Israel

Once a month blogging isn't really what I had in mind but it seems to be whats happening.

Hopefully here's to better blogging days!!

Since I have been so neglectful about blogging our "Trip of a Lifetime"  and life seems to have run away from me since then I think this will mostly be a picture post.

We left SLC and flew to Houston, Texas and then on to Istanbul, Turkey and finally landed in Tel Aviv.  Needless to say the flight there was exhausting.  The travel agency had messed up some details so it was miracle we actually made it on schedule.  Thankfully we have traveled enough to know how it works so we led the way as we ran through airports and securities.

 This is at our hotel in Tel Aviv overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  It was by far the nicest place we stayed.  Its too bad we were only there a few hours.

 Caeserea.  During the time of Christ this was a fishing village.  Its location was such that Herod had a dream to build a palace and harbor over the sea.
It was accomplished and many of the ruins are still there.

 Jezreel Valley.  They claim this valley to be an area that can grow anything almost year round.  

It is incredibly fertile and beautiful

 View of the valley from Mt. Carmel

Probably one of our favorite places of all was the Sea of Galilee.  

It is beautiful and we know for certain that Jesus spent much time on and around this sea.

We actually went out on one of these boats.  They call them "Jesus Boats".

They are supposedly fashioned after the boats used during that time period.

We spent several nights in Tiberias which is located right on the Sea.  

This was taken at sunrise directly across the street from our hotel.

 You can't visit the Sea of Galilee without getting in it.

 Caperneum (as we spell it) is where Jesus spent most of his ministry.  He was run out of his hometown of Nazareth and moved to Caperneum where there were many believers.

 Jackie Poulsen, our tour guide teaching us from the scriptures.  

She is a dear friend and an incredible scholar.  Her love of Israel is contagious.  

The Jordan River.  At this location on the river many people perform baptisms so they can be baptized in the same place as the Savior was.  It is an incredible peaceful place.

The place that is probably more likely to be the area of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized is actually located in Jordan on the West Bank.  Jackie has been to Israel five times and has never been able to see the sight before.  This time our Jewish guide felt that things were quite peaceful and it should be safe to visit the site.  Obviously the water is not as clear and pretty but scripturally based this is close to where the baptism happened.

 These signs were quite frequent as we walked down to the River.  

It was a little disconcerting but all went well. 

A chapel commemorating the Birth of Jesus in Bethleham.

Our Jewish guide can't take us into Bethleham because it is in Palestine. 

So a Palestinian guide got on our bus and took us there.

Our first glimpse of Jerusalem.  Jeff getting his bearings from Jackie on where everything is located.  

 Old Jerusalem.  The Gold Dome is the infamous "Dome of the Rock".  

It is a Muslim Mosque placed over the place that is believed to be where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac.  Tourists are not allowed to enter.

 Outside the walls of Old Jerusalem.

 

An ancient olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane.  

Maybe it was there when Christ suffered there so long ago.

The Western Wall or more commonly referred to as the Wailing Wall.  

Men go to one side of the partition and women on the other.

The Jews meet here regularly to pray.  

On Friday nights when they welcome in the Shabbat or the Sabbath, they congregate here by the thousands to pray and celebrate together.  

We were fortunate enough to attend
 but our Jewish guide asked us to be respectful that night and not photograph it.  

What an amazing experience it was.  It will always be photographed in my memory.

The greatest shopping of Olive Wood carvings and anything else you would need to enhance your visit to Israel can be found at Jimmys.  

 I did a fair share of damage to our pocketbook in that store, 

but I did bring home some remarkable items.  

Jimmy has actually called me since I've been home

That is bad when you are on a first name basis with the store owner.

 The Temple Mount has been controlled by the Muslims since 600 AD.

They are serious about their modesty and rules.  These ladies from our tour were deemed to be dressed inappropriately and they were required to wear the shawls to cover themselves.

The Dome.  I can't believe we were allowed to take this picture because usually you are forbidden from touching one another on the Temple Mount even if you are married. 

 Some of the gates still standing on the Temple Mount.

 The remnants of the Pools of Bethesda where one of Jesus's miracles were performed.

 Another view of Old Jerusalem

Our two guides----David, our Jewish Guide and Jackie 

 We hiked into a spring, En Gedi, found in the middle of the most desolate, hottest land ever.  

There were beautiful water falls and ponds hidden in the rocks.

It is believed that in Old Testament times this is where David hid from Saul.

One of the funnest things we did was to float in the Dead Sea.

It was remarkable.  Putting your feet down after you had been floating was extremely difficult.

Unlike the Great Salt Lake, the salt content is so high that absolutely nothing can grow there so it is incredibly clean and beautiful.  There is no horrid smell as there is at our Great Salt Lake.

 The Garden Tomb was the most sacred place we visited. 

It was unadorned, peaceful and probably the most  accurate place we visited.  

Years ago when they discovered the tomb they also found a wine press 

which is incredibly symbolic for it to be located so close to the tomb.

The tomb is Empty.  He is not there.  HE IS RISEN!!

A Quick Catch Up

I begin to procrastinate blogging when I get behind and so I'm going to do a quick catch up so I can begin blogging regularly again.
I do want this to be a family history record so I need to get most of the things we do recorded.  

The first of May Jessi, Amy and I went to Women's Conference.
I'm sure I have been over 20 times in the past and I still love it.
When I first started going with my friends from Logan there were only about 3000 women that attended.  Now there are about 13,000 attendees so the logistics are a little different
but the same incredible spirit is still there.
I want to get my girls in the habit of attending conferences like this because as moms we all need to fill our bucket so that we have something to give to our families.
Everyone needs spiritual nourishment but especially busy moms.  

Every year I am totally amazed at the women that have traveled from all over the United States and even other countries to attend.
The good works that that many united women in the gospel could accomplish is astounding.  

Jessi spotted these kittens at Petsmart the other day.  They were pretty cute because they looked like our old Patches that we had for so many years.  Jessi is willing to adopt any dog, cat or child.  Luckily for Stefan we did leave without it.  It wasn't easy convincing her.

I made a quick, really quick trip to North Dakota to see Lucy's dance recital.  I had heard so much about this teacher who came from the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia that I wanted to see it first hand.  

I do have an extreme love for great ballet and this didn't disappoint.  

His older dance students were incredible.  I hope they realize the opportunity that they have to study with him.  Why he chose North Dakota to teach is a mystery.

He even teaches the little kids dance classes which is extremely rare so Lucy and her friends are equally fortunate to take these classes.

The program was entitled A Storybook Ballet or something close to that

 and all the music was from familiar Disney classics.  

It was so fun to watch and be a part of it from the dress rehearsal to the performance.  

Lucy was so excited and she had incredible costumes.  

They all had over the top costumes for the performance.

There were several beautiful backdrops used throughout the night also.

It was quite the production.

Lucy was a monkey and danced to Curious George.

Her next number was "It's a Bug's Life" and she is the darling red caterpillar.

 Here she is in deep concentration before we left for the performance.  

She has her hair done and makeup on.

 The lobby and entrance were even decorated with incredible Disney cut outs.  

Clara loved those.

While I was there we did sneak in a quick trip to the Minot Zoo before the dance recital.

It was so fun.  

The girls loved the little merry go round and walking on the log wall as much as seeing the animals. 

I'm so glad I went I just wish I could of been there longer.   

 I flew home early Saturday morning so I could be there for Mother's Day

 and then early Monday morning we flew to Israel.  

More on that soon.  

Pick A Good One

This week is the last week I teach Early Morning Seminary for this year.

Obviously it was Monday morning and I'm getting a little too relaxed.

I arrived at the seminary building and got out my computer to set up for my powerpoint 

AND I had forgot the cord I needed to use the overhead projector.

I need to say, that this is the first time all year I have forgot anything.

So what do I do?

I call my dear husband at 6:10 am 

and ask him very sweetly if he would PLEASE bring it to me.

Of course he agreed.

When he arrived with it the class had started so I told all the kids

"When you get married, make sure you pick a good one."

"Look at what I picked --- this is what you want."

I got a GOOD one.  

After getting the powerpoint up and going, 

the class is continuing and we are discussing 

WHEN

In walks that "Good One" again with donuts for everyone.

(TASTEE donuts even)

He is definitely the kids favorite now

and of course he has always been mine.

 I LOVE THAT MAN.

(They even left a double blueberry donut for me)

Baby Owls

 Near our farm there is an owl's nest that we have been watching all spring.  

It is close enough to the road and the baby owls are getting big enough that you could see 

three little heads bopping up.  

We have taken the binoculars out to see them, but yesterday we finally got our spotting scope and tripod out and to our surprise there are four little owls in the nest.

It is such a tight fit with the babies and the mom.  

I' m so surprised one of them has not toppled out.

The fourth little baby doesn't look great.  It is much smaller and less active than the others.

They are all adorable.  

They are growing big but they are still covered with fluffy fir instead of feathers.

I love nature.  I could watch them for hours.

Occasionally the littlest one would snuggle closer to the mom, rubbing his head against her.

Families are wonderful, even bird families.

In the evening the father owl usually flies in and the mom leaves for a while.

The leaves are beginning to fill in on the trees.  It is getting more difficult to see them.

Some days there are several cars stopped watching them.

Serious photographers with huge lenses have been there.

 Jeff found an attachment for the scope so he can take pictures through it with our small camera.

It is awesome.

I love my husband and I'm so thankful that we both enjoy watching wildlife.

The world that we live in is fascinating.