We're Official

Sorry this has taken so long to post. But things have been a little crazy the last few days.
If you haven't heard... Matthew and I are officially engaged!

The Story:
He was given his grandmothers ring a month ago by his mother. I wasn't in love with it, so we took it to a local jeweler and he helped us make the original ring better and unique. I knew the ring was being made but didn't know what he had planned. When I got back from Israel he said it would be anytime from then til New Year's. I guessed he would do it on New Years' (which it turned out is when he was planning it). But Tuesday night (23rd), we went to have our Christmas dinner/party at the Felands (aunt and uncle). During dinner I find out that Matthew picked up the ring earlier that day and everyone wants to see it.... I said NO! After dinner George has us do a "talent", since we are all "talent-less" we do random things. Matthew decided to go first and do his dollar bill trick. During this I was on the computer setting up our Israel slide show as mom and my "talent". After Matthew's trick he said... I have 1 more thing. "I need to ask Sandie a question"... that's when I go blank and see him kneeling in front of my with the ring and putting it on my finger..... HOLY CRAP!!!!

Later he asked... "Did I propose in front of a computer?"... "yes honey you did." This is perfect for my life. I live in front of one, that just fits where the proposal finally happens. The place doesn't matter, it's just the right person.

So the date has been set, March 6th at the Manti Temple.

I'll post pictures of the ring soon.
Thanks to Janna who happened to catch part of the surprise.

If you can't telll I'm a little excited. It's been a long time coming but,Matthew has been worth the wait. We're cheesy and in love (lol!)

Merry Christmas

(click on picture to enlarge)

I am a slacker on cards and e-cards this year. December has flown by faster then any other month this year.

I just wanted to post a little card of highlights of my year (last few months actually). This year started as one of my worst (losing a friend way to young, losing a job, etc...). But is now ending to be one of the best so far. It sometimes takes hitting bottom and starting from scratch to see the real blessings in your life.

Christmas will take a different feeling for me this year, after being able to stand on Shepherd field where the angels came, (I will testify that those shepherd's were not out in December - it's cold!). Being able to be in the cities where Jesus was born, lived, taught, walked, healed and died and was resurrected. And being able to experience it all with my mom was the best part of it all. It has increased my testimony enormously and I hope if anyone ever gets the chance to go, don't think about it - just do it, it's amazing to experience

Hope that everyone will have an awesome 2009! And that all your Christmas Wishes come true!

Merry Christmas!
Love to all!
Sandie

P.S.
Stay tuned for pictures from Israel, I really am trying to edit down pictures and finish writing about everything. I promise.

Also....a future announcement will be posted here as well... :-)

Last night in Israel...kinda

Ok - I'm procrasting packing and having to realize that it's really time to leave. It has been an amazing trip, but it is time to go home... just not happy about the 1000 hours that it will take us to get back (ok not that long, but it will seam like it).

Ok Yesterday made up for the the horrible experience in Bethleham. We got a few hours to have free time in the morning. So Mom, Marva and Gregg Stowel and I went into the Old City and went into the section that we knew we wouldn't be going to with the rest of the group. We entered the Jaffa Gate that takes you to the Armenian Section. We walked around the wall to the Zion Gate where the Tomb of King David and the "Upper Room" was supposed to be. I was walking ahead of the others and started talking to this cute older man, and he offered to show us around. He had lived in New York for some time and had really good english. He had no problem manuvering the small streets and took us straight to the room where the Upper Room that was the location of the Last Supper would have been held. The original building has been destroyed several times, but they have dated one of the walls that comes up for the Tomb of King David and it has been dated to before the time of Christ. So they believe that that wall shows were the room would have been. It's Tradition... we believe it.

Then he took us to the Church of the Dormition. This is where Mary was to have slept before she went to die (or something). Very pretty. Our fun guide then said if we wanted him to take us around to a few other places, it would only be $15 each. But since we were tight on time, we told him thank you and gave him some money for the time he did spend with us and went off on our own again.

We found our way to the Wailing Wall and watched for a bit, then decided to start working our way back to the hotel. On the way to the Damascas gate we stopped to eat at this little place that had Armenian Pizza, we were intreged and stopped in, it turned out to be a pita sliced in half, with tomatoes, onions, garlic and some type of meat paste, with seasonings and lemon juice. once it's cooked you roll it like a taquito and eat it. Not bad, something a little different.

Back at the hotel we got cleaned up and changed to go to the Garden Tomb.
This totally made up for the bad day in Bethlaham. You enter the garden and it's totally green and peacefull. Our garden guide took us to the back wall that over looks Skull Hill or Galgatha... which is now the bus terminal.

Then we went over and sat in front of the Tomb area where the guide explained what this area was like and why they believe it's the tomb of Christ. When the area was excavated the stone that would have been rolled in front wasn't found but the groves were there where it would have been.

We were able to enter the tomb a few at a time. It's not that big and very peaceful. After we all had the chance to go in we were able to go up to a quite corner and have a little testimony meeting before they closed.
This was an amazing place to have been in.

Today we went to the top of the Mount of Olives and took a group picture overlooking the city, then had some readings about the area and the city.

Then it was off to the BYU - Jerusalem Center for Sacrament meeting. They did such a good job, it was the students last sabboth so they did several special musical numbers. It was so reverent and peacefull, I could have stayed all day.

Then it was off to the old City again and walk the Via Dolorso - the streets Jesus' would have carried the cross from his condemnation by Harod thru the streets to the place he was crucified. It was interesting and there were several spots where they believe that they have finally reached the stones that would have been there during the time of Christ.... tradition has it.

Now it's packing time, because tomorrow we will begin our final day in the city and go to the airport tomorrow night then start the journey home.

This will be my last international post. Sad, but excited to go back home and get things back to normal (and find the closets Mexican restraunt.)

Sorry this rambled, but I'm procratinating the packing....
Night

In Jerusalem

Ok - today has been a long and kind of frustrating day. So I'll try to write about the good stuff and try to forget about the not so nice. Just a quick summary of the frustrations: Palestinians are being opressed and walled in... (another story), Very PUSHY Russian Orthodox Jews, and not so great of an experience at the Church of the Nativity, because of them.

Ok on to the good stuff.

We got into Jerusalem last night after a day of visiting the Dead Sea valley area. We went to Qumran where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls... Awesome to see in person. They are still excavating the area around the caves and there was a group of students there starting a new section while we were there.

Then we went on to Masada. Amazing! I had never heard of it before (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada). It began as a fortress on the boarder with Judah, then Harod used it as a vacation place and temple. But during the Roman invasion of Israel a group of Zealot Jews went into hiding there. When the Roman soldiers found them the Jews were able to keep the away from their fortress because of it's location on the top of the mountain.
Finally the Soldiers built a ramp to get to the top. But the Jews all committed suicide because they didn't want to become slaves. Amazing site to be up on top of, breath taking views of the Dead Sea and Jordan. It's giving a new perspective the next time I read the Book of Mormon. This is where Lehi wondered to get to the Red Sea to then head to the promised land...there is nothing out there.

Then we finally headed into Jersusalem in to the BYU center. We got a little tour of their meeting room and had the organist play for us (who turned out to be Shauna Smith's Dad... side note). Then we toured the gardens and the view of the old City. It is such a gorgeous place. We're going back for Sacrament meeting on Saturday.

Then off to the Orson Hyde Memorial Park. It's the only land that the Church actually owens in Israel. They area around it is in horrible conditions. Trash everywhere. Our guide says that they have actually cleaned up a ton of the graffiti that was there they last time he came.

We read part of his blessing on the land, then how his prayer is being fulfilled. We then walked down the groomed gardens down to the gates of the garden of Gathsemene. It was right at sunset - I think I took a couple dozen pictures, because the colors kept changing at every turn.

We then got settled into our final hotel (yeah! - no more unpacking). This place is still unbelievable what we're seeing. I still can't believe it.

Tomorrow we will be having free time in the moring to explore around the city on our own a little. Then spending the afternoon at the garden tomb and surrounding area. Can't wait.

Ok almost time to get our dinner of ... Cucumbers, beets, cabbage, tomatoes, etc... we're getting a little burnt out on the food. We were being adventureous and try new things... Now we're just dying for a McDonalds (sad thought)

Love to all
Sandie and Diane

1st International Blog Post

It is now Monday night about 6:30. I'm waiting for mom to come back with a group of women that decided to go into town (Tiberias). Dinner is in a few minutes. We had a "relaxing" day today. Got back to the hotel before 5 and were able to relax a little before dinner.

We have just completed our tour of the Northern territory and Galilee area. Today we went to the far north Ceaserea Philippi which is on the Lebanon boarder. That was interesting to see signs "DANGER LAND MINDS" and they ment it. But it was an amazing archeological site. So much detail that is still there.

We have had perfect weather until today... it threatened rain this morning but didn't last long.

We have seen so many amazing things. So far my highlights has been riding on the Sea of Galilee. It was so peacefull and calm and so pretty.

Tomorrow we are going to Jericho and see where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls. and got to the Dead Sea.... still in shock that we are here. There are so many things that remind us of California that we get complacent until someone talks or we go to eat dinner.

Will try to write more later.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are hear enjoying every minute taking tons of pictures and can't wait for each new day.

Shalom!

Sandie & Diane