Pesach! (Passover) April 2014

To celebrate Pesach (passover) this year we made matzah and ate it with Nutella and jam. We had a great time and the kids are pros after making it 3 other times in school. 

We are going to miss Israel and the fun traditions that we have been able to try out.

Ryan, Jenny and Jordan April, 3-5 2014

Ryan, Jenny and Candice took off on an adventure across the boarder into Jordan and left Chris behind with the kids. (Good Sport)

Our first stop was to Jerash, Jordan.

The ancient Greek-Roman city of Gerasa.

Petra

This is one of my very favorite places in the world I am so amazed at the beauty of each carving in the mountain. I love Jordan.

Treasury

Donkey ride up the 850 steps to the Monastery in Petra.

Ryan and I thought it was a blast! Jenny..............not so much.

Monastery

And of course a camel ride.

Ryan and Jenny in Israel March 28th-April 6th

We had such a wonderful time with Ryan and Jenny for their visit to Israel. There were way to many pictures and places to do their visit justice but here are some highlights.

Caesarea

BYU Jerusalem Center

View from BYU center with Dome of the Rock just over Jenny's head.

Gethsemane

Garden Tomb

Masada

Dead Sea

Capernaum

Pools of Bethesda

Western Wall

Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock)

Hezekiah's Tunnel

Beersheba 3/1/14

We visited Tel Beer Sheva where they have an archaeological site, and a well that some believe to be the well mentioned in Genesis.

Genesis 21:27-31

New King James Version

27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”
30 And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” 
31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba,[a] because the two of them swore an oath there.

The Well

Inside the water system

Just coming out the underground water system in Tel Beer Sheva

Michael (I'm Just a Kid) August 15, 2012

This is old but it totally shows Michael's personality while singing his favorite song.

Mount of Temptation 2/9/14

Although no one really know for sure this is the site said to be where Jesus was tempted by the Devil in Matthew chapter 4.

 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the  kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

There is a Greek Orthodox monastery built on the side of the mountain.

We took the cable cars up the mountain and then walked the rest of the way up to the monastery doors.

Tristan got to hold the key to the monastery that unlocked the door and let us in.

The chapel was built around this stone "where Jesus sat when he fasted and was tempted"

People cross themselves and then kneel before it and touch their foreheads to it and kiss the stone.

Jericho 2/9/14

Joshua 6:20

......the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

They weren't kidding the walls came tumbling down and there wasn't much left to look at of the old city.