#A10433..."Life has been wonderful!!"

Tonight we met Irving. Irving was there to greet us at the hotel, I left my family at 5AM, stopped by to see my brother, who I am so proud of, and headed out to JFK. I met up with other students and we headed to our hotel for the night. My room is on the 12 floor, the highest, and the elevator shakes on the way up, room 1204. My roommate is a very nice girl, Chantel. We had Shabbat dinner, with stories of great Rabbi's and prayers, with the first prayer over the wine, keeping the bread covered so it's feelings aren't hurt because it wasn't prayed over first, as usually. I savored this great dinner with salmon, chicken, salad (real salad), bread, and yummy dessert, because I know I won't have it again for awhile :-)

After dinner, apparently the building was on fire, but no one cared and only about 5 people even acknowledged the alarm... a good amount of firefighters came with all their gear to take care of it, which came out to be nothing.. good thing, cus no one even took action!

The session after dinner was amazing.. Irving Roth was 14 years old when he was send to Auschwitz concentration camp. He didn't understand any of what was going on, but all he knew was that his identity was taken away when he was labeled from feet away with a bright yellow star, kicked out of school, and the field where he played soccer with all his childhood friends housed a new sign that read "No dogs or Jews allowed". Over the next year, he was put into more and more oppression, until finally he was taken with 90+ others to the gates of his families fate. They separated the group into two, he and his brother in one of the groups and his aunt, uncle, grandparents, and cousin all in the other, who headed straight to "take a shower". That was the last he ever saw of them. After a year of multiple camps, not able to march anymore, Irving decided with some friends to hide each day. on April 10, 1945 he was found hiding in a crawl space under the building and was taken to the gate of the camp. As he was about to be shot to death, Irving began to pray for a miracle, and about that time an American air raid began to take place, which gave him one more day of mercy. The next day, on April 11, two GI soldiers came into his building, saw a room full of 70lbs. teenage boys and began to weep. That was the day he saw heaven. When it was all over, he returned to his home village, walked into his old home, to find his mother standing in front of him. A righteous Christian woman had provided a place for his mom and his dad to hide during this time and they had both survived. Even after all seemed well, the town still didn't accept him back into the community. the propoganda and MEDIA was so powerful that the truth didn't matter. The propoganda became the truth. Sounds too much like today to me.

Even in all of this turmoil, even looking at the # tatooed on his forearm, Irving describes his life as, "always wonderful". He said that even to this day, there are nights where he will wake up and have to remind himself that he is not there. That he has a bed, with a matress, and a house and food. But through it all, Irving says, 'losing faith in God was never an option, those who did, did so by choice."

One thing he said rang so true to me, he said, "righteousness is righteousness, no matter the circumstances.." Bystanders slept on that Friday night that all the Hungarian Jews were taken away.. they were simply bystanders, because they didn't want to get involved. But then two weeks later they attended the open house auctions of the Jew's household belongings.. the people that we're their neighbors. Willing to "get involved" for a bargain deal... are they still just bystanders?

If you listen to a witness, you become a witness... we are the last generation to hear a first hand witness... are we listening?

Tomorrow is off to Poland, I will update after we land, but for now I'M EXHAUSTED from all the traveling!

be blessed.
goodnight.

Hope

catching up...

Tomorrow starts another destination on this journey.... on to New York for Shabbat dinner, spend the night, then heading to Poland. I am getting so excited for Poland, trying to prepare emotionally for a sobering few days of education and history. The past two days have been full of fun and family. Tuesday I took Trevor -by himself- to Greenville for shopping (he picked out a transformer that is "just way hard to transform" and a G.I. Joe backpack with Snake Eyes on it! After shopping, we had lunch at Chili's where I got to see a friend from High School who is doing so fabulously!! It was really good to see her, she is so happy and I am so happy for her to be finding her way!! Trev loved his "alone time".. I'm sure at some point, they all become lost in the sea of grandkids, they always want attention without dividing it between 7 others. After we got back, my Mom and Dad and I went to eat dinner in Rockwall at a great Mexican restaurant!! Yesterday was full of shopping and hanging out in Dallas with my Mom.. I got a GREAT surprise, a new camera for my trip!! But I still have to play with it and see if it's the one I want.. I saw lots in different reviews and some photos so far are a little grainy.. We will see... so that's about it, I got to see my brother, and will go see him again today prolly... and everyone came out for dinner last night. I love it when our family gets together.. there are so many of us and it's always a good time!! I will miss them until I see them again... but God is good and there is so much ahead... and in the back of my mind, i'm thinking- omg! School starts sooooo soon!! :-) I'll be updating from the next destination- NYC!!!

Blessings!

Hope

finale time!!

hanging out with a bunch of kids is the greatest and worst thing. They are loud and needy and whiney and diapers and dirty and never stop, but it's so much fun that they don't care that people are watching them or if I'm wearing make up or how great I am.. as long as my attention is on them and we are having a blast!! Today was that way, full of movies and the game Life and pizza! Surprisingly all three were still sleeping when I woke up at 10, so I creeped into the living room, with wide eyed Hazel trailing right behind me. He must have already been awake and just waiting on any other life form before he moved. Soon after, Z came down the hallway rubbing her eyes, claiming her enterance, "mornin' everwybody...". Hazel didn't want any more cereal cus he wanted "sooooooda" instead. That didn't happen, so he decided to starve instead. Trevor was dead to the world until 12:30, and we all "played" Life... which actually means move cars around the spaces and 'buy stuff with money'. The currency does not consist of bill amounts such as "50 thousand" or "10 thousand", but instead, "the green one" and "the orange one". Hannah came to pick up her kids around 2, with frozen pizza in hand- sounds like lunch to me!! She's such a mother, just multitasking away, like she has 8 arms working at once. All of our day ended at my brother's house, his son is sooo cute, like a Gerber baby. Shawna made dinner and we all hung out for awhile, it's a rare time that the majority of us are together at once. Now I am home, preparing for the wonderful Bachelorette finale.. it sucks I'm not with my usual Monday night crew, but we will all be talking afterward I'm sure!! Reid is returning, who is my favorite, because of his logical and truly genuine personality. I feel like she cut him because he was honest with her, he said that he was headed toward falling in love with her but wouldn't just propose because it was expected, and I think that scared her. I like kipton, but I honestly think she's going with Ed :(.... which will prolly make Kipton the next Bachelor!!! ok it's on, gotta go... finish later!!

SLUMBER PARTY

bright and shiny plastic bracelets- $1.50
sequins purse- $2
plastic tool box filled with screwdrivers and wrenches- $5
being 'the best aunt' EVER- priceless

***let me just set the mood for this blog- I have three crazy and wild children climbing on and off my bed, around my head, in and out of attention on a movie... so if I am a little scattered, bare with me***

God is really dealing with me about forgiveness... and finally today, it all became clear, that i've been given so many chances of grace, how dare I not give that same grace and mercy to another person. There has been so much that has happened with the common denominator of one person, and it hurt so much to look at him with sorrow, because if I did then my revenge/ justice had not been served! But after tonight, I feel like i need to release him not for him, but for me... ya know what, actually for him too, because I know he is living with a daily life of guilt, which will never allow him to break the chains off his own life.

So, today was a great day... started off with coffee on the back porch with my parents, overlooking our beautiful property. There were horrible spots where pigs had uprooted a portion of our field, and my Dad was eager to get out there and fix it, while a deer came up to drink out of the edge of the pond. We got done and got everything together in order to go out on our boat.

My sister Omny came over for lunch, we picked up burgers from Lone Oak grocery, and it made me so grateful that I have broken away from this small hometown and found something bigger, not better or worse, but bigger than me, bigger than my comfort zone, bigger than the place where everyone knows my name, bigger than what is easy.

After lunch, we headed out to the lake for a hilarious time of tubing and water fun!! Hannah came and brought Z and Hazel, who both love the water, and we ate off brand teddy grahams and apple juice, while riding around the lake...which fyi for my Florida people, TX lakes are not ponds like Lakeland lakes.. there is actually room! after tubing all day, we headed back home for dinner with the family- salmon, chicken fajitas, rice, and corn! Hannah and the kids stayed, and Al came with Emory. Omny and Scotty came with Trev and Luke. It was good to hang out with everyone and laugh sooooo much with my sisters!

The kids all wanted to stay, and of course I couldn't say no.. so we are all in pjs, watched The Little Rascal's and now Stuart Little, piled on my bed, and one of them with potential ADHD symptoms!! They are all getting anxious and squirmy so I need to get them in lay-down mode so I can get some sleep in order to wake up with these three in the morning!! we have a morning of playing "fashion" planned... can't wait!!!!

hope all is peaceful in your worlds.
goodnight.

Aunt Hope.

Destination #3- Madisonville

...This morning was an early and barely cohesive one, the most I remember is carrying a pillow and blanket out to my Aunt's car, stopping at McDonald's for a McCafe Mocha, apparently leaving the front door WIDE open, and being so frustrated because my ipod was dead and my headphones would not plug into my iPhone... so how can I fall asleep to music? ummmm, i can't.. so instead I listened to my Mom and my Aunt chat for a couple hours, just like my sister and I would have, and put in my priceless opinion where needed!

Before long, we arrive at destination #3- my Papa's and Nene's in Madisonville!!! They should feel pretty special because their destination even landed in the title ;-) We stayed there for quite awhile, waiting for my Dad to meet us there, the whole time reminds me of being a kid. Hay bails and Easter, tire swings and four wheelers, cows and rootbeer floats. My Nene taught me how to sew as a girl, and I would spend a few summers on their farm, making my very own quilt. My Papa is one of my favorite people in the world, I love that he still tears up when he talks about the grace of God and is still the same consistent man that I remember my entire life... a rock, steady and unmoved- with an unwavering faith that cannot be shaken! I've never felt like I needed a Dad's approval of a guy, but his has always been a necessity. He is a cowboy and even when I was young, gave me my first and only personal pet- a goat named Jewel. My Papa has been my supporter even when my family thought I shouldn't take a leap, he has always taught his grandkids (majority girls) to reach past what people say you can do... taught us how to drive tractors and four wheelers as very young girls! I appreciate him so much, it was so great to see them both!! They have a pug named Joe, named after Joe Joe the 1st, who would pull me around by my hair when I was a toddler... scared the poo outa me then, can you imagine how big a little mini dog looks in a toddlers face... and scrunchy and breathing hard. When my Dad arrived, he had two of the kids with him, Zebriah and Hazel, so I was soooooo excited!!! Zebriah is my girl and I just love all my nieces and nephews- I love being the FAV. aunt!! (which reminds me, I forgot presents this time... so i gotta run to the store tomorrow before they notice!) We ate popsicles and played in the barn for a bit, then wound it down for the drive home.

The drive home started out CRAZY! I was sitting in the middle of two kids, who both wanted my attention, but wanted to compete with each other. So I had my right hand twisted in a hair tie cus it was funny that she could hold the other end of the hair tie and move my hand around, and the other side playing 'cell phone' games on a little toy phone. Then just when I thought I had it, I had a brilliant idea- LETS WATCH A MOVIE ON NANA'S LAPTOP!! So we sat in silence, no words spoken except when little orphan Annie would have a solo.. of course little orphan Zebriah had to scream along...until one was asleep, that drive was 3 hours!!

I knew we were close when we passed the neighboring town of Point, where I was talked into being a prom date my Senior year, wearing a hot pink dress and riding to the building on a John Deere tractor. Soon after we passed the football field and I knew we had entered the small, population 521, town that I call home. Past the High School that I spend so much time in and majority of my memories in this place, past the neighboring Elementary that I grew up in, which is now a shared building because a new Elementary was built right next to it, and then the Middle School, where I didn't go to school because our Middle School was from way back when, and after so long, it was done. My class was the last to be in that old worn down building, we ran it into the ground, knowing it was done for. Best year ever. After the school we went past the new Cafe, volunteer fire department, and through our one stop light. Past the post office and Dollar General, all these places hold my past, and are a part of why i'm here today. As All these memories came flooding back, I couldn't help but think of my partner in crime, Ash, who I miss incredibly!! My sister and her boo Scotty, who is the greatest and most patient person- she's lucky to have him, came over with Trevor and their new baby, Luke. Hannah and Al came out to pick up the kids, but didn't stay long. It was good to see all of them, and Trev decided to stay a little long and hang out with me. We played LIFE with Nana and Papa, where he was an athlete, I was a travel agent, Nana was a superstar, and Papa was an artist with a beach house! It was a fun game, then he retreated back up the road ti his Mom's house to sleep!

It's so good to be home, I love that I can sleep without street lights outside my window and hear coyotes howling (i know it sounds crazy to some, but when that's what you've grown up with...) I love being on so much property and just sitting outside and enjoying it. It's great to see everyone, and there will be so much more to come!

I'm retreating to be myself.
nothing to do in the AM but sleep in.
Goodnight.

Aunt Hope

the joys of Taco C-

Today is Friday, started early, and headed out with My Aunt Pam, my Mom, and my 3 cousins- Chelsea, Dani, and Parker. It has been a complete girl day of shopping, along with a lot of thinking. I always do this before going on big trips, go into life altering though about things :-)

Not much to explain.... well actually, sooooo much to explain, but only things that fabulous girls would love... So I will not bore you all will the details of my greatness!!

I'm still trying to catch up on sleep, it is clear that I am NOT an early bird, so early to rise for a week has me all crazy!! I am loving all the FB pictures from DC and I promise I will have a camera before Poland!

For now, I am about to enjoy a nice shower and enjoy some Taco Cabana- for those of you who haven't experienced this love of mine... it's mexican fast food, but all home made!!! YUMMMM!! homemade tortillas...omg, so good!! Idk why there aren't any in FL, but everytime I'm home it's one of the first places I go!!

Hope all is well at home.
Be blessed.

Hope

back in the South

Thursday was a day full of traveling.. I got a late check out so I slept in, got up to finish packing, and made my way to lunch at Asian Spice with Jay. It was good as always and just out the door, started pouring rain. My little pashmina didn't save me this time because we made our way to Starbucks to get two glasses of milk so that we could enjoy the last of my greatness in a bag called chocolate chip cookies- homemade; and got there soaking wet. After Starbuck's Jay realized he left Jordan's sunglasses at the restaurant so we stressed our way back to Asian Spice, for them to be laying all safe on the counter. Trying to escape the rain, we ran away to the Smithsonian museum of American Art, which had some really cool photography in it. Good experience, except for the fact that we were soaking wet, then entered sub-zero temperatures. There was apparently some celebrity outside the museum because all these kids were freaking out and trying to get pictures, but the unknown start ran to their car with their entourage in tow without being sighted. The final decision was to just start walking, rain and all- apparently the taxi's didn't need business that day- in order to get our bags in time from the hotel lobby.. Once we got there, we made up some warm hot chocolate and changed into dry clothes. The sun came shining which made metro ride back to the airport a possibility. It was a quick run through security, and a layover in North Carolina- which was wonderful to be back in the South.. I stopped at Sbarro pizza place for dinner and they were so friendly and polite- the fast food people! It was good to have that again.. the flight back to TX was short and I was greeted by my crazy Aunt from Houston.. we had to wait for my Mom to land, who was flying in at the same time but was delayed.. We wasted some time at Ihop, pancakes and catching up about crazy people and bitter old people.. We got to her house around 1AM, watched a couple video's that she found of me as a child... then off to bed!!!

It was a nice day of traveling, that ended in restful sleep!

Hope

O, What a Life?!

This blog will be slightly shorter because I am sitting up, all cuddly in bed finally, watching Fox News at 1:27AM about Obama's healthcare push speech this evening, his consistent teleprompter reading and not having read the bill made me so confident in the reason that he was elected last year.

Anywho, today was lobbying day on Capitol Hill. We met with Congressman Putnam and Bucanan, and pointed out a couple of Saction Acts

-ok, i'm very upset right now- my entire blog just got deleted.. i didnt finish last night, so I got up this morning and was doing it, it was saying autosave, but it wasn't auto saving...:( thats sad, so you won't get much today because I can't recreate that magic!

But anywho, the acts and points were about not giving oil to Iran.. they are the largest exportors, but they import 40% of their own gasoline.... not allowing them to enrich uranium, they claim to be able to have a nuclear weapon by the end of the year, most say they probably have one now. Once they have all this, they will then be able to sell that recipe to other countries which, well, is self explainatory, and by that point it is just a waiting game to who fires first. Chances are, that because our great Mr. President is making our country look like wimps with weak military, no one will be scared to start picking on us! The last point was to quit pressuring Israel to give up land for peace. This is proven ineffective in 1990's, 2000, and 2005, when peaces was still not given after they gave up, most recently Gaza strip. These surrounding countries do not want peace, if they wanted peace, there would be peace. enough of that.

*you missed the real soap box on the first draft...but like i said.. magic can't be recreated :-) *

After our time on Capitol Hill we all headed back to hotel rooms to rest, and I snuck away to Starbucks in the Renaissance with a friend. It was a great time to catch up and get some of the greatest and most practical wisdom I know. On my way out of the lobby, however, there was a little lost bird in the revolving door lol... he scared me so bad, because I was going up the stairs and reaction is to just go straight through the door, but there was my new little friend, deciding if he wanted to hop on in...

Later Jay and I walked around DC, soaking in the last moments of our being here. It was interesting to me that there were Iranian's outside the White House, protesting for the same things that we lobbied for. They desperately want to see a democratic Iran, and are begging for help in that. They want Obama to not recognize Acmadenijad as a President, because he was not voted for by the people, they want to see divestment by American companies, and they want to see Iran no in posession of a nuclear bomb. If that doesn't show civilians for peace and a corrupt government, I don't know what does!

The ended with a great time of The Bachelorette, hanging out with my BFF, and off to bed!! (That's the short version)... but once again... magic.

I am now procrastinating once again- it's what I do best- not wanting to pack, and about to head off to destination 2- Houston!!! I cannot wait to see my Aunt Pam and family..it has been at least 2 years!! I am so excited!!

be blessed.

Hope

if it talks like a duck, walks like a duck...

Today started out soooo tired!! We had a wake up call at 6:30AM, and headed over to the convention center soon after for, what we thought was a needed session for us. Not to mention that the day just didn't start out right, when I was putting on my outfit and realized the horror! (I had a last minute switch of black shoes while packing when I realized how much walking I would be doing and whenever I put the official outfit together...bumm, bumm, bumm- I was wearing a vest with SILVER buttons and shoes with BIG, GOLD buckles!!!! ugghhhhh... awful!) However, it was about the talking points for the next days meeting, but once we got there, there were no seats and the constant reminder that I had no sleep, So I opted out of that session for a little more sleep time. Once I got back to the room, I was so excited to sleep, but was woken up just a little later to say that I needed to hurry back because they we're looking for us... our group of students.. so I jumped out of bed, dressed again, rushed back and realized that my legs were so dry in my capri pants (Charlene apparently thinks that white girls can't be ashy, but I beg to differ...) So basically I had to grab my boxed lunch, which I didn't get to eat at the time.. and arrived late, so I got the last choice- vegetarian lunch. Once I got in, we found out that we would be representing a District in an appointment with a Florida Congressman! Then all I could think was, that's what I get for skipping the session about the appointment talking points! After that worked out, I worked the CUFI on Campus table for a few minutes, still not eating my lunch, and talked to my Dad pretty much the whole time. He bought a FORD truck and i am not sure how I feel about it! But, it isn't soap box time yet so ignore that subject! We had a Middle East briefing after lunch, where I finally was able to eat my [vegeterian] lunch, which included a cheese sandwhich, brownie, chips, and nasty potato salad! The session was awesome, there were a few speakers, who were very passionate and practical about the foreign oil sanctions etc.. At the end of the session we had a live online feed with Israel's Prime Minister, Netenyahu. It was a great sesion... during it, one of the speakers was talking about the enrichment of uranium and that if we wait too long, it will be too late for negotiations, and that American's need to not be niave to that... that "if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck...." :-) I was cracking up... some of you may not get that, but others will be smiling! Once we left there, we had to get ready for the banquet, which included a nap as well. The Night to Honor Israel was awesome.. there were some seating issues, but our table had a great time and our video was viewed by over 4,000 people! One of the pictures is that, but the lighting is awful because it's taken with my phone.. you can see me on the screen on the right. Dennis Prague and Senator Leiberman were speakers. After it was over, we are all so tired, not wanting to do much, so we retired early to our room in order to get an early rest for the morning... which I may have defeated that purpose by staying up so late anyway, but it's all good- so much to come this summer and I'm so grateful and excited! I get to see my Aunt and cousins in 2 DAYS!! I'm so excited, and will be meeting with Congressman Bucanan at 11:30AM so pray for us!

the rest has escaped me!
goodnight.

Hope

strategic

P.S. I am convinced that in Washington, DC there are microphones in the trees once you get close to the White House.. or at least feed to those snipers who are strategically located.. that's why when you're talking, it's smart to do a mic check to make sure they can't hear you.. "HELLO?! HELLO?!"- THE DC CREW KNOWS WHAT I'M TALKIN ABOUT!! ;-)

I'm just saying, how much you wanna bet, they can hear all the info being randomly talked about so close to the lawn of the WH.. It would be a shame for someone to not realize and be taking the President to negative town, then the next thing you know, a Federal officer has taken them down in some sumo-position... that's why you mic check... HELLO?! HELLO?!

our video

check it out- the video that was previewed tonight, as well as tomorrow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41zp-_M_qDk

disturbing tourism

Today has been full and exciting all the way! The alarm clock/radio in our room was pre-set and starting blasting at 6AM, it's on my side of our king bed (Charlene had a single room, so I am staying with her instead of 3 roomies :-) what a good friend) which startled me in a dead sleep. I was hitting the clock not really knowing where the noise was coming from in my deep sleep, and Charlene was just laughing at me. By 7AM I was wide awake and got up out of frustration that I couldn't fall back to sleep. There was a meeting for our Poland/Israel trip anyway in the lobby, so the early wake up call helped a little. (trying to find the positive side of the early morning crisis)

The meeting was pretty short and sweet, went over the itinerary and met most of the other students going. This is the first year CUFI is ever doing something like this, so I am part of a movement :-)

After the first meeting, the rest of the day kind of flooded in. We had the general session with Pastor Hagee and Rabbi Scheinburg. The two have been friends for many, many years and against all odds have begun a major grass roots movement for Jewish/Christian solidarity. Our open lunch break was way better than I expected, we walked to Asian Spice in China Town for sushi... yummmm!! It is so good to be able to talk to all the different people that are here from WWIC!

AFter lunch came our first session, which was about Hamas, Hezbollah, and the fight against terror. It is crazy how so many things happen and American's are so unaware of all of them, only focusing on what the media portrays, but that is a different blog post. In this session, one speaker pointed out sections of Hamas' Charter, which states horendous accusations against Jews. Not only Jews, but many different organization's around the world, such as the rotary club! During the Q&A- which is always hilarious because people never fail to bring the most random question/sermon to the mic, just so that the masses will hear them. One person asked, "On 9/11, were the terrorist using the planes as rockets, or as planes?" WHAT?!! really?! Charlene said, "I bet he's been sitting on that question since 2001!" LOL hilarious..The second session I chose to go to was about losing our dependence on foreign oil! It was amazing, all of the resources that America has for transportation that we are not utilizing, such as ALGAE!

After the second session ended, we had the CUFI on Campus dinner, where the video that Dan and Charlene put together was previewed! I completely made my on screen debut, all agents may email me for contact information. :-) We ran into the same guy from last year who was trying to pitch some idea to us about how powerful and cool he is, and can get us a White House tour, and is all about networking. Well we saw him at the dinner, saying the same exact lines to a table LOL an entire year later!!! One of the student speakers was also who we call, "the eye gazer" from last year. He is semi- stalkerish, always seems to find himself my way, and looking deep into my eyes. It's so incredibly awkward I can't stand it! The dinner didn't last long, which was nice, so our group headed back and got in the hot tub for a bit.

After the hot tub got filled with weird and gross old people we got comfy and hit the city. Washington, DC is such an amazing place and representation of our country. We walked through many of the monuments, including my favorite- the Lincoln Memorial! During the War Veterans Memorial, I climbed onto the Texas pillar to take a photo with my beloved state of Pride and I got stuck within the pillars!! I was falling all around before i got my shot, but it turned out great, and I had to give a shout out to my Dad for some mad climbing skills :-).. Daniel was my savior and cheerleader stunted me down from the ledge.. Proves that it's always harder to get down than it is up! I will post pictures soon (that is if SOMEONE wil post their pictures on FB..I'm just saying). So at Lincoln, I love looking at it at night, from far away.. such a sign of honesty. But it is frustrating that the words which are written on those walls aren't lived out in Americans today. We read it and walk away unchanged. The message that is brought across in that area are so profound and bring about such an honesty in the founding principles of our Nation. I also wonder what the rest of that building is used for, because only a small portion is a monument??? Interesting! The whole time, with each monument, I want to know the secret inner workings of our government! I bet there are so many secret tunnels and snipers and CIA info going through DC each day- amazing! We walked from Lincoln Memorial to the White House, which we came up on the back side. We had to walk around to Pennsylvania Ave., where the front is, and is blocked off to vehicle travel. On September 12, 2001, President Bush locked it down!! I love the feeling of an International respect for the capabilities of The United States of America when it comes to terrorism, and the follow through of those capabilities when the need arises. On the gates of the White house there were huge bolts that slid down the bottom section of the gate, with 5 gold stars to represent the highest command of military, the Commander of Chief. I just can't bring myself to appreciate those stars the same tonight. They we're mere stars, with no meaning behind them, because our current elected President has never served in the military, I can't believe that he can relate to a war that is being fought this very moment.

After the White House we began our journey back to our hotel, where I write from now. I will keep this part brief because it was very disturbing and made me a little sick. DC has a large number of homeless people, sleeping on benches, street corners, etc.. I was so disturbed in the midsts of my tourism, that so close, only blocks, from the core representation of our Nation, was a corner cross walk with a lady curled up to the street sign sleeping, and a tent popped up caddy cornered behind her. She scared me at first because I didn't realize she was there, but as I scurried away, Gabriel pulled me back to look what I had walked right by without noticing. As my head raised from the sidewalk, my eyes saw the lady on the corner, up more was the tent, then past that, at each pillar of an ally, was a blanket, a piece of cardboard, or a trash bag, with a person underneath it, dreaming of something more. I hadn't even noticed the community of people who had nothing, right next to all the monuments which represent it all!

That walk wore me out, so that's that and feeling so blessed and in need of a shower, I'm off to prepare for bed- 6:30AM wake up call... it's 2:49!

goodnight.

good morning.

Hope

"Don't confuse an Israeli move toward goodwill as weakness on their behalf.."

the journey begins...

Well, well, well... I've decided to become a blogger, in order to document my journey the next few weeks. It has been an interesting trip already, and I feel so blessed to be here. As all of my Facebook family knows, I have been "half-packing" for about two weeks now, and finally finished last night after making chocolate chip cookies home made and downsizing the clothing load a few times. This morning we left around 10AM, which was a great time to fly. Apparently no one chooses the 1PM time to be in the airport, which was perfect for me. There was a little girl sitting in front of us who was so cute and flirting with Jason with her cute smile through her pacifier. She reminded me of my niece Zebriah, who I will get to see in just a few days!! Jason and I sped straight through lines, gates, and the non crowds, and after a shaky landing, are now in Washington, DC!!

Charlene, Dan, and Daniel were already here, and tired from sight seeing, so we went in search of lunch and found a great sale at Urban Outfitters- 50% off of 50% off! Praise HIM!! 

AFter lunch and registration, we came back to freshen up, and made the boys wait for us so that we weren't wondering the streets alone :-) But gave them cookies to make up for it!

 We had a meet and greet with CUFI on Campus where I saw Michael Onifer from Eagles Wings, who is the Director of The Israel Experience, and Donier Tyler who was part of my trip last year. It was so good to see them, and hear all the new things going on!

Not much to say tonight, so much ahead to come! After here, it will be off to Houston to see Aunt Pam and family, home to Dallas to see the fam, journey through NY, Poland, and Israel, then over to CALI for Emerson Fellowship training, then back home to Lakeland to start school!

 I am so excited and can't wait to keep everyone updated on what's going on! We are all done with official business, early meeting at 8:30 AM, and now off to chow down on some pizza, shower, and get into comfy pjs!

...all in a day's work!

goodnight!

Hope