Pictures from Israel

Tevet 4, 5770

After 36 hours of travel, here we are sitting in the tour bus outside of the Tel Aviv airport. Logic dictates we should have been exhausted. However, the power of adrenaline was in full effect as there was no way we were going to shut our eyes and miss any of this trip.

We drove a little under an hour to the Jerusalem Plaza Hotel, just a 5-minute walk from downtown Jerusalem.

After exploring the hotel and meeting our group, we did crash for the evening since our first full day of touring started the next morning with a 6:45 a.m. breakfast buffet. Meditteranean food...one word...YUM!



First stop on Day 1: Mount of Olives

Here are some views from the top of the Mountain. The gold dome is the Dome of the Rock at the top of the Temple Mount. (we went there too - I'll post pics another day)

We were told that tours do not typically start with a walking tour of Jerusalem because it physically wears the guests out. Therefore, it is usually saved for day 4 or 5. I, however, couldn't have asked for a better way to start the tour. The view from the top of this mountain is burned into my heart. For it was here that I fell in love with Israel.

More pics to come!!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Shalom.

A Hanukah Mishap

Kislev 28, 5770

Happy 4th day of Hanukah

It's always a challenge trying to find age-appropriate ways to ignite a passion in our small children for the feasts and Holidays that remind us of God. It's a further challenge to remember that we (as Messianic believers) do not do these activities out of religion causing them to be practiced begrudgingly, but we do it out of excitement and love for Yeshua our Messiah. For the feasts and holidays emulate His life and His second coming.

So again, back to the challenge of expressing that to small children who don't want to hear Momma preach!

This year, we took the approach of keeping it simple and making it fun.


As part of our fun, (and I must admit, I snagged this idea from another Mom) I wrapped Hanukah/Christmas books and put them in a basket.


Each night, after speaking the blessings and lighting the candles, the kids get to pick a "present". They unwrap the book and we sit and read followed by a kid-inspired family night.

And, here is where the mishap takes place.

Last night, we deemed it movie night. In our haste, we ran from lighting the candles and reading to the TV room to watch our movie. Well, guess what Mommy forgot to do.





Yep, I forgot to blow out the candles. Here are some better pics since the above pic doesn't do the mess justice.

When we discovered it, the candles were clear pools of wax down in the cups of the candlesticks with barely glowing wicks in the middle.

So, guess what I'll be doing today in order to light the candles tonight! I'm hoping a hair dryer on low heat and a butter knife will do the trick. But....I'm open to suggestions.

On another note....this is the season of miracles. Wether you celebrate Hanukah, Christmas or both, we are all celebrating miracles.

It is my prayer that we will invite the Lord to work His miracles in our lives. It is my challenge to give the Lord free reign in my life to work the miracles He wants to give and not the ones I expect. Surprise us, oh Lord, that we would be blessed in ways our minds cannot forsee.

Have a wonderful week.

Shalom!

Poor Neglected Blog, I'm Back....Again!

Kislev 20, 5770

Hello again Bloggy friends. I’m so sorry for being gone for so long. I’ve missed reading everyone’s blogs and will spend some time catching up this week.

The reason I haven’t posted in so long?? I’m glad you asked. :-)

We have just returned from Israel!!

We went as part of Sid Roth’s (from the show It’s Supernatural) tour group to the Holy Land.

Sid is a Messianic believer and a dual citizen of Israel and the United States. For me, there was no better way to experience Israel for the first time than through the eyes of another Messianic believer. It was a life changing experience and one I intend to share over the next few weeks.

For now, here are a few photos.

My husband (who is holding the camera, hence his weird facial expression!) took this picture of us sitting on the bus. We are in the Tel Aviv airport parking lot and had been traveling for 36 hours w/no sleep.

Our first day of touring and our first panoramic glimpse of Jerusalem. We were standing on the Mount of Olives looking towards the old city.

David's tower at night.

Due to some impending writing assignments, I will have to cut back posting to every Monday. But, I’ll be here on Mondays sharing what the Lord has put on my heart and more photos of the trip.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to catch up. By the Way, this Friday is the first day of Hanukkah so……Happy Hanukkah!!

Shalom!