Silly Kids

 

 

So this post is not about the Dome of the Rock experience! (Sorry Dad) I will eventually get it done.

 

 

This post is where I tell funny things heard around the apartment said by three wittle kids!

 

First up....Princess!

 

Yesterday I was thick in the middle of school with the boys. Jack sitting at my desk, and Bob out on the balcony. Often Princess plays quietly by herself in the Living room/Kitchen area, because she knows that toys are not allowed in my room during school hours. In between subjects the boys often get a little break, before getting back at it. The boys had just finished a break and had their heads back in the books...when a little blond head peeked in my door.

"Sarah?" Princess said with an exhausted look on her face.

"Yes?"

"Can I take a break?"

"I guess so. Why don't you take a little break." I replied, trying to be serious and not laugh at her.

"Ok!" And she happily walked away with a smile on her face!

The little dear hears her brothers ask so often, she didn't want to be left out.

 

Bob just got through learning the Alphabet and the pictures that go with the letter. A a apple, B b ball, ect. So he was working on Y for Y y yarn. And he started talking about different words that start with different letters. Out of the blue he looks at me and says,

 "I have a friend from out at Indiana who's name starts with T t."

"Oh really?!" And inside I'm celebrating, Yes he's finally going to admit that Tori was his friend!

"Yeah, T for T, t, Tim! He was my friend from Indiana."

"What about Tori? Her name starts with T?"

"No, she's not my friend. And K for K, k, Keith. They were both my friends from Indiana."

"Am I your friend?"

"No, not from Indiana, your my friend from Israel."

 

Now every time we play the ABC Sound game, he always forgets that K is for Kite and T is for Tail. He seems to think that K is for Keith, and T is for Tim! I am determined to cement the right way in his brain!

 

 

Sand, Horsing Around, & Mail!

Tuesday was a different, fun sort of day! Close to friends there is a man made, big 'sand box' I guess you could call it. So after Wayne and Marie left for school with children dressed in swim wear, sunscreen in hand, and three little ducks in tow we started walking. I wasn't sure if Bob was going to make it! The sun was just starting to get really hot, and it was a good 35-40 min. walk. We finally arrived, and all memories of sore feet were forgotten as the boys ran across the sand to their friends.

Filled a tub with water so Princess could stay cool. She decided the best use of her water...was to scoop in more and more sand! Sounds like a great idea to me!

The boys had fun filling buckets, making dams and sloshing in the water.

At one point I watched as Jack and his friend went running, and dove hands first, sliding in the sand. Once they came to a complete stop I guess they didn't feel like they had gotten dirty enough...so they started rolling. Yeah! Picture sand EVERYWHERE!!! I just sat there and laughed thinking about how uncomfortable of a walk home that was going to be! Oh well, everyone will just need baths later!

Jack was giving piggy-back rides today!

 

 And I got a letter today!!! Less then a week after it was sent!!!

 

And no I don't have a clue what that says in Hebrew....the students didn't even have a clue. I think I'll need to check where the writer picked up the phrase and see how reliable their source is!

 

City Walls

 

I'm afraid I don't really have time this week to write about everything, so for now I'll just post a few pictures. Last Sunday four of us walked around a section of the Old City walls.

 

Enjoy the rest of your week!

 

 



Sooo Full!

 

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."

J.E.

 

 

 

 

The other day we were talking about how my 3 months is half over. Bob looked up at me bewildered and asked, "Why are you leaving? Are you going to come back?"

The only answer I can give him is hopefully. Because honestly....I don't have a clue.

 

Thinking about time and the future that is full of unknowns has changed my focus a little bit. Living in the here and now is often spoken about in a bad way. I think living in the here and now can be a good thing. In fact I know I need to do more of it in my life. That's where my mind has been lately. Focusing on the here and now. Squeezing as much joy out of the present moment, and not wasting time looking forward to the 'next thing'. Because I'm in the here and now. Because today is a gift, that will soon be gone, and will be no more then a memory. I waste so much of my time looking forward to the future, that when I get there I either am still looking forward to the next best thing, or I'm looking back wishing I was still in the past. I don't want to live in the past or the future, I want to live fully in the here and now. I want to 'be all here', and 'live to the hilt'. I don't want to look back at this season in life and wish that I had enjoyed it more. I don't want to look back with regret.

 

 

 

 

For some people the countdown has begun.

Every time I talk with Rach she reminds me how many more days till her birthday. Because I'll get to celebrate with her!!!!!

Time. It's such a funny thing. At times moments and hours can feel like they will last for eternity, but days and weeks seem to fly by.

 

 

 

"Can we sing 'Running Over" cause that's the song that Princess sings funny, cause she says '...sooo sooo full!" Bob asked Sunday night, as we sat in a circle with friends. Every one laughed and then we proceeded to sing 'Running Over'.

Walking home that night...that's how I felt. So, so full. The breeze was cool and refreshing, almost cold. And the city was still awake, with buses and taxi's still working. Palm and Olive trees rustled in the wind, and the kids chased each other down the sidewalk.

Depending where your focus is, life can be dull, ordinary, and full of flaws. But there's also a flipside. Depending where your focus is, you can find excitement in the dull, joy in the ordinary, and beauty in the flaws. Because for everything I've had to give up, it's been replaced by something just as good...if not better.

The last week I've felt full. Sooo, sooo full. There is so much to enjoy and experience right now, if your willing to look for it. You can find joy in a crowded Shuk with people yelling out prices in Hebrew. The smell of spices and fresh pita bread. Walking through the city at night when it's all lit up, and a cool breeze plays with your skirt. Coffee Friday mornings with a good friend. Little kids learning the Alphabet for the first time. And running down three flights of stairs pain free!
This afternoon I went walking for the first time since arriving here. Not because I had a destination....just because I could! And it felt so good! I wanted to break into a run, but I decided I'd rather not damage the knee right away. Hopefully I can work up to that. If your determined to find joy in the ordinary....you probably will.

Jacks view on life in Israel

(Below are a few questions I asked Jack about his life in Israel and what he thinks of it. All opinions are below are his...not mine!)

How long have you been in Israel?  I don't know, but it feels like a long time.

Did you enjoy flying? I loved flying! The best part about flying was watching a little animal running around getting beat up. (I think it was Ice Age. And we here about 'the movie on the plane' almost daily!)

What is your favorite thing to do? Playing in our cardboard house is a lot of fun. Not as much fun as playing in the hut with Cara and Caden in Pennsylvania, but it's still fun.

What are some foods that you like here that you don't have at home? Couscous is the best! And I like Pita Bread too.

What foods do you miss? Hotdogs

Do you like living in the city better or the country? That's what I don't know!
I like living in an apartment building up high...it's almost like a tree house. But I don't like walking so much. I'd rather hop in our van back home to go places.

Would you rather go to the grocery store back home or the market here?
Well probably rather go to the grocery store in Pennsylvania. Cause it's not as busy and not so many people.

What do you do during the day? School, and play with Jediah, and Breanna, and make things out of cardboard.

 

That's all for now folks!

All things yummy....

 

 

As things start to settle more and more (as in us getting settled not the political situation), every day and it's schedule is becoming more 'normal'. Roughly my mornings are filled with coloring, entertaining, and teaching. A huge part of my time is also spent in the kitchen, and on my computer looking for creativity. Thank You Pinterest!!!

 

I guess you could say in the morning I'm teaching others and in the afternoons I'm trying to teach myself. The kitchen has been my grounds for experimentation, and trial and error. At home I'm no stranger to the kitchen. Mother instituted the H.I.T. program in our home at a young age. For those of you that are wondering, H.I.T stood for Homemaker In Training. Don't I have such a witty mom :)! Anyway the 'program' meant those mother thought old enough (mainly me!), were responsible for planning and preparing supper one night a week. This of course did not exclude you from helping in the kitchen the rest of the week. But the difference was you had the 'privilege' of coming up with the menu for that evening. And learning the age old lesson of trial and error.
As a young girl I was the child that thrived on a scheduled life! I remember when August came around I was sooo excited the first day of school! Not necessarily because of the school part. But more so because we had a brand new schedule that would tell me what to do all day every day for the next number of months. So when the HIT program started, I had a little note book that I planned out meals and the different things I wanted to make or try. My mother has always been a little different! And I'm so glad she is!!!! I never understood how she could on a whim decide what to make for supper at 4:00! That may work for her BUT, when I have a house of my own I shall always have a menu planned a week out. Or so I thought. Hm! How's that working out for you now Sarah?! 
Thanks to my flexible mother, and all the unexpected twists in life that have happened in the past 2 years...today I'm able to take life as it comes a little more. And no I have no idea what I making tomorrow! Even though my 12 year old self would shake her head at my 'go with the flow' attitude today, I'm so thankful for the way that mom would spring supper on me late afternoon without warning.

 Despite graduating from the HIT program, it's a bit of a learning curve when everything your used to making, either you can't find half the ingredients or there are too many highly priced items. So it's basically starting over at square one. I can count on my one hand the times that I've actually followed a recipe 100% since we've arrived. I've done a lot of improvising, and a lot of random dumping (with fingers crossed behind my back). They say the best chefs don't use recipes...right?

 

So what do we eat? Produce is very inexpensive, so a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Rice, lentils and other grains have become staples. Meat is stretched, and Dairy is also used sparingly. I did make rice at home...but not very often. So I've had to go digging for different ways to use and incorporate it into a meal. And lentils...completely foreign ingredient that never stepped foot in the Hess kitchen! What do you do with them? And you could stretch chicken in a casserole dish...but what about when all the casserole dishes your familiar with call for Cream of (fill in the blank) Soup, and it doesn't exist. And cheese! Every recipe calls for cheese in some shape or form. It's amazing how as soon as you realize you don't have something, every recipe you look at calls for that one ingredient!

 

  

 

Challah Bread used on Shabbat

This was one of those naïve purchases. I guess you could call it a golden loaf of bread. I paid close to 12 shekels for it at a super market the first week. The other day I got a loaf at the market for almost half that. You live and you learn :)!

This is Israeli Salad

We eat a lot of cucumbers and tomatoes. And I threw in black olives cause we had some....and you can't go wrong with olives. I love olives! When Dads making pizza I can easily eat half the can before any gets on the pizza. And at EBI, one of my roommates loved them as much as I did. So it was not uncommon for us to eat a can of black olives in the evenings. But after living here...I don't know if I'll ever be able to eat olives out of a can again! These are incredible! They are full of strong flavor, and firm. I really want to bring some home with me. So maybe if you are really nice till then I'll let you try some :)!

Dried fruits at the market

One of the olive stands. Oh and you buy everything by the kilo (1 kilo. = little over 2 lbs.).

So 24 shekels per kilo would be approx. 6 US Dollars, which would be a little less then 3 Dollars a pound.

Going to the market your not only converting Shekels to Dollars in your head your also then taking that price and converting the kilo. price to the price per pound. It is definitely getting easier though. And there is less and less head work, as you begin to learn what the going rate for different things are.

  This is Lentil Soup! I've made it a couple times already! It's best when its accompanied by fresh Pita Bread and Humus!

 Meet Israeli Couscous! This is a dish that has become a favorite! It's couscous, peas, and chicken chunks, in a creamy sauce with a slight lemon-ey taste. Couscous is kind of like rice, except it's not thin and long. Although I have never eaten a fish egg....the consistency reminds me of what I would imagine a fish egg to be like! Or if that totally grosses you out, you could describe it as a grain version of tapioca.

One other fun little fact. For Pancakes we don't use Pancake syrup....we use Date Syrup :)! And Figs just started their season, so we are enjoying them as well!

Enjoy your brand new week!

Oh one other thing! Dad said this weekend there were a lot people asking about my knee. Thanks for your concern it means a lot! It's been three weeks since the pain started so I guess I was starting to just get used to putting up with the annoyance. Last night without thinking I bounded down the steps, got to the bottom and realized what I had just done. Wait! I just ran down the steps! There was no pain, and it felt good to not have to 'crawl' down the three stories. On the way home I was showing Jack how to skip, and was able to run up the stairs when we got to the apartment. It's a small thing but it felt so good. And the whole time my walking was pain free! PTL! So hopefully I'm out of the woods, and it won't flare up again like it did last Friday.
Thanks again for you concern and encouragement! It really does make a big difference!

A Plane kind of Day

Today seemed to be a plane kind of day. I was not in the same room as the children, and realized how quiet it was...and then I heard the boys laughing. Oh boy what are they getting into!

I walked out and Bob came running up to me.

"Sarah! Princess says she's flying to Pennsylvania and that's Grandmas house (pointing to their room), and she's talking to Grandma!"

 

 

 



 

So Bob and Princess fly and 'visit family', while Jack builds an airplane out of Lego's. And they laugh and chatter about their home in Pennsylvania, and tell me about Grandma & Grandpa, and about their friends Keira, Hallie, Cara, and Chase. And Brielle (baby doll) is commonly heard around the house as Princess carries her around and takes care of her.