Israel 2012

Ok, so each time I go to do this post...I get distracted...only because I sit there looking at pictures, or I have started in on a photo album...so I much rather of looking at the memories.

But now...I think I have put that all aside, I have a day off...and a cup of coffee and now it is time to enjoy my journey of Israel! 

May 2012 was a great month! Our church hosts a trip to Israel every two years and it is the most amazing trip ever! Each time I heard about it in the past, I was like I should do that! But then I noticed that there seemed to be something that got in the way each time. When I returned home from Kenya, I was like...in two years...I am going on this trip no matter what! And I made up my mind, and I was doing this. 

It turns out that we had a great bunch of friends that also were going. There was Christa, Laura, Stephen and Peter. This made a little possum of older but younger in the group, considering that there was 92 of us, and about 20 were under the age of 40...gives a little perspective on the culture. It was fun; I managed to make friends with almost most of the group! Blue bus and green bus! I seemed to be well known no matter what. 

It could be because of this...

A little practical joke done by Youth Ministries....as we got Gwen and Vidette on board with a little Team Henry fan club action! Yep, I wore my Team Henry shirt all the way to Tel Aviv...seriously, crazy times! The security guard in Frankfurt was like who is the dude on your shirt! I pointed out Henry and said...it’s our group leader, super cool dude! Surprised that he didn't get stopped! This then caused others in our group to be like, can I get a photo of you...not sure how many photos there are of me running around this group! 

Day 1

Well, after a long day of traveling, we flew from Calgary to Toronto, to Frankfurt to Tel Aviv, we finally arrived. Got off the airplane and started our tour! BAM! It was off to a running start!

We went to a spot that overlooked the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and just outside of Tel Aviv city centre from Old Jaffa, we could see everything, it was truly amazing to sit there as we pretty much just landed and were there! Jaffa was a place where it was mentioned in the Hebrew bible four times, but pretty much the hub for ships and most traveled. The tribe of Dan mainly worked along the coast building ships!

That night we were in Herod's hotel...Herod wasn't there but the hotel was! This was the start of Israeli buffets...food galore!

That night was a trip out to the beach...to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea, no one got baptized in the sea that night!  But lets just say that my previously straight hair for the flights...was now fairly curly and frizz! 

Day 2

On the bus again, off to Caesarea...on our way to Tiberas and the Sea of Galilee.

Caesarea was built by Herod that just went on forever, there was the theatre, hippodrome and then the shipyard...that was built in the Meditterean but was destroyed early on by a Tsunami (they believe).  In the times of the Roman, there was also an adequate duct that was built that was pretty amazing too.

We then made a stop at Mt. Carmel, the point that I remember...wind and sun burn...ok that isn't all but it was close! 

We still had another stop on this trip to Tiberas and the Sea of Gaililee.. 

Day 3

Tel Dan, on the border of Lebanon and Israel, it was the Northern most tip of Israel, you could literally hop on over to the other side!

We also stopped off at Banias Spring, Golan Hights which was a lookout over to Syria, where you could see the United Nations compound.

The the last stop of the day was at Mount of Beattitudes. 

Day 4

We started our Sunday morning on the Jesus Worship Boat on the Sea of Galilee.  Um...I don't think I can say anything I am thinking about this experience.

Jesus Boat Museum, this was pretty cool!  There was a boat that they found in the Sea of Gaililee that they have preserved the wood.  We stopped for lunch at St. Peter's fish, so ever have your fish look back at you while you eat it?  Church of Cana, where 10 couples renewed their Wedding Vows.  And Mount Arbel, on the way back to Tiberas as the we made this stop, as it was the mountain that Jesus would climb to the top to have time to pray!

Day 5

On our way to Jerusalem, we stopped off at the edge of the Sea of Gaililee for baptisms in the Jordan River.  There was about 50 Baptisms...it was cool to see families that would get together in this step of obedience.  We then made our way to Gideon's spring, it was beautiful little place.  Beit Shean was impressive, it was so hot that day there was so much of it to see!

We then made the luxurious journey into Jerusalem, to stop off at Mt Scopus to share with the group having communion and praying over the city.  As we were travelling into the city, Roni our tour guide was playing some a song, "Oh Jerusalem" and just as we entered the tunnel that lead into the city, somehow I had a couple large bottles of water that decided to jump out...and make a loud noise totally disrupting 'the moment'.

Day 6

Today was a dry day...in essence, we went out to the dessert to visit, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, Masada, even though we got caught in rain.  En Gedi, where it was dessert until we got to the Springs, it was beautiful! The highlight of the day was swimming in the Dead Sea, even though it was a crappy day it was fun floating and getting mud all over!

Day 7

Jerusalem, we got into the city today, and walked down to the Garden of Gethsemane, the highlight of the day was sitting on the steps to the temple where Jesus preached.

That night we made our way up to Mt Scopus for a walk, and yes we got lost on the way up.  Steve thought I knew where we were going, and I thought that he knew.  So needless to say, we wondered around for a bit before we finally found our destination.  Jerusalem is beautiful at night.

Day 8

We went back inside the city Walls today, hitting the Jewish Quarters today, saw lots of underground ruins.  did you know that there are 29 layers to Jerusalem, through each layer of history.  We went to the Burnt House which was from the time of Pharoh when they came to destroy the city where the priests were living.  From there we were at the Western Wall, where the Jews go to pray and then made our way underground into the tunnels, there is a whole other layer of history.

Day 9

Our day started pretty early, we were set out to the Dome of the Rock, and the Temple of the Mount very Islamic but there were nasty bugs that swarmed around only on this site in the city.  We then made our way to the church of the Holy Sepulchre.  That night, we went back to David's Tower for a light show, it displayed the history of Israel.

Day 10

We went to the Dead Sea Scrolls Museum, but funny enough...the dead sea scrolls were on tour in North America.  We then went to the Holocaust museum...wow what an emotional day, it was sad. Final Stop was the Menorah

Day 11

Our last day was amazing.  The Garden Tomb wehre we did some more singing and communion.

That night we celebrated our journey together at supper and packed up and flew out.  It was a long day, we headed back to Tel Aviv that night and on our way to the airport.  It was a good thing I had a nap during the day!

The airport experience was crazy and makes for a funny story.  Lets just say that it was hours of security and thank goodness our flight was delayed by the time I got there it was close.  I think we counted that we stood in five or six line ups.  And after getting our passports taken away, and holding up security we finally made it on the airplane. 

The worse experience was getting sick on the flight home, I don't recommend having stuffed up sinuses while flying.

Our stop over in Montreal, was great...the weather was beautiful and we headed into tour the city!  Steve and I after sharing some poutine...we rented bicycles and rode our way through the city. 

Finally home...late Sunday night!  We arrived in Calgary!  Whew...

It was a great experience overall, saw so much.  Cool to see places that we have talked about and cool to see places that Jesus was during his ministry.

Sorry this blog post is so late...it was something that I have been working on and off for the last few months.

It's a good news... bad news day!

Well, I have good news and bad news!

First off I would like to thank you all for your prayers and your encouragement over the last few months. For some of you that are new to the loop, sorry I may have missed you! But for those new to the loop, here is the brief down low. Back in September a lump was found in my uterus, that was 7 cm in size and was causing me a great deal of pain. I went to see the specialist in November, and felt very discouraged as they didn't seem keen on doing surgery. They put me on drugs, hoping that the problem would heal itself, or what some would say...just masked the problem, in hoping that it took away the pain but also being put on pain killers that made me just slightly silly! They explained the risk of surgery, was that complications would lead to a possible hysterectory because of its location and size, thus making the drugs the better option. Many have asked me what the pain feels like, its hard to describe but imagine a foreign object sitting in the middle of your organs trying to grow, pushing and being uncomfortable in the midst of it, I would almost say like a tennis ball size uncomfortable.

This week I got great news. I went to see the doctor on monday, I had pushed my appt up from February because I was ready to have surgery. I have been more disappointed that I have been unable to function as I want to, I haven't been able to get out cycling, or skiing, and I have cut back in my working at Starbucks and limited to what I can do at the church. The doctor, this time, was pro-surgery I barely had opened my mouth and he was like, are you going to do this or not? So the good news, I have surgery booked for March 27. And, this time the doctor described it totally different, the lump is actually protruding outside of my uterus, but attached to it still, but less complicated and it is possible that it will be done in a quick day surgery procedure or it is possible that it will be a full surgery deal.

The not so great news, is that I am off of work at the church and on medical leave as of February 1st until after my surgery, until possibly May.

So continued prayers would be great! Definitely for rest and some patience...I have a feeling I will be bored in the first few weeks!

Darcy and I are very excited and feeling great about this and can't wait for this to be over!

Thank you all!

Highlights of 2012

So just a few of the things accomplished in 2012

- Trip to Israel (Oh yeah)
- Trip to London (2012 Olympics!)
- Buying a Road bike
- Surviving a bike ride from Lake Louise to Field, BC and back again!
- Cleaning out 90% of my parents house (managed to get everything to one bedroom, not to mention the crawlspace that is full of stuff)
- my friend Marylee getting engaged
- annual camping trip with the girls
- tobogganing the Lake Agnes teahouse trail, in -27 temperatures with windchill and flying over a cliff and surviving to tell the story! And doing it all over again at Chester Lake, but a little warmer!
- many many bike trips with Darcy (not to mention the ones that I was so sick)
- Vancouver missions trip with teenagers (not sure I need to say more)
- cooking Christmas dinner for the family!
- Celebrating one year with the one I love!
- being diagnosed with a lump so large it has a name, we welcomed Wilbur into my life to make me miserable!

Just a few of the big things that happened this year!

Praying for a Miracle

So, I know...no blog post for months...and then bam!  Well, here it is.  I haven't been too sure one tells everyone this.  But I do know that as a day to day thing, it is obvious I am not feeling well, and for those that think I can do everything, and when I say no, it seems that I don't care, that is definitely not the case.  I have definitely, haven't been myself at all over the last few months.

I don’t see most of you on a day to day basis. So for that you wouldn’t have notice that I am sick. Others have be lucky enough to see me keel over in pain or slow down enough that you can tell something is wrong.

After months of not feeling well, I was diagnosed in September with having a lump found in my uterus, known as a Fibroid, it was 7 cm in diameter at that time. Since then, I had been waiting to get in to see a specialist, and hopeful for surgery. I recently found out that the where the lump is positioned and the size of it, that surgery would be too risky in fear that they would have to do a whole hysterectomy. The fibroid is pushing within my uterus and within my body and they figure that I try to cope with it before we just remove it. I have compared to the feeling that I am in my first trimester of pregnancy (and no I am not pregnant) with feeling nausea, lack of energy, and unusual cramping, it’s known as my alien baby that doesn’t have a name. I do know that it is very common for females to have lumps in their uterus, and some basically don’t even know they are there or are easily treatable.

So coping with it, means that I am on a drug treatment, of hormones and narcotics, which I am more frustrated about because ultimately I want the pain to be gone, and not just mask the problems. It has also, been getting drastically worse since September, I am finding each day there is different pain, or even unable to get out of bed some days with lack of energy. Darcy and I have found peace with God about long term affects this may have but ultimately have to be patient with myself as my day to day functions have been limited, which also means, no cycling, and no physical activity.  Right now the doctors are hopeful that long term I would still be able to get pregnant but they don't want to do anything that will change it without trying first!

So I ask that you join me in praying for me, as I experience pain and patience as I “wait this out” as I physically am unable to do things and mentally distracted. And also, my sincere apologies if I seem distant (my painkillers are great).

Thanks in advance for your prayers and understanding.

Waterton

My annual trip to Waterton...one of the most beautiful places on Earth!  Ok, I have to thank my friend Megan for the best discovery in Alberta, I love this place, even more than Banff!  I just don't get there enough but this Summer we managed to fit in a trip!  Nothing like experiencing everything about this in a day!  I think the only thing we didn't see was Cameron Lake and Red Rock Canyon but we did get down to the US side of the Lake and almost freeze on the boat ride!

Camping trip - annual reunions of friends

Well the epic Summer continues on with the annual camping trip with some of the greatest friends ever!

Our trip started off with amazing and it was perfect for a weekend of camping.  It's always great to be able to reconnect with friends that you don't see forever at times and catch up over a weekend just like that.  Not to mention the great gifts that randomly appear during these yearly reunions. 

Random Gift Part 1

So this was the most beautiful gifts of the Eagle, and the beautiful multi coloured afghan.  Seriously, this cracks me up, we have had the afghan roaming around for years.  It started at a Christmas gift exchange and then it became the gift that keeps on giving!  The Eagle just presented to our group a couple years ago, as a gift since we all appreciate great gifts!

Well during our weekend, these gifts made their way throughout the group, from being in one sleeping bag to finding them in the back seat of my car, to stashing the eagle twice in two different cars, it finally made its way home with those that would appreciate the surprise gift! 

This fun, is like we are little kids and love the element of surprise, being sneaky and deceiving!  We love it...and get giddy about it!

But all this to realize how much we love this and that we have teh best times getting together, if is making fun of each other or saying Joelle would be the one most likely to join a polgamy colony, much to my dismay!  Ha ha! Or games that we are going skinny dipping or what people think will happen.

 

 

So thanks to great friends and a great weekend of laughter and tears and more laughter!  Here is to next Summer, or if we meet sooner at that life event that |Laura is planning!

 

Love you ladies!