Hello from Whidbey Island! You can see why we are on the water so often. One photo is anchoring in Hunter Bay on Lopez Island and the other is going under the Hood Canal Bridge. It is un-believably beautiful up here. Our summer is going fast. We may get one more trip in before September but today it is raining, and we aren't that encouraged to go out. Last weekend we were camping at Ft Casey, watching the ferry to Pt Townsend come in and out. Our good and long time camping buddies, Jill and Bruce Liebman, have been trying to get us out there since we returned to the northwest. We loved the campfires and all the good meals we cooked on the grill and in our pop up camper. We were so 
close to home that we ran back and forth to get the mail and newspapers. That wasn't such a good idea. Although, with gas prices, we can be thrifty and go to five campsites right here on Whidbey Island, enjoying both the outdoors and the beauty of nature. After the visitors in July, we got right out there on the water, and usually we would spend most of the month of September cruising in the San Juans and north into BC, but this year we are going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We leave Sept 9 and return on Sept 22. Our trip is being led by the husband of Rachel, our priest, Nigel Taber-Hamilton, a Brit and a past travel agent. He has us organized and already we are making plans for the great spiritual gifts we'll receive because of our trip. We went to St Mark's Cathedral for a commissioning by Bishop Nedi Rivera-we are certified pilgrims now! We have been given lists of things to do as pilgrims and ways to behave as pilgrims. As soon as I told my EFM group (my Bible Study group) someone asked if I would keep a blog. If I can figure out how to do this, I will. We were not planning to take a computer, but we might have to do that so I can send emails to everyone. We begin our trip in Seattle, flying to Atlanta and then to Tel Aviv. Then a short drive to Jerusalem will begin our trip. We'll be staying at Saint George’s College, an Anglican college in Jerusalem. That will be our home base for day trips out and about. We'll also spend three nights at the Sisters of Nazareth Convent in Nazareth while we visit around that area. I have my tour guides, my camera, a new passport and good walking shoes. I should be ready to go. If you pray, please pray for my back where my sciatic nerve is kicking up a fuss. I hope I can walk when I get off the airplane.
On this rainy day in the Northwest, we again give thanks that we live here. Our best from the Whidbey Wagners.
