This past weekend I turned 36 (though if anyone asks me, I’m still 35!) 
I was so blessed to have some wonderful moments:
A friend gave me a full-day at a spa up in Tiberias, right on the Sea of Galilee…. fantastic!
Cotton Candy on the Boardwalk
My annual picture with the T-Rex!
VIP Movie Night at Cinema City… I don’t think I can watch a movie in the “regular” section ever again! LOL
Dead Sea and Ein Gedi to top off the weekend!
Tomorrow’s the day! I am leaving the comfort of my family and friends in the US and return to the craziness of Israel….
I’ve been on furlough for the past month: spending time with my family, visiting friends and loved ones, sharing about my work in Israel, and mourning the loss of my grandma. From Atlanta ✈ Kalamazoo ✈ Dallas ✈ Detroit ✈ Minnesota ✈ Wisconsin Dells ✈ New York… its been a whirlwind of traveling and emotions!
Usually after an entire month of being Stateside, I’m MORE THAN READY to return, but I’m just not there yet. Maybe its emotions of losing my grandma and having to say goodbye to my family again that’s tugging at my ❤, so I’ll have to hang on to the memories from this trip even tighter…
Here are a few from my wonderful time at home:
Caribou Coffee ❤
Star Wars Monopoly with my mom and nephew
Mom and sisters
My nephew.... the big time skiier
The earmuff brigade
Cross-country skiing with my dad
My sister and I with our grandpa
The whole family at my grandma's funeral
Travel. This might seem like an unusual thing to be thankful for, but let me explain.
If I had to choose 1 thing that I like to do the most…. only 1 thing, it would be beyond a shadow of a doubt traveling. Going to new places, experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, and just being able to view the amazing world God created is what I love to do most!
I have already been so blessed to be able to go places and see things that I never thought I would ever see! I have had the luxury of experiencing many new cultures and live all around the world! The beauty that surrounds us is astounding… and there’s soooooooo much more for me to still experience!
From North and South America to Africa, Asia, and Europe…. its been an amazing ride so far, and for this I’m eternally thankful!
What are you thankful for today?
This past weekend I did something I haven’t done in FOREVER! At 6pm on Saturday night a friend and I decided to take an impromptu road trip to…. well, we didn’t have a destination in mind…. to anywhere I guess. We grabbed some essentials: Israel map, toilet paper, snacks, water, OFF spray, torch, etc. and hit the road! We decided to head south and see where the roads would take us.
The concept began as a Night Road Trip, but turned into an ALL-Night one with a Morning tacked on as well. We ended up traveling the entire south of Israel, down the west and back up the east. We had an exhausting, yet fun night and it was something that I NEEDED so much! Just getting out of the city and satisfying my road-bug craving made my ❤ sing.
I took lots of pics, but my favorites ended up being crazy signs you see along the roads of Israel. Here are a few of my favorites, just in case you end up driving in my country anytime soon:
And finally, after a looooong night filled with signs, we headed back home to Tel Aviv, making a quick stop in Jerusalem:
THEN HEADED STRAIGHT TO BED!!!
I’m a huge Lord of the Rings Fan. I remember reading The Hobbit way back in 8th grade for a book report, then continuing on to read the trilogy after. The movies are great, and the books are even better….
Last weekend I felt like I was walking through a Lord of the Rings moment. We took a road trip up to Mt. Hermon, the tallest mountain in Israel, to explore around Nimrod’s Fortress. It’s like walking onto the movie set, without the set. The ancient, Middle Ages ruins are just amazing! I can only imagine what they looked like back in the 13th Century, when it was constructed.
If you ever have the chance to visit Nimrod’s Fortress, I highly suggest it. Here’s a few pictures from the day: (the entire collection can be found on my travel photography website)
I’ve been writing a birthday blog since I started blogging and when I sat down to write it this year, I could only really dwell upon all the things I haven’t accomplished yet. I thought by my 35th birthday I’d be married, have kids, salaried job, and settled down. 35 was always my ‘goal’ year….
Yet here I am… 35… and none of those things have happened.
THEN I remembered one birthday, down in Rio, and I began to think about all the things I have accomplished, things that were never on my list to begin with. I thought of where I’d been and who I’ve been with. All the people who have been a part of my 35 years, near and far. I have been sooooooo very blessed these past 35 years, no matter what hasn’t happened.
So just for kicks, I’ve put together a list of all the places I’ve spent my birthdays. I might not have accomplished my list YET, but I’ve sure had some fun in the meantime…..
Can’t wait to see where next will be….
I have used all three forms of transportation this past week, 4 planes, 1 train, and various autos. Travel can be an exhausting pastime, but essential part of my life. I only wish that I could somehow manage to combine the three types together.
I like the speed and obviously the travel distance able to be covered with an airplane, but I DO NOT find them comfortable AT ALL! Maybe if I were able to fly 1st class each time, I wouldn’t have this gripe, but us regular people who can only afford to fly open class, must fly in tiny, squished seats with no leg room at all.
The train is basically the opposite. What it lacks in speed and travel distance can be made up with comfort and lots of space.
Of course we cannot forget the automobile, which provides the personal amenities that neither the plane or train gives, including complete control of travel.
What I really want is a combo of all 3. The speed and distance of a plane, the comfort of the train, and the control of a car. So, there is only 1 solution to this dilemma…. I guess I need to buy myself a jet and learn how to fly it! :0
Anyone out there have a spare one???
The wait is over.
My bags are packed.
I’m on my way.
I’ve been waiting for this day for over a month now… as the anticipation has grown, so has the list of things I am looking forward to during my visit. My flight leaves today, and after 12 hours in Paris, I will continue my journey back home. Here is my Top 10 List for What I’m Looking Forward To Most:
10. Fall! The colors of the leaves, smell of the night, and a bit cooler weather (though not too cool, I hope!)
9. American Football! There’s nothing like college football games on a Saturday afternoon.
8. Mexican food! Enough said.
7. Speaking of food….The sequel of The Volcano Taco Eating Contest with Micheal, my nephew! I’m giving him another chance to redeem his loss from last year. (in case you missed it the first time around)
6. Riding my mom’s horses with her!
5. Not having ANY Hebrew classes for 3 weeks!
4. Taking LOOOOOONG, Hot showers! Not having to worry about the water crises and going beyond our limit.
3. Caribou Coffee! (or Starbucks as my backup)
2. Pumpkin Spice Latte’s! (or anything Pumpkin for that matter)
1. Spending time with my FAMILY! This is what I want MOST!
I’m back! From camel riding to scuba diving, here are a few moments from my weekend: (to see ALL the pictures click here)
Eilat is Israel’s southernmost city, located on the north tip of the Red Sea. It’s part of the Negev Desert, making it scorching HOT during the summer, and still warm enough to vacation during the winter. It is definitely one of the most popular travel destinations for Israeli’s, who just want to get away for a few days or the weekend.
As you can see from the map, it is located right on the corner of Israel/Jordan/Egypt. If you also look closely you will see a blue line going from point A (Tel Aviv) to point B (Eilat). While it might look like quite the journey on the small map, in reality it is only about a 4 hour drive (5 1/2) by bus, more or less.
And here’s the exciting news. At the end of the week on Thursday night, I will be traveling to Eilat for 3 days!!! My Hebrew class ends on Thursday, and that night my flat-mate and I are taking a MUCH NEEDED trip down south. Full time-ministry and full-time studies can be exhausting!
We were going to go across the border to Jordan and explore Petra too, but due to some external situations, we decided just to chill in Eilat instead (which isn’t too shabby of an idea). Petra will have to wait.
So, what can one do in Eilat, you might ask???
Well, while we are there, we plan on doing a scuba dive with the dolphins in the Red Sea at Dolphin Reef (which I am beyond excited about and have ALWAYS wanted to do). You can take a camel tour, which I am hoping we will also be able to do. And of course, relaxing on the beach, soaking up the last remnants of summer after a loooooong intensive Hebrew Course!
I’m sure I will have MANY pictures to post when I return…so stay tuned for more Eilat action to come!
I am sooooo completely happy at this moment, because from September 23-October 7th I will be HOME!!!
My housemate found this amazing, incredible deal online for airline tickets from TA to the States…and when I say incredible, I mean INCREDIBLE!!!
I wasn’t planning on coming home anytime soon, but with this offer I just couldn’t pass it up! Its been pretty much a year since I’ve been back; and if I didn’t go now, it would be probably another year before I would have the opportunity again.
So, to all of you over there who want to see me …. here’s your chance! (I don’t know when the next chance will be.) If you want to hear about my work in Israel, Africa, Brasil…..or even just want to get a cup of coffee (oh, my goodness: I’m sooooo excited for Starbucks again) I’m totally up to anything! I feel like a giddy child on Christmas day right now…..I’m just TOOOOOO HAPPY!
I definitely had a TII moment yesterday, when my “moving guy” came to move my stuff to the new apartment. I was expecting a little truck or even a flatbed-type vehicle…this is what he described it as on the phone. To my surprise when I walked outside to meet him, I saw the vehicle that was to be used. Needless to say, the first thing out of my mouth was, “you think all of my stuff will fit in here?!?” His reply was, “no problem. Like a circus” (in his Israeli english accent).
Well, shut me up and let the pro’s do their job….it DID all fit (plus 3 people, me included, in the vehicle). Here is the moving day circus in the flesh:
The Galilee region is so seeped in history, its almost impossible to go anywhere that isn’t represented in the Bible and history books. There are many churches, ruins, gardens, and landmarks explaining what happened here in the past:
* The Wedding Church: where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine (they claim to sill have a couple of the original jars from this event)
* The Beattitudes Monastary: On the mountain where the sermon of the Beattitudes took place.
* The Church on the site where Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth
BUT, my absolute favorite place is the Sea of Galilee!!! There is no claiming this was the site where something took place; it IS the place where the storm was calmed and HE walked on water. Surrounded by hills and valleys, trees and shoreline, its absolutely breathtaking. Standing on the Israel side, you can look across and see what is now Syria. When I’m here, my mind automatically drifts back into the history and puts pictures with words. I ♥ it!
Yep, this is TJ, and yes…I’m 34 and still have a teddy bear! He is what I call my comfort zone.
TJ has been with me everywhere I’ve been. From Brazil to Africa…Europe to the Middle East; I don’t go anywhere without him.
I don’t know how he handles all the tosses and turns that I make during the night, ‘cuz no matter how restless I am, I always manage to grab onto him…even in my subconscious. I can’t sleep when he’s not there, and if he rolls off the bed in the middle of the night, I notice his absence.
I’ve even been asked what I’ll do without him when I get married; but the way things are going, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that anytime soon. (but I think I’ll still keep him around even if that time comes rolling around)
Sooooo, what about you? Anyone out there have a comfort zone item, thats been with you thick and thin? Please tell me I’m not the only one!!!
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