The Year in Review: 2012

This year has seen a dramatic drop in my blogging, so for anyone out there who has missed it, I apologize profusely.  Other communicative outlets have been taking up most of my time and energy.  Perhaps in this new year I'll try to get back to blogging more often, but pray don't be too disappointed should I fail.  At least I'll try to get off to a good start with a look at the highlights of this last year.

January:
It didn't start off very exciting.  I spent a lot of time at the MBC library, cataloging book after book.

Towards the end of the month, however, I did receive the exciting news that Israel had granted me a visa, so I began preparing to return there.  There were, however, a few complications that needed to be taken care of, so my exact date of return was still uncertain.  

February:

It was a month of beautiful snowflakes.  

 It was also the month of the boy.  Yes.  That one in the middle.

We just started hanging out more...and then...suddenly... 

We were dating.  Still not quite sure how it happened so fast, but God seemed to work things out just right, and for our first official date, we built a snow fort.

A week later I left for Israel (with little warning), stopping only for a few days to visited the coolest niece and nephew a girl could have.  They're parents are pretty cool too.

 But then I was off, heading back to Israel.

 Where it promptly snowed on me.

(Yes, this is the Hinnom Valley. <Insert joke about hell freezing over.>)

March:
I enjoyed becoming reacquainted with the land (especially the surprisingly green Judean Wilderness) and seeing old friends.

I also enjoyed getting to know new people - all the Spring Semester students.  

April:

In my continuing kitchen adventures, I decided to experiment with making very simple cheese.  I made ricotta a few times, and it was surprisingly simple and tasty.  Why did I never think of making this before??

I also went to a sunrise service on the Mount of Olives for Easter.  

May:

In May I bid a fond farewell to all the semester students, and welcomed the first of several short-term groups.  

My friend Nicole also visited for a little over a week and we went to the Biblical Zoo.  Apparently it is "Biblical" mostly because it has a large ark?!  At any rate, it was a fun place to visit.  

Also in May, I took the opportunity to join some of the short-term groups on full and half days.  On one of these I made it back to Samaria/Sebaste for the first time since 1998.  It was good to see it again and work on improving my understanding of that geographic region.

June:
A group from my church came to Israel and I got to meet up with them one day in the Old City.  It was fun to catch up with several of them.  I think they were rather surprised to find a familiar face in a strange city.

July:

It was a month of changes.  Short term groups finished up, giving those of us who were left a little more time to hang out and relax.  

It was a month of many sad good-byes, as several in our group left Jerusalem and would not be returning in the fall.  

It was also a month of glad hellos as I also got to go home for a break.  It was great to see family and friends again, and it was especially great to finally get to date my boyfriend in person.  

August:
Probably one of my favorite parts of the year was in August.  I got to attend Family Camp with various parts of my ever extending family.  It was such a blessing to spend time with people I don't often see, including my niece and nephew.  They're so great.  It was also nice because I got to see much of my "camp family."

 It wasn't long before I had to head back to Jerusalem, though, and prepare for the incoming Fall Semester students.  

September:
Sometime this month I finally figured out everyone's name.  I sat in on a class on "Christian Communities in the East" and was able to go on that field study.

I tried to join in on all the field studies and activities I could, including the Student Activity Day, when we hiked down the beautiful Nahal Amud.

October:
It was a good month for visiting "new" places.  I finally got to go to Ramallah for the first time!

I also joined the Joshua class and went (among other places) to one of the "Sandal Sites" in the Jordan Valley.  I remain somewhat unconvinced as to its significance, but it was interesting to visit.

A small group of us made an attempt to visit Mt. Ebal, which would have been exciting.  Those plans, unfortunately, fell through.  Still, we did get to visit the region of ancient Bethel, as well as some other interesting places, so it wasn't a total loss.

In October we also started a salvage dig on campus, and our students got to participate.  I dug one day and was sore for about a week!

November:

We celebrated Thanksgiving in our own way with a little "Turkey Bowl" and a delicious meal.  

 The next day (with the semester almost over) we celebrated Christmas.

December:
It was a busy and exciting month.  With finals over, I took advantage of a few free days and went exploring with four students.  We went down south and to the Shephelah and had many adventures, both large and small.

Shortly after that, I flew home to see my family.  I only got about a week with them, but it was a blessing.  

Then I went with my boyfriend to HIS home and got to meet many of his friends and family members.  It was a whirlwind, but also very enjoyable.  

The end of the year found me back home in Jerusalem where we rung in the New Year with a new group of short-termers.  

Lord willing this will be my home for roughly another year, and I look forward to seeing what new adventures He brings my way in it.