So this is what I see on the way to the store to buy almond milk...(how blessed I am...)

Took a break from studies today to walk to the store to buy some almond milk (I use it for coffee creamer:) I was (once again) just struck by the beauty of Jerusalem on my short walk...

 

Looking up at Mount Zion - the tower you see is at Dormition Abbey, and the buildings right in front of it are Jerusalem University College --- MY SCHOOL:)

Looking down the Ben Hinnom Valley from Hebron Road- in the far distance you see a long separation wall, and the other side (lit up) is in the West Bank.

Looking the other direction from Hebron Road I can see the walls of the Old City lit up in the distance. The tower in the Middle is the Church of the Redeemer, which is right next to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - where the hill of Golgotha and the tomb of the Jesus is (HE IS RISEN:)

I love clouds - here they are moving quickly over the city.

I just don't get tired of looking up at Mount Zion - looks particularly good with these purple flowers, don't you think?

Down in the Ben Hinnom Valley - there just happened to be a flock of goats, enjoying the sunshine and the fresh and recently watered green grass:)

 

A few wayward goats thought there were 'greener pastures' up the hill by the dumpsters...I don't know if their shepherd owner knows they wandered up here...too funny...

So that was my trip to the grocery store. (AWESOME).  If you're wondering why I haven't posted much on this blog lately - I have been in the 'thick' of the semester, keeping really busy, writing papers, reading, reading, not going too many places, learning, learning, processing....trying to get ready for Michael to come a week from Monday:)  BUT this weekend I'm going on a ROAD TRIP and you're gonna get a bunch of pictures when I get back....!!!!!

ROAD TRIP with Edith...here we goooooo....!!!

So we took to the roads, Edith and I, her 2 friends from New Jersey, Simantov and Linda, and various and a sundry other people that just happened to meet with up with us...Edith loves driving in Israel:)

 

Here's a pic of the Sea of Galilee...there's something so very beautiful and peaceful about looking at the Sea after being in the hustle/bustle and tension of Jerusalem...

Simantov and Linda invited 4 of us to sleep in their nice apartment in Tiberius...its the top one on the left..5 flights up, no elevator:)  From their kitchen window, you can see the sun rising over the Sea of Galilee.  Yup, I saw it, we were up early the next morning....

 

Here's Simantov and Linda next to the Sea of Galilee...

 

Here we are up on Mount Bental, looking at the Syrian Border...we did hear a few loud booms in the distance.  Times or prayer, worship, blowing shofars, etc, etc...

 

 Linda from New Jersey brought several awesome silk flags for our prayer time up on the border....

 

Simantov and Roger are holding the Israeli flag as we pray for her protection...

 

You can get just about anywhere from here...

EDITH in a BUNKER - on Mt. Bental. We laughed about Edith Bunker:)

 

From there we went to Rosh Pina (it means Cornerstone)..a beautiful village in the hills about the Sea of Galilee.   One of the first settlements in Israel, today it is where many visitors come to get away in a quiet place.  There was an awesome revival and move of God there in Rosh Pina between 1975-1979.  Near the old historic city of Rosh Pina, there is this long staircase that takes you down from the Old City to the Rosh Pina stream...usually a wadi - a dry river bed, but it can turn into a rushing river during the rainy season. The first pic is looking up the long staircase, the 2nd pic is looking down...kinda reminds you of Jacobs ladder, or staircase to heaven, right??

 

 I just had to stick my feet in the cool refreshing waters of the  Rosh Pina stream...

 

Edith found a bridal bouquet..I must be her bridesmaid....

 

From there we went over the Mediterranean sea to visit new friends...the sun had just gone down...oh sooo beautiful there...

Jane and Michael Nasrallah live right next to the sea in Nahariya...it is the last city up north on the coast before you get to Lebanon. They have a beautiful home, to which they welcome believers who need a place to rest, to soak, to receive. They served us a nice dinner and had encouraging words for us all. 

 

Headed back to Jerusalem....help!! Edith is going 108 mph!!

oh, never mind - its kilometers, whew...that was close :-b   It's always an adventure with my dear friend Edith:)