Pictures of Sabbath

One of the things I remember and loved most, when we lived here before, were the flowers on the Sabbath.  While in the Holy Land, we will hold church services on Saturday and therefore call it the Sabbath.  In Jewish fashion, in preparation for the Sabbath, flowers are purchased for the homes. This happens every week.  Flowers in all their varieties, sizes, shapes and smells.  Ron was so good back then to always pick up a bunch for our home.  LOVED IT!  I have decided that when I return to the states I will carry on the tradition in my home.

I have yet to go to the Old City to my favorite pottery store (Jerusalem Pottery) and pick up a vase so this week these heavenly smelling roses found their resting spot in a simple milk bottle.

On the way upstairs to the auditorium where we hold Sacrament mtg. I passed this window and couldn't help but notice this magnificent view.  To look out over the Kidron Valley and imagine what it might have looked like during the time of Christ.  Pinch me...still am in awe that I'm here.

And THIS, my friends, is where we hold Sacrament meeting.  No one sleeps during this mtg. ever!  How is that for a view?!?  Two weeks before we arrived in Israel Ron received a phone call from a 

really long number he didn't recognize.  Then he remembered it contained the international prefix for Israel.  "I better take this," he said.  I was very nervous that it was a phone call informing us that our trip was being cancelled.  Then I heard Ron say, "we'd be happy to."  "What are WE happy to do 

dear.?"  That was the branch president in Jerusalem and he asked us to speak on the 30th in church.

So, see those three chairs to the right of the piano?  That's where we sat.  So we will have to wait until next week to enjoy the full magnitude of our sacrament experience.

Church was followed by a pot luck lunch.  We met many wonderful individuals and families who are members of the branch. Some from America, Moldova, Chile, Philipines, Italy, and the US.  This is going to be enjoyable.

Then of course, Sabbath, the day of rest!  I hope his toesies weren't too cold!

Deer in a headlight!

Do you recognize this look?  Can you guess how I'm feeling on this day?  Have you ever felt like this?  Like a "deer in the headlights?"  In just a few short days I've had this feeling several times.....quickly followed by some sort of chuckle or laugh to myself.

I have been to a money changer in the middle of Saladin street in the middle of East Jerusalem, home to Palestinians, to begin my adaptation to the use of shekels.  Tasted of a turkey schwarma at the Alshuleh Grill along the same street.        Headlights!

I have been grocery shopping at four different stores all the while trying to differentiate between cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, and whipping cream......all are written in Hebrew, have a cow on it and a barn with a red roof.  Fortunately, I met a man named Yuri who was so helpful.  I asked
him if I could hire him to shop with me each week....."I will be here every Friday at 11:00."                                    Headlights..... With a light at the end of the tunnel!

We've witnessed a demonstration in the Palestinian neighborhood right below us and saw two bright                  lights in the sky which we later discovered was the Iron Dome intercepting a missile. (Not to worry!) Headlights!

I went into what looked like a beauty salon.  Lots of body language, not much English, but I think the young man asked me what color I want my hair and how short!        Headlights!  Help Gale!

I just keep reminding myself it hasn't been a week yet and I just need to pay attention and learn quickly.  I'm not counting down AT ALL but the stark reality is that we come home in less than a year already!!!!!!! Horrible Headlights!

I think in a couple days I'm ready to turn on my own headlights and try driving!

First night here. First sunset. So many memories.

"Jill, just look where we are!"  Our flight to the Holy Land, which is how we are to refer to our new place of residence, went smoothly.  It was a long day.  We flew out of Idaho Falls.  We arrived in plenty of time to weigh our luggage, rearrange each bag to fit the allotted weight, check in and then wait for our journey to begin.  Do any of the rest of you like to people watch in airports?  Let's just say I'm so glad that the world is filled with such a variety of individuals.  Chinese to the left of me. French to the right.  All traveling their own journeys to see the world and experience new sites, tastes, and smells.  And yes, the Chinese and French were in Idaho to experience their own "trip of a lifetime."  Do we truly know what beauty surrounds us right here in our own backyard!?

Idaho falls to SLC to New York (the ultimate people watching venue) to Tel Aviv. Left at 7:00am Friday morning and arrived 5:00 PM Saturday night.  Very little sleep, a lot of little children and not very tasty airplane food...but the bottled water was divine!

After we arrived and went through the passport control station I was quickly reminded that "I'm not in Kansas anymore!"  We are the minority now.  We are the guests here.  We are not in charge of anything but our own choices.  As you know this country is in a volatile state at the moment.  You can feel that some are on edge.  Lots of security. Airport security looking each of us up and down and us full aware that we could be the next passenger picked out of the crowd to have our luggage completely rummaged through and then interrogated as to why we are in here.  We passed through without questions this time.

The hour drive from Tel Aviv was reflective for me.  It has been 12 years since I have been here.  The terrain, the buildings, the driving and the signs of a war torn past surrounded me. It looked much the same but only bigger.  More developments, higher apartment buildings, new roads, Muslim prayer calls five times a day, falafels  and horns honking.

This picture conveys all that we felt as we sat on our veranda and gazed out across the Kidron Valley. The sacred Dome of the Rock on the left and to the right the hustle and bustle of West Jerusalem.  We feel lucky.  We feel fortunate and blessed to be here. We are tired and need to rest.

First matter of business upon our arrival at the center...easiest access to the two bomb shelters.

Check.

And We're Off..........well almost!

In June of 2013 Ron received a phone call of a lifetime!  The call came from Provo, and the office of the Jerusalem Center.  The question was posed to him, "How would you and your wife like to live in Israel and teach at the Jerusalem center for a year?"  After a very brief, like two second brief, consideration.....the path of our future changed.

Since last year we have been preparing ourselves for the experience of a lifetime.
Tell kids...check.
Renew passports...check.
Tanner married to Alicia...check.
Incredible family reunion...check.
Maddie and Tanner Colby move in house to babysit my plants...check.
280 lbs. worth of bags packed...check.
Crossing fingers until we actually fly out in four days...check!

I'm not much of a blogger or journal writer but at the request of our children and close family and friends this will be my attempt to share our journey with you.

Check in every once in awhile and we will share pictures, stories, security updates and adventures.  We will miss our grandchildren and children...yes in that order...and our many wonderful other family members and friends, but this is an experience we have prayed for for years.

Be safe in our absence and we look forward to sharing our life with you.