Sunday, February 14, 2010

is.

"soonish" has come.

I wanted to share one of my highlights from 2009, my thanksgiving trip to israel.
there really are no words, my friends. it was suuuuch a blessed opportunity that I will never ever ever in a million thousand years forget. i saw and felt things that were and are fundamental for my testimony and existence.

we woke up to this.
the sea of galilee.
unreal.

this pic was for my eltern: it says somethin "tonkiona."
Nazareth

St Peter's fish...whole. pri-tty tasty!
fished straight out of the galilee.

armageddon valley

mount tabor.
ooookay
This was my absolute favorite part of the en.ti.re. week.
We sat on the hill, being refreshed by the warm wind, the vast armageddon valley vista, and the tingling spirit. Although some argue between Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon, a modern prophet of God--Spencer W Kimball--testified that Mount Tabor was the Mount of Transfiguration after he had a sacred, personal experience there. Despite all geographical evidence persuading otherwise, the powerful spirit sealed President Kimball's testimony in my heart in a beautiful moment that made me so incredibly grateful for personal revelation, the spirit, and Jesus Christ.

the mediterranean!

solid marble older than history itself.

a med vista.
i didn't even realize the mediterranean was so close. honestly. GORGEOUS.
(and i loooooooooooooooooooooved the wind factor always!)

masada. ancient palaces and fortifications on a 1300 foot rock plateau overlooking the dead sea.
really?

the lowest place on earth... everything floats here!
the dead sea.
i was stoooked for a good long swim... but soon found that the buoyancy factor and acidity would not allow such hobbies.

bethlehem.

temple mount.
Jerusalem.
there is such a vast history here--incredible!

the only exact place we are 100% sure He walked.
Thanks Colb, for remembering that tidbit from your nt class--how neat!

a stable.
(so different that our perception, no?)

2,000 year old olive trees.


Gethsemane.

ah! visits with dear Israelites!

the moon from their front door.

our wise guide, Daniel Rona.


the spirit was absolutely incredible.
we had time to sit and ponder in this sacred place--an unparalleled experience.


I am so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the life He lived and for the perfect example He is for us. I saw where He was born. I walked where He walked, talked, healed, preached, and taught. I went to Gethsemane and Golgotha, the places where He suffered inexplicable pains for us. I saw the tomb--it was empty. He suffered, died, and was resurrected so we can return to Him and God the Father. This is the testimony I leave--that He lives!
I recognize how blessed blessed blessed I am to know what I know. I am constantly buoyed by the eternal and complete gospel of Jesus Christ, saving grace and His all-encompassing atonement. The church is true, and I am so unbelievably grateful for it.
In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

bahaaa


I'm making this face right now--


because i know that i have failed in my blogging capacities...again.
so what i have decided to do--in recompense--is provide a series of "parts" of my leben as of late.

partay uno--being the break.
partay zwei--being the nuevo ano.
partay tres--being a snippet of my thanksgiving iz highlight. (this will come soon. ish.)

Friday, February 5, 2010

long time comin-- pt 2

part two--ano nuevo

jesse's dad totally hooked us up with a sweet room at a resort in pc (more commonly known as Parkh Cityyy for those of you who aren't familiar with such lingo. mosdef was that way once). we stayed in a classy room that jt himself (justin timberlake) had once used (or something). ha. we brought the new year in with style as we partied, swam, banged pots, pillow-fought, ate deliciousness, spilled veggies all over the floor (ahem. stef.), cried during My Sister's Keeper, slept peacefully in those fluffy beds, begged for syrup, played catch a phrase and just had a glorious time.

they provided robes...

and classy shampoo, conditioner, and bath salts.


i love this photo. sooo funny.





the master.
he placed everything strategically onto plates and into bowls, and cautiously poured our beverages into wine glasses.


i second this toast.

and that was that.


merry 2010, everybody.

long time comin-- pt 1


part one--the break:

the christmas holiday was all too much for me too take in. it came and went like spring in Utah. my biggest fear was that I would spend too much of my time falling asleep all over the place, or not getting anything done that I'd wanted to--being the sleep- and time-deprived student I am. I tried to make the most of it. I made a list of all the things I wanted to "machen" (do) and "lesen" (read) in my journal. I'll expound for you:

machen
-klavier (piano) (i really did write these german words. ha. oh, how i miss it.)
-sew
-READ
-bake
-letters
-cut hair? slash think of nails? consider being feminine. (ha.)
-temmmmples
-dance
-jesse
-gifts
-hp (harry potter. of courrrse)
-ashley sarg
-ali
-ali/aimee
(i've come to that. i've gotta put people on to-do lists so i make it happen. when and why did this happen?)

lesen
-bom
-pmg
-ensign (still workin on finishin up my conf editish! yiiikes.)
-holy temple (by boyd k. familiar? ooooh!)
-neal a quotebook (given from kristen for masChrist. sooweet)
-true to the faith
-our herit
-marvelous w/w
-die bibel

i packed up a few bags and spent the week living and breathing at home. beautiful. how i love the home-y feel!
i spent the break doing all of the above things, and time was predictably incredibly sparse.
that's what the holidays do for you though, every moment is too short and too good.

most of my list-ish things aren't photographic or photograph-able... question mark. so here are just a few from the fun times with amigos.


oreoooo shake. i admit defeat.

droid.
pretend excitement.
so we played spoons.
with knives..
that were transparent...
can you see them?
ha. it was hard.
but i won!

when stef got out.
this is just moments after he was bragging about how he always won everything.
ha ha ha.

who took this action shot?

ha you can't even see the "spoons!"

me goin for the kill...
totally won.
kels was just a moment too late.

fooooosball.
can you say: "SMEAL"?

yo bro


Well well well. It's been aaaaages.
I've been meaning to post these good shots for quite some time now.
My bro got his call at the beginning of January.

so much excitement! bring out the pocket knife...


lookin good!


We're so dang proud of him!
Chile Santiago West Mission, March 24th.
He's so stoked, and we are all thrilled. :)