley below.  I've rarely seen such a photographic military location.

 

Our major stop for the day was the open air museum of Ballenberg.  Set on 164 acres of the countryside, the museum features over 100 buildings representing 11 different regions of Switzerland.  We only had time for maybe about 1/2 of the regions, but thoroughly enjoyed seeing the cattle grazing (and ringing their bells), and watching the artisans making pottery, wood carving, spinning thread, and making cheese.

 

 

 

 

After a quick lunch at the park, we headed for Brienz, a small town along Lake Brienz,  the easternmost lake either side of Interlaken.  In Brienz, we were fortunate to see two steam powered locomotives preparing to push their passenger cars up the hills.  Also we walked along the shore a bit, up a lovely residential street which surely must win Brienz's yards of the month judging (if they have one), and some shopping at a wood carvers shop.

 

 

 

 

Finally, it was off to Grindelwald, our home for the next three days.  Grindelwald sits in a valley at 3300 feet, surrounded by several peaks of the Bernese Alps.  It is a hub of mountain sports activities year round.  Our hotel is near the train station, but very quiet.

Sunday evening, several of us broke bread together in commemoration of the Lord's Supper, then broke bread as a meal with all of our group.

Tomorrow, the mountains.