Petra - Round 4

This was officially my 4th time in Jordan and my 3rd time at Petra.

I remember leaving Jordan after my field school in 2008 and thinking that I would probably never see this beautiful place again.

False.

Thank you Heavenly Father.

Coming to Petra felt like coming home.  

I loved every minute of it.

I also got to go up to the Monastery for the 2nd time.

Yep, it is still humongous.  

This picture with me next to it is not really accurate, I am very far forward and Holly was close to the ground when she took it.  

In reality, the bottom of the door entrance would be higher than my shoulders.

Bruce took a donkey up and gave us a parting solute before our hike of around 769 steps.

I think it was 769...

I might have missed a few when I was trying to breathe.

;)

Yesterday Holly, Cyndy and I went on a road trip to Dana with Sheikh Ali and Abd S. (it is S. because I can't spell his name)

Abd S. knows every plant in the desert it seems.  

This bush is used to make a tasty tea apparently

It sure smelled amazing.

I have some of that bush in that fist of mine there.

It was a really windy and hazy day but the temperature was really nice.

This is Sheikh Ali posing nobly with Abd S. walking off in the background.

You wouldn't think it to look at this picture, but this is one of the funniest people I've ever met.

I was laughing the entire time I was around him.

Ali tied my kaffia around my head and since Holly didn't have a kaffia he stole Abd S.'s and wrapped it on Holly.

He initially stole Holly's scarf but he said that he couldn't wear it in the picture because he was to manly.

:)

Here he is trying to give it back to Holly.

Here is our little group.

Isn't Abd S. hardcore with his cane and dagger?

He hit me in the bum several times with that cane.

Old men...the same everywhere.

;)

Later we had dinner at Abd S.'s house.  

His son brought their camel back from Petra and it was chomping down on the olive tree.

His daughter Fatima gave me my first handwoven Bedouin rug.

Finally, in my last night in Petra there was a gecko on my ceiling.

I will not lie to you, I just about wet my pants.

Although that changed when I found out 2 things:

First, they are harmless....thank goodness.

Second, they are apparently a sign of good luck...sweet!

Also they eat bugs...I think that is good luck.

I named him Gus, 

and waved goodbye to him as I left my room this morning for Amman.

We are leaving for the airport at 3am...yikes...and will be in Istanbul tomorrow!

I'll try to update, we'll see how it goes.

Ma salama!

Off to Petra

For our last full day in Amman we did a few new things.

1.  We went to Madaba.

If you don't know, Madaba is also known as the city of the mosaics.

It was all so beautiful and I absolutely loved it.

This is the ancient Roman road that is still extant in this little place.

It was my first time in Madaba.

2. We saw the Dead Sea

This was my first time seeing the Dead Sea.

It is a long and dramatic story about how we 'accidentally' saw it and I won't tell it here.

If you desperately want to know wait till I come back and ask me about it.

It is worth the ask.

;)

3. I went to McDonald's for the first time in a foreign country - in this case Jordan.

If you know me you know it is a big deal for me to go to McDonald's at all - I dislike it greatly.

Tonight was fun though.

Good company, familiar food, and even 'All the Single Ladies' by Beyonce was on the overhead speaker.

Good times and my tummy is only a little upset.

;)

Tomorrow we are off to Petra!!!

Pics will come...eventually.

Night!

Northern Jordan

This morning we left Amman to head into northern Jordan to see some sites.

It was a beautiful day to do so.

Here are photos because after 12 hours, I am to pooped to type. ;)

Enjoy!

The view from Qal'at Al-Rabad

Hanging out with the catapult balls.

This next section is Pella.

You may not notice that this sign says: Attention: Deep Holes, but I sure did. 

Bruce working it Vogue style.

The pillars at Pella.

Me kicking over the pillars at Pella.

And finally Jerash.

Only 1 picture here folks.

Have a good day!

I know I sure did!

Home away from home

After hours and hours and hours of a flying across the world in a Dramamine induced haze, I am back in my home away from home in the beautiful country of Jordan.

I thought I would take advantage of the wonderful access to the internet here at ACOR while I try to focus on reading archaeological theory because really, theory makes my jet lag seem so much worse. ;)

Yesterday we went to a site, Um Qais, that is right on the border of Jordan...and Israel...and Syria...and across the way from the Golan heights...and the Sea of Galilee.

The picture is pretty hazy but the hill leading off the picture to the right is the Golan Heights, the blue in the bottom center is the Sea of Galilee, the area in front and across is Israel, and Syria is behind and to the right.

So both an important and absolutely beautiful location.

The theater here is really going to help my thesis and I was glad to be able to go there.

I've gotten a lot done so far, visited a theater, done some research, started reading theory...and still have 6 more weeks of madness ahead.  

Something that I am grateful for, but maybe not super excited about.

If you are wondering how that is possible, imagine driving across 3 countries over 6 weeks...the excitement wanes a bit. 

;)

Good times and more to come!

♥ ♥ ♥

Reflection and Understanding

I like to understand why things are the way they are.

Why I am the way I am.

I feel that if I can't understand what I'm feeling, the least I can do is try to understand where that feeling is coming from.

For example, when I am angry (which is a secondary emotion) I try to figure out what initial emotion caused that anger.

This can be hard sometimes, because, at least right now, it seems that no one knows less about me than I seem to.

Weird eh?

But that is how it seems at the moment.

So I try to ask the person who knows me best, my Heavenly Father.

Usually I get an answer.

But not in this most recent scenario I find myself in.

Frustrating?

YES.

Until this morning.

This morning I got an answer...kind of.

Let me explain.

This morning I was reading the beginning of 3 Nephi 27.

Specifically verses 4-5.

They state:

4) And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?

5) Have they not read the scriptures...

Previous to these verses the disciples of Christ had just asked what they should name the church because people had been arguing about the matter.  Those verses were the beginning of Christ's response.

Basically, why do we wonder over some things when the scriptures have the answers.

That had a big impact on me, then my alarm went off and I had to go make breakfast.

Interestingly enough I decided to read an old Ensign article while I ate.

The article was Finding Answers by Joseph Fielding Mcconkie.

Did it tell me how to find the answers I seek?

YES...in exactly the same way that the scriptures from this morning stated.

The summary paragraph at the beginning of the article says:

"It is not the design of heaven that we be rescued from all difficult situations.  Rather, it is the Lord's will that we learn to handle them."

So how did it tell me to handle my desperate situations?

The same way that Christ told his apostles.

1. Pray to my Heavenly Father.
2. Read the scriptures and the words of the modern prophets and apostles.
3. Read over those blessings I inspirations I have already been given (which is why it is important to write them down!!!) 

So this morning I had my prayers answered in an unexpected way.

While I didn't get the answer I thought I wanted, I got the one that will help me the most.

♥ ♥ ♥

This Morning.

This morning I spent some time getting to know the Study Notebook on lds.org.

Which, by the way, I highly recommend.

I'm from the "age of information",

I love my technology, hyperlinks, and databases.

This one is super cool.

I read the First Presidency Message for the Relief Society lesson later today.

Of course, I bookmarked, highlighted, and noted things...on the site...and it saved them.

Yes, all the things I love.

Then I started reading the Sunday School lesson but got distracted by the fact that I can highlight, put tags, and notes in the Gospel Library App on my ipod and have it show up in my Study Notebook on the site.

I loved it...and HIGHLY recommend it.

Happy Sunday!!!

♥ ♥ ♥

Such an enlightening morning...

...and only 6:30 am!!!

I have been able to stick to my goal of studying my scriptures every morning (from 6 - 6:30) and it has made such an impact on my days.

This morning I was reading from 3 Nephi 21. The verse that had the most impact on me this morning was 29, it says:

29 And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward.

Initially I thought the last word of the verse was reward...which made sense, having the spirit of God with you is definitely a reward, but it isn't...it is rearward. What?

So I followed the footnote to Isaiah 52: 11-12 which is nearly identical and ends with the word "rereward"...good grief, I don't know that one either.

Footnote time.

The footnote says: OR rearguard (rearguard makes more sense to me, someone who has your back)

There was another reference to Doctrine & Covenants 49:27 which gives a little explanation, also I just love these verses:

26 Behold, I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you.

27 Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded.

28 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly. Even so. Amen.

So what did I learn from my scripture study today?

AT LEAST 3 things (the 3 most important)

1. I am blown away by how connected the scriptures are. I started with a question about 1 word in 1 verse and by following the footnotes; I not only found my answer (the meaning of rearward) but so much more than that. I started in the Book of Mormon, moved over to the Old Testament, and ended in the Doctrine & Covenants. Using all of these, I found a fullness of knowledge. Amazing.

2. My Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ has got my back (He is my rearward). Something I learned from D&C 49:26, is that all I have to do is ask, because he loves me.

3. Finally, and most importantly, things are done in God's time. The first thing I read, 3 Nephi 21, especially in verse 29, was that despite my excitement, God goes first, and then we come to share what we learn.

♥ ♥ ♥

Anyway, long post, but wonderful morning.

♥ ♥ ♥

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...

Today is what I am referring to as my..."back up" day.

I'm researching for my thesis for the moment.

Which is done in libraries, online, and sometimes in my sleep.

These things do happen.

So it is reading, typing, organizing, pictures, scans,..a million other bits of things.

Anyway, big project, LOTS and LOTS of data and most of it is electronic at the moment.

So at least once a week I backup this data on external hard drives, other computers, online, and then also hard copies.

Sound paranoid?

You would think so unless you knew that I have had 2 computers crash right after I felt impressed to back them up.

So, with that lesson firmly in mind, I have backup days.

But there is some waiting time as files copy and move.

It is during this time that I allow myself to "feed" those distractions that have been threatening me all week.

Like learning html coding, or photoshop tricks, or today, learning to make gif's.

Because, you see, if I didn't do them on Saturday's, I might try to do them during the week.

And then nothing would EVER get done.

For example, when I wanted to learn to make an avatar in Photoshop, I waited until it was conference weekend to turn my little sisters into avatars.


It was hard, but it was a good reward for doing my homework.

Good grief, I'm a dork.

Today, as my files transferred, I learned to make a gif file.

This is my first try.

It is taken of a video of me...tackling the bug.

Oh don't worry,

I still have a few more hours of files, transferring, and syncing to get through.

There will be more where this came from.

♥ ♥ ♥

Changing my life one pita at a time.

This past Saturday I spent a little time cooking.

For Christmas Santa gave me a KitchenAid.

I love Santa...aka the parentals.

I'm thinking I will name it Syracuse...I think.  That is what I am feeling at the moment.

On Saturday I used Syracuse for the first time to make delicious pita bread.

The best part of the process?

I didn't kill the yeast!

It rose so perfectly!

It was also uber sticky but apparently that was how it was supposed to be.

The next step was to let the little things rise and then bake for a few minutes.

I was going to take a picture but I was so excited I forgot.

Yay for delicious times!

♥ ♥ ♥

Christmas Break and the New Year

It has been a pretty good break.

I spent the first half of the break grading.

The first half includes everything from the 12th of December through Christmas, the 26th AND the 27th.

So maybe it was a little more than half.

It is important to do grading over breaks...

because then you won't see your students...

and strangle them.

Ugh...grading.

Also I am the worst person in the world.

Not actually, but I felt like it for a few hours one day this break.

Rosie was FILTHY...and her nails were really long (which was painful for anyone who tried to hold her).

So I decided to cut her nails and then give her a bath.

(I did it in the opposite order once and the cuts on my face and arms were a lesson to always cut the nails BEFORE bath time)

Unfortunately Rosie decided to be super hyper and jumpy while I was clipping her nails.

And I accidentally hit "the quick" and she bled...a lot.

We got the bleeding to stop pretty fast but then she kept licking it and it would start gushing blood all over again.

So...

this was my solution:

She was not happy about it.

At all.

But when we finally took it off she did not lick her foot anymore.

_____________________________________________________________________

In other news:

My first semester of research is starting on Wednesday.

What does that mean?

No classes.

No tests.

No papers...well kind of.

Just research for my awesome thesis.

Which I am trying to plan and schedule right now.

I'm a bit of a dork that way.

My favorite present this Christmas was my new Moleskin planner.

Life is good.

Happy New Year!

♥ ♥ ♥