We are home!

Thank you all so much for praying for us.
We NEVER felt in any kind of danger. We were treated like Kings and Queens (and Princess') but it is good to be home in our own bed.

My advice to all of you is to consider this trip for yourselves. It opened up the Bible for all of us (Kate was so inquisitive). The scriptures we loved so much before make me cry now as I read them because I've stood where He stood when he spoke them.

The food was fantastic and the views that you will see are more beautiful than I can describe. It is quite something to see the desert blooming as the Bible foretold.

We love you all and now I am going to take another nap :)
Here are a few last pictures to share ;)
Shalom



PRon and Brenda Hammonds,
Amit, Noa, Miya, Dalit, and Roy Levy
Good friends of ours in Israel
(Dalit is one of our travel agents)








Kate and Dalit after she gave Kate her Star of David necklace.
















What was left after Darren ate St Peter Fish on the shores of the Galilee.


















Pron baptizing me in the Jordan River.
This was a very special, very life altering moment for me.

The last time I was baptized I was probably seven or eight.

Day six?

ugh...I am so exhausted yet so relaxed...want to see why?
Scroll down \/

Sunset on the Meditteranian Sea in Tel Aviv
We will see you at home in about 36 hours

Shabbot Shalom

Thursday, March 17, 2006 – Kate’s Birthday

Thursday, March 17, 2006 – Kate’s Birthday
Today was terrific. They all are. But this day was special for Darren and I because it was special for our baby girl.
Months before our trip I told Pastor Ron that Kate would be celebrating her birthday in Israel and that I was hoping to do a little something for her at the restaurant. Kate knew we were doing something for her at dinner. I was expecting nothing more than balloons and a small cake. A week or two before the trip I asked him if I should bring candles with me…he told me not to worry about anything. It was all taken care of. I remember thinking…:uh oh…it’s going to be big!” I was wrong…It was HUMINGOUS!

First we took a boat from the hotel to the restaurant with a panoramic view of the city of Tiberius. When we arrived, I realized that I had forgotten the candles. I told Dalit and she told me not to worry about a thing. Darren and I were excited…Kate was ecstatic! It got better.As we were sitting there watching the water, enjoying the fantastic food. The music began to blare and two waiters walked off the stage and on either side of our table to the windows. These floor to ceiling windows slid open and all of a sudden there was a BOAT headed straight for our table. Then without notice…fireworks began to go off! By this point, Kate’s face was in her hands…Everyone in the restaurant was clapping and singing, and the restaurant owner came over to our table and sang to her also. It was so much more than we expected. But it wasn’t over.

We kept eating, more than satisfied about Kate’s ninth birthday. Then all of a sudden, more singing, more dancing, and the restaurant owner came back to our table with a waiter holding sparklers. Then began to sing again to “Kate…the Princess from Texas” and they gave her gifts. Dalit and Roy gave her a “Star of David” necklace, Israeli candy, and Yaasay (the owner) gave her a t-shirt and cap, and a hand made card from Decks (the restaurant). Many people in the restaurant came up to her and told her Happy Birthday (massadat) and commented about how beautiful and sweet she was. Darren and I were completely overwhelmed. I was almost in tears.

To top off the evening, Moody Sandberg, the Minister of Space and Aeronautics for all of Israel hugged her and told her Happy Birthday. He has a daughter turning ten in two weeks. He is very pleasant and very sharp.



We are blessed. But I have a feeling her tenth birthday will be somewhat of a let down.

Shalom

P.S. Our luggage arrived late last night...boy, it feels good to have clean non-european underwear on (hehehe).