Late Night Conversations

In the past I wasn't able to have a very long conversation with my brother about anything really. Why? Well we kind of butted heads a lot. Both living under the same roof but living very different lives. I sought to know how to best help. How could I be an example?
Last night another opportunity presented itself of talking about the reality of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What is the difference between our Church and all the others? Why do we have the Sacrament? Why do we have to be baptized? What is the significance of the ordinance? Is there a God? How do we crasp and intigrate the Atonement of our Saviour into our lives? These, the mysteries of the universe. They aren't as mysterious as we think. We have the power, the knowledge and the resources to give us the understanding we seek because of the Restoration. But it is the seeking that must take place. "Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find" If we don't- we won't. In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told that, in section 93:24 "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." Christ is the light, as we keep the commandments we receive that light. It is through Christ that there ever WILL be a perfect day. Moroni, in the Book of Mormon teaches that in 10:32.
These mysteries truly aren't as mysterious as we think but we know that God gives us line upon line, precept upon precept. Why would we want more than we could handle anyway?
The mysteries of the universe........offer great late night talks that, hopefully, open the door

Things I learned in Jerusalem:

• Talking on the phone in the hall- everyone will be privy to your conversation
• Leg room on the bus- forget about it- unless of course you fight for it while our neighbor is sleeping----awkward
• Sleep in the front of the bus- back of the bus- who knows- never got that far
• A walk to Lana's market or over priced goodies at the Kandi Kibbutz
• When you take facebook away from a college student they WILL find a way to get passed it
• Being sweaty, hot, smelly, and covered in dirt is going to GET you friends
• Grandma shirts are so much more airy and cool
• Hook-ups REALLY are awkward
• School work........don't know how to do it there
• Prayer calls will eventually stop waking you up
• People in Jerusalem know how to have parties- everynight
• It's fireworks NOT gun shots
• Bartering- sometimes you gotta sacrifice
• Sweat marks.........
• Air conditioning is a blessing from the Heavens
• Ping Pong- really is a great game
• Dance parties........everyone really is invited!
• Alarm clocks......snooze......over and over again
• Every one is tired so don't talk about it anymore
• Lunch.......Boom Bars
• Kosher lunches are REALLY hard to stomach
• Ice cream actually saves lives
• Who needs exercise you sweat it all off!
• Security--They're EVERYWHERE
• The Arabic men are not short on comments
• Shabon really can get you anything you want him too
  

After FINALLY getting the opportunity to go camping I am feeling very fulfilled. It was awesome. On the drive up Squaw Peak road we stopped and watched the sunset- amazing! Then we drove and found a spot right off the road- good times.
It was almost dark when we got there but the best thing was that there had been a fire built there before I discovered as I dug out the ashes and from those, still hot, ashes we were able to get our fire burning. Lindeman would change my grade in camping skills class if she saw me make a fire with NO matches! A one match fire making skill test in that class- the wind was blowing- 5 matches later!
The fire was nice, the company was great. Smores, starbursts, chips and a fabulous tin foil dinner.
The highlight was probably the creeping going on in the bushes behind us. FREAKED us out of our chairs, literally, and got us, girls, into the cars. The second time around we discovered that not only was the noise NOT being made by a human BUT kangaroo mice?!? The size of an apricot! Five of them jumping around, fighting in the bushes.
Then came the time to sleep- ten man tent and a six man tent- we nine chose the ten man tent. Nine people and a blow up mattress- added to the hilariousness of trying to fit us all in. Let's just say by the morning- the mattress was flat and Spencer Cope had a few pairs of feet in his personal space!
Oh the Joys! Black hands, feet, face with dried up wet wipes and powdered donuts- just doesn't get much better than that!

Pictures are coming

After years of fun growing up in the Oak Hills Second ward we all pretty much went our separate ways. Who would have thought 10 years later we would all be standing in the old streets of the Holy City?

The Exhileration of Putting Yourself Out There!

Two tickets to a play- obviously I shouldn't go by myself but wasn't too worried about it if I did! I ask a friend for Saturday- great......
Last minute my schedule changes and I have to go on Friday- wedding reception. Four hours before the play is to start I need to find someone to go with me.....time is ticking, what am I going to do? Eleven year old Emily says ask a boy......
Dare I do it? One it is super last minute. What will he think? Am I being too forward? What if he acutally says yes? What if he says no? What will I do then? Feel completely STUPID? I'll do it casually, really casual-text message- will that be lame? What if he gets the wrong impression? What if I say something that he takes the wrong way? What if he thinks less of me because I did it over text? What if.........? Why am I asking myself these stupid questions Just do it!
With my heart literally pounding out of my chest and my fingers not really working very fast I write something clever- gotta make a good impression right? The red light goes off- he answered- sheer joy at that blinking red light- do I read it? I could just be happy that he wrote back :) Read and reply- again the thumping, fumbling and then....another red light blinking! Oh I think I have reached the highest of highs-----I read it brought back down to earth.....can't go, already have plans, but thanks for the invite.
As the saga continues- The joy of dating--really the joy
Sometimes you get the elevator- other times you get the shaft :)

The Taste of the Old City

The Old City- Ever changing and yet very constant