Senior Pictures

I took pictures of Heather's three good friends: Jessica, Janet, and Sarah.  These three have been great friends to Heather, and she is going to be sad next year when they head off to college.  I totally love these girls also.  One of the best parts of my calling is working with the seniors in our stake.  It has been an amazing year getting to know these girls better.  They are truly the best!  I mostly took close ups, because we were taking senior pictures.  Of course we had to take advantage of the beautiful blossoms.
This is Sarah Barlocker!

Don't you love the yellow sweater?  They all decided to borrow Sarah's sweater for some shots by the brick wall.
This is Jessica Farley.


This is Janet Reynders!

Spring is Here!

I have been waiting all year to take pictures of the blossoms.  Reed and I got home from our trip and our world was filled with amazing flowers.  The flowers are so pretty.  I have loved seeing them this week while I run.  
I decided to grab Natelie and Kylie(my two willing models) and take some shots in the orchards.
I think spring is my favorite time of year.  The only bummer is there are lots of sneezes and runny noses to go with amazing flowers.


Our cute little twirling girls!  Yesterday I took some senior pictures of some of Heathers friends.  I will post some of those next.

The Last Few Days in Jerusalem

   At the Jerusalem center, where Kara is studying, they worship the Sabbath on Saturday, the way the Jews and Muslims do.  We were able to spend the sabbath with Kara.  We attended church and we just "hung out with her and her friends".  It was so fun to get a feel for where she is and who her friends are.  We loved it.  We were all being a little silly.  A guy friend of Kara's told her, "your parents are like kids."  I don't know if that is good or bad.  Oh well, we had fun!

   The next day Kara was able to join our tour and see some sites.  Kara loved having us there to buy all the treasures she has seen.  Above is a beautiful blanket that we bought her.
  This is Reed, Kara and I in front of what is left of the temple.  They have done an amazing job restoring it.  Also, I have to add that the last three days in Jerusalem were so cold.  We were freezing.  All we brought were light jackets and it was cold and rainy all those days.  We heard from Kara that a few days later it was sunny and warm.  Bummer!
This is Reed and I in front of a typical cave that shepherds keep their sheep in.  Brother Rona said that this would have been a typical site that Jesus may have been born in. 
This is in front of the Western Wall or (the wailing wall).  There were many boys getting their 
barmitsfa's.  The Jews consider this very sacred.  It is the only wall left of the temple.  It was all very interesting.  There was a section for women and a section for men.  They wear a prayer shawl that they change from one shoulder to the other.  

One of the most amazing parts of our trip was being taught about the Jewish culture and religion.  It truly helped deepen my understanding of the scriptures and the Savior.  It helps you to see that our church is not new, it is restored.  There are so many similarities in the Jewish faith and our faith.

   Our last day in Jerusalem was spent going through the last week of the savior's life.  We were able to go to the Orson Hyde Park, the Garden of Gethsemane, see the Gate Beautiful (where the triumphal entry was), the location of the house of Ciaphus, Golgatha, and the Garden Tomb. 

    I felt the spirit so strongly in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb.  I never realized how close the tomb was to Golgotha and the Old City.  It was all very close.  The garden had an unbelievable lightness and peacefulness.  The closest thing I can compare it to is being in the temple.  Brother Rona said that Jewish people and Muslims come and pray here.   When we were there, there was a group from Africa who were singing and praying.  I also saw a group from India.  It was amazing to see people from all over the world worshiping.

   There was a profound sense of knowing that God knows and loves all of us.  We are all unique and different.  It was very sweet.  This was an unbelievable trip and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to truly walk where Jesus walked.

The dead Sea

Yesturday we visited Masada, qumran(the location of the dead sea scrolls) and the dead sea. Above is Reed floating in the dead sea. He was cracking up the whole time. It was amazing because, it seemed like something was pushing him up.

This is Reed at the top of Masada. This was an amazing former temple site for Harod. We were able to catch glimpses of the opulence. They were really progressive.

This is me the day before at the. Mediteranean Sea. Behind is a water aquaduct that Harod built. We also saw one of the palaces that Harod built along the Sea.

The Sea of Galilee

We went to a reserve that has ancient buildings that dated to tribe of Dan.  This is where the Jordan River comes down from Mount Herman.  The meaning of Jordan means down from Dan.  One of the surprising things about being in the holy land is how how green and beautiful it is.  It is also very hilly.
This is a spot in the Reserve.  It was very peaceful and beautiful!  We also went for a ride in a boat on the Sea of Galilee.  We had a lunch at a fun restaurant that served a whole fish and usually someone in the group gets a coin in the fishes mouth.  They call it Peters fish.  This was fun!  A little scary, but fun!
This is a view from the Mount of Beatitudes.  We spent a very peaceful hour learning about the Savior.  The view from the hill was amazing.  The picture doesn't really do it justice.  We also went to Capernium.   This is the place where most of the miracles took place.  This whole area is where the Savior spent most of his three year ministry.  There is definitely a sweet spirit here.

Israel Day one and two

We are so excited to arrive safely in Israel and to be able to see Kara.  We were able to meet her at the Jerusalem Center and then we walked into Old Jerusalem.
This is Kara in the Old town in front of a bunch of yummy candy.  There are little shops of every kind.  Kara took us to all her favorites.
She took us to Omar the wood carvers shop.  He had some amazing pieces.  Kara has been checking out his shop for weeks and she was excited to have mom and dad there to buy a nativity for here.  Above is the piece that Reed and I got.  I include Reeds name but it was mostly me making the purchase.  Yikes!
This is Reed, Kara and I in front of one of the entrances to the old city.  We had fun seeing some of the sites.  We mostly had fun with cute Kara.

    On Tuesday morning we started our tour with Daniel Rona.  We traveled from Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee.  We stopped at many interesting places.  I think our favorite spot today was going to the Mount of Tabor.  This site has been quoted by Pres. Kimball as being the place of the mount of transfiguration.  There was an amazing spirit.  Brother Rona compared the transfiguration to the appearance of the Savior in the Kirtland temple.  The similarities were interesting.

    We are staying at a Kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee.  This area is where Jesus had most of his ministry.  It is very green and pretty.  It is very different than I thought it would be.  We are very close to the mount of Beatitudes.  We will be spending time there tomorrow.  What an amazing experience this is.   We are truly walking where Jesus walked.  I feel so blessed to be here.

Egypt Day three

   I am now sitting in the Egypt airport waiting for our flight to Tel Aviv.  You wouldn't believe how strict they were at the airport.  They went through every piece of luggage.  We basically had to repack everything.  I think Israel is very picky about anyone coming into the region.  We are excited to be in Jerusalem and to see Kara and the BYU Jerusalem center.  We are incredibly tired and are excited that there won't be any tours tomorrow.

  Today was spent visiting the Cairo Museum.  The best part of this museum was seeing the king Tut exhibit.  You couldn't take any pictures in the museum, so I don't have any to show.  Everything with the tut exhibit was pretty much solid gold or gold leafed.  It is a priceless exhibit.  What an honor it was to see it.

   We were also able to go to the Mohammed Alli Mosque.  This is a famous Muslin Mosque in Cairo.  It was interesting to learn more of the Muslin faith and culture.  The above picture is Reed and I in front of the Mosque.