Missing Galilee Already

Got lost in Nazareth (I almost had a panic attack), Capernaum, The Mt. of Beattitudes (sermon on the mount), Mt. Hermon (mount of Transfiguration), went on a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, Church of Nain, rafting down the Jordan River, hiking to waterfalls, bonfires, morning scripture study on the shore, tanning while reading the four gospels and Jesus the Christ and much more! It's amazing at where the spirit can be felt. Lauren posted this on her blog while she was here and it kinda sums up my feelings (if that is even possible):
"Lord, I am living in the land where you once lived. —
I am standing where you stood;
I am wandering the paths you walked,
Though I cannot hear your voice teaching at the temple,
I can hear the testimonies of your pupils.
I cannot feel you in these erected holy places,
But I feel you in sweet hymns that lullaby my heart.
I cannot see you in the icons of lavish churches,
But I see you in the faces that surround me.
I cannot touch your pierced hands and feet,
But your mercy touches and pierces my soul.
I will not taste the slightest of thy burdens
But you have tasted the bitterness of mine.
I cannot comprehend your tender mercies,
But I know you comprehend the paths I’ll walk.
I cannot forget you, I will not forget you.
Not here or anywhere.”
Galilee was amazing. We did a lot of spiritual growing, bonding with the other JC students, reading and pulling pranks. When we came back from Egypt I couldn't wait to get back but Galilee was so peacful. I wanted to finish out the semester there. We have Jordan in 7 days! I only have a short time left here and I want to make the very most of it!

Usually when a semester is done you would typically be happy to be done with a class. Yesterday, I cried because it was my last Old Testament class with Brother Manscill. Yes, I cried… I had to muster every ounce of my strength to not just fall apart when he would look at me. He’s changed the way I read the scriptures and helped me grow in my testimony. I came here with a goal to become more scholarly in the scriptures and that is exactly what he’s helped me do.

A couple of days ago we celebrated a fake Passover. It’s during a different time of the year, but to get the experience we had our Judaism teacher, Ophier, do the entire celebration with us. It’s like a big Thanksgiving dinner but Jewish style. We head to Galilee in 4 days! I can hardly wait!
This is my view during sacrament meeting... AWESOME!

Dilemma

Here's my options:

OR

Again...

ORRRR doing something like this

See my dilemma?...

There’s no such thing as “alone time” here at the center. I live with 3 other girls so there is typically at least someone in our room. When we go out during the day we have to be in groups of 3 and if we go out at night there has to be 5 people including 2 boys. So if you like personal space…. Sorry …. That doesn’t exist here… BUT I have found a solution! Grab your headphones, computer/ipod, pick a playlist and TURN IT UP till you drown out the world! If you’re in the mood for chill music, pump up, sad, church music, anything works. Drown out all the noise around you and all of a sudden you are in your own world.
Disclaimer: people might think you are mean or stuck up because you don’t answer when they try talking to you. People might even get annoyed at how loud your music is because they can now hear it. My answer to those people… Sorry, can’t hear you. =)

Simple Things

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. ~Don Marquis
Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment. ~Robert Benchley
I am the QUEEN of procrastination Today was packed with things due in my classes. I woke up early to try to get everything done. I didn’t…. I was finishing a Old Testament paper while in Old Testament. Luckily I was able to print it off before class ended. When all of my classes were done and I was walking back to my room took a deep breath to finally relax. In that moment I thought, “I REALLY don’t like rushing to get things done.” I laid down for about 4 mins when someone knocked on the door to borrow something. I figured that since I was already up, I might as well go do something. As I was walking back up to the 6 floor I said a little prayer thanking Heavenly Father for helping me get done with all of my assignments. Then I had this impression to stop and read the Ensign. (Every floor has a table of Ensigns laying out… Now I know why. haha) I really didn’t want to so I walked up one more floor and “oh look, there’s some more ensigns.” I’d already read the presidency message in this months issue but I felt like I should read another article in it. As soon as I opened it my eye was caught by the article titled ‘Don’t be in a Hurry.’ Coincidence? I think not. The article gave four areas where the tendency to hurry may blind us to the “immediate goodness of God.” As I was reading I kinda had to laugh at Gods hand is ALWAYS in our life, but we just have to see it.
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=9decc79fed3b8210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

World Cup

Steven and I are in the process of finding a sport/team to root for. I think we’ve narrowed it down to soccer but now we’re looking for a team. Here’s what I’m thinking:


Yes, yes, I think soccer should be our sport...

Thanksgiving point!

These are pretty late but I thought I'd still put them up:









Tulip fest