Two Weeks

We have been home a whole two weeks now.  It has taken every bit of that time for our family to re-acquaint ourselves with our home, our cars, our dog, our grocery store, etc.  (Where did I leave that thing-a-ma-bob three months ago?!)  A virus running through the family didn't help matters.  At last though, everyone is feeling more like themselves, healthy and getting back into some routines.

I have to say how much I love being home.  People are incredibly nice here.  I was so happy at HEB, our BIG local grocery store the other day.  Prior to the summer, grocery shopping was such a drudgery.  The 2 times I've been since being home have been quite the opposite.  I feel so loved and uplifted there.  HEB rocks people!  Air-conditioning, friendly, helpful faces, nice organized lines for checking out.  No flies.  We have no idea how good we've got it.  It reminds me of the Ross King song, "Why you done me wrong, Lord?" where he adeptly points out that our perceived hardships are truly not hardships at all.

Scott and I took a mini-walk tonight.  We discussed how we both feel this new level of calmness.  Things were so heightened and intense for the summer, that managing life here seems much more doable - we can, after all, read the language and understand how to function in our surroundings much more easily.  Maybe we have found a new inner peace, or maybe our minds were working overtime in Israel and we are still coming down off the high.  Either way, we shared we'd like to hold onto that feeling.  Nothing is on fire.  There is no panic.  Nice and easy does it.  It's the journey, not the destination.

And on that note, can't believe I've been on this journey now with Scott for 18 years.
Happy Anniversary sweetheart.  Wow - feels like just yesterday!

Happy 18 years honey!

There really is not place like home . . .

Our travel back home was smooth sailing.  Everyone slept well on the long leg over the ocean which made the rest manageable.  We were so grateful for all the prayers.

What a sweet welcome home we received at the airport!  The kids were blown away and felt so special to have friends and family there and excited to see us.  We went to the Alamo Cafe where we ate hot sauce and tortillas to our hearts, or stomachs content.  Boys were ready to crash hard on way home, but got great second wind after getting to the house.

It felt like a surreal dream to walk through the house.  We have grown in appreciation for the home we have, the beauty that surrounds us and friends and family that are nearby.  We were all giddy just walking around and having our comforts close by.

We are all adapting to time change well.  Ethan had a pretty sizable melt down today.  Out of the blue he started crying and asking why we made him go live in Israel and that he never wants to go there again.  Poor baby!  Broke my heart.  I guess in our own ways, we are all looking back thinking, "what was that all about?!"  I know it made us stronger as a family and as individuals, but the challenges that came with the experience have us all reeling a little bit.  It will take time to truly "unpack" from the summer.

Young Archaeologist

 In 1999, Muslims wanted to add another mosque on top of the Temple Mount.  They irresponsibly used bull dozers to clean out 2 of the 7 areas under the Temple Mount known as Solomon's Stables.  It took them 2 years to destroy thousands of years of history.  It took the Israel government 5 years to get a permit to sift through the debris that was left for ruins in an empty valley.

So Israel initiated the Temple Mount Recovery Project.  It allows volunteers to sift through the debris looking for whatever might be recovered.  So far, they have found coins, glass, metal, pottery from all time periods dating back to the Second Temple.

Emily and I had a ball.  We got a short lecture on the history, timeline and what to look for.  You then grabbed a bucket, poured it on a sifter and the hunt began.  Emily and I found a specific type of rock used as flooring during the Second Temple Period.  We also found a piece of pottery from the Byzantine - a part of a smoking pipe.  Another little boy found a coin and a bead.  The coin has to be cleaned to determine what time period it was from.

Loved the morning.  So fun we got to experience this on our last day in Jerusalem.  Psalm 102:15 - "For your servants have cherished her stones and favored her dust."

Final Countdown

Ethan woke me up this morning whispering, "Mommy, do we go home tomorrow?!"  Scott's been working hard at keeping us focused on where we are, but today we decided it is okay to officially start looking towards home!  Hooray!  We are coming home!!!

Today, we pack up and transform the apartment back its original state - i.e., remove all the art we have plastered on the walls.  It is a cool 85 degrees here today so we will give the city a last roam-around as well.  Tonight will be our last night to sleep here.  Then Tuesday we will say goodbye to the Shuk and take some final pictures.  We will have a final shwarma dinner, then our taxi picks us up at 8pm for our 12:30am flight Wednesday morning.

We all just made a list of funny and sweet moments we've shared.  It has been an incredible time of togetherness.  Not always easy, but we are stronger and closer for it and have made some great memories as well.  I've enjoyed weaning the kids from tv.  They have had some movies on computers, but for the most part have been forced to read and become more creative with limited toys and each other.

Time to pack!

Le Heetraot

Saturday, the kids spent the entire day with the Oppenheims downstairs.  The kids have become such great playmates, easily going from apartment to apartment, playing in the courtyard in between and getting so creative.  They even strung rope one day across the 2nd & 3rd stories of our apartments and ran toys back and forth over the line.

We had to say good bye to them that evening, as they were leaving for Eliat early Sunday morning.  It was heartbreaking.  It is one thing to be sad and miss friends as adults.  Another thing all together to see your kids crying over loving and parting with other kids.  Rachel and I just looked at each other as Bro, Viggy, Emily and Ethan crumbled when we forced a final good bye.  I think they all cried themselves to sleep that night.

Rachel and James taught us a Hebrew word that means "until I see you again".  So, we did not say goodbye, but Le Heetraot instead.  God answered our prayers for friends and playmates when He placed us by this precious family.  Can't wait for their visit in Texas!  Le Heetraot.

Heare's Travels

Mt. Arbel with Daddy

Back away from the edge kids, please.

Kylen stayed under shade tree the whole time!  Smart boy!

Sticks were a hit for the little ones.

Bet' Shan

Ancient Roman City

It was steaming hot out there

Cross in back ground way up on the hill

So proud of all our explorers!

Lasts & Lessons

We are only 5 days out from our return home.  The good-byes have started as have our "last" this or that while on this side of the ocean.

While it has been challenging at times, we've become quite attached to new friends and this place we've called home.

It won't be easy to lock the door and walk away.

Yesterday we had a final picnic with our new friends the Kramer's .  Cathy and I became good and quick friends as did our daughters, Emily and Petra.  We are encouraging the girls to be pen-pals.  Then last night we had to say goodbye to James,  Rachel's husband.  He is an amazingly brilliant and remarkable man.  He's fascinating and fun to be around.  Our families would continue to hang out if we could.  We are already working on bringing everyone over to Texas and James is up for it as he's interested in opening a Mexican food restaurant in the Shuk.  That, we would come back for!

One wise friend told us that people often mistakenly believe they will come over here for some great spiritual experience.  I think we came here with that same notion.  Scott and I had certainly experienced that on our 2 week study tours.

However, Jerusalem is full of tangible tension.  It is a gritty, raw and challenging place to live.  Among many other things, it is the center of 3 major world religions.  Seeing everyone so passionately devoted to their path, forces you to examine yours.

I've never had to give account for my faith the way I have here, meaning I've never had to explain it in words not commonly understood.  I didn't realize how very much the Christian community shares a language when talking about experiences and faith.  It was good for me to realize that some things I could easily explain and other things I could not - whether for lack of vocabulary, knowledge or experience.

God is deep and rich here.  I do not doubt for a minute that all of us are earnestly pursuing God.

Galilee Picts

Amazing waterfall in Bannias.

Our fearless leader - and so very handsome!

So honestly, kids we done before we started.  "Another old column - really?!"

Up in Golan Heights, overlooking Syria.  Kids are saying, "Can we get out of here now?!"

Love this!  He's sitting on a portion of a column in an ancient synagogue, thousands of years old, clueless to what he is really sitting on and wondering when he might get some ice cream!  What a trooper!

One of my favorite things - Gans.  Ancient gardens and boundary lines.

Rushing water at Bannai.

Twists and Turns

Life is always interesting.  I'm sitting here this morning blogging, while looking out over a gorgeous pool and private golf course in Caesarea.  Scott and the kids headed back to Jerusalem yesterday.  Our bed and breakfast hostess, Anne Kleinberg, invited me to stay for some R&R/conversation time.

Anne is an amazing woman.  A former interior designer from New York, she is now a self-published author of both fiction and cook-books.  I think she's lived 50 lives all at the same time.  She manages this successful B&B in Caesarea while finishing up her latest book on the historical, cultural and religious significance of pomegranates - recipes included!  She hosts cooking parties, entertains international diplomats and is an all-around gregarious, fun-loving woman who loves life!  You get energy just being around her.  Did I mention her garden full of fruit trees?  I had the best mango of my life from her tree.  www.annekleinberg.com

We've been discussing the marketing of her books and just plain having fun together.  I think we hit it off because she is a female version of Scott.  Love new friends, new opportunities and unexpected surprises.  Thank you Anne.

View of Golf Course - Mediterranean just on other side

Casa Caesarea

Pomegranate Tree

Kids playing at pool with a French family also staying at B&B

Galilee and Caesarea

Yee-haw!  Now for our most anticipated part of the trip.  We get to go for some hikes and get to stomp around in ancient ruins with Scott as our teacher!

This morning we leave for the Galilee.  We will spend 3 nights at a Kibbutz in En Gev which is up near the Sea of Galilee.  Most of the ministry of Jesus took place up in that region.  Then we will head over to Caesarea along the Meditteranean.  There is a rich history here as well.  Along National Park site, there are ruins dating back to Herod's time 37-4BCE, including an amphitheathre, bathhouses, a temple, synagogue, Circus and theatre.  Beautiful place to walk around wondering what life was like there 2000 years ago.

As we travel, Scott will be sporting a black, leather interior Audi A6.  He's asked us to call him Bond for the week.  There was a mix up at the car rental place and they gave him the only car available in the city  - at an economy rate, to their dismay!  I will be sporting a blue Ford Focus with one missing hub-cap.  He's feeling guilty, but I love that God gave him a sweet ride for the week.