Things are wonderful!  In the past little while we did the following:

Went to Masada and the Dead Sea

We had the Jerusalem Center Christmas concert and it was the first choir that I had been involved in since high school.  Guess who showed up??  Samah and all of her girls and sister-in-law.  Love them!

We went to her house and taught her how to make chocolate chip cookies and she surprised us and taught us how to make makluba (it means upside-down) and she gave me incredible marriage and parenting advice.  Being in their home has been one of the most uplifting thing that I have done while here.  There is so much love, service, and patience in their home.  They are always laughing and joking with each other.  I love this family and am so happy that I was able to meet them and build a friendship.

With the beautiful girls!  I love them!  Also, check out Lindsay's blog for more about our time with them.

And we went to England and went on a Harry Potter Tour...jk...but we went to so many churches and beautiful sites today as we learned about the last week of Christ's life.  

I love

I love Jesse.
I love being at the Jerusalem Center.
I love studying about Jesus.
I love the Old City.
I love my friends in the Center.
I love my friends in the City.
I love my family.
I love Christmas time.
I love Christ.
I love my life.

In the Old City

Kaitlyn and I: love that girl

Jesse and I minutes before he proposed...guess which one of us knew what was up?

We found Jesus's face spray painted on the ceiling of a cave.  Only in Jerusalem....or maybe Provo.

Lauren and I wishing you all a very Merry Christmas all the way from Jerusalem!

the big 2-0

 Age has been a strange concept to me ever since I skipped third grade.  I've always felt like I was Kennedy's age because we have always done the same things and been at the same stage in life, or at least in my mind.  After I was able to reason with my brain and tell myself that I am indeed not Kennedy's age, I lump myself with my class's age.  But alas, this is also incorrect, so then I have to just accept the fact that I am the age I am and it's no big deal.  Tomorrow is my 20th birthday and that's weird to me.  This past year has been the year that I have had the most changes in the way I see the world and how I view myself in it.  The biggest thing that I have learned in this past year is the battle between faith and fear.  They can not co-exist.  It's so easy for me to hide behind my fear; fear of failure, fear of the future, and fear of the world.  While shooting hoops today, it hit me that this fear that I have is choking my potential.  Kaitlyn gave me the best advice in regards to basket ball.  She said that I needed to do two things: pretend like no one is in my way and keep shooting after I get blocked once or twice.  That girl is the best.

 with Jess in Amman :)  Isn't he handsome?

Boy that is the best, Jesse.  Jesse has taught me so much about what it means to have faith.  Being away from him has been painful this semester.  Being in Jerusalem has been completely life changing.  I am the 1%.  I have no reason to not be happy, confidant, and successful.  I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to grow and learn how to overcome fear through faith.

On a side note, here is my birthday gift to you all...finally a few pictures from the trip thus far!

At the pools of bethesda with Allyson and Whitney

in turkey with elyse

Inside Hagia Sofia with my group

sack lunches....

In a water/hampsterwheel on a field trip

Under the center with none other than whitney

candid in turkey

enjoying my first of 2 magnum bars

at the Harem in Turkey

Jordan!

I just got back from Jordan and had the time of my life!  Jordan is probably my favorite country that I have been to while studying in the Middle East for a couple of different reasons. (Some,  more biased than others)  Jordanians are so happy!  The first day we were there it was like we walked into a cheesy movie because all of the people litterally ran out of their homes to wave at us as we drove by.  People are so much happier there than they are in Jerusalem.
Petra?  Amazing. Literally, incredible.  The park looked just like southern Utah, minus the incredible treasury and monestary.  I'm thinking of writing a letter to Govenor Herbert and suggesting to commision an artist to do carve a treasury in the Narrows. 

I thought I'd save the best for last....Jesse was there.  And he was there with me.  It may or may not have been a highly emotional experience for the entire group.  He was at our hotel in Ammon waiting for me and I was on the second bus to get there.  All of my friends were just lined up waiting to see our reunion and brother huntsman was playing a lot of sappy love songs on the bus.  When I saw Jesse standing there, I started to cry and ran off the bus and we had the sweetest kiss I think we've ever had.  We were together walking, talking, and laughing all that evening in Ammon and the only way to describe the date was beautiful.  I haven't felt that happy and elated since the day we got engaged.  The evening was wonderful as well and I loved every moment being with him.  Everyone has asked if it was hard to say goodbye.  Ya, it was.  It was hard to walk away from the love of my life, knowing that it was just as hard for him to be separated.  But today I have felt peaceful, knowing that we love each other and are trying our hardest to be there for each other and become better people as we are away.  I love him so much and can hardly wait to be married to him for eternity!

I have 2 weeks in Jerusalem, and then 2 weeks in Galilee, and then 2 weeks back in Jerusalem, and then we are getting married in the next 2 weeks.  I couldn't be more blessed. :)

10 Tantalizing Truths about my Travels Today

10 facts about Jerusalem thus far:

1. The plane ride over was like watching a huge family reunion.  At least half of the jews headed to Tel Aviv were just up wondering the isles, chilling listening to their music, or praying.  Very unique 11 hour flight.
2. The group is fantastic!  There are 30 of us that have reached the center thus far and everyone is sooo nice.  Granted, I think everyone is a little shell-shocked, jet-lagged, and wanting to have an amazing experience, but if they can still be super fun and nice with only 3 hours of sleep, I’m in for a treat.
3. The flight attendant from JFK to Tel Aviv sounded EXACTLY like Michelle from Gilmore Girls.
4. Unfortunately, 51 of the groups flights were cancelled in Pheonix so some will probably get here tomorrow, sunday, and then next week.  Catie LeGrow was serious when she said I would be lucky I wasn’t on her flight... :(  Please say a prayer so they can get here soon!
5. The call to prayer was going on as we got to the center.  A very touching experience.
6. I am still in complete shock as to the beauty of the center.  Get this, the dome of the rock is framed by a pomegranate tree and roses on my patio.  As I am typing away, there is a waterfall behind me that just echos across the limestone interiors. 
7. Food at the center is soooo good!  When we arrived they had a beautiful array of snacks awaiting us.  (And for those curious, I did only eat one)  Dinner was also absolutely incredible!  Everything is very aromatic and tastes as good as it looks.  Tonight was a sweet chicken with green olives with rice, vegetables, salad, pita, and chocolate mousse. 
8. Airplane food is in fact ridiculously bad.  I don’t know why they don’t just give you a carton of milk and a mini box of cereal but the pitta bread in a breadstick this morning is just not cutting it.
9. I read the Genesis 1-20 yesterday and remembered that there are some crazy/semi disturbing bible stories.
10. Tonight was the last night of Ramadan and our neighborhood sounded like they were having a wonderful time celebrating it.  
11. I know I said 10, but my computer changes all the little ads and buttons into hebrew now, which is kind of impossible for me to figure out....

P.S.  I love you all and am having a marvelous time!  If you want/need to get a hold of me, it’s easiest of you email me @ lesliegerber0@gmail.com :)  Thanks!

Finding Joy

Sometimes, we waste time on blogs.

Sometimes, we find cute things that we LOVE on blogs.

Sometimes, we find helpful tips on blogs.

Sometimes, we find things that change our lives on blogs.

There is a girl, and I don't even know her name, that has changed my perspective of my life.  She keeps one of the best blogs around.  This blog is all about how she has chosen to develop her skills and talents while she and her husband are separated by war.  As Jesse and I have now been separated for a solid 4 days now, I'm hoping to become more like that cute girl.  Positive, happy, faithful, fun, talented, smart.  I am practically packed for Jerusalem and getting more and more excited.  This is going to be a wonderful time where I can really focus on becoming a better me.  A better student, friend, daughter, sister, and especially, a better fiance for Jess.  I'm so lucky to have found the wonderful guy he is and I'm even more lucky that he asked me to be his wife :)

Things are greener in Chicago

Plans with the Jesse

We finally have a date!  January 13, 2011 in the Salt Lake City Temple.  We are really excited and can hardly wait!  We are starting to plan everything and it is going pretty good.  These are the colors that I am thinking

Some Red and Grey

A little Red and Green 

A little Vintage

A little Woodsy

A little Wintery

A little artsy fartsy

A whole lot of me and jesse

The most wonderful place on earth

I seriously can't wait for the big day!!!

Love you boy :)