Hardcore Parkour

I post this as a tribute to our awesome boys that have taken up Parkour here in Jerusalem. I found this graffiti last week and had to pose & show off my wrapped up foot.

happiness: noun

a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy

b : a pleasurable or satisfying experience 

It's a simple definition for a simple feeling of bliss and contentment--a feeling that I've become rather accustomed to here. There are so many things that I would add to the definition of happiness. Friends, can I tell you a bit more about what defines happiness in my mind?

Happiness is singing hymns on the Sabbath at the Garden Tomb.

Happiness is hiking through fields laden with wildflowers in Galilee.

Happiness is poking jellyfish while collecting seashells and sea glass along the Mediterranean waterside (despite the look of disgust on my face).

Don't worry--it was dead & I only touched the top anyway; I learned my lesson from Finding Nemo.

Happiness is looking out across this beautiful ocean.

Happiness is discovering that your suitcase's handles double as straps & that you must have been a Sherpa in a previous life. 

This was even more impressive when I was carrying my backpack in front of me & holding the bus doc bag.

Happiness is blue skies smiling down on fields of gold.

Happiness is climbing trees in Chorazin.

Look how color coordinated we are!

Happiness is hiking with the little ones.

Cam has such a way with children.

Happiness is poppies and pillars.

Happiness is castles in a storm & Catholic saints spangled with the light of stained glass windows.

Happiness is playing April Fools jokes on/with your best friends.

Sorry boys, Carrie & I couldn't resist. Neither could the dozen people that called both of you. :)

Happiness is wind blowing through your hair under an ancient Roman arch & not even caring because you're under an ancient Roman arch along the Mediterranean. 

But perhaps the key to the blissful feeling I have on this lovely Sunday morning in Jerusalem: Happiness is staying up until 1 a.m. to watch General Conference, streaming live from Salt Lake City. 

 

If you're looking for something uplifting to do this weekend, I suggest you tune in for some prophetic messages of hope, faith, and happiness. What could be better than listening to wise words about our Saviors love and the importance of the family?

Not much. 

Except for maybe wandering around here afterwords:

...And This is Just Day One

Egypt was pretty cool, despite things heating up politically whilst we were there (don't worry--they locked us in our hotel so we couldn't go join the protesters). But between the slooooooow internet at the center & a fallen (& woefully wounded) camera, I haven't had the chance to post many pictures. But thanks to the high speed wifi at Hebrew U & a brand new shiny camera from the States (thanks, Costco, for having an amazing return policy!), here is some long-awaited photographic evidence of my Egyptian adventures. (sorry about the sideways pics)

Enjoy!

Taylor James Henderson III and I doing our very best Egyptian poses outside the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Do you believe this?

Climbing the Great Pyramid--best part of this picture? Easily Jeanelle's face. & the guy behind me.

Ready for a naming exercise? Here we go, left to right: Tay, Heidi, KHutch, Cory, Piers, JennyC, me!, Joshua, Bez, Stacey, Abibi, AJ, Linds, Megan, Britt, Jared, Lauren, KelsMc, Laurel, Abby, Addy, with a Spenster, Jeni, Mark, & Sadie on top. whew.

They even look cool sideways.

Chadwikipedia & me. (He's like Indian Jones, only...realer.)

This is what it looks like on the opposite side of the girl pictures.

Engagement pose in the temple near the Sphinx. So in love. So in Egypt.

I have friends who jump off of tall, ancient walls. Spester, Ally, & Piers.

Taylor gets excited about an archeological find.

Lauren & I could get used to life like this.

The Augusta Victoria

One of my favorite Sara Bareilles songs has a lyric about "see[ing] the doorways of a thousand churches." I'm beginning to think that by the end of these four months in the Holy Land, I'll break 1,000. No sweat.

Here are a couple of my favorite photos from one fot the first churches we visited. This is the Agusta Victoria, a beautiful Lutheran edifice built on top of the Mount of Olives to commemorate Jesus' ascension into heaven. It was built by the German Kaiser Wilhelm II & completed in 1910. It is truly a beautiful building and the acoustics in the chapel are truly awe-inspiring.

 

Random fact: the flights of stairs to the top of the bell tower are comprised of 222 steps. I counted. 

 

The view from the top.

 

View of the top. The ceiling was a combination of mosaic & painting.

You can read more about the beautiful Augusta Victoria here, via Wiki.

I Found You

Some of you may know that my most beloved Carrie VDAkinakanakanakankaannananana came here to the Jerusalem Center just one year ago. Since then, much has changed in her life--her name, her hair color, and, perhaps most significantly, her roommate situation. Last year, I was the one left in the US, pining for my partner in grammatical crime. But this year, I decided to make the trek to the other side of the world, helped greatly by her advice, wisdom, and well-loved guidebook. And despite being surrounded by incredible people & absolutely stunning scenery, I'm definitely missing my Curr'face.

 

We think we're really fun. & we like mustaches. But not on guys. 

But today, something happened that brought my Carrie a bit closer to me. As we went for a tour underneath the Jerusalem Center, we came to a place where students from past semester had written their names on the walls. Hundreds upon hundreds of names were scrawled in chalk & sharpie, but I was still hoping my some miracle that I could find Carrie's name. 

This is a place of miracles. I found her! The inscription now reads, "Kels Holloway <3s Carrie V." 

Luff ju all the way around the world.

I also got to wear a green hardhat. It was pretty exciting.

Old City Tour

 

Here in Jerusalem (I still really like saying that), we celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday. So this past Sunday, I went out to explore the Old City. We decided to go on the Ramparts Walk, which takes you along the tops of the walls of Jerusalem. Come along with me on this latest Journey, via photos. 

 

These are my stalwart comrades, Cory & Spencer, posing dramatically on the top of the ancient wall.

 

For those of you who aren't fluent in Latin, translation: Holy Land.

  

Churches and Barbed Rather: Both rather common sights here. 

 

Spencer's Ascension. They'll build a church here, too, in about 200 years.

 

First FALAFEL! I don't know how to say "delicious" in Hebrew yet, but when I do...

 

Toward the end of our day, we made it to the Davidson Archeological Park, which includes part of the Western Wall of Herod's Temple. Here you can see pieces of paper that people have written prayers on  tucked into the cracks in the walls. 

 

Carrying on my tradition of supporting the ancient ruins. This pose is now 17 years strong.  

 

Shot of the Day:

 

White dove flying from the ancient southern arch of the temple. 

On a Sunday...

...we did a lot of cooking. The menu was yellow curry chicken with raita. We also had some delightfully tart lemon cookies.



I wore my favorite shoes & pretended to be Julia Child.


I had the most fantastic sous chefs, Craig & Devin.
Excuse me--Sous CHeffs.
Who can CHiffonade.

 
I also got some cousin lovin'. Apparently, love of polka dots & ridiculously excited faces run in the family.

Isn't it great to have paparazzi friends?
& Farberware knives?
& chiffonade skills?
& cousins?
& curry? 
The answer is all of the above.
My belly & my heart were rather full of happiness.

 

Thanks to Jeremy & his lovely Canon camera for making me feel like a famous chef.

Oh, yes. There was also a fish. & Devin.