Halloween 2014

I felt kind of sad that we missed our annual Niederhauser Halloween Party.  We always have so much fun doing that with my side of the fam.

 

After getting back from Israel it was nice to see these faces again.  I went over to Holly's and Ashley came and we made Halloween sugar cookies with the littles who weren't in school.

Holly went to Jack's field trip on Halloween and I watched Liv and Mitt.  We enjoyed the nice weather out in my backyard.

Two days before Halloween I had a party in the science class I teach.  I was a mad scientist.  Then the next day I had another party with my other school kids and I was Mary Poppins. 

This bunch all came trick or treating to our house early Halloween Evening.

We had two ninjas, a monkey, Harry Potter, Hermione, Dobby the house elf, and a witch.

 

Happy Halloween 2014.

Israel - part 9

We attended Church on the Shabbat, which is on Saturday in Israel.  It was held at the BYU Jerusalem center on the Mount of Olives.

 

The view overlooking Jerusalem is beautiful in every way.

One last picture of our group.

I took this picture before the meeting started and I realized I wasn't supposed to.  But look how incredible the view of the city is.

After church we wanted to spend one last day exploring a little more of the Old City.  We bought freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.  Delish!

We had shawarma for lunch.

We bought a slice of this bread.  No idea what was in it, but it was good.

I love street food.

We walked along the walls of Jerusalem for a bit.

 

 

How often do you get to see street signs like these?

 

Our last meal in Israel was very similar to most all of them.  We had more fresh veggies than I've had in my life.

 

Dad Grose, how can we ever thank you enough for sending us on this unforgettable trip to the Holy Land.  The name is appropriate.  It really is a very Holy place. 

Israel - part 8

 

We went back up to a lookout point on the Mount of Olives another day.  For only $5 I got to ride a camel.   

I love the way a camel's legs bend.

An aggressive vendor put this garb on Russell and told him he had to pay for it.

We next drove over to a hillside overlooking Bethlehem.  We aren't allowed to go into that city because it is Arab controlled and not a safe place to be right now.  So we hiked around the hills where the shepherds once heard "glad tidings of great joy".

A cave where shepherds still go to get out of the heat or rain.

Evidence that sheep had been here very recently.

We sang Christmas songs while overlooking Bethlehem.  I bawled my eyes out.  It was good.

Falafel sandwiches in a park.

This is the valley where David fought Goliath.  The Philistines were lined up on this hill.

The Israelites were gathered on this hill.

Daniel gave us all sling shots made out of goat's hair. I found the perfect stone.

We practiced until we could slay our Goliaths.  Sonja and Lindsey got pretty good at it.

We drove to the outskirts of Bethlehem specifically to meet this man.  He is an Arab member of our Church.  He sells baby blankets that they make there.  We weren't allowed into the city so that is why he came out to meet us.

Walls like these had to be put up around many Arab areas because so many rocks were thrown at passing vehicles.

I loved the balconies loaded with flowers on this building we passed almost every day in Jerusalem.

Israel - part 7

Caiphas' house, where they first took Jesus after His arrest.

In the dungeon where prisoners were scourged.

Stairs the Savior had to walk up at Caiphas' home. 

How do you put into words the feelings when you see Golgotha, the "place of the skull".

The Romans would crucify people along the roadside, not on top of the hills.

The garden tomb where they lay His body and where he rose again. 

This is where His body actually laid.  They had to carve a bit more of the stone so His feet would fit.

This is probably where his linen clothes were put when he was resurrected.

When you see this place, there is no doubt in your mind that it is the spot.  You just feel it.

 

Although they don't know if this is the actual stone, it is like one that would have been placed in front of the tomb.  It was found in the same area, where other tombs are as well.

This day was a sacred one, seared into my heart forever.

Israel - part 6

Our hotel only had internet access in the lobby.  And we were only allowed to used it for one hour per day.  So at the end of every evening we would go hang out in the lobby for our allotted hour.

At the Western Wall of the temple there is this fountain where Jewish people wash before entering.  Since they have to wash with "living water" they fill the attached cups from the taps and pour the water over their hands.

 

 

Daniel Rona, our guide, tells about the tallith he is wearing.  So many of the things the Jewish people do are very close to things we as members of our church do as well.

 

The men have to cover their heads to approach the wall of the temple.

 

 

 

 

There were dozens of Bar Mitzvahs being held at the Wall.  This father and son were participating in one.  Once again, many similarities between our temple worship and theirs.

 

 

 

The women are on the other side of a partition.

It was a very emotional experience being there, where so many were praying.  I was very touched by it all.

 

 

We next went to an area of Jerusalem where an "upper room" during the Savior's time would have been.  Daniel took us through a Passover Seder and then explained the "Last Supper" or institution of the Sacrament by the Savior.

We then drove to the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Kidron Valley and the Temple Mount.

This gate (in the photo below) that is now sealed up is the "Gate Beautiful". Once a year on  Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement, an unblemished, first-born goat, tied with a red ribbon, would be allowed to escape (this is where the term scapegoat comes from).  It was bearing the sins of the people and was a symbol of a Redeemer who would come to take away their sins.

This gate was also where a red calf would be led across the Kidron Valley and up to the Mount of Olives, high enough to be over the temple, yet, in line with the Gate Beautiful.  It was also in line with the north part of the altar.  It was sacrificed high up on the Mount of Olives.  This is where the Garden of Gethsemane is and where the Savior bled from every pore for our sins.  That suffering would have stained His clothes red.  This is a symbol also of when the Messiah will return again to the Mount of Olives dressed in red like it says in Isaiah.

Here is what the Garden of Gethsemane looks like today.  Very ancient olive trees are still here.
This was another very sacred place for me to visit and I felt the Spirit very strongly here.  I can't quite put into words what it was like to be in this place.

A thorn bush.

This was our group that day.  We had six more people than usual who joined us.  A couple from Sweden (who are going to be the new LDS temple Presidents in Sweden) and four people from Denmark.