The joys of being home

This morning I woke up and met up with a highschool friend, my "sister", if you will. Her name is Kayla Fadenrecht and I LOVE her. To death. She has the biggest heart and always knows what to say to me to make me happy and feel great about life. She just finished up her first year of college. She works harder than most people I know, and has earned about $20,000 in scholarships for school from multiple different sources for this next year. Too bad that doesn't quite cover the cost of tuition for a year... She is also madly in love with this guy she met here at home this summer. He sounds like he treats her like the angel she is. My little sis is all grown up and falling in love! I love it.

After catching up with Kade I met up with Kathleen for breakfast and then we both went back to my house to hang out some more. She brought her 10 month old baby boy, Joshua, along. He is a doll- so chubby and has red hair! Kathleen and I have been good friends for years. We even considered each other our best friend for a long time, still kinda do, and I got to be her bridesmaid three years ago this month!

Good day so far, but now I must be diligent and do as much of my homework right now that I can before the wedding reception in my back yard tonight! My best friend Hannah's brother got married last weekend, and they decided to have their Oregon reception here. So convenient, I just have to walk out my door! K gotta go... homework. Blah.

Oh and my dad, having no idea about my last blog post, randomly decided last night to mention how he strongly dislikes Muslims... "religion of peace, yeah right"... "how are we expected to have respect for people that do things like this" (we were watching a news story). Pretty sure the news also focuses on all bad things, Dad. Please don't overgeneralize.... it breaks my heart.

Blogging!

I am thinking about writing in my blog again. What do you all think? Would I have any readers still?

Yes, probably, and even if I don't, I like writing, so what does it matter who reads?

My blog will probably be a set of contemplations about the state of my life, possibly focused on how my life is different and better because of my experience in Jerusalem, which is only natural as Jerusalem is the center of my life. I'll try not to let it get annoying though, since I know none of you really care since you haven't been there.

I'm sure if I get back into it, I will have many things to write about. So... why not start with one right now?

I have been thinking a lot lately about the Muslims I know in Jerusalem. I hate the negative image they have here in America. I want you all to know that they are wonderful people. If you were to randomly pick one out of the street and asked if they believed in a 6th pillar of Islam (Jihad), they would say no. And mean it. They are so kind. They welcome you gladly into their homes (granted this is part of their Arab/Palestinian culture too) and want to give you anything you want to make you feel comfortable. If you say you love something in their home, they will sometimes try and give it to you. That didn't happen to me personally but it did to a few others. The children are so cute and love to say everything they can in English, and love it when we play games with them or play music for them. They are so sweet.

How cute are they? Just a sampling of the little kids that would try and talk to us in the Old City.

Our neighborhood children. Adorable. The little girl with red hair liked that we had the same hair color... so precious. She was so shy though! It was all I could do to get her to sit through a picture.

Muslims are so devoted to God. It is the same God we worship, their scripture and understanding of Him is just a bit different, but in a lot of ways they are the same as us. Islam is a part of them, as our gospel is a part of us.

Muslim women about to enter the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.

I love them, and I am trying to be a little bit more like them. As I do, I become a little bit more Christlike.