We decided to take a Mediterranean cruise because we were in Europe already and we might never get the chance to go again. Plus, my husband wanted to show me where the Air Force stationed him in Turkey when he was in the military. The three places on the seven-day cruise would be Croatia (Yugoslavia when I traveled to Italy as a girl), Greece, and Turkey. I was excited to go to Turkey and Greece but Croatia? Who goes to Croatia? But it was on the itinerary so what do I know?
We flew to Venice and boarded the ship ready to start the cruise. My husband had never been on a big cruise ship and neither had I. Can I tell you we loved the cruise? My daughter worked for Norwegian Cruise Line at the time and got us a great deal on a balcony room. The cabin was spacious…for a cruise accommodation, that is. Even if the bathroom was not.
I didn’t realize it but Dubrovnik was not a deep-water port so the captain docked the ship a ways away from the port but we could see the port and marina from the ship’s deck. I thought we’d just sail right up to the port and disembark as we did when we got on in Venice. Not so. We’d have to take little boats called “tenders” to the port. I also didn’t realize these boats doubled as lifeboats. The tenders are enclosed and get quite hot for the short trip to shore. I can’t imagine being on that tender that held 150 people if something happened to the ship. Since we had other shore excursions planned, and I wasn’t keen about going to Croatia in the first place, we opted to just hang out in the old city and find things to do until we got back on the ship.
We didn’t have much time to explore because the ship’s personnel told us many times if we missed the last tender, we were on our own to get to the next port. Well, that would not happen given we almost missed the ship when we boarded in Venice.
We tooled around the old town walking through the vast array of alleyways between buildings that led to quaint restaurants with outdoor seating. We looked at the architecture of the square’s many buildings and the churches.
We bought an ice cream cone because the heat of the day was getting to us. Thankfully, the shop person spoke English and we could buy our cones with the euros we brought with us.
The city was lovelier than I expected and reminded me of my beloved Italy. They simply spoke a different language. Today I recommend visiting Croatia because it’s beautiful and the people are very kind and accommodating.
At one point, a bird dropped its load on my arm and thoroughly disgusted me but I had tissues to wipe it off but the tee-shirt was toast for the rest of the trip.
We still had time to kill, so we took a ride on another type of ship ride around the bay. An 18th-century fishing ship! Getting on and off that ship was harrowing not anything like the big cruise ship but then why would it be?
There weren’t many of us on the ship, maybe a dozen or so passengers who were brave enough to board the decrepit-looking ship. The only seats were rough-hewn free-standing benches next to the low walls of the ship.
Once out of the marina the ship sailed around the bay with the masts flapping in the summer wind. When the boat turned it leaned into the water. The edge of the boat was mere inches from taking on water. And while the ride was pleasant, it was also nerve-wracking.
From the sailboat, we could see the summer sun-worshippers didn’t have much sand, but they made the most of what they had. There was one sandy beach, but it was in a cove and it appeared the only way to get to it was by boat. The old city’s massive fortress walls were awe-inspiring. Makes you want to study the history of the city.
I’m glad we went on that sailboat, but I’d more appreciate a new boat next time.
The adventure of the day over, we hopped a tender and returned to the ship.
Another adventure next week.
This verse calls to mind that when we make a promise, we must keep it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small promise to go to lunch with a friend or if you’ve promised to take care of a task for a sibling or parent or if you have pledged a possession. It doesn’t matter. When a person breaks a promise, it’s hard to trust that person again.
And it’s especially hard when we give promises to our small children and break them. Children depend on their parents and guardians to tell the truth and not break a promise, no matter how insignificant that promise may be. Our children are our greatest resource. We must treat them with kindness and care where our promises are concerned.
David was the King, a leader. It calls to mind our leaders today. They rarely keep their promises and wonder why their constituents don’t trust them. In today’s world, it’s all right to break a promise if it furthers that leader’s career goals.
S
It seems fitting to write a blog today about birthdays. Yes, it’s my birthday but I won’t tell you how old I am. Those of you who know me…family, classmates, and friends, know how old I am so I won’t bore you with the details.
With social media, birthday reminders are always popping up on my screen and I try to wish all of my family and friends birthday wishes and they reciprocated today with an outpouring of words of encouragement and even telephone calls. Birthday presents? I can do without them. When I watched the number of Birthday wishes increase today, I told my wonderful husband how loved I felt. I still do.
But then I thought about God and His role in my birth. The psalmist David said in Psalm 139:13-18 (NKJV):
These verses prompted me to do a little study on birthday verses from the Bible. These verses have also lifted me up today. I hope you will print out these verses and have them to bless you on your birthday…an
The context of this verse is that King Saul of Israel and his son Jonathan died in battle with the Philistines. David, who would be the next King of Israel, and his men are those who are mourning, fasting and weeping for the two men.
It seems fitting that we talk about men and women lost in battle. Any family who loses a loved one in war is a tragedy. But a family who loses all of their children at one time is unthinkable. That’s just what happened to the Sullivan family during World War II.
Parents who lose a baby or a child are overwrought with the pain of loss but to lose five sons in one fell swoop, I can’t even imagine the pain of suffering that family endured. Some may say, it was a long time ago or time has a way of healing. That may be true to some extent but a parent who loses a child whether that child is a baby, child or an adult, can’t ever be consoled and time doesn’t heal. It only covers the grief until the anniversary of their child’s birth or death.
May we all have an extra measure of compassion for those parents who have lost a child.
Originally, my husband wanted to visit the actual plant but was told the BMW people schedule those tours six months in advance so we settled for the museum.
Upon arriving, we thought the building we were in was the museum but it was actually the BMW factory showroom with a high-rise office building attached. The pristine showroom is modernistic in design and huge.
One element of the technology is the study of airflow. The first room we visited had silver balls hanging from clear wire (similar to fishing wire). This was the airflow room and the balls would move according to however they programmed the air to flow. It was uber cool to watch, but a photo doesn’t do this exhibit justice.
The old models were particularly fascinating, and I found them beautiful (and romantic). I particularly like the paint job on the 1934 model. seen here. I would drive that car! There weren’t many (at least I didn’t see them) from 1939 to 1950. I would imagine they curtailed the cars made for public consumption to work on war machines and were re-building their country and infrastructure after the war ended.
BMW that never went into production
They also had not only a chronology of cars but motorcycles (road and racing). The road cycles were stacked in a plate-glass case that went from the bottom floor up to the top floor of the museum. This one reminded me of the one Harrison Ford and Sean Connery used in one of the Indiana Jones movies. Can you guess which movie?
If you thought the “Smart” car is one that’s brand new. Think again because this tiny little car was built in 1955! It was called an Isetta. Notice that there are no side doors, it opens from the front and the steering is attached to the door! And it is super tiny!
This 1956 model was one of my husband’s favorites. Its sleek lines would attract anyone!
1934 BMW – My favorite
The very last exhibit had a video but no car on the dais. The video depicted the use of ultra-lightweight material allowing a person to open the door and it would bunch up (like skin). There were no openings where the door hinges should be. That’s the best description I can give for what we saw. It’s called the Gina. I would love to see the Gina (probably named for someone’s daughter or wife) in production but it won’t be for years.
Let’s put this verse in context first and I’m paraphrasing here:
That’s what this verse is about. Hannah begged God to give her a child who she promised would be given to Him, consecrated as a Nazarite and set apart for God.
What heartbreak the woman must have endured at the hands of not only her husband’s other wife but all the women in her community! And yet, she went directly to God for help. It reminds us to look to God when situations are dire.
Never underestimate the power of the human spirit! There are those who, when burdened with an overwhelming life event come through it stronger and more able to stand against the next crazy life event that could have them crawling on their knees. Then there are others who, when dealt a crushing blow, are devastated to the point of immobility and can’t rise above the situation.
In a health crisis, we never see those who have lost their battle to cancer without a fight. Some retreat into themselves to waste away and die with their family and friends dismayed they wouldn’t fight to live…not only for their family and friends but for themselves. Some give up when their friends and family never wanted them to give up. Others fight until their last breath. Even though they lose the battle, they have fought. Even through death, they have risen above their circumstances. If you’re suffering from cancer, fight the good fight, be strong, and give yourself and your family hope!
But what about the kids who rise above the bullying? Why don’t we hear about those kids? Today I watched a video of an 11-year-old kid who took free violin lessons because the kids at school bullied him because he had cancer. Kids can be cruel and merciless. They have no filters or have not been taught any filters. But this boy made my heart sing. He appeared on America’s Got Talent and blew everyone away with his violin playing. He made it to the television show. What an example of how the human spirit can overcome. This boy chose music to overcome his heartache over being bullied. Other’s may choose sports or some other positive way to overcome.
What about when a person has lost every possession to a hurricane, tornado, or flooding? Does the person retreat to a homeless shelter never to be heard from again or does he take action and rebuild his home and his life?
Several years ago, my 61-year-old husband lost his job. I was afraid at first then I remembered God had it all in the palm of His hand. I told my husband we’d pray about it and let God lead us. And lead us, He did. My husband got a job offer not three weeks later. To say it was a miracle is an understatement. Who hires a 61-year-old man who is almost ready to retire in a few years? God can do anything, even heal the sick and restore a home.
This verse was the response to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who had lost not only her husband but also her only two sons. Naomi wanted her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to stay in Moab, the country of their birth. But she, Naomi would travel to her hometown of Bethlehem. In those days a childless widow was among the lowest and most disadvantaged. They had no support you and had to live on the generosity of strangers. Thus, Naomi was desperate and had to leave but didn’t want Ruth or Orpah to come with her as they had family in Moab.
But Ruth’s dedication to remain with Naomi was the noble and loving commitment of a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law. Something we lack today. Naomi’s life and love of God made an indelible impression on Ruth. Naomi had lost her husband, her two sons…her entire family and yet she continued to honor God. Her character was impeccable. She trusted God to take care of her.
Her story is one that is beautiful. She honored her mother-in-law and God had mercy on her and gave her another husband.
To make the verse more personal, substitute “God” or “Jesus” for “I” and your name or “me” for “you” making it a personal verse to memorize and repeat when in a trial.
Even in my darkest hours and there were many over the years, I always knew God was with me. And I know He’ll be with me until I breathe my last breath.