Apartment & Ice Cream

More pictures of our room and our apartment- it has been definitely challenging and fun to live with 8 people.  Our room is pretty small- doesn't look so here though.  And our favorite ice cream here has been the White Chocolate Magnum bars- yum.  The problem is I always have to share with everyone- Jeremiah and Michael.  We also have gotten some cheap ice cream cones at McDonalds and yes we did eat at McDonalds Saturday night after we got back from up  north because everything else shuts down and is closed from Friday at 3pm to Saturday 9pm- it is like a dessert on our street and no shops open for Shabbat Shalom. 

Qumran & Father's Day

Sunday is Father's Day.  Father's Day in Israel for Michael has been pretty special.  We went to Qumran in the morning- the place where they found the Dead Sea scrolls.  It was hot but beautiful amongst the cliffs.  Then we went to another small museum.  We have been trying to stay hydrated and drink lots of water!!!  Happy Father's Day to Michael!!!  In the evening we went to find a gluten free pizza shop, but it was closed- poor Michael.  We had some falafel for dinner though and met up with Phil and Sarah and then went to get groceries- a unique Father's Day for Michael.

Up North...

Saturday, we went with Jordan and Kevin (fellow grad students) up to the Northern Country.  I will not get to go up North much so we took a special trip for me.  We stopped first to visit Megiddo- the place of Armigeddon in Revelation and ruins of many sites and cities and battle sites.  We also then headed to Capernaum where we saw ruins of the city and possibly Peter's house.  We loved eating lunch by the Sea of Galilee.  Then we headed South to see a replica of the boat that one of the disciples had used- an actual 2,000 year old boat they found.  The lady at the gift shopped loved Jeremiah and gave him a slushie and a Israel bear for free.  He certainly is making many friends- just this morning as we walk down the Old City, he loves to go up to people and shake their hands.  I think we have a friendly boy on our hands.  We then went to Tiberias and Jeremiah and I swam in the water of the Sea of Galilee.  Jeremiah loved the water so much- it was so fun.  We make lots of friends wherever we go.  It was beautiful to see the country.  We loved driving the countryside and seeing Nazareth in the distance and Mount Tabor.  The country just intrigues me- such diverse countryside- from dessert plains and mountains leading to the Dead Sea, to the Judean wilderness, rolling hills around the Sea of Galilee, it really is a beautiful country.

So what do you do at a Tel?  We have been visiting many Tels- which are ruins of homes and ancient archeological stuff.  So for Michael and the boys- they love it- for me- its ok.  So Jeremiah and I spend time picking up rocks in that ancient dirt and throwing them as far as we can, or sitting in an ancient trough for horses.  Gotta think of something fun when visiting the Tels.  Jeremiah also loves to find any ramp or step he can.

Christian Quarter

On Friday, we went to visit the Christian Quarter again and enjoyed seeing many of the churches and various sites.  We went up a huge tower at Church of the Redeemer where we could look out and see the beauty of the city.  We also hiked to the Lions' Gate(they named a gate after us) and saw the Bethesda Pool ruins where Jesus did many miracles.  It was truly amazing and then we walked back.  We did some more hiking in the Christian Quarter.  Jeremiah has been quite the trooper with all of our travels.

Inside the Church of Holy Sepulchre

Erin at Bethesda Pool

View from on top of Church of the Redeemer

We just had to get a picture of this!

More views of the Bethesda Pool and ruins

Happy Father's Day

This has been a unique Father's Day for us here in Israel.  We were so glad that   We had hoped to do something special but in the chaos of all going on- we really didn't do too much.  Jeremiah tried to find Daddy a gift in the Old City when alas we almost got lost walking the streets trying to find what we were looking for.  All that to say- we are so thankful for Michael's leadership in our home and  his Godly example.  The Lord has truly blessed me with an amazing man for a husband and an amazing daddy for Jeremiah.  He is a great example for us.  We are so thankful for his leadership, thoughtfulness, patience and his gentle care for us and how He loves the Word of God and treasures Christ above else! 
We love you Daddy, Michael!

Floating in the Dead Sea

There have been a few days were I have stayed put while the guys have been doing more archeological sites.  While the guys were traveling across the Negev dessert and seeing camels and other ruins- we headed to some water but still in the dessert.  Thursday, I headed with Jason, Dana and Charlie to the Dead Sea.  Jeremiah loved the sand and he loved walking in the water.  Dana and I even floated in the Dead Sea- it was amazing to lay back and float.  The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth- it is amazing!  It has 10 times the amount of salt as the Mediterranean Sea.  We were told not to let you head get in the water- it burns your tongue nose or eyes.  It really did burn a little bit if you got it in a cut.  People were putting the mud all over their bodies- it has some medicinal affects but looks funny.  The water feels kinda thick and oily but is beautiful in the midst of a hot dessert.  Across the Dead Sea we could see the mountains of Jordan.  We even stopped to see the camels along the road for the tourists.

Dana and I floating in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea and mountains of Jordan

Plumb tuckered out

Our apartment

Here are a few pictures of our apartment.  I still need to take a picture of our room and the view from outside our street.  The apartment is comfy but definitely a little small for 8 people living in it.  Jeremiah is in our room and is doing the great.  The rooms are pretty small, currently we have a leak in the roof in the little bathroom in our room- the guy keeps coming to fix it but hasn't found the problem yet- oh my!  Needless to say with that many people living here, it is hard to get "family time" or "alone" time but we have been trying to take walks in the evenings together as a family to spend some alone time together.  We have a lovely balcony that we enjoy sitting out on each evening when it is cooler.  We are all supposed to be helping with household chores- Jeremiah loves to use the broom to sweet since we have all marble slick floors and they sure do get dusty.