Grace

Preschool

2011-01-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

I have wonderful news! This semester I'm helping teach at the preschool on BYU campus! I absolutely love it! The little boys just melt my heart and the girls are so darling! Ill keep you posted as the semester goes on, on all the adventures I have with the 4 yr olds

Condoleezza Rice at BYU

2011-01-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

Condoleezza Rice focuses on foreign affairs at BYU - ksl.com

Mt Sinai

2010-08-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

May 20... Yes yes i know what you're thinking? ages ago... well I was brave today and decided to attempt to use my computer which has all my pictures on it, it has been having a really hard time working. Anyways, on to Sinai here's my story:

So at 2:15 someone knocked on my door telling Erin (my cute roommate during Egypt) and I it was time to get up. So rolling out of bed i slipped on my shoes, i was all ready dressed lets be honest 2 am? We grabbed out flashlights and water bottles and slipped out the door to meet up with everyone for hot chocolate by the buses. It turns out the hot coco was defiantly a let down, I guess they just havent figured out the secret recipe yet.

by 2:45 I was at the base of Mt Sinai looking up into the darkness at the billions and brazillions of stars! It looked like someone had taken a paint brush and just wiped it across the sky! I couldnt stop looking at it. It actually started to be a problem, it's just a little hard to walk on a rocky trail in the dark while star gazing... Im just i didnt get hurt or run over a camel! The whole way up the trail there were camels to give the faint hearted rides. There were just a few things that I didnt like about the camels:

1. They smell horrendous

2. They were really big on the small trail, if you werent careful you might get squished by ones going up and others coming down.

   3. I got really sick of being asked if i wanted a ride
   4. They are NOT very comfortable to ride
   5. I was scared of getting spit on
However; good news I got past the camels and to the giant staircase that leads to the summit of Sinai! We got up there just before sunrise and sang hymns it was magical. After hanging out on the top for awhile and getting pictures we went down a little ways and had a class testimony meeting! I got to bare my testimony where Moses received the 10 commandments and during the time the Children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness he went up 6 times to talk to God. Pretty cool if you ask me!

Sorin' over Mt Sinai

Matthew Judson Kennedy and I

Watching the sunrise over the Sinai Wilderness... breathtaking

What a great hike! Loved it!

Me, Maddie, Chrissy, Lisa
Just watching the sunrise I love these girls!

2010-07-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

Today I spent the 4th not riding on the Miss Orem float in the Provo parade like i have the past 2 years; but in Tel Aviv, Israel on the beach with 26 of my friends! Does life get better? We came back to Jerusalem had a BBQ, with a decent rendition of apple crisp and vanilla ice cream, a "carnival" where I wasted Katie Packer in a bobbing for apples competition! and to top it all off sparklers! So no we didn't celebrate with massive fireworks like these (it's not Israels Independence Day...) but I feel like it was an overall success! I just hope our country can keep it together long enough for my kids in 20 years to have the chance to celebrate our countries freedom.... enough said.

I hope you all had a marvelous day filled with picnics and fireworks! The only thing that would have made it better would have been if my family was here to play with me! I miss you guys!

Quote of the day:

2010-06-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

This week is finals at the Jerusalem Center fro Spring term. Ive studied for my Palestinian and Judaism classes so much today that i feel like my brain is melting... really messy... Well I was reminded of a quote I read while I was at Oxford a few years ago touring with my family. It illustrates my feelings at this moment beautifully.

The more I study, the more I know
The more I know, the more I forget
The more I forget, the less I know
So why study?

-Oxford University, Oxford, England

Happy studying :)

PS.... The stashes are still rockin' it even though the US is out.. hummm maybe the World Cup was just an excuse to show their manliness...???? I think yes. Also, Ive now officially cut my 2nd Euro-mullet... another World Cupism {pictures to come}{they look good!}

Cheetah vs Tortoise

2010-06-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Timmy Howard... Please dont let the Uganish team score any more goals...

Nearly all 80 of us (in the study abroad group) are crammed in a room watching the World Cup game! There is a lot riding on this game, a lot of "hair" you could say. Some of the boys have grown mustaches since the beginning of the World Cup with the plan to shave them when the US gets beat out. It would be really awful to wake up tomorrow with clean shaven men. mostly because it cracks me up to hear the girls complain about it.

Stacey brought on a interesting conversation comparing the US and Ghana... She said "I just imagine the players like animals playing each other..." We were all intrigued and wanted to see what animals she was imagining on the field. Stacey: "Ghana are all like cheetahs cus they are so fast... Im still working on what we are..." so after a few suggestions (tortoise, horses)... Blake a beautiful blonder surfer from Cali yelled "Golden Retriever!"

Im really excited to see if the Golden Retriever can oust the Cheetah, and if my men will have stashes for a few more days

Bible Box

2010-06-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

My really good friend Mike Eddington (sweetest guy ever) gave me the beautiful idea of creating a Bible Box... I talked the olive wood carver Jimmy into making me a box with "Jerusalem" carved on the top. The plan is (should be self explanatory) to put things in the box from the stories of the Bible to use when I teach my "unborn" children or in primary or heaven help me Relief Society....

So far I have gathered the following items:

* Davids Sling {rocks included}

* Myrrh

* Shepherds Flute

* Shells from the Red and Med Seas

*Sheckles

*Leaves from Garden Tomb and Gethsemane

* papyrus

*Pot shards from tels {archeological digs}

(i know I still have a lot to gather)

Things I plan on tracking down:

* Oil Lamp

*Olive Oil

*Widows Mite

*Ram Horn

* Mustard seeds

I plan on finishing it up after Galilee.... Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Feast of Camel!

2010-06-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

Two days ago I went on a dangerous journey. about a week ago I received an email from a dear friend and fellow student at the Jerusalem Center inviting me to go get camel meat with a group for lunch in a few days. This was the PS of the email:

P.S.
I did a brief search on Wikipedia and discovered that one danger of improperly inspected camel meat (specifically the uncooked liver) is the bubonic plaque. Therefore, as a courtesy to the rest of us, please refrain from ordering uncooked liver. Other possible diseases are as follows. Camel is also unclean under Mosaic law and will render the consumer unclean upon consumption. Purification rituals will be held upon return to the center on an individual basis.

OIE List A Diseases
Foot and mouth disease
Vesicular stomatitis
Rinderpest
Rift Valley fever
Bluetongue

OIE List B Diseases
Anthrax
Aujeszky’s disease
Echinococcosis/hydatidosis
Heartwater
Leptospirosis
Q fever
Rabies
Paratuberculosis
Screw-worm
Bovine anaplasmosis
Bovine babesiosis
Brucella abortus infection
Tuberculosis (M. bovis)
Dermatophilosis
Haemorrhagic septicaemia
Theileriosis
Brucella melitensis infection
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia
Equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western)
Trypanosomosis including Trypanosoma evansi

Other Diseases of Concern
Epizootic haemorrhagic disease
Borna disease
Melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei)
Salmonella Enteritidis
Salmonella Typhimurium DT

No big deal right? I instantly saw this as a challenge to not get sick so I added my name to the group. The next thing I know I get an email from the Director the of the Center send an email saying that they didn't want it to be a center planned activity to go eat this dangerous meat and that they did not support us going.... so being obedient we called off the trip.

The plot thickens... our dear Student Body Pres, Nate, decided to get a few of us who really wanted to go to take the daring trip down to the little cave where they serve camel. I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to be infected, so I enlisted in the secret camel lunch.

There were 13 of us who went, (an unlucky number to begin with...) the restaurant looked like a hole in the wall but once you went inside it opened up to a cave like room with the table about a foot off the ground and couches all around. Im not going to lie I was a little bit of a lot excited nervous. The first course was petas with humus and some yummy yogurt that looked like sour cream or sour cream that tasted like yogurt.. we couldn't figure out what it was.... Anyways after we wiped them out the first of three rounds of camel was served! They cooked it 3 different ways so the first was brought out in a clay pot, it was super hot, and poured into a big dish. It was like a roast with the meat, potatoes, and carrots. it was so tender and delicious! Round 2 was ground up like meat balls with some intense spices on a skewer. It was good but not my favorite... and round 3 was supreme! It was cut into pieces and put on a skewer and grilled. It tasted like Tuchano's!

I am happy to report that I am still alive and if given the chance I would eat camel again.

Im having a hard time coming up with a creative title...

2010-06-09T02:48:00.000-07:00

So me just lay it out there... I realize that I have been a little, ok really, bad at keeping you updated on everything thats going on here in the beautiful land of Israel. Dont fret darlings I'll repent and get better and finish posting about Egypt soon! Here is what we have been doing since we got back from Egypt on May 21. I know its uber long but try and stick it out!

May 22 was my 20th birthday! it was defiantly on of the top ways to spend your birthday! the only thing that would have made it better would have been if you all had been here too! We had Sacrament meeting in the gorgeous auditorium and they sang to me in Relief Society. After church though a group of us got together and made the trek up to the Garden Tomb. It was so so nice. The spirit there is so strong! And to be with so many people that are working to be closer to the spirit as well, it was powerful. We stayed for most of the afternoon. Here are some of the things i wrote in my journal... I was just thinking about the love that our Savior has for us in that everyone who comes to the Earth receives a perfect eternal body no matter what they did with their mortal existence. Because we will have the gift of our bodies forever the commandments, law of chastity, word of wisdom ect are just to help us learn how to bridle our passions and control our appetites (Dad it's ok with me if you wait to control your appetite last, wink wink). They are not to hold us back or limit us but to lift us up and prepare us for things to come. I opened my scriptures to Matt 5 and started reading the Sermon on the Mount. Vs 10-12 really struck me. It talks about those that are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, and are falsely accused for his sake, great shall be their reward in heaven. I just felt this overwhelming feeling of peace realizing that all our loses would be made up. I know that Christ died on the cross, He suffered the pain and affection and heartache felt by all the inhabitants of not only this world but worlds without number. I know that he knows how i feel and his able to help me forgive and love not matter how hard it may be.

Dad dont worry I did cool stuff to celebrate your birthday too! Lisa, Chrissy, Neil, Daniel. Stacey, Jud, Jared, Kendal, Craig, and I went to the Hall of the Last Supper, it looks like your picture mom... just empty... while we were there we read Matt 26:26-28. We also went to King Davids Tomb, it is just down stairs in the same building as the Hall of the Last Supper. The Jews have built this little shrine and honestly I hate everyone of the tombs that we have been to. They are just dark and people are there reading the Torah and in a sense worshiping these dead people. It’s slightly disturbing. Anyway, on a lighter note we ended our little outing at Dormition Abbey or where Mary supposedly Ascended into Heaven. It was beautiful! the murals all over the chapel were breath taking, they all depict the life of Christ! We read in Isaiah about the prophecy Virgin Mary. If you go down a spiral stair case directly under the Chapel there is a shrine for Mary, it was one of the better ones, there were a lot of candles and more murals, they were each done by a different artist so they were all unique and interesting. That was our last stop that day...

The past few weeks have literally be packed with school work. Except for Sundays, they are our free-days and it seems like a sin to do much studying! A few of us went to Tel Aviv 2 Sundays ago and last Sunday we went to The Red Sea and spent the day in Elait. It was so fun to snorkel and play on the beach! Everyone went too so it was like going to the beach with 80 of your friends! The best part is now I can say that I’ve swam in the Red, and Med! I just need to make it to the Dead, and we will on a fieldtrip!

Speaking of fieldtrips, Mondays are our fieldtrip days. Two weeks ago our field trip included the southwestern, low country of Judea or the Shelpelah which means low land. There are 5 valleys Lachish, Guvrin, Elah, Sorek, and Aijalon. They have mountain ranges (or hills) between and are shaped like the spaces between fingers with Jerusalem at the top of the hand. They all lead up to Jerusalem. We went to the Valley Sorek where the story of Sampson in Judges 14-16 takes place. He had so much potential it was sad to see him get distracted in his strength and the world losing everything. The Ark of the Covenant was taken up through the Sorek valley on its way back to the Israelites after it was captured when the sons of Eli took it to battle, 1 Samuel. Lachish was our next stop. What I took form there was from Brother Manscill our Old Testament teacher when he said, “This is your legacy, your people, you are Israel.” Up to this point I had just thought of the places we went as historical sites where the Bible took place and it was interesting to put the stories into context but my whole perspective changed when I realized that these are my ancestors. These are the people who paved the way for Christ’s coming. It is amazing that the more I learn about the Old Testament the more apparent it is that the Lord truly had his hand in every instance, guiding and directing the peoples to make way for the birth and life of His son. The puzzle pieces just keep fitting together.

The final stop we made was in the Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath! We each got our own sling shot and got to have throwing or I guess slinging practice! I was super bad at first because I was scared of hitting myself in the face but Jesse showed me this sweet way of doing it that worked amazingly! It’s called the one… two… side arm, instead of trying to do it underhand you just swing it around and sorta throw it like a baseball. I think this summer is giving me the chance to take out some of the Goliaths in my life.

This past Monday we went to the Old City of David where the ruins from his palace are. We learned all about the city walls and how they were added to and expanded and the first temple that was build above the city.

The highlight was defiantly going through the Gihon water tunnels that were built under the city to bring water within the city walls. It was probably a good .5 mile with water up to our knees. I had my scriptures and phone in my bag so I was holding it trying to keep it from getting splashed. While we were in the tunnel we sang hymns and turned off our lights a few times and walked in the dark. It was a little scary. The walls are just a few inches wider than my shoulders and sometimes the roof drops down so I was constantly trying to keep from hitting my head. It was such a relief when the light came back on. While I was trying not to fall or get hurt in the dark I related the utter darkness to the darkness and emptiness that we feel when we are withdrawn from the spirit. No matter how hard you try you are going to hit the walls and have the feeling of being isolated and not knowing if you are going in the right direction. As soon as you let the light back into your life there is a calmness that comes and even though you have to make the same journey through the tunnel, none of the obstacles change, you are about to know what to do to avoid being hurt. Im so grateful for the gospel and the light that it has brought into my life. I know that Heavenly Father has, like with the Israelites, had His hand there continually guiding me.

When we made it out of the tunnel there is a little pool that is thought to be the pool of Siloam where Jesus healed a blind man, John 9. We talked about how he spit into the mud that he covered on the mans eyes to show the men that were skeptical of his power that it was from within him that he was able to heal. (if that made any sense)… If you felt bad that I had my scriptures with me in the tunnel and couldn’t splash and play with everyone be at peace. I put my scriptures down when we got out of the tunnel and we all got in a HUGE water fight in the Siloam pool, even the professors joined in!

Oh The Places We Went

2010-05-27T02:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick rundown of some of the places we went...

Saqqara Tomb in Cairo... It was the burial grounds for Memphis

This guy just came up to me and wanted to take a picture I was slightly creeped out but I love that he is wearing my sunglasses!

Jud and I at the Temple of Hatshepsuts

Arms crossed means you are dead... just a side note...

Ramzi, Jud, Me, and Nick standing in front of the Luxor Temple

Nate and Jake (the couple) kissing me in the Luxor Temple

Camels... your lucky they dont smell in pictures!

2010-05-27T01:47:00.000-07:00

This day in Luxor way probably one of the funnest! We had a Faluka ride across the Nile which was amazing beautiful!

Me, Maddie, Jud (in his man dress), Morgan, Kathleen

Brother and Sister Brown

Some of the Directors and most wonderful people you will meet

Little kids swimming in the Nile... no big deal... slightly disgusting that they are swimming in sewage

To our camel ride which is was quite an adventure! My camels name was James Bond, (solid) and my driver's name was Adam (also solid).

These are some pictures I took while on my camel...

Things I learned...

To make your camel go fast slap it on the butt with a rope... hard...
Do not let your camel driver marry you off...
Wear extra padding on your bum
be warned that camels smell aweful!
Sunsets on the Nile are AMAZING!

Action in Egypt

2010-05-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many people the Sphinx has kissed but I'm sure our kiss was one of it's best!

Shout Out

2010-05-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

This is a HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Shout Out to my Daddy!

I am pretty much the LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD to be blessed with pretty much the
COOLEST, SWEETEST, FUNNIEST,

DAD IN THE WORLD!

Here are some things I <3 about my Daddy

(in no particular order)

His Halloween costumes are unbeatable! When I was little He was the Beast and I was Belle. The past 2 years have been memorable with Nacho Libra (stretchy pants & all) and 3 amigos this past year with Hunter and Hogan (don't even worry My Little Buttercup was beautifully preformed)

The fact that he loves his Heavenly Father more than anything in the world and as a result is a worthy priesthood holder
I am constantly amazed at his street smarts! He was defiantly a stud growing up!
The fact that he was voted "Best Dressed" at TimpView High School

He is a man of Gold's (gym)! I love going to the gym with him!
I don't know anyone that makes doing the dishes after Sunday dinner more fun!
The way he treats my mom is so respectful and precious! I hope someday I can find a man like him.
Seeing him sporting the Union Jack speedo and gold chain spinner at Lake Powell was one of my favorite memories EVER!
I love seeing him play with my little brothers and sisters! I always knew I was a princess growing up just by the way he treated me...

I'm so glad I was raised watching manly movies (along with girlie ones) but I love the intensity and excitement he has after watching them!
I'm pretty sure he was the creator of Jack Bauer! Jack Bailey was our story time hero! I loved hearing about the Navy Seals adventures fighting the terrorists!
I know he would do anything for me!

He is so supportive or everything and anything is decided to do!
He and my mom taught me to love the scriptures and the importance of keeping the commandments and being obedient.
That he lets me die his hair!
That he understands the importance of AWESOME family vacations!

I could go forever...

Daddy just know that you are loved from across the world by your oldest daughter on your special day! I wish I was there to celebrate it with you and be a part of the spankin' machine! Get him good for me hunt!

Seeing the Pyramids.... no big deal...

2010-05-25T04:35:00.000-07:00

We made it to Egypt! When we got to Egypt the branch there was waiting for us to have Sacrament meeting. Its kind of crazy that the Sabbath can be any day you want really... Its seems really foreign. Anyways after a really nice Sacrament meeting we went to our hotel, The Oasis, and had dinner. Well sort of had dinner... the Nile is so polluted that you cant really eat anything except bread and rice, which is great, unless you have to eat it for 10 days straight...talk about carb overload!

We got up ready for a jam packed day in the +100 degree heat! Our first stop was the, drum roll please...

Giza Pyramids!

Interesting Facts:

They were built about 4,500 years ago
The oldest and largest was built by Khufu
It has an estimated 2,300,000 Limestone blocks
Each block weighs an average of 5,000 pounds, they are about the size of an SUV
Ramps and pulleys were used to construct them
It was a profession/honor to work on the Pyramids, people were paid not enslaved
They were made to be shaped like rays of the sun

Chrissy, Me, Lisa, and Maddie

Kendal, Nick, Me, Adam, Jillian, Tyler, Jesse, Mac, Aubrey, and Josette

See the little people... they really are MASSIVE!!!

On our way to Egypt

2010-05-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

Went we got on the bus in Jerusalem to go to Egypt we had no idea that we would be having so many adventures along the way! We were mostly in our PJ's and flip flops when we found out that we would be going on a 2 mile hike through a canyon and up the canyon wall!

Me and Morgan hiking in the Wilderness of Zin, one of the seven wilderness that Moses and the Israelites wandered through.

Advat

The ruins of Avdat were a fun stop. It was on the Nabataeans trade routes. Neil and Rachel and I had a lot of fun exploring the baptismal font and other areas of the temple.

Rachel, Neil, and I... The genie pants made me feel very legit... I would probably give them 5 stars when it comes to comfort! highly recommended, especially good for long bus rides and hiking in the heat.

Blake and Scottie sporting their "masks"
(gotta love the una-brow!)

Bethlehem = House of Bread

2010-05-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

We went up on top of a hill overlooking Bethlehem and just talked about all the things that took place there:

* The Birth of the Savior

* The death and burial of Rachel

* The Birth place of King David

* It was also a place where they would separate the chaff by throwing it into the air and letting it blow away

As we sat there talking suddenly a shepherd walked up with his flock of sheep!

He was carrying a lamb and let us hold it. And take pictures with him!

"Hold a lamb in the Holy Land" cross that off the bucket list!

This had to have been close to the area where the shepherds were that saw the star and welcomed the baby Jesus to the world...

The WaLls cAmE TUMBLIN.... doWn:.

2010-05-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

What an adventure it was stepping back to the time of Joshua and the battle of Jericho... We went on a "field trip" to the Tel Jericho.

Its pretty crazy to see the different strata that have been uncovered. We talked about the Battle of Jericho and how they marched around the entire city once carrying the Arch of the Covenant for six days and on the seventh day they went around seven times, as soon as they finished the walls came tumbling down...

This picture shows the different layers of wall that were built up on top of eachother....

These are the wonderful MEN in our Old Testament class building an alter :)

We also had the privilege of hiking up a mountain to the Quruntul Monastery. It is on the Mt. of Temptation above the river Jordan where Christ was Baptised. I was amazed that it had been built on the middle of the cliff! Monks still live there today! There were caves in the cliffs that we could see from the balcony where hermits used to live too. I cant even imagine being alone all the time! Its a good thing I'll never have to try it! Anyway, so this is the place where Satan tempted Christ after his 40 day fast in the wilderness.

Supposedly this is the rock that Satan tempted Jesus to turn to bread.

Here is the view the monks had of the Judean Wilderness overlooking Jericho.

And this is the deadly but "worth it" hike we took up the mtn to the Monastery.... I was dripping by the time we got to the top. We had to wear scarfs on our heads to be respectful, I'm not sure how those women wear them all the time! It was so hot!

We stopped at this awesome lookout between Jerusalem and Jericho. Up the canyon you can see Jerusalem and down the canyon you can see Jericho. This is the route that John the Baptist would have taken when he left Jerusalem to the Judean Wilderness in his camel haired suit. Also this is the Scene where the Parable of the Good Samaritan would have taken place. It symbolizes Christ saving us from death and illustrates the question "Who is my neighbor"... Something to think about... who is your neighbor, do they know you love them?

2010-05-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Tel Aviv

A Day at the Beach!!!

Yesterday, yes Sunday, but remember our Sabbath is on Saturday... A group of like 30 of us went to the Mediterranean Sea! Its only about 40 min away. Can I just tell you how wonderful it was! It really felt like a vacation from a vacation (but this study abroad is anything but a vacation) It was the 2nd "free" day that we have had since being here so we took full advantage of it! From 10 am til 8 pm we hung out on the ultra-soft sand and splashed around in the water when it go hot... Lets just say BEST DAY EVER! I definitely got my tan on!

Description to come... :)

2010-05-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

J-RU

2010-05-06T04:31:00.000-07:00

We just started our 5 classes and honestly I have NEVER had so many reading assignments! In the past 3 days Ive probably read 300 pages no joke. So between reading, field trips, and trying to sleep I've been super busy! I'm learning so much though! We have read through Gen 1-35 and seen quite a few of the sites where it all took place with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob... its amazing that I'm actually here! We are taking a Hebrew class too its way cool to learn the alphabet, it's kinda like a jig-saw puzzle... if you learn the letters you can pretty much read it... our teacher said that by the end of the class we should be able to read the 10 commandments! cool huh!

Funny story so in my Hebrew class we learned about this prayer that Jews say after dinner. It is Bercone like Beer-cone, translated to"Grace after dinner". Anyways so all they boys started saying, I'd like some Grace after dinner! haha so mow my nickname is Bercone.

We are taking a class on Islam and another class on Judaism, they are super interesting but like I said a TON of reading! They have a little room here with a basketball court and a little gym on the side. On Monday we had a 3-on-3 tourney pretty sure my team won haha it was really fun! Ive been riding the bikes while I do all the reading so i stay awake so far its working really well :) Monday we also had the Israel Opera come and put on a concert. I was a hostess and got to meet a lot of really neat people, plus the music was absolutely amazing! Ill see if I can get a few more posts up about it so you can hear more... those were some of the fun things from the past few days...

On our field trip we stopped by the place where they think Christ ascended into heaven, there are 3 competing sites so really no one really knows where but the church was super pretty and from the tower we could see nearly to the Dead Sea! We also visited a mosque where Samuel was claimed to be buried but my teacher said they don't really think so.... Ive had some really interesting insights on our nature as humans while Ive been here observing people who have come from everywhere to make their pilgrimage to the holy sites of their religion. We as humans need something tangible to worship or to remind us, and help us feel a closeness to God.

The Holy Sepulcher where they say Christ was crucified, anointed for burial, and where his tomb lie, all within 10 yards of each other in this old church. In all the reading Ive been doing they actually talked about the falseness of this accusation. the person who discovered it really had no idea. anyways I went there with a little group on Sunday morning before all the tourist groups come through and it was amazing to watch and see the intensity and sincerity that these people worship these places. They really just need something to represent their beliefs. This is the case with all the sites here in Jerusalem, some are discernible as true by the spirit as being the true place. it seems like every 5 feet you see someone from a different religion, everyone seems to have and feel a closeness to this place and knows of its sacredness.

Ive been thinking about it and we really don't have to make a pilgrimage to the Holy land to feel close to our savior, Heavenly Father has blessed us with the restoration of the Gospel and the knowledge that we don't have to take a pilgrimage to feel his spirit and be reminded of him and that he has not ceased to speak to man. Even though it is amazing to we don't have to visit the site where Christ was "supposedly" anointed for burial, or touch and pray to the last standing wall of the Temple of Herod to show our loyalty and worship him. We have been blessed with real tangible symbols of our covenants and reminders of our beliefs. The Sacrament that we take weekly helps us to renew those covenants, the garments that we wear when we are able to visit his holy temples and take out our endowments, and the fact that we have dedicated temples that dot the earth, its so sad to think that these religious people are trying so hard and want that relationship with their Savior so badly but they just don't have the knowledge of the restoration.

(I hope that all made sense. I had it all typed up once and the computer had a spaz attack and erased it so I'm not sure how good it sounds the second time... lame...)

Earlier today we made a stop at the Dome on the Rock the Muslim place of worship. It is breath taking! They don't let you in, but even from the outside you can see why they value it! The dome is leafed with gold and the whole outside is tiled with bright blues and greens making beautiful intricate designs and patterns.

Jewish Sabbath... Friday

2010-05-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was pretty sweet! It is Jewish Sabbath and so there is a higher chance of violence during that time so we just had class and did homework until 3 when we could escape and explore the city on our own! We all went out in about 3 big groups there are 82 of us, 28 boys 52 girls, a lot of names to learn trust me! Anyways, we went out and worked our way up to the Old City gate Damasas. After a while we all split up into group of 7 or 8. Our first stop was the top of the Austrian Hospis, a hotel type place that has clean bathrooms (very important) and a magnificant view from the roof! We took about 5 billion pictures!
In one of the alley ways there was a group of old men playing Badmiton the board game. I stopped and talked to one of them, his name is Sam he owns a jewlery shoop. He told me they had different rules, Universal rules, they play everyday and if I came back with my frineds they will teach us how they play. I really want to go back I think it would be way cool to make friends with the people here.
We went through some different places than we can gone on our "tour" but I feel like I have a general feel for the city... at least if I get lost I know what the main roads are that will lead me to a gate haha We ran into a gorup of kids playing soccer in the alley and played with them for a while and Mya one of the little girls LOVED using our cameras to take pictures! She kept saying, "picture, picture" so she would take ones of us and than pose with us in a "sassy" pose haha she was darling! We are going to go back and try to find them someday.
Right after we let our group had been divided again and there was only Morgan, Lindsay, and I left together (which is fine, as long as there is 3 or more) so we were pretty much lost just walking when I saw a picture of the Dome on the Rock spray painted on the wall. Well of course I stopped to take a picture and when we turned around a group of about 10 boys stood up and walked towards us. They probably aged between 8-18 most were little, I wasnt sure what they were doing but they were all speaking in Arabic to eachother so I just kept walking. When we got down to them the oldest asked where we were from. I said America and he nodded and asked a few general questions, I was nice but after a min I just said well bye and started walking again. They all broke out in Arabic again, you can imagine what they were saying, the youngest one yelled after us, "I like your ass!" the three of us looked at eachother and busted up laughing! It was so funny! Fortunatly they didnt try to follow us or anything.
When we were on our way back towards the City gate we stopped and took a picture with the Military men with their huge guns. One put his hat on my head and said, "Every beautiful woman needs a picture with me" I wish I could post it!
So I guess everyone decided to head back to dinner so lots of our group met up on the road and walked back together. On our way down the hill these 5 little boys, like really little boys ran up to us with packages of gum in their hands yellign something at us. I think they just wanted us to buy it but when we said no they started getting violent! they threw rocks at us and pushed us, they wouldn't let us pass them! Well I just laughed but some of the girls were getting really mad at them! They didnt think it was very funny. So I was assaulted by a 5 year old, no big deal.
After dinner we just hung out and laughed a ton! I ended up p[layign basketball with all the guys for like 3 hours! It was so nice to play again! We are going to have a 3 on 3 tournament while we are here! I cant wait!

1st taste of the Old City

2010-05-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so it has taken me a few days to catch my breath and find some time to write everything down! on Thurs we had breakfast at 6 am, dont worry though I had been up since 4 when the Jewish Call to Prayer started. We had some more orientation meetings and then went on a walk/tour of Jerusalem and the OLD CITY!!! You guys it is so cool! The roads are all paved from huge rocks that are so worn they are a little slippery. You walk down a hill into Kidron Valley and up the other of the little valley (its seriously like 50 yards across) they call them Waddlys they are actually dried up river beds. So we climbed up the other side of the valley and from the West Wall of the Old City (the Old City is what Jerusalem was during the time of Christ) across the valley on the Mount of Olives you can see the Jerusalem Center, Orson Hyde Garden, the Mary Magdeline Church, and the Garden of Gethsemane! It's amazing that everything happened so close!
We went up the wall and through some of the city outside the wall and than went into the Old City through Jaffro Gate. Inside is crazy! Its pretty similar the Canal Street in New York with all the venders except they are Arab instead of Asian but the allys/streets are super narrow! They sell everything there like a giant swapmeet! It is like stepping back in time like Aladdin with the overhangs and little kids running around. Mixed in with all the vendors are old churchs! Like the place they say Christ was prepared for burial and the Dome on the Rock. Apparently the city is kind of divided like what dominations worship where... Well our walk was about 4 miles long it was awesome! I wish i could show you pictures! We came back to the center and had lunch and I've been doing homework most of the afternoon. on the top floor of the Center there is some grass that overlooks Jerusalem so we sit up there in the sun and read. I didnt think that the classes were going to be too strenuous but you know what, I was wrong... It is going to be crazy busy!

The Holy Land

2010-05-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

I am in Jeruslaem!!! Im here for the WHOLE summer on study abroad! The 18 hours of flying was super long and boring... for some reason I had a really hard time falling asleep? Which was really strange considering I'd gotten 45 min of sleep the night before! Ive met a TON of people! Everyone is so so nice and seems just happy and genuine. We landed in Telavi and took the hour drive to Jerusalem! It is so beautiful! Jerusalem is up on the top of the mountains and you drive up a canyon to get there. People have been living here for ages so there are old terraces carved into the hills and lots of white rock! Once you get to Jerusalem you come to the top of a hill and all of a sudden you can see the Old City! The Dome on the Rock.. the cemetery... the white square houses and buildings all around it on the hills, some with red roofs.. awe its gorgeous!
We got settled in the Jerusalem Center which is also amazing! It terraces down Mount Scopus/ the Mount of Olives! My roommates are Rachel, Ashley, and Abby they seem super nice! Our bedroom window looks straight across to the Dome on the Rock! It looks like a picture! It's so amazing! We get to go out tomorrow! I can't wait! The Center (where we are living) is all white stone with huge arch ceilings and doorways! I cant wait to show you pictures! The "cafeteria" is not really a cafeteria... they had like halibut and gourmet food! It's called the Oasis and pretty sure Im in heaven! Everyone has been so exhaused! We have been forced to stay awake to help us get adjusted faster... I just want a hot shower and my bed...
We have been "blocked" from using facebook, utube, twitter, skype, and uploading/downloading pictures so I cant show you any yet, I guess it's because the internet will go into overload... it just cant handle pictures, lame... But here is the solution! Hebrew University is pretty close though, I'm going to go over there soon and post pictures, yes be excited haha

Brown or Brunette

2010-03-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

Just some background when I was little I was super blonde! We like to call it "angel hair." So when I was around 13 and my hair started coming in a little darker my mom suggested getting some highlights, she liked my blonde hair. I think she liked it because we "matched". Anyways, from that day forward I was always getting my hair done.

Well it's now my second year at BYU and this summer after watching transformers I fell in love with Megan Fox's dark hair... Yes I know shallow... but it inspired me to maybe do my hair a little darker. Hunter my brother found out and told me what a hottie Megan Fox was so when I went in to get it done and my wonderful hairdresser Aubrey asked how I wanted it I told her "Megan Fox dark" she did her job well and I transformed for a barbie blonde to Megan Fox dark. This was in August. When I came back to school everyone that I had met the year before didn't recognize me!

Well my new doo ended up being a stimulus package! I got brave and just started buying the stuff and dying my own hair (Rel inspired me) from Sally Hansen my Hair bill went from $90.00 to $9.00 it is amazing! Well now it's starting to get warmer and everything I see a girl with long blonde hair I just want it so bad! (also shallow) I have this little problem though, my roommates tell me they like it darker better... so I want to open it up to discussion. So it's up to you to put in your vote...

Blonde

Brunette

A Blogging Resurection

2010-03-10T14:14:00.000-08:00

Today's the day! I am finally posting in my blog again after... a good oh just 6 months... Here is an update for anyone who is interested. Classes are going very well, that's not to say there isn't immense sweat and tears involved but at least those wash off. I'm still working at the Student Athlete Building and the White Willow Reception Center. I have a few exciting bits of news for you. 1. This semester I've been interning for a Micro finance company based in Seattle called Vittana. Immersing myself in helping other students who have no chance of ever receiving an education. It's powerful, I've just wanted to take even greater advantage of the opportunities I'm so blessed with! Here will be more to come on Vittana and how you can help by lending however much you can!

Yes this semester has been busy but don't fret I've found time to squeeze a few fun moments in too!

Gabe, Issac, Me, Umm, Ben, Dane

This was with all my boys at the BYU vs Utah Basketball game!

Our impromptu "Photo Shoot" at Fatcats... We got all dressed up to go to go to the Grand Opening of the new Nickel City and when we got there they postponed the Grand Opening so we went to the Creamery and after a series of random decisions ended up at Fatcats, we sure didn't let our "getting all dressed up" go to waste! this picture was our second attempt at Nickel City... Thuggin' it with my home boy Taylor Hicks!

Yeah President Day weekend! I went down to Southern Utah aka Zions and St George... A huge group of us went! We hiked (mostly) Angels Landing! Absolutely beautiful! Ill post more picture of that soon! This was Sunday afternoon, all of us in from of the St George Temple!

Preference was a Blast! The theme was Jane Austin, and it was formal. Emily, Chery, Lindsay, Brynn, and I went in a group together! We all looked stunning! Adam my date somehow got us all talking with British accents, had given us titles (We were the Count and Countess of Sussex) and went around introducing ourselves and thanking everyone for coming to our summer home! We topped off the night with Tim Tam Slams after a quick trip to WalMart, where we danced through the store getting funny looks, to get the Tim Tams and the amazing I Hop hot chocolate... It was so sweet it made me sick! I recommend going slow so you don't OD on Tim Tams!

Todays Inspiration... Resolutions... Discoveries...

2009-09-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

1. It is not smart to sit at work for 4 hrs next to a vending machine. bad idea..

2. Skinny jeans and the RB stairs do not go well together

3. It feels so good to go running! I ran 4 miles today, it was wonderful! I decided to make a resolution to run 4-5 times a wk instead of 2-3 times. Ill keep you posted on my persistence...

4. I want to be more like Cheyenne, She says hello to EVERYONE! Usually they are people she knows but seriously she isn't afraid to introduce herself to ANYONE! I need to be more like that, I see allot of people I know but most of the time I don't go out of my way to say hi and catch up. Note to self be a better friend

5. I think by dark hair really is acting as a disguise... It's so funny when people stare at me trying to figure out if its really me or not, I think allot if it is that I havent put very many pictures on facebook, honestly thats because I dont have many pictures of the new doo. oopsie...

Happy Birthday Grandpa J!!

2009-09-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

1st post how exciting is that?!

I've been inspired by the blogs of many a friends and though I would offer what little insight I have to the world...

Yesterday we celebrated Grandpa J's 70 birthday! It was awesome! Cheyenne and I went to my families for the party. After some delicious pizza and peach cobbler (Hunter your the man!) My family gave grandpa one of his presents. It was the "Top 70 Reasons we Love Grandpa" Hunter and Hogan my little brothers read them off, it really made me realize how much I love and admire my Grandpa. He is such a good man, born and raised in Provo, he raised sheep with his grandpa and Dad in Heber. He lost his mom when he was only 12. Fortunately he found my beautiful Grandma at BYU after his mission, they have lived in Provo since raising my dad and his brother and 2 sisters, and now spends allot of time playing with 18 1/2 grandchildren (congrats Keith and Lisa!).

When I think of Grandpa I think of compassion. He truly loves the lord and shows it through his every action. He loves the time he spends serving in the temple every thursday, if grandpa can get up that early so can I. Honestly I have never heard him raise his voice or speak unkindly of/to anyone. I am in awe of the way he treats my grandma. I know he would give anything for her happiness. They have the sweetest relationship, I envy it and hope someday to have the same level of companionship with my spouse. I will always treasure the time we spend in Cayman this summer with my grandparents! Those Stingrays love grandpas kisses! Happy Birthday Grandpa! Thank you for your Christ like example and always reminding us to... "Only take what you can eat!" Love you!