Tower of David

I was looking at pictures of Jerusalem today, and this one caught my eye. I believe it is the Tower of David, a Crusader fortress which is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. There is something fascinating about living in a place that has so much that is modern, side by side with the ancient. Tall, modern-looking office buildings can be found on the same street as this...

I am starting to feel sad about leaving my home to visit the States. We leave tomorrow night for Rome, and my heart is truly heavy. It is true, there are many problems here in the little country of Israel--just pick up any newspaper and you can read all about them--but it is still Home to me. There are so many things to love about it: the people, the beautiful children, the hills and forests everywhere, even the astonishing deserts, which the Israelis have turned into flourishing gardens and farmland. Everywhere one looks, there is beauty, and one cannot help but fall in love with it.
Today we drove to a place in the countryside, about an hour away. It's a little privately-owned animal shelter where Emmy is going to stay while we are away on our trip. The young man who met us there and showed us around was so sensitive, both to Emmy and to us. He asked many questions about her likes and dislikes, and had us bring food, toys, and other items that are important to her. He will help her get acclimated gently and gradually, before introducing her to the other cats. I think she is going to be very happy there, especially as she has really missed the company of other cats. All the cats we saw there were calm and happy, and they showed each other a lot of affection. Just the right place for our Emmy.