It is GOOD to be home. As I looked back on our previous posts just now, I realized for the first time that there are parts of Israel that I really miss. But it is so good to be home. Thank you for your prayers for our trip home. We had 16 hours of complete cooperation from our kids, plus quick lines in the airports and a smooth flight. In fact, we agreed that our experience in the airport in Tel Aviv was the best foreign airport experience we've ever had, and Tim sought out a manager to tell her so. They were very helpful and patient with us. We know our travel day went so smoothly because people were praying! Even Abby was amazing. She took good naps on shoulders and was happy on our laps when she was awake. Caleb and Josiah enjoyed having their own built-in TV screens in front of them and found some kids' shows that they liked. They also slept several hours. Customs & Immigration in the U.S. went quickly, and all of our luggage arrived intact. After we landed, Josiah commented to Tim that after we got our suitcases, we would be walking home. Tim replied with, "Actually, we get to DRIVE home." Josiah's response was, "Oh, so we're going to rent a van?" He was so used to walking everywhere; and anytime we drove, it was because we rented a car. :) Speaking of renting a car, . . .
During our last week in Israel, we visited a few sites in the area. The Soreq cave was fascinating with its stalactites and stalagmites.
Here, Tim and the kids are standing in the Elah Valley brook from which David took his stones for the purpose of fighting and defeating Goliath.
On one of our trips, we stopped at McDonald's. Here is the sign in Hebrew :)
We also took a bus to the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem.
My favorite animals were the mommy kangaroos who had joeys in their pouches.
Jennifer became a good friend during our last weeks in Israel.
Caleb, Josiah, and our friend Ellie (Jennifer's daughter)
We walked to the Old City to spend one final day in Jerusalem. This is Abby crawling up the Southern Stairs of the Temple Mount.
Caleb climbing an olive tree on the Temple Mount
On the Temple Mount stands the Dome of the Rock (Muslim Mosque that is seen in most panoramic photos of Jerusalem - see below). This is where the original Temple of God once stood.
Dome of the Rock from a spot near our apartment
We visited the Western Wall one last time. Our boys wrote a note to God and placed it between the stones just as many others have done over the years. They were also able to wear their new kippas. :)
On our last Shabbat (Sabbath), we bought Challah (pronounced "halla" with a throaty /h/ sound) bread as we did every week. Ever since we returned, we try to make it every Friday night here in the States. We love it!
We have been home now for 2 1/2 weeks (arrived home on Jan. 11). The first week was spent getting adjusted to the 10-hour difference in time zones. The kids crashed every night around 5pm (Josiah even fell asleep at the dinner table once), then they woke up between 3 and 4am, ready to start their day. One morning, after all waking up at 4:30, we decided to go out for donuts. So there we were at 5:45am, in the dark, walking our three kids down to the donut shop. We got some funny looks. The next couple of nights, we had dinner dates with friends, where the kids had to stay up past dinnertime, so we all adjusted fairly quickly after that. Throughout that first week, we enjoyed hearing the boys say things like, "Mama, look at THIS!" and "I forGOT about THIS!" "Daddy, look what I found!!" They feel like they have all new toys. They also enjoy having their backyard back, and I enjoy being able to send them outside to play. Oh, how I missed that!!!
Our second week was spent with Tim's parents who came to visit. We enjoyed a trip to the beach, the park, a day at Disneyland, and a party on Abby's first birthday. Our third week has been spent being sick and preparing for school starting. (Josiah, Abby, and I have had colds, and Abby also had a stomach flu early last week.) We are all feeling much better than we did in the middle of the week and praise God that we are going into our first week of school fairly healthy. Tim and the boys start school on Tuesday. Here are a few last pictures:
Abby's first birthday cake
Abby enjoying (well, sort of) her birthday cake. She fussed through most of it because she missed her afternoon nap, plus we had a house full of people. She was a tired little girl by the time everyone left!
Grandma & Grandpa gave Abby a very special gift -- the same thing they gave her daddy when he turned one: a rocking (riding) horse. Tim's wasn't pink, though, I promise. :)
Disneyland - Grandpa and Josiah on the Astro Blaster
Grandma and Caleb on the Astro Blaster
Our family with Jesse & Woody from Toy Story.
We covet your prayers as we enter a huge week. Tim returns to teaching on Tuesday, adding a class he has never taught before: New Testament Survey. He is very excited about it and looks forward to getting back into the classroom in the role of a teacher. Caleb begins first grade, and Josiah will start going to preschool three mornings a week. I look forward to going back to leading GEMS (our church's ministry for young girls, grades 3-6) and joining a Bible study. Once again, we thank you all for your prayer support and encouragement, as well as your financial gifts. The Lord has used you to make this experience happen, and we give Him the glory! He has reminded us over and over again that He is a faithful God, a God of provision, who is ever present, even in the midst of people groups who do not proclaim Him as Lord. I want to close with a passage that is close to my heart because I memorized it while in Israel. It comes from I Chronicles 29, and is a prayer of David:
"Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."
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