One more month

One more month and it will be (almost) Christmas.
I am not one for all the hub bub of the Christmas season. I don't like putting up the tree, decorating, or putting out lights.  And I really hate shopping. I don't like parties, and am not into special church services and such stuff.
Bah humbug. Of course, with kids, we do put up a tree, and I at least make out a shopping list for my wonderufl husband to go purchase some gifts.

Over the years we have made Chrsitmas something we can all live with and not get overly stressed about.
I like to write, so I take time to write Christmas letters and cards. And we have friends over at some point over the Christmas season for a nice turkey dinner.
We enjoy games and we visit family.

However, this year, I will look at Christmas as an opportunity.
I read an article last week about Hebrew Education in different time periods.
Always, they used all their feasts and holidays (even their weekly Shabbat) to teach Scriputre.

I will seek more to use this holiday season for the opportunitiy it is -  to surround our family with Scripture - likely starting with Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 
When Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey - the people knew this Scripture. They knew He was King.

Rain

Have you heard the Scripture
"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Matt 5:45

I used to think these two things were different - sun and rain (one good, one yucky) - and that this Scripture was focused on the righteous. In other words good times and bad times come to His children.

Experiencing Israel, I now understand it differently - from the perspective of those who live in Israel. From the perspective of those whom Jesus was speaking to and who would understand Jesus' comments from this perspective of living in the Middle East.
Rain is good. Rain is a blessing. Rain is life.
The context of the Scripture is God loving the just and the unjust. He shows His love to all. Do with it what you please, but He loves you.
Furthermore,  if we are His kids, we need to do the same thing - love all mankind.

So next time it rains - like every day this week - I will be reminded  to pour out love.

Oct. 25, 2015 - the first rains in Israel in over 6 months - pouring out His love.

Matt 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The First Week Back

We have finished our Israel blog, but we have not finished our adventure.
I believe what we learned these last two weeks will grow and mature forever.
However, for now, I just need to get through the first week back!

The Doctor's Appointment
Anna-Lee was pretty sick in Israel. A bad cough and very run down. As I look through the photos I can see her gradually looking more and more tired.
So, our first stop on arriving home was the doctor's office.
She has been diagnosed with both pneumonia and mono.
The pneumonia is being taken care of with an antibiotic and she is now sleeping through the night with no coughing. Yay!
The mono, although scary sounding and perplexing, apparently is very common in kids. So common, it often gets overlooked as a flu. Sheseems to be improving on that front as well.

Jet Lag
I believe I am on Newfoundland time by now.
Wiped out by 7:30 p.m. and awake by 3:00 a.m.
So I have made it back across the Atlantic Ocean and only have a couple more time zones to go!
Anna-Lee is doing better, perhaps because she was so sick. She has slept through the night from day one.

Routine and School
Taking the week to recover is where we are at. Yesterday Anna-Lee got back to her ballet class, and picked up her clarinet briefly.
She's read a couple biographies, and done some artwork.
I am trying to get back into the habits of managing the household ie. thinking about what to prepare for supper, calling Para Transpo, and remembering to feed the cat.

Perhaps we will both surface a bit more next week.