Bittersweet Symmetry

I'm going to be doing this again soon.

But I'm not sure how to feel about it.

& this time I don't haven my Etch-a-Sketch.

bummer.

some of this will be waiting for me once I fly over the big blue ocean:

but I'm really going to miss this:

Time Machine

1700 BC

1550 BC

1468 BC

1270 BC

1269 BC

1230 BC

1224 BC

1000  BC

961 BC

950 BC

922 BC

918 BC

853  BC

732  BC

722 BC

701 BC

640  BC

609  BC

586 BC

537 BC

520 BC

444  BC

430  BC

332 BC

270  BC

198 BC

167  BC

164  BC

63 BC

38 BC

31 BC

 20 BC

 4 BC

 6 AD

10  AD

26  AD

66  AD

70  AD

73  AD
135 AD

180 AD

324 AD
500  AD
638 AD

1099  AD
1187 AD

I can tell you something significant that happened in the Holy Land in each & every single one of these years.  

(to be sung to the rhythm of "Saudis in Audis") 
In the 12 &69, Rameses treats with the Hittites, 1270 was the Ex-O-dus, Israel led out by Mah-O-ses.
 

180 AD - The Jews changed their stance on writing the Oral Toral 180 degrees & wrote it down. This was called the Mishnah. 

1230 BC- Joshua crossed into Canaan--just in time for lunch.

586 BC- Nebudchadnezzar went after Jerusalem with sticks (big ones) & destroyed the First Temple, which, incidentally, was built by Solomon in...

950 BC.  BAM.

I'm like a timeline ninja! (taken at Galilee)

Go ahead. 

QUIZ ME.

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.

Petra Preview

More to come...

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:

...Except It's Actually *Really* Blue

I speak, of course, of the alluring Red Sea.

Whoever called it red was obviously colorblind. Love that tropical azure.

On Sunday--which is our day off here at the JC, as we celebrate Sabbath on Saturday (like the Jews)--we traveled to Eilat, a beach resort town along the shore of the Red Sea. We've hit the Red & the Med in the last 10 days, now we're heading for the Dead next week. No complaints from this water baby.

My lovely Hawaiian friend Mallory said it was *almost* as good as the Islands.

It was glorious to plunge into that bright blue water and come face to face with fish like I usually only see in my dentist's aquarium. We even saw a jellyfish! With the sea, the salt, and the sun, I was a happy girl.

On our drive down to Eilat, Bro. Chadwick (aka Chadwickipedia) told us all about Lehi's journey from Jerusalem and along the very trail we were driving. It's incredible to see how all of the stories I've read so often weave in and out of each other here. 

And to make the day even bettah, I was blessed with the honor of wearing The JC Girls' Shirt. It is the height of Middle Eastern haute couture.

voila!

Did I mention that I love my life?

you might want to re-live summers gone by & listen to "Never Let You Go" by Third Eye Blind.

Running on Faith

In a moment of pure insanity and overestimation of my physical abilities, I signed up for Jerusalem's First 10k. But guess what?

I DID IT!

awkward self portrait on a street that was part of the course

And it only took me about an hour and 15 minutes, despite Jerusalem being the Hilliest City in the Holy/Hilly Land. Since I've gone running...um... once since I've been here, I was rather pleased with this time.

It was a beautiful run on a sunny morning, taking us all over West Jerusalem and even through a bit of the Old City. Jewish families, Muslim men on their way to morning prayers, and tourists from around the world lined the streets to cheer the runners on as we passed by. Along the way, huge speaker towers blared Hebrew hip-hop; the excitement was infectious.

Unfortunately, walking the 3 miles to the starting line (all the roads were closed down, so we couldn't take a cab), running the race, and walking the three miles back, all on Jerusalem's lovely but slightly uneven limestone pavement, did some slight damage to some of the muscles in my left foot. Glory wound!

I may become a professional sport injury wrapper yet. Stylish, no?

But life is GOOD.

Because I got this super cool neon green/yellow adidas jersey shirt thing for my participation in the marathon. You'll never have to worry about losing me in a crowd again.

modeling my Jerusathon Jersey (tm) by the Herodian ashlars that would have formed the gateway to the Temple Mount at the time of Christ. typical.

  
AND...my hair is getting sun bleached and my face is getting tan. 

one of those rare occasions when my hair is behaving itself & I get to look like a girl

bliss.

LISTEN UP: highlights from my 10k playlist: "Uncharted" by Sara Bareilles, "Parachute" by Train, "I Believe in You" by Vertical Horizon, "Time & Confusion" by Anberlin, & "You're All I Have" by Snow Patrol.

love note

Dearest Galilee,

I miss you already.



Love Always,
Kels 

ps- I'll post more pictures of you, because, truly, the world needs to know of your beauty. 

you should probably take a listen to "Seafarer" by Kate Nash. & go for the accoustic version.

Still Daddy's Girl

I remembered Caesarea Philippi. I remembered the water and the lush growth. I remembered how my Daddy coaxed me into sticking my face in for a drink while mom murmured about giardia and giggled at our sopping faces.

Daddy, be so proud.

Seventeen years later, I'm thrilled to report that the water still tastes fantastic, and there have been no signs of any giardiac symptoms.

Please note that the camera angle is different, but the location is exactly the same.

And while we're still playing with the seventeen year symmetry, there are these.

   

 

Things Are Always Brighter in the Morning

Last night was not one of my best. I finally crawled into my bed more than a little bit stressed about the pile of homework looming ahead of me, a bit discouraged by some situations back in the States, and emotionally and physically exhausted. But before crashing, I read a few scriptures and prayed that things would look a bit brighter in the morning.

I woke up early to talk these some fabulous people who love me lots.

It must be said: my mom is a babe.

I had this song stuck in my head all day.

And I wandered around a city that looks like this:

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

It's hard to stay down for long when you are so incredibly blessed. I am so grateful to know that God hears my prayers and gives me the comfort I need to see the sunshine and warmth beyond the clouds, even when I sometimes begin to question whether I deserve such love. I know that that same loving Father in Heaven cares for each and every one of His children, no matter where they are and regardless of what name they call Him. He gave us everything, not even withholding His only Son, Jesus Christ. God gave us His most Beloved Son as a Savior so that we might be comforted by One who understands our every pain and heartache. As I walked the same streets that my Savior once walked today, I felt the warmth of His love in the sun on my face.

Last night, I prayed for solace. My prayers were heard and answered, and this morning I awoke with a perfect brightness of hope. The world wasn't magically transfigured to give me a life of ease, but I know that with the love of my Savior and my Father in Heaven, I can face the curveballs that life throws. Things truly do look brighter in the morning.

(You should click on the links. They are all really good. I promise.)