…in ISRAEL.
the other night i was able to talk to a friend about it and wow. the memories just came rushing through my head as if it were yesterday.
i realized just how much i miss that place.
oh my.
what a semester.
after i finish my homework i think i may have to just write about it.
xoxo
Lo
it was just one year ago that i and 29 other students were preparing for our unforgettable journey to Israel.
today i saw this video and was reminded of just how blessed we all were to be able to explore this beautiful land and to learn about its history, which goes back to creation.
it is absolutely amazing.
every detail points to the faithfulness of God.
if you have yet to see this country, here is a wonderful video to watch.
& for those of you who have been, here comes a tidal wave of memories:
…i can’t wait to go back(:
xoxo
Lo
meaning :: a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
…so pretty much how i feel about Israel.
today i just saw something and it triggered a memory. that memory grew quickly into an intense longing to be in this beautiful country once again. honestly, it all feels like a dream.
at times i wonder if it was really real. i know it was, but it just does not always feel like it. thank goodness we have pictures (:
oh the memories that we have captured–never to be forgotten.
:: here are just a few that made me smile ::
[FIRST time cleaning! well...not really. we just like to tease her (; ]
[always studying. even at the football game.]
[eric almost killing me.]
[the look of exhaustion, which pretty much accompanied us 24/7.]
[man selling soda :: beautiful girl, are you married?
best//wisest answer :: taken. sorry.
hahaha.]
[my friday joys :: juliana, rana, and lara--with heather.]
[hiking through the most beautiful place in less than 20 minutes. we literally sprinted through. what an adventure.]
& one of my favorite memories…
[jumping off waterfalls with laura. lets go back?]
xoxo
Lo
“be still and know that i am GOD.”
-Psalm 46:10
…why is it so hard to be still?
xoxo
Lo
…in pictures//posts//status’s on facebook.
…in the questions people ask.
…on random websites.
in the verses that i read:
“…and as for you, if you will walk before Me, as david your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping My statutes and My rules, then I will establish your royal throne over israel forever, as I promised david your father, saying, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of israel.’” 1 kings 9:4-5
in the songs that i sing:
…ye chosen seed of israel’s race,
ye ransomed from the fall,
hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown Him Lord of all…
[courtesy of Edward Perronet]
…& i don’t mind it one bit (: in fact, i absolutely love it.
first, because it reminds me to pray.
& second, because it reminds me of all the things the Lord has taught me.
[so that my life does not go back to the way that it was before]
thank you Jesus for the reminders.
:: they are reminders of your love & your grace–that is never ending ::
xoxo
Lo
P.S.
sorry for my obsessive writing about israel.
it is just constantly on my mind (:
…all the way from Israel [where it is January 17th already].
it says :: ”Mazal Tov Lynlee” in hebrew.
just made my dayy (:
all the mugs? :: “…a lil gesture to your broken coffee mug!”
so thoughtful!
thank you gilad.
xoxo
Lo
…i was back in Israel.
it was quite a splendid feeling.
i was in the old city with my friends.
seeing the sights, experiencing the culture, and falling in love with it all over again.
oh, how i miss that country.
this past week i took this winterim (a week long) Christian Theology class with Dr. Behle and you would be surprised how often he brought up Israel. it made me even more grateful that the Lord blessed me (and the other 30+ students) with this opportunity.
i reeeeally want to go back.
and i am pretty sure everyone knows, because i keep talking about it (:
i’m considering just dropping out of school and moving there (;
haha.
IN MY DREAMS.
now don’t get me wrong, i am completely content with where God has me now! (:
He is beyond gracious to me and is teaching me so much!
in fact, just this past week (even though it was crammed and basically on overload), God used Dr. Behle to really challenge me in my relationship with Christ.
he encouraged us to have a right thinking of God–because in our culture today it has jsut been so tweaked and misconceptualized.
i absolutely loved this class and was so thankful that i was able to take it (:
it is definitely on my top 5 favorite classes taken at Master’s!
well happy 3-day weekend you all!
xoxo
Lo
[defined:]
1. the dwelling place
2. the place or region where something is native or most common
3. any place of residence or refuge
4. the place or a place where one lives
5. the end point
some say :: home is where the heart is.
…if that is the case :: i left part of my heart in israel, so does that mean i get to go back? (;
well, after almost 4 months of being abroad, i am finally home. it is hard for me really to describe how that feels, because i don’t think that everything has fully set in yet. the fact that israel and all the wonders that it holds, is physically a million miles away but mentally right next to me, is really hard to grasp. my mind is there, but i am here–in southern california. but all this traveling around has really made me stop and think about what the word “home” really means. to me, as a believer, it is my final destination, my end goal :: aka heaven. all of these earthly “homes” are temporary and are nothing in comparison to the my permanent residence that awaits me (: what a glorious thought that is.
…for now i am here on earth. enjoying God’s grace, manifested in so many different ways (: striving to live for His glory and to walk in a manner which is worthy of His calling.
good-bye for now israel.
you will forever be on my heart and in my prayers.
[here are some farewell pictures from our last hours in jerusalem]
[back on the rooftop where it all began]
[three of the most amazing girls who the Lord brought into my life at the beginning of last year and who He allowed me to share such a beautiful, wonderful, irreplaceable experience with]
:: i miss it, but of course some of the wonderful things about being home ::
1. family :: dinner // worship
2.my whites are WHITE once again
3. my clothes all smell good and aren’t crispy
4. i didn’t have to encounter pigeon poop while doing laundry
5. the shower was a normal temperature–as opposed to either scalding hot or freezing cold
6. made a fresh pot of coffee this morning and drank the whole thing (:
7. babysitting (:
8. lots of mexican food (;
9. oh, having my BEST friend surprise me at the airport. words cannot describe how exciting that was! (:
10. a lovely. warm. cozy. & comfty :: bed
[that is not a bunk bed--which i am sure brooke is VERY happy about]
and to top it all off, i had the sweetest decorations to welcome me home [along with many sweet treats (; ]
[thank you roberson family :: you are so special to me]
[thank you uncle gary! it was so yummy! i made sure to get the corner piece of course...]
and some great reads to look forward to.
pray that you all have a blessed Christmas break (:
it is good to be home.
xoxo
Lo
[photo credit :: Keely Brazil]
today is my last full day in this wonderful country.
there are just so many things that i have fallen in love with while being here.
:: and i will miss it all SO much ::
the beauty.
the people–we are now one big family.
the hikes.
the food.
the old city.
felafel.
aroma coffee.
the history.
the sunsets.
becky treats.
tuesday morning girls Bible study.
history of ancient israel class.
[i know i am a nerd--but its been my favorite class i have taken at school yet--
yes mom i love it more than OT1]
the simplicity of life–no phones, no fashion, no makeup…etc.
bus drivers.
the books.
the moshav people.
my new friends.
…tomorrow is our last day in the Old City–which makes me incredibly sad to think about. but this trip has been such a blessing from the Lord in so many different ways.
i will never forget it.
“if i forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill…“
-Psalm 137:5
xoxo
Lo
after two long days of excavation, i can officially say with all pride and dignity:
I AM AN ARCHAEOLOGIST.
this was yet another great opportunity given to us by the IBEX staff.
my History of Ancient Israel professor (who is also the Archaeology professor)–Chris McKinny and his wife Mindy both love archaeology and were very excited to share this experience with us (:
we were able to actually take part in all of the tasks everyday archaeologists do–or at least most of them…it was so awesome! the only down side was having to wake up at 5:45 to be on the bus by 6 a.m.! oye vey. but it was so exciting sifting through the dirt and finding all sorts of pottery from ancient Israel! i LOVED it (: a lot of the pottery dated to Hezekiah’s time, which was neat, because i was actually writing a paper about him. on one of the days some of us girls found a really pretty piece of pottery that is actually from the Philistine’s! (: it was white with red designs on it. so awesome! oh and we excavated Tel Burna–the possible location of biblical Libna.
xoxo
Lo
