More Hawaii

For some reason when I posted pictures the other day I could only get those three to show up and then I didn't have more time to try the other ones again, so here are a few more. The first is a river with neat lava rocks flowing out into the ocean. I guess I didn't realize Hawaii had such a lush jungle, but evidently it does.

These pictures are from the day they had time to be outside the hotel and they traveled to the southern part of the island where the volcanoes are.

The next picture is of a huge crater from an old volcano that is filling in. There are still steam vents though from activity under the surface and a lot of sulfur deposits from all the volcanic activity in the area. After that there is a picture of a road they hiked along which at some point got in the way of some active lava. It's pretty interesting. I guess I thought lava just flowed like crazy and would devour everything in it's path but it did leave little bits of road. Then there's a picture of some flowing lava. It was hard to see until it got dark, but then it was kind of difficult to get a good picture without a tripod. So I'll include the best picture he was able to get to give an idea. I think I would have been a bit terrified to go out on the lava flow. I guess they had areas roped off that were 'safe' but really with the activity going on below, I don't think they can ever fully precdict which spots are safe. I guess other people were going beyond the roped off area - crazy in my opinion. I'd prefer not to die getting eaten by molten lava thank you very much.
So that's the non-tropical paradise looking side of the island. But very interesting for seeing active volcano stuff.

So, enough about Hawaii. What's been going on around here? Hmmm... Mostly work and housework and watching Stargate or a movie here and there. We've got Bible study on Thursdays but we've been bad about getting all the homework done since it's a really intensive study of Kings and Chronicles. But it's still been quite interesting to go to class and get more out of the old testament. There really is a lot in there when you understand who everyone was and how they were related and how everything all fits in a timeline. Like the story of Naman.

I always just saw it as a story of obedience but there's more in there. Things I hadn't noticed like how Elisha never came out to meet Naman - just sent a servant to tell him what to do. Why? Maybe to humble Naman or to give the glory to God and not let Naman think it was Elisha that had healed him. Then the fact that Naman was loathe to do such a demeaning thing when he was in the situation he was. I'd think he'd be desperate for any solution to his leprosy. But he was a high ranking official not used to putting himself below anyone. And what he was told to do was so easy - his servant said to him - if Elisha had told you to do something difficult you would have done that wouldn't you? It made me think about people who don't know the Lord and how they think they have to do something major to get their sins forgiven. Or people who are so lost in their sin and are too prideful to be able to humble themselves and depend on God to rescue them. They still think they can find a solution by themselves. The gift that Jesus offers is free and so easy to accept. (Granted, it's difficult to live out at times...) But everyone feels they have to attone for their own sins somehow. It really is amazing how the old testament prepares you for the new testament.

Wow, I didn't plan on saying all that, but there it is. Some other daily life things going on are that I'm trying to convince Scott that we should get a puppy. He's not too convinced but he has agreed. Although it will pretty much be my dog until the cute little thing captures his heart as well. Now we just have to find the right one. We don't want to spend too much but most of the dogs at shelters are large dogs or will become large dogs. Without a yard I think that would be impossible. I'm thinking a small terrier or something. Something small enough that will be happy in a crate during the day. They have this new mixed breed called a puggle. A mix between a pug and a beagle. It sounds strange but they are very cute. Just also very expensive. It's costly enough to care for a dog once you have it, no need to put yourself in the hole on the initial purchase... There's one at a shelter northwest of us that is a schnauzer terrier mix, but she has about six of us contending for her. So not sure that we'll get her. I filled out an application but now she's not on the listing anymore so I think she might already be adopted, but isn't she cute?