5028 was awesome!

After a four-hour, nausea-inducing bus ride, the six Heare's arrived at the Club Hotel in Eliat.  The hotel is massive - includes six separate pools, a grocery store, work-out facility, dining hall, restaurant, game room, ping-pong tables, synagogue and auditorium for shows.  There were lines of people checking in for their stays.  A sweet girl named Nicole, who once lived in Utah, took pity on me, the wide-eyed American and took us to the back for a fast check-in.  Still thanking God for her.  Whenever we were lost or utterly confused, we'd hunt down Nicole!

Red Sea with Jordan in the background.  Gorgeous!

So 5028 was our room number.  Unfortunately, we became notorious at the hotel.  Eventually where ever we went, the employees would give us a knowing, understanding smile suggesting they were thinking, "Oh, it's you.  I've heard ALL about you."

From broken bottles and dishes, to rescuing swimsuits that blew off our ledge, we ended up calling the front desk again and again.  They were super patient with us but they may have thrown a little party upon our leaving.  (We were also the only Caucasian's in the place, so maybe that added to our notoriety.)

Loved our get away!  Ate a big breakfast every am in their dining hall.  Typical Israeli breakfast includes a variety of salads, yogurts, cheeses, sardines, hard-boiled eggs, "pancakes", fruit and bread.  Kids had all the chocolate milk they could drink so they managed and experimented with some new foods as well.

Swimming pools were heaven.  Cool and clean.  Loved it all.  We also found some dramamine for trip back home, so ride home went much more smoothly - until we almost missed the bus after a pit-stop when little boys were taking a little too long in bathroom.  Ryan and Em were literally stopping the bus for me as I ran to retrieve boys.  When they say "20 minute stop", they mean it!

Eliat boasts the world's only underwater observatory.  They also have a smaller version of Sea World.  Great outing with the kids.  Amazing colorful reefs with all sorts of fun fish.

Everyones favorite - the octopus.

 

Headed to Eilat

I had a quiet moment of gratitude today driving home to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.  Emily and I had just dropped mom off at the airport and she was snoozing in the backseat.  It was still early in the morning and the sun was just beginning to stream down onto the hills.

It is a beautiful thing to ascend to the city of Jerusalem.  To the East of the city is dessert.  To the West and North are plains of farmland.  So, entering from any direction, the geography shifts to hills, tall green trees, gans cut into mountains and energetic life.  The land feels promising and hopeful.  

I am more and more appreciating our time here - driving a car blowing AC may have helped to induce this sweet, reflective moment!  I think it is because we have figured out the basics of living here and feel more comfortable just being.  It's kind of funny, but we are asked by Israeli's and other tourists for directions here more and more.  We must even be looking like we are fitting in!  Kids have settled down too and we are finding a good rhythm with each other.   

Tomorrow starts the final leg of our time here.  Vacation!  With Scott's classes behind him, we now get to leave Jerusalem a bit more frequently and see more of the country.  We leave for Eilat tomorrow.  Eilat is in Southern Israel near the border of Egypt.  Scott and I have driven thru the port city before - absolutely beautiful!  We are staying at a family-friendly hotel with pools, restaurants and fun - all there.  Which is great, because it is going to be warm - projected 115 degrees and we will need to stay close to the water.  

Promise to post lots of picts soon.  We are off!  

For Grandma

We love Grandma!  Thanks for coming to visit and share this experience with us.  You brought cheer and smiles into our home - in addition to yummy oatmeal.  Won't ever forget our time with you here!  Glad Israel ended up surprising and delighting you in return.

Love us some of Grandma's Oatmeal!

Western Wall

Quick - Get a pick of the soldier with a gun!

Stylin' in the Shuk

Playground fun

Our evening out to dinner

For Quilting Buddies

Sewing through time

Mount of Olives

Are we home yet?!

Popparazzi shot - 2 Texans spotted at Western Wall

We are wet, but we did it!

Conquering fears at Hezekiah's Tunnel

Southern Stairs.  Looks like an angels behind you in stone, mom.

Chillin' with the girls

The Big 5

International Birthday Parties R Us!  

Ethan's sweet friends made his day today and came up for cupcakes, balloons and fun.  In pict - Morty -11, Viggy -5, Ethan - 5, Kylen -3, Bro -8, Emily -9 and Ryan -12.

The Motley Crew

Ethan wanted a b-day pick with Bro alone.  You may be 5, but you are too young for that!

Our Tigger : )

Morty is the one that usually has this toy in his hand.  Called a diabolo, you get the center part spinning then do all sorts of manuvering.  Morty has Em hooked on it.  

Bro is a natural mom.  Loves Kylen and singing to tunes on Ipad

Pizza at Jacob's Pizza with Tom and Jerry cartoons playing in background.  Ethan's fav restaurant.

(Ethan's actual birthday is 17th, but shhhh, no one tell him.  Taking mom to Tel Aviv tomorrow for her flight home so we celebrated early.)  We have loved having Grandma here!!

Jerusalem Oasis

Sweet friends Tim and Michelle Becksvoort's encouraged us to contact some of the friends they had made during their Israeli stay.  So this week, the kids, Grandma and I met up with Cathy Kramer and her kids Barry, Petra and Rachel.  Beautiful American family who have been living here 5 years.  How fun to laugh and share all our common confusions.  Love Cathy & bonus - she introduced us to my new favorite part of Jerusalem, a secret Oasis!

Kramer's & Heare's See-Sawing

Did someone spot a naked Transformer?

Yep - naked allright.  Fell into the water and didn't mind one bit!

Picture Diary

 A little picture summary.

Scott has finished school - really enjoyed second class at the JUC, Jesus and His Times.  Ethan turns 5 on Tuesday though we are celebrating tomorrow.  Em and I take Grandma for a girls road-trip/sleepover to Tel Aviv on Tuesday then she returns home.  Then our gang is off to Elat for week at the Club Hotel.  Kids are pumped for the swimming!  Scott and I are pumped to get to one place with food and accommodation settled and just stay there.

En Gedi

Mediteranean Sea

Shuk Shopping

Spices at the Shuk

How cute and fun is this?!

Dead Sea

Kids in Mediteranean

Milk comes in plastic bags

Typical Israeli salad

Mt. Herzel

Days around the City

Scott left today for his final study days outside of Jerusalem.  They will mostly be up in the region of Galilee.  He is especially enjoying the teaching this round.

The kiddos are enjoying Grandma being here.  Ryan escorted her to Yad Vashem where they spent the entire day together.

The next day Em took her to the Burnt House in the Old City.  This house dates back to 70AD when the Temple was destroyed.  Remnants of a priests home were discovered there - also destroyed by fire.  Very surreal and vivid experience of what it might have been like during such death and destruction.

The comic relief for them involved entering the Old City by the wrong gate and winding up in the Muslim Quarter.  Not necessarily a dangerous place to be, but not exactly where I wanted my 9 year old daughter and 65 year old mother to wind up alone.  I was at the house when Emily called and said, "Mom, where are we?"  Then, sweet Ryan offered "to go get them!"  Ha - no thank you.  Three of my people lost in the Old City isn't my idea of a fun day!  They did manage their way out and we all met for a late lunch at Big Apple Pizza.

The night before Scott left, he and I went out for a late night bite with neighbors James and Rachel.  They are a hoot.  We laughed and talked for almost 4 hours.  So amazing that our paths have crossed here at the Nov apartment in Jerusalem.  Two Israelis, two Americans, Jewish, Christian, husbands, wives, parents.  It was a no-holds-bar discussion about all of it.  We learned so much about each other and I am so grateful for the intimate time with new friends.  Have already invited them to come see us in Texas!

Em and I are feeling our legs and abs today after joining Rachel for a Birkam Yoga class last night.  We met with a few of her friends outside on a front porch.  Best way to exercise ever - underneath the wide-open sky.

Scott returns tomorrow - Thursday night and then will be all finished with his coursework.  We will do some final things around the city with Grandma then start doing a bit more traveling around Israel.  Almost a month from our return home already.  Ryan and I agreed last night that we have mixed feelings about that.  Happy to be returning to our home, friends and family, but we will also miss the home we are just now really figuring out and settling into.