Beer-Sheva, Negev Desert, and Avdat

This first picture is an ancient tell near Beer-Sheva, which was a defensive stronghold and administrative capital in ancient times. Near Ben Guirion's grave, here is a great view of the Negev Desert. You can see where the river (used) to flow through the green area there. Finally, striking some poses at Avdat, which was a settlement in the middle of nowhere (a.k.a. Negev Desert). This place was a center for spice trade by the ancient Nabataens. More pictures to follow about Egypt tonight.

Dome of the Rock, Orson Hyde, Gethsemane

The Dome of the Rock. This view isn't from my balcony although I can see it from there. In fact, I've seen the Dome of the Rock from about every angle except up close. You can only get up on the Temple Mount during a short window of time, but I'll get there. There's so much to see. The next picture of the yellow flower is from the Orson Hyde Park, and, doesn't really show much of the park. I didn't like any of my other pictures of it. The last picture is in the Garden of Gethsemane. We went there today, since it's Shabbat. Off to Egypt, see you when I get back.

Slinging stones in Elah Valley

First of all, here's a little boy. He was playing in his backyard while we walked around the rampart walls. I still haven't achieved my goal of playing soccer with some local kids, which I'll get to when we get back from Egypt. The next three pictures are of my slinging stones in Elah Valley where David slew Goliath and stopped the Philistines from moving upwards towards Bethelehem. So far, that was one of my favorite moments and a friend captured it for me in three pictures one after another. I actually got pretty good at slinging; I think I'll buy one and take it home to remind me of the days when I would always buy that same yellow plastic slingshot from Ken's Kash in Oakley, over and over. One more post follows then I'm off to bed and Egypt.

The Holy Land

So I've been in Jerusalem for almost two weeks now. Once I got here, my computer decided to stop loading my profile in windows so I took that as a sign and accepted the fact that I probably wouldn't blog my adventures. Well, I fixed it, and now goes.

This picture is on top of a tell outside of Jerusalem a little bit, and the modern looking city is a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Apparently, the Jews are really good at gathering together and pretty much building a city overnight. This is in a sense the way the Jewish people are taking back Palestine.



This pictures is a Muslim mosque just inside the rampart walls of the Old City.

The other two pictures are of the separation wall as it's being built and another through a crack in the Old City Wall.

I'll try to post some more pictures before I go to bed -- tomorrow we head to Egypt for a week.

Love it here, more will follow.

Awesome Annens & Aunts

Aunt Martha & Jessica http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/265025/136/
Ashley in an "Aunt Kathryn's" specialty prom dress.

In honorable remembrance. . .

I came across this great picture (another Hugh treasure) and thought I'd share it.

More help!

Hooray for Julie! It only took her about 4 days of flying standby, a night in the Denver airport, and lots of help from family to get her out here and her family

all taken care of! The first day she was here she said, "It seems so calm here." A few days later she said, "Oh yeah, you're glad I'm here."

Hooray!

I just heard that Abbie Young got a mission call to Hong Kong China Cantonese speaking! How exciting!

Phenomenon

We have a new phenomenon at our house! Susie sent some darling hats for the boys, and Cash -who has never in his life tolerated wearing hats - doesn't want to take this hat off! It's so funny. Seriously, he screams and rips off every hat we've ever tried to put on him, but as you can see, he now won't tolerate taking this one off - even when we're trying to get him in the bath!






Here's the three boys in their matching hats.














We've gotten some darling gifts from family members - thank you so much! Here's some cute outfits Mimi sent, and we've gotten darling things from Martha and Sharon that they'll be able to wear in a few months. So fun!

Machine

Seriously, my mom is a machine. Ryan and I have no idea how she can go on so little sleep! She took most of the night shifts while she was here, almost never took a nap, and seemed far more with it than we did! Plus we ate fabulously for the last two weeks - balanced healthy meals and snacks, and not so healthy snacks when I felt like that too. Lasagna, roasts, bbq pork, chicken pot pie, pumpkin chocolate chip bread, coconut pound cake....

She just left yesterday, and we're already feeling the effects! I would recommend her to anyone with a new baby, only I won't as I need her to spend the next few year recovering so she can be ready for the next go-around!

Luckily all our helpers will be bringing their varied talents to share - Shauna, the wonderful baby nurse will be here next week, and Julie, Cash's favorite (he's very good at saying Ju-wee) will be here in a few more weeks. (She's also super organized and clean - I'm sure that could come in handy :)

Watching home videos on the computer with Cash (his favorite thing to do), and doing a little cooking with Grandma:

And even though I posted a picture of the bedding she made on my blog, it's so worth posting again!

Can you guess what they are celebrating at school today?

Happy Birthday

This is what Carolyn gets for her actual Leap Year birthday this year!

Jane and Rebekah

Rebekah Rose Miller

We are pleased and grateful to announce the safe arrival of Rebekah Rose Miller. She was born at 8:02 on February 6, 2008 and weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. She is 20 inches long.

My nieces - Lorelei and Charlotte

My husband was fantastic to let me fly up for a day and enjoy my two nieces! I am including pictures of Derek, Andrea, Lorelei and Charlotte. I had a great time! Too short, but lucky to go - all the same!
Julie

Check it Out

So I have recently been called to the Enrichment Committee in our ward and have been put to work. Not many women come to Enrichment in our ward so we've devised a new plan: Divide and conquer! Check out our blog at www.driggs1st.blogspot.com and if you have suggestions please let me know via comments on THIS post. You all rock and I hope you are having a nice January!

Rob and Sherman

1956 maybe? I think the one with Grandpa Hatch is 1957.

Long ago and far away . . .

I've been looking for this picture of Rob and Grandpa Hatch for a long time. Glad I finally found it!

More from Christmas past

Zar, Alexis, Patrick and Jennie perform the Nativity.

Sister Young Returns from West Virginia

My mom wanted me to let all of you know that Emily will be reporting on her mission in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday the 20th at 1:00pm. Their Ward building is on 3900 South just West of 2300 East. It's easiest to enter from 3900 South.

For my Granddaughters

Sorry to bore everyone but when I heard that Bethany learned how to push the play button on her video and watched it over and over for ten minutes I thought I ought to give her something else to watch!

Another old photo

I was looking at this picture recently, and I realized that 2008 in our family will produce a very similar picture - only we'll need a bigger couch!

George MacDonald

I've just got to tell you all how much I am enjoying reading books by George MacDonald. I had never heard of him until a friend in the ward mentioned reading At the Back of the North Wind as a child. Both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R.Tolkien credit MacDonald with influencing their writing, and Lewis has written an anthology of some of his favorite MacDonald insights. George MacDonald trained to become a minister, and did so, but after just a few short months he was "let go" for being too liberal and tolerant in his ideas. He writes children's fantasy, but he says that he doesn't write for children but for the childlike. I wish I had elementary school aged children to read these stories to. The stories have many levels. They are a wonderful adventure for children, but adults see deeper meanings with each reading. MacDonald has some common themes. One is "beautiful death" and another is the "wise woman" (one more reason to like him). Apparently he had an old grandmother who lived nearby when he was a child so many of his stories contain a woman who seems omnipotent and is very wise and loving. I recommend The Princess and the Goblin, and The Princess and Curdie, it's sequel. He has a collection of short stories at the library called The Gifts of the Child Christ that I have checked out twice but others keep requesting it. His popularity ebbs and flows so some of his books are out of print. You'd have to find them on Amazon.com or on ebay. I would be interested to know if anyone has ever heard of him, and what you think of the books, if anyone reads them.

My Pictures

I have been trying to bring order to what is the "my pictures" section of my computer for the last few days and coming across a few things that I'm afraid got lost in the rush of life. I will now endeavor to upload a movie . . .

Introducing Charlotte Elizabeth Hunsaker