EGYPT!!!!!

Ive been back from egypt for about a week.....but in my defense of not blogging sooner I've had school, and Ive had to do laundry....haha anyway here are some pictures from EGYPT!!!!

This is in the Luxor Temple. It is a picture of people belly dancing...and I thought I would give it a try!!!

We hiked Mt Sinai on our last day in Egypt. It was great!!! We had to wake up at 2:00 in the morning (which was not the high light) and drive to the base of the mountain and hicked up to the top, and with my luck the battery on my flashlight did within about 40 min. So i hiked alot of it with Trisha, who's battery on her flashlight was also about to give out....but we made it up. The view from the top was amazing!!!! The colors when the sun rose were so vivid!!!!Orange and red and blue.

This is on top of Mt Sinai.....all the other pictures I look NASTY!!!!! so here is one I like, cause you can't see my face.

Here are some of the girls in front of the Alabaster mosque in Cairo

For those who didnt know I have a twin.........I know were identical!!! Its like the parent trap all over again!!! haha

Here we are on a feluca ride across the nile over to our camel ride.
Jessica, Danny, Me, Kyle, Mandie

This is in The Valley of the Kings In Luxor, It was so cool! It is were most of the Pharohs are barried, along with King Tutankamon whos tomb we got to go in, it was so cool.

THE SPHINX

This is were the Papyrus was found that Joseph Smith Translated into Abraham. That was fun to go see. the guards there were really funny about us going down there, Cause it isnt really a tourist sight for most. but it was fun and I got a picture so I was excited!!!!

Rachel and I in front of the pyramids (side note: the guy in the white shirt is in the background of a ton of my pictures....GRRR)

Amelia, Mary Kate, Monica and Me in the RED SEA!!!!!

Caryn, Me, Emily and Mandi in Cairo in front of the sphinx and a PYRAMID!!!!

Really cool arches in anchient ruins on our way to Egypt

GIRLS PIC!!!!

Over all Egypt was great!!! I hade a blast and loved the experience!! The bathrooms were NASTY!!!!! I never really felt clean, and luckily our hotels were really nice so i was able to feel clean right before bed....and that was about it. We had lots of fun experiences like a dance party in the Hard Rock Cafe, swiming, diping my foot in the nile, camel ride. I LOVED IT ALL

I did have 3 bad things happen.......

1) I left my I-pod at the hotel in Luxor

2) I left my amazing Papyrus on the train

3) I broke the only sandal that I can wear in the center...that was BAD!!!

JERICHO

We got to go to Jericho on Monday and it was so much fun!!!! We say Zachaeous Tree, The lowest point on earth, the oldest place on earth, and a really cool monestary that was built on the side of a mountain into a cave. I had a blast!!!!

This is our group in front of Judean Desert

This is a cave in Jericho along the Mt of Temptation

To enter the Monestary all the girls had to have their heads covered to show respect. So we wore these little beauties

This is my climing around in ruins of what used to be Harod the Greats Winter Palace where He Died

This is a view from a tiny little patio on the side of the monestary you can kind of get an idea of how high up the monestary was. It was a pretty good walk!!!

Kristen and I after we walked up to the doors of the monestary.....a little sweaty!!!!

This is a really cool fountain in Jericho near where the ruins from the wall tumbling down are.

Some of us girls by the fountain.... the picture taker got the wrong angle....oh well
Me in front of the ruins where the wall came tumbling down....its kinda hard to see

The beautiful city of Jericho. If you look the other way you would think why would people want to settle here, its a dry dessert, then you turn around and see the beautiful city with all the farms and plants everywhere!!

We also went to the Zoo on Sunday (HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!) and we had a blast. It wasnt a super big zoo, but it was a good half day activity! After the Zoo we had the bus driver drop us off by the old city so we could cruise around and then walk home from there

I thought this was the most bizare thing....i had to take a picture of it, it was randomly inside the zoo....WEIRD!!!

I just couldn't resist climbing this tree....who could!?!?

this is the VERY SCARY BIRD i got attacked by......

We just had Forum a few hours age, and for forum today Governor Huntsman from Utah came and spoke to us and we got to chat with him for a while. We also got to hear from the Attorney General of Utah who was one of the Key players in getting the Jerusalem Center re-opened. It was great to have them here today

Im a lucky girl!!!!

How did I get so Lucky??? I ask my self that everymorning. I still feel like im living a dream.

During my very short experience so far I think I have grown more as a person and a Daughter of God than ever before. I have been able to recieve greater understanding of many different things in my life. I fell so blessed to be here where the savior performed his minestry

This is the castle I live in!!!!!!

A group of us went to Zedikiahs Cave. Ther were soo cool!!!!! We wished we would have brought flashlights to go exploring.

This is the view from the Rampart Walk of the Old City
In rouins underneath what the city is today

Me and My Roomate Alyssa out side Damascus Gate. Later on in the day the streets and steps get filled with people selling stuff. Its crazy!!!! Ill Have to get a picture of it on another day

Megan, me and Mary Lu in front of the white building which is where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept. The Previous day we had a seminar taught by Brother Andrew Skinner who is a religious genious and also my Ancient Near Easter Studies teacher.

this is a picture of ruins of what used to be homes near the temple.
I think this is one of my favorite pictures so far. I found this while exploring in the Old City
This is a view from up above on the Rampart Walk. Jaffa Gate Is Directly In Front of me, Which is the main enterence from West Jerusalem into the Old City

The incredible view from my balcony at sun set

Today is Saturday which is the Sabbath in the Holy Land, so we had church (I have a calling, Im in the nursery!!!!) and then we went over to the Garden Tomb. As we were walking up to the Garden Tomb the streets were busy and filled with many people selling things it was very loud and there was alot of comotion. We then walked down a long walkway into the entrance of the garden Tomb. After we entered the Garden Tomb I felt calm and peaceful. we walked in and went directly down to the tomb its self. It felt so surreal seeing it and being there. I had seen pictures before and everything but I couldnt believe I was here, even though I was counting down the days. Then our guide took us over to see Calvery and It was just amazing to be there!!!!! After we were finished with the tour I found a quite place to sit and read. After I finished reading I went over and sang a few hymns with some of the girls in our group. As we were singing "How Great thou Art" I couldnt help but to cry I am so amazed at this world and all the Lord does for me every day. I am truly blessed. Then everyone left and Karen and I wanted to sing one more hymn "Lead Kindly Light" So we stayed for a few extra minutes. There was a group on a tour walking next to us while we were singing and we talked them for a little bit when we were done they were great.I love meeting people here both the tourists and the natives. Then Karen and I noticed that there was no one in the Garden Tomb at that time so we walked down and spent some time in the tomb I could not believe that this was where The Saviors Body was laid to rest and I was here. I was once again overewheled and started crying. Its not what is in the Tomb but what isnt in the Tomb. "Rejoice for the Savior is Risen" As I was standing in the tomb I began to look at the walls the rock I was looking at was the same rock the apostles of old and Mary Jesus's mother and Mary Magdalene touched. I am just so overwhelmed at being here and what I am doing here. I am so greatful for this opertuniy and im enjoying everysecond of it!!!!

Jerusalem Center

Jerusalem is absolutely incredible, It still hasn't quite set in that I am here. Yesterday we got to the JC at about 4:00 Jerusalem time. we meet our roomates and found our apartments and then we had dinner. The food is very different they use ALOT of dill in ALOT of their dishes, they also use alot of cilantro. We then went down to the auditorium and had our first orientation. The organ in there is incredible and the acoustics are great, but the best part is the view. I dont know how to describe it the city is so incredible everything about it. the dome of the rock is so shiny and they stone on it is much darker than most others in the city. Almost all buildings are built out of limestone, but the done is a much darker grayish blue color. ( Ill talk a close lookwhen we get to go and see it)

Then today we got to go on a tour of the old city. we meet alot of vendors in the old city they were so nice and friendly. one of the vendors yelled to us we love the mormons and the guy next to him yelled we love your money!! It was really funny.
We also got to try a falafel ball and it was really good a million times better than the awful falafel that we had at home. So we went through the old city and we also went into the holy seplucure, it had such an interesting spirit in and around it. It didnt feel like a holy location it felt like a tourist spot to take pictures and not as holy as many people believe it to be. The inside is amazing though every detail is laced in gold and it all has very intricite designs. Ill get pictures next time we go in (they told us not to bring our cameras today). We also got to go to the roof of the Austrian Consulat which is in the Old city the view from up there was amazing. You could see everything from up there. I have already learned so much about the city the culture in this very short time.

Jerusalem Center

30 DAYS AND COUNTING

I have been home from BYU-Idaho since December. And thankfully I've gotten a good job that has helped the time pass. Ive been going to Disneyland a lot lately. I went on Friday for my birthday with some friends from BYU-Idaho that don't live to far away and were able to come down. Andrea, Whitney and Lindsay were all able to come. It was so much fun!!

here I am with my Birthday Button 

I got to dance in the new parade..... the new parade is awesome!!

Me, Whitney, Andrea, and Lindsay on Small World

So the exciting news is that I got accepted into the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies, I am so excited. I fly to Tel Aviv on the 28 of this month and will be there for 4 months. I can't believe its so soon. So thats about it thats going on with me. I will update my blog while I'm gone so i can keep you all up to date with my adventures!!

7 week break

The 7 week break was also alot of fun. My friend Emily Beech came fro a visit to California the first week and half I was home. We had alot of fun, we went to six flags, the beach, and the sawdust festival in Laguna Beach. It was fun!!

This is Makelle, me, BAT MAN, Brittany, and Sarah in front of Gotham city at Six Flags.

I also got to play mommy for a week with Kalena and Kea (Kassie's kids). We had so much fun together. We went to the park, out to lunch, shopping, Sea World. Then Kassie, Pono, Noa and Koa came and joined us for a fun day at Disneyland.

Kalena, me and Kea waiting for the Dolphin show to start

We got to go to Arizona a couple of times and go to lake Pleasant with Kassie and Kyle and their families. It was so much fun!!! Sadly the lake wasn't as glassy and smooth as I would have liked it, it was more unpleasant if you ask me. Koa with his million dollar shy smile!!!

Another exciting thing I did during the break was hike the Grand Canyon. It was interesting.... the way down was fun and fine. the way up....I was really wishing I had a mule!!!!

Mom and me after a long day of hiking

The beautiful sunset on the canyon. It's breathtaking!!!