Victoria Day Celebrations

This post is dedicated to our middle grands,

Lacey and Koen.

who had the honor of playing in the Victoria Day parade this past weekend.

It was the perfect excuse to find us sailing to the island on Sunday as well.

On a side note, it was 50 years this weekend that

the spark began between us, on a youth camping trip.

I kept thinking, 

there's no way we could have even begun to imagine

what life would look like this far down the road!

Some of the family left Saturday, some were on our sailing. 

It was Evy's first time on a ferry! 

We arrived at the Parliament Buildings just in time for our grandchildren's band performance

 in the Festival of Bands,

There was a lot of excitement in the air on this beautiful day

with photo opps etc. 

Shaun and Kristal's family, proud to cheer on Koen on his drum.

Ben and Kari's family, proud to cheer on Lacey with her trombone.

One of my highlights that afternoon was the battle of the drums concert

which included a university band from Washington, leading

what sounded like, a back and forth drum conversation between 

seven or eight bands spread out in front of the Parliament steps.

On Monday morning we joined the throngs of tens of thousands 

to watch the 123rd Victoria Day Parade.

Along with marching bands, community floats and cultural performances, 

every parade has to have their clowns and candy.

Our littles have missed out on these kinds of events the past few years,

so it was just a lot of fun to participate in some "firsts" with them. 

And finally, after about two and a half hours, 

our Screaming Eagles came along ...

I'll finish with just a glimpse of our cheering section, which was just enough to embarrass our middles, but also evoke a sideways grin as they marched along. 

It was a weekend to remember and be grateful for,

for so many reasons. 

 

Where it Began

I'm sharing these photos today because it's Mother's Day

and they are new to me,

recently sent by my cousin in Paraguay who's dad visited us in 1978.

 A new mom, almost 45 years ago.

And my mom and Omi too. 

Precious days,

reminding me to be thankful for the moments we have

and to make the most of today. 

I've been spoiled this weekend 

and today I'll be spending the afternoon with Tehya,

who is headed to Indonesia this week.

This is the cycle of love,

coming full circle. 

I hope you are all given the gift of a sweet memory today

and able to pass one on as well.

Happy Mother's Day! 

♡♡♡

 

For the Love of a Mother

Visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, I was cast into the realm of life in the ghetto. Just a glimpse into the cruel treatment and daily struggles of those who were rounded up, deprived of food and freedom of movement, leaves one touched to the core.  One article calls it Life in the Shadow of Death.

I came away from this museum with images of happy families and homes, looted and destroyed forever. It is a heartbreaking history that cannot be forgotten, lest it be repeated. I say that cautiously.  One poem that stood out, even  amongst the many I did not get to read for lack of time, is one I'd like to share because it depicts the innocence of a child who dearly loves his/her mother.  The author Henryka Łazowertówna was murdered at Treblinka extermination camp in August 1942.This is part of the poem and I'll leave it at that, because more words don't justify the deep feelings that come with it. 

Over the walls, through holes, through bricks,
At night, at dawn, and in day,
Cheeky, hungry, crafty,
I move as quietly as a shadow.

And if the hand of fate unexpectedly
Catches up with me one day in this game,
It is an ordinary trap of life.
Mother, don't wait for me anymore.
I will not be coming back to you again,
The voice will not be heard from afar;
The dust of the streets will bury
The fate of the lost child.

And I have only one request,
And the grimace is set on the lips:
Who, Mother, will bring you
Your bread tomorrow?

When the war ended, displaced persons searched throughout Europe for missing children. Many Jewish children fled eastern Europe to western Germany, and from there to settlements in Palestine. Thousands migrated in this way and then to the state of Israel after its establishment in 1948. 

Quick Views from the Bus

Although I'm calling this "quick views" I am afraid this post will get way too long!

Some views are highlights, while some I just want a record of for future reference. 

So, bear with me. Skim. 

Our days began with a six or six-thirty wake up call, always with a buffet breakfast,

and ended with a seven o'clock dinner back at the hotel. 

We stayed at five different hotels over 10 days

and quickly had to get into the rhythm of packing up,

suitcases on the bus when we moved and 

our backpacks, whispers (audio headsets), water, hats, notebooks etc. with us.

There were about 48 people on our bus and we had one local Israeli tour guide

as well as one American Bible Teacher.

The views fom the bus were amazing!

Israel is smaller than Vancouver Island, so you can imagine why one can cover a lot in one trip!

This is a view of the Dead Sea from the bus, the white being salt.

It intrigues me that this is where Sodom and Gomorrah used to be. 

I only waded. It is interesting how one comes out feeling like your skin has been dipped in oil. 

One of the towns we visited was Capernaum, the place that Jesus spent a significant amount of time

in during His ministry years. This synagogue (dating back to the 4th or 5th century was built on the one that was there in the 1st century, 

which is believed to be the actual synagogue of Capernaum in Jesus' day.

An interesting view we had, near this synagoue, 

was what is believed to be the house church of Peter the apostle. 

It is interesting how archeologists gather these facts. 

Today there is a floating church above it. 

On the Mount of Beatitudes.

A beautiful spot to imagine the crowds listening to a teaching they had never heard. 

I found it hard to believe that ancient towns are still being unearthed 

(even by accident) in the 21st Century!

Located on the shores of Galilee, this was the hometown of Mary Magdalene. 

She was the one of whom Jesus said, " Those who have been forgiven much, love much." 

Situated at the base of Mt Hermon, we visited Caesarea Philippi, an ancient place of pagan worship.

This hole was referred to as the Gate of Hell in the time of Jesus.

Upon Peter's declaration of who He believed Jesus to be, Jesus told him that upon this rock (confession) He would build His church and the Gates of Hell would not overcome it. 

We got a beautiful view of the Golan Heights and Syria from Mt. Bental. 

At the Jordan River we witnessed eight in our group get baptized. 

The ruins of yet another ancient city, Bet She'an is one of the oldest in Israel, unveiling a lot of history through archeological remains. 

The Name En Gedi, is familiar to those who have heard Old Testament Bible Stories. 

It is the  mountain site where David and Saul basically played "hide and seek" with their troops. 

Another, more familiar Bible story portrayed in 3D here,

is the one of David and Goliath in the Elah Valley.

Situated between two hills, it is easy to imagine the stand off as David runs down

and takes up five rocks out of the, now dry, creekbed. 

We got to Jerusalem,

and this is where I'll camp a bit and finish off. 

We walked the Palm Sunday Road.

Also, crossed the Kidron Valley. I was busy taking pictures of the wild flowers again.

It was surreal to look over to see an Arab community and the city of David in the distance.

While in Jerusalem, you can't miss seeing the Al aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

I'm not in the know how of the significance of these.

All I know is that they are now on Israeli soil and cause conflict.

The original Jewish temple was huge!

 Today you see remnants of the destruction and learn what history has to teach us.

We sat on the Southern Steps, where worshippers would have gone to get into the temple.

The wailing wall is also part of this complex. 

A highlight were the places that have special significance for me.

The Garden of Gethsemane is one of those.

The place is still the same place;

olive tree roots keep regenerating even when the above structure of the tree decays. 

So it was sobering to stand there and remember Jesus' last hours before his death,

 broken and spilled out in love. 

The garden where the tomb was, also had deep meaning for me.

Again, here we were given reasons why this is believed to be the place 

where they laid the body of Jesus.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was crucified at the place of the Skull.

Golgotha has the same meaning. 

In this garden one can still see the rock formation of the skull,

however the nose was broken during an unusually heavy snowfall.

Obvioulsy, no one really knows for sure,

but Protestants believe it to be the place

because of the location, the tomb in the garden and

 the fact that the Bible refers to Mary thinking Jesus was the gardener after He arose, 

Wherever the tomb, it's empty! 

And that is where we place our hope. 

Jesus said, "I am the resurection and the life. 

Whoever believes in me will live even though he dies."

So much more I could write down, 

but hopefully there are memories that remain, either way.

The food was wonderful, especially the breads with olive oil and roasted vegetables.

It was an enlightening time as well as a sobering time.

We are both so grateful for having been able to take a trip like this. 

Masada (A Bit of History)

We took the tram up to the Masada fortress, 

situated in the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea

It was built by Herod the Great as a resort for himself and his friends,

a castle built into the top of a mountain,

complete with aqueducts, cisterns, spa and bathhouse for meetings!

Today we see what remains.

Arches and murals give us glimpses of some of the beauty

Fire under a raised floor made it possible to push heat up through a piping system.

So many surprises as to the ingenuity of the times,

but ultimately what it is now known for is a monument to one of the saddest stories I've heard.

We were not told what it was used for after the death of Herod the Great,

but the story goes that while the Romans were destroying Jerusalem around 70 AD,

nearly 1000 Jews fled and locked themselves up in the old fortress.

They were protected there for about 3 years,

its defensive site challenging the highly developed siegeworks of their enemy,

before they also met their death.

This was the last and longest final conquest of this nation, by Emperor Titus.

The Jews became scattered around the Mediterranean and many sold into slavery.

It took another 1900 years for them to finally become a nation again 

and claim a homeland that continues to be fought over.