Day 4 in Israel

Nazareth tonight out my window!

The Dead Sea

The Lee University Symphonic Band - we spent over $100,000 to be here! and this is what we get into!

Masada Ruins - Food storage rooms

Cable car to Masada

Dome of the rock - the little gazebo is a replica of the one inside - only muslims are allowed inside

Had a scary checkpoint leaving Bethlehem today - it''s odd watching a soldier walk through the bus with a machine gun looking at passports.
Visited the temple mount and got to spend about 20 minutes on the top beside the dome of the rock. Grabbed some rocks for Granny and Jordan.
We then traveled to Yad Vasheem to the Holocaust Museum. We had only 1 1/2 hours there and I only made it slowly through about 45% of it, but what I did see was heart-wrenching. At the end of the exhibit trail is a very large domed room called the Hall of Names. You can't be moved by seeing the thousands upon thousands of books filled with names of murdereed Jews.
We drove through the wilderness by the dead sea to Masada to see where Jewish rebels took their own lives and their families live to escape being enslaved by the Romans. Very fun cable car ride to the top of the mountain.
Afterwards it was on to the dead see to float like a bobber! It was a lot of fun. If you go out to the deeper water you can float "standing up" without having to tread water! We did a great group photo of all of us covered in mud! It felt relly nice.
We finally drove two hours to Nazareth where will will be for two nights.

Day 3 in Israel

Bethlehem Bible College choir with us at the Bethlehem Peace center

Jesus' birthplace

The Shepherd's Church - where we sang

The Shepherd's field - if you look closely there are sheep with a shepherd (above closely)

Another beautiful day in the Holy Land! We saw the shepherd's fields and church, church of the nativity, Jesus, birthplace, and did a fantastic concert with the Bethlehem Bible College Choir at the Bethlehem Peace Center right beside the birthplace of Christ. They sang 4 songs with us in Arabic, 2 of them were traditional middle eastern sounding songs and the others were You Are Good and Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone. The room was packed out and people were standing in the doorways and out into the halls. We also sang with our vocal team like we do in the states and played a couple of concert pieces. I don't know how to explain how it feels to have had the opportunity to minister to citizens of Bethlehem within sight of Jesus' birthplace, it's almost surreal!

I added this for a bonus - 35 music majors singing in the Shepherd's church - it had amazing accoustics - it sounded like 200!

Day 2 In Israel

Jerusalem Nazarene church where we played Sunday night

The Damascus gate - now the entrance to the Suk outdoor market in Jerusalem

Illegal ladies from Bethlehem rolling grape leaves to sell - they boil them and put rice,meat,and spices in them to eat.

The Jerusalem Baptist church - probably the smallest building we've ever set up in - but very memorable worship service.

The security entrance gate into Bethlehem from Jerusalem

We had two services today - this morning at East Jerusalem Baptist and this evening at Jerusalem Church of the Nazarene. It was very fulfilling to look into the eyes and faces of people that still resemble what Jesus looks like and watch them worship. There is an instant powerful annointing here. We shopped in the open market of Suk in Jerusalem today between services - our group meeting place and entrance into the market was the Damascus Gate.

Dan in Israel

Our hotel in Bethlehem - the nicest in town

Jerusalem on the right - mount of Olives on the left - Kidron Valley separates the two

Another view of Jerusalem from the opposite side

Life with Lydia

The girl can trash a clean room in 10 minutes!
This is a page from Emilie's Kind. class book. They were so sweet to keep up with our adoption through the blog. Lydia got to visit them last week.

Em pushing chunky monkey around in her baby doll stroller.
Lydia LOVED it!!

Aunt Von came to see us at Aunt Cheryl's.

What a great day!!! Thanks for coming down Von!!!

It takes a village....

Lydia LOVES her extended family! She is always blowing kisses and waving at them to let them know she loves them. (Allowing them to hold her is another story) She took her first road trip to visit in South Carolina. She traveled pretty good... but I wouldn't want to head out alone with her just yet. :-) Our first night was rough... she cried like she did in China and I was sure I had made a huge mistake. Thankfully by morning she re-booted and was happy as a clam for the rest of the visit.

She even began to cry for Uncle David when she thought he was leaving. There's an old saying that "kids spell "love" "t-i-m-e." If you want our girl to give you the time of day, you had better have LOTS of time!

School is out and as usual we busier than we want. June is the busiest. We have a Kid's Crusade, Camp Meeting, Tennis Camp/Vacation, Youth Camp (for the boys) and summer basketball for Jason. July is not much better as we really hope to visit grandparents and Jason has a mission trip to Peru. Not to mention Cheryl's move to Texas! (insert heavy sigh)

School starts Aug 3... how in the world am I supposed to leave such a sweet baby with someone else all day while I go to work?

Remember us when you pray....

~Cindy

Oh... almost forgot to tell you Lydia has 4 new teeth coming in. ALL AT ONCE!!!! Still not walking... but close!

Disco Inferno 2009

Dancing lessons from Reed

Winning the dance contest!

Oooops!

Before the fall!

Kissing in the back row..... solo

This show was so much fun for Andrew. He sang a couple of solo's! He didn't tell us that he dies in the play... the good news is that he did resurect long enough to sing one more time! :-)

The plaid bell-bottoms were found on e-bay. Gotta love it! Bravo Andrew!!!!

Now You're Talking!!!!

This smile can make your day!

Chillaxin with Daddy

I like to have a toy in each hand just like Andrew did when he was a baby!

Look out Paula Deen...

We have had a very busy week! Lydia has began to say a few words. She is learning her facial parts and can say "eye, nose... (ohhh), and (ou )for mouth. She is walking all over the house with her rock-n-roll toy. has worn a path around the downstairs loop. She also loves to cook and serve anyone within arms reach. She'll say... Mmmmmm. It never gets old... we love watching her play and learn. She is such a smart girl. (yes, we are a little proud)

We are getting ready for a visit with Josie and Emilie. They are coming to watch Andrew in his on-stage debut in "Disco Inferno." Look for those pics next week. He is ready for his solo's... yes, I said solo's! School is down to 5 days... can you believe it?