little hummingbird

Because of a door being left open today, a cute little hummingbird found its way into our house. I guess hummingbirds feel the need to only fly upwards... because the little guy managed to get himself stuck at the top of our entry way ceiling. He flew around up there for hours. Finally, he got stuck up on the flight fixture and we had to save him. It was an adventure.

That's where he was stuck. :(

 The stabilizer job. It was the only thing I was brave enough to do. Christopher was super brave.

 Game face. Ready to catch the little guy when we hit him off the light fixture.

 After he fell down we found that he had cobwebs all tangled around his beak and legs. So my mommy held him tight while she pulled them off.

 Then we fed him hummingbird food. His breathing was super slow at first. But after a few minutes of feeding him he starting breathing faster and opened his little eyes!

 See. I fed him too. :)

 Mommy loves hummingbirds. She was so worried about him all day.

 He finally got the energy to stand up and then flew away!!

He went into that tree... somewhere... :)

Have a good day cute, little birdie!

Powell!

Last week Jordy and I got to go to Lake Powell with my family! He had never been so I was pumped to bring him to my happy place.

Powell is the best place in the world. I swear the water has endorphins in it. Because I am way too happy there.

This was my grandma's idea. She thought it would be super romantic. We were told we need to come back in 20 years and see if we can find it. Haha. :)

My mom rocks! Because of the meteor showers she had us all put our life vests on, wear glow sticks, and have the boat take us out in the lake to float around! I saw three shooting stars. :)

With the flash...

Without the flash... woah. Way too cool.

My mom is the awesome one in the back right with the dangling row of glow sticks! ha.

Jordy and I. :)

Floating bodies in the water.

I love Lake Powell and I love Jordan McKee. :)

Coming Home

I am home! Riding down the escalator looking at my family and fiance was the sweetest thing in the world. There Jordan was with two dozen roses and Lauren with a big "Welcome Home" sign. I just cried.

He is every bit as wonderful as I remembered him to be. Sometimes I wonder how I survived 4 months without him. But I'm home! And I will never leave him again.

Goodbye

Today was one of my favorite days in Jerusalem.

I woke up early and went to the Dome of the Rock. Being on Temple Mount is amazing. That Dome will never cease to amaze me. Afterwards I went to the Western Wall where I stuck my written prayer in the cracks of the rocks among the hundreds of others. I stayed there awhile and just soaked up the culture. I love watching how they worship and how truly devout they are to their religion.

The rest of the day was spent taking our time in the Old City. I got a little shopping done, hiked the long stair case up the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer to look at the incredible view of the city, went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, got schwarma in the Jewish Quarter, relaxed at the Austrian Hospice, and got yummy treats on our way back to the center at "the Arab Costco".

It was a wonderful day. I looked at the city with new eyes as I looked around knowing this was the last time I would walk around in it.

Goodbyes were hard. Right before getting on the bus all of us recited "The Living Christ" looking out over the city. What a way to end the semester. Tears just streamed down my face.

Walking to the city. :)

 Western Wall.

Can you see my house?

Ah. I love this group. So much.

Our last hour in Jerusalem. We spent it on the 7th floor looking out at the city. :)

My roommates for the last 4 months! 

Tears.

So this is my last post actually being in Jerusalem. It WILL NOT be the last post about Jerusalem. I love it way too much. :)

I'll be home in less than 24 hours! 

The One

Because of Ramadan we weren't allowed to go out into the city today. This is what resulted:

http://vimeo.com/46894242

We just couldn't help ourselves. :)

One week!

I just walked out of my ANE final exam and thought to myself, "In exactly one week I will be driving home from the Salt Lake airport with my family, holding my handsome fiance's hand."

That thought made me completely giddy.

Things are very bitter/sweet over here right now. I am so excited to go back home, be with my family and friends, start wedding planning again, drive my car, cuddle with Jordan, hold baby James, eat a non-kosher hamburger, sleep in my own bed, and not do any more school work for an ENTIRE semester!

But, it will be so hard for me to leave this place. I love everything about it. I love the incredible view I have from my balcony, I love the people I am surrounded by, I love knowing my way around the Old City, I love the spirit that I feel constantly, I love how much I have learned and am learning, I love being able to see the scriptures come to life, I love not having the distractions of Facebook, Youtube, movies, etc. (we are PLENTY distracted by the Olympics though), I love always having something to do, I love the sunsets, and I love that I LIVE in the Holy Land.

This is the view from my balcony. :) I live in the most amazing place in the world.