Amazing Grace...I am home

I am so blessed. After 11 days traveling through Jordan, the West Bank and Israel I am home safe and healthy. The experience has me reexamining my choices and what I will be doing with the rest of my life. Seeing the Middle Eastern conflict up close and personal has me stopping in my tracks. Couple that with the renactment of Christ's walk through these countries ending at
His crucifixation and resurrection. There are no words that I can type to begin to cover the revelations I felt.  So keep me in your prayers as I begin the task of putting my thoughts to paper in the weeks to come..Shalom Lisa

Here and back again....

Good morning family and friends:

It is 2:25 am and I am up and moving on Israeli time. Got in last night at LAX at 4:35 pm....I am posting a quick "I am back safe" missive for now. In a short and inadequate summary it was life changing and it will take me weeks probably months to absorb all that I have seen and felt. We had a whirlwind of a schedule that covered every view of Israel throught the eyes of its varied and amazing inhabitants. My appreciation for the Middle East question is unresolved but evolving as a result of many conversations with both Jews and Palestinians. To have walked the roads, through the cities and countryside of Christ was humbling. I will be making more posts in hopefully a more chronological fashion in the weeks to come.....till then Shalom Lisa

Welcome back. Some great news some of you know (if not you will now) how I am working hard at learning and enjoying a living with less. In fact I have linked a number of you to my connection to this lifestyle called Becoming a Minimalist. Well it is too amazing, I read that Joshua Becker, the lead writer and founder for the site,had finished a new book, "Living with Less an Unexpected Key to Happiness", set to be released on August 15. He invited his audience to submit a request to be chosen as one of his reviewers in advance of the release and post our thoughts. Well I got chosen. As soon as I am done I will posting my impressions this week and if this latest work it is anything like Joshua's other accomplishments, I will not hesitate recommending it to you all.

I can actually say that his approach to simplifying my possessions, living intentionally when coupled with my spiritual rebirth has been my salvation. Signing off for now. One last thing I am using this simplify approach in the planning, (pre)packing, and research reading for Israel. What could feel like an overwhelming chore is so much darn fun. Later I have some reading to do.....Lisa

It's Already August ARRRRGH

Okay....65 days till the trip to Israel. I have been reading many historical accountings on the middle eastern questions of the day and attending seminars. I am not ready to become a representative of the State Dept. but it is getting close. On the fun note I have been kicking around ideas on how to spend my free time when I am there. You know see places off the tourist script but at the same time not too far off the path. There is so much amazing history and the study of humanity's roots. I also want my journey to the journey to be memorable and not helter skelter. I was reading a wonderful piece by Charles Hummel, Tyranny of the Urgent. What a compelling insight into our need to be busy always busy. Not to embrace the take it slow and  live in the moment. Once I began to embrace a life this last year, namely approaching true minimalism on the economic side, I have also come to appreciate a spiritual minimalism. Learning that God is enough and I need to live in the moment in His creation. This trip is another opportunity to do just that. Praying for each of you so that you.....(now you finish the sentence....)

Lisa

Here and back again......

I am less than 84 days from landing at Amman, Jordan and begin my travels in Israel. To start I am becoming very good friends with Cindy B......she will be my roommate and we are already finishing each others sentences. She is an amazing lady. I am very grateful for this new and special relationship. I have been reading historical books (Cindy has given me)and some fictional to understand and feel the people I will soon meet and their surroundings. If anyone has a suggestion..please share. I am also trying to add to my exercise and diet to be in good health and shape for the days of walking. Then there is the mundane stuff, like finding light and yet expandable luggage. Again suggestions are welcomed. I am grinning ear to ear as I type. I haven't been this excited in quite awhile. Shalom to you all...Lisa

Wow..I am so embarrassed that it has been so long. But that would not be a good excuse to keep avoiding the urge to write. I have been inspired by my embracing the Minimalist approach to life. It has freed me from routine and the less savory habits we acquire. Mostly it got me to purge needless stuff. Which creates more time to be creative and develop my spiritual bonds. My good friend Shelley gave me the much needed push yesterday. She said, " you have got to blog like my friend who traveled in India for 6 months, it allows friends to travel with you without the expense." She's right. I have my trip to Israel coming up in October. So I am going to exercise the fingers and grey matter and begin to INVOLVE you all in my journey to immerse myself in preparation for the trip and while I am in Israel I will continue the blog. I am also going to get my very creative daughter Ashley to help be spruce up this site, its a bit on the bland side..I love her blog.


So it begins....Lisa