JERUSALEM!

saying goodbye to my besties at the airport tuesday morning.... LOVES!

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut.....

I HAVE ARRIVED IN JERUSALEM!!!!

this is my back porch...it's alright...i GUEEEEESSSS. :)

 see the beautiful jerusalem center in the background? to the right of my head?? beautiful :)

our first leisurely tour of the old city...it was magical!

this stands at the entrance to the jewish quarter of the old city...welcome to jerusalem brooke!

i'm definitely going back to this shop for a hebrew batman shirt...or two...

as i walked through the streets, i had a song stuck in my head. thanks jess for giving giving me little surprise photos and videos on my external for me to open when i got here...you must have read my mind! as usual :) 
this music video you sent was the song i was singing! not too weird since it is indeed titled JERUSALEM!

Matisyahu. you are wonderful.

i have officially been into the old city twice, and am planning on exploring it even more tomorrow! we have our "sabbath" services on saturday, as the jewish sabbath is also saturday and most businesses are closed that day. sunday is then our free day! today i had my first sabbath or "shabbat" in jerusalem! as i partook of the sacrament, i was within a mile or two of the garden of gethsemane where our Savior bled and died for me...i am in the land he lived in, where he taught and served. we sang a song in choir in church today called "my grateful spirit sings." the last verse reads: 

For changeless love and endless mercy
For countless blessings beyond the wealth of kings
For every perfect gift thou sendest, Lord, I praise thee
And my grateful spirit sings.

My grateful spirit sings today, and i thank God for giving my this opportunity!!

18 hours... 18 hours...

Application? accepted.
Program fees? paid. 
Suitcase? packed.
Orientation? done.
Last minute purchases? to come...
Sleep tonight? don't think so! 
Plane ride to Tel-Aviv? 18 hours and counting!!!


by Wednesday I will be in Israel! in the BYU-Jerusalem Center...

and so it begins.

:)

a time to prepare... and reminisce

and so it has come... i am FINISHED with my last semester at byu-idaho. the Lord has definitely been with me there! he has strengthened me and changed me for the better. it's truly a "discipleship preparation center" there! and of COURSE i have had my share of adventures!!!

best. FHE group. ever. 

a little reunion! last winter's roomies and home teachers :) can't beat that!

an adventure to west yellowstone for the weekend!

i felt like katniss....

blacklight volleyball team! 

riding the gondola... $89 a plate at the restaurant at the top. 

you better believe i won that showdown

big juds! someday i will beat the one pound challenge...someday

swingin with my bestie :)

could i have asked for better roommates??  

 harmon... why are you so awesome? who else would go to denny's at midnight?

but now it's over... it's a thought that brings conflicting emotions. i am so grateful for what i have been able to learn and experience up in rexburg, but i am so excited for this new adventure! two new adventures in fact... one begins april 24.... 14 days. 14 days until i climb aboard a plane destined for tel aviv! it's too soon! i'm not ready! and yet...i feel like i've been ready for a while now. i have been wanting and preparing for this for much too long.

my only hope is that i never forget. never forget to keep exploring