The Holy City

Ben had to go to Jerusalem last week for work. Lucky dog. I tried my best to tag along, but with flights starting at $5000 we thought it best to wait. He called me Monday to tell me that it he had probably just had the "coolest day of his life". Oh, I wish I could have been there with him. To experience it together. Mount Zion, the City on a Hill, the City of God. How amazing! 

Ben's work group had a tour guide that directed them through the city, but his favorite moments were spent by himself, just taking in the sights at his own pace. Here are some of the pictures he came back with. 

This is the Dome of the Rock (3rd holiest Muslim site). It sits on top of the Temple Mount, the exact location of 1st and 2nd Temples and the Holy of Holies of the time of King David and Solomon. 

Here, Ben is on the Mount of Olives (where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes) and is looking back at the Old City. At the bottom of the picture, is Kidron Valley, burial place of thousands of Jews. On the far right, you can see Eastern Gate, through which Christ will re-enter the city at the Second Coming.

At the bottom of The Mount, the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus and the disciples often prayed and where He was ultimately betrayed by Judas.
This is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Golgotha, where Christ was crucified. In the church, is a blood-stained stone for which is claimed to be Christ's blood. Wether it's true or not, Ben said it was an incredible thought to stand there and think that it could be.

The lower stones of the Western Wall are from the time of King Herod. They made Ben wear a yamaka.

well, the house is underway. they've cleared the lot, poured the slab and started the framework. we were out there everyday last week, making last minute window decisions and "okaying" the progress. it's exciting to see it take form. here are some pictures from the last few days...

preparing for the foundation

         the framework gets started. these windows are in the 

back of the house, off of the kitchen.

here's the living room fireplace and windows. 

it looks more like a spider web to me. 

here's ben and addi standing in the dining room. addi was already in her pjs. that hole is the front door.

the front porch. the 2 left windows are the dining room. the middle 2 windows will be the new nursery. and the window on the right is actually in our bedroom closet. blinds will be a must.

These are our new neighbors, Stoney and Roxanne. 

They had great tips for us on keeping deer out of our flower beds and scorpions out of the garage. yikes!

Happy mother's day to all of you mom's out there. Here's Addi with Nana & Grammy, the best grandmothers a girl could ask for!