More god-fueled conversations ensued . . . The Father / Son trip to Hawaii was fantastic. After scuba, horseback riding and a luau, we tried snuba. Unlike scuba, the air tank remained on a raft to which we were connected by a 20'-25' hose and harness. We used a regulator to breath and towed our …
Scuba at Airport Beach, Maui
Our dive instructor said scuba was like yoga and meditation. Joseph and I followed up on our Barcelona experience of shark diving with an open water dive in Maui. We are gearing up in a parking lot because we are going to walk into the ocean from the beach. We still made it to a …
Pearl Harbor
Joseph and I made it to Honolulu on Friday (7/27) to begin our "Father/Son" trip to Hawai'i! We stayed at Waikiki beach. On my birthday (7/28) we toured Pearl Harbor. It was a very solemn experience. Having long studied the events leading up to, the day 12/7/41, and what followed... it was moving to see …
Normandy Beaches
In Bayeux, France we began our tour of the Normandy beaches and the WWII D-Day points of interest. We had taken a train from Paris the previous day to Bayeux. What a delightful town and our hotel, Novotel, was wonderful. Our tour began with a solemn visit to La Cambe, a German war cemetery. It …
Notre Dame
We (Joseph, my parents and I) toured Notre Dame cathedral in Paris after Amy and Kendal left for the states. It is a magnificent facility! A space sacred by reputation and design. The impact of the French Revolution was dreadful for this church. For some years, the church was not under Catholic control and was …
Silence at St Meinrad
I have checked into St Meinrad for a week of silent retreat. The monastery was founded in 1854 by monks from the thousand-year old Swiss abbey of Einsiedeln. St Meinrad Archabbey is Benedictine. The facility commands a grand view of the rolling hills in southern Indiana. I am thankful for this week of prayer and …
Paris and Versailles
After the excitement at the top of the Eiffel Tower, we took a lunch cruise on the Siene river in Paris. It was a perfect setting to celebrate our engagement with a champagne toast. The cruise provides a new perspective of many great sites in Paris. The next day we toured the Palace of Versailles. …
Picasso, Chocolate & Catacombs
From the Philly airport, Inam trying to catch up on sabbatical happenings. In Barcelona... we visited the Picasso museum. The talent he demonstrated at age 13 is astounding! I truly enjoyed the collection of his works, though some stretched my appreciation of art. Here is a fun picture of the family waiting to go in …
Sharks!
Before arriving in Paris, I went scuba diving with Joseph and Kendal... and sharks at the aquarium in Barcelona. WOW! None of us (nor Victoria from England who randomly joined our group) had ever been scuba diving. After suiting up, we were given a quick lesson on how to use the gear. Then we swam …
Paris Proposal
I asked, she said "Yes"
Sacred Stirrings 