She's back!

And boy am I GLAD to be back!   Now I had a wonderful time, and saw so many things I never imagined my eyes would see, but there is no place like home!  And not many who love me like that big black dog of mine!  Let me apologize to all of you who took the time to check the other blog set up for Israel, but we could not get it to work at all, and I even had several folks who were far more adept than I look at it to no avail.  I look forward to sharing some stories and pictures with you in person instead.

Israel is a beautiful country, and for me personally to walk around where Jesus lived, was crucified and resurrected was such a spiritual highlight that is hard to articulate.  The things I saw just made the Bible come alive to me.  I also got baptized in the Jordan River on my birthday.  That was very cool.  One of the most fun things I did was ride a camel.  I just wish you guys could have seen me clinging for dear life when that beast got up from a sitting position.  They get up in stages so you either fall forward and lean way back, and I mean WAY forward and WAY back!  The other really fun thing I did was float in the Dead Sea.  As heavy as I am, I just floated right on top of the water the whole time I was in it!  That was the most freaky feeling, not being able to get down into the water.  Also, it feels very silky on your skin until you wash all the salt off.  If you don't wash, you turn a bright white.  We also went to one of the seven wonders of the world which is called Petra in Jordan.  That was the most beautiful and mind boggling place I have ever seen.  What a hike that was!  The last day, I stood on Mt. Nebo which is also in Jordan and overlooked the promised land just as Moses saw it thousands of years ago. 

It was just an amazing, once in a lifetime trip, but that's not all it was.  It was also a tremendous reminder to me of the whole reason I ever wanted to loose weight and change my life in the first place.  I was so tired of watching life from the sidelines and not being engaged in life whatsoever.  This trip reminded me once again, that the hard work and effort I have put in allowed me to walk, hike, ride a camel, float in a salt sea and fly in an airplane without a seatbelt extension.  I am actually engaging in life in every way, without allowing fear or shame or doubt or anything to stop me, and that is exactly what I wanted so bad in the beginning of my lifestyle change.  I hope you are doing the same or working toward it!

Enjoy the weekend!