Israel 1997

Ever since I was a little girl I had wanted to travel and do missions. Our church was a big advocate for many mission organizations, but one that always stood out to me was YWAM ( Youth With A Mission).
One year after graduation I went to YWAM. For the first few months we had our lecture phase which consisted of many different themes. All focused on getting closer to God and finding out what our path was, are calling. During the lecture phase you go on mini outreaches, work with homeless people, serve food to the hungry, all great ministries. After the lecture phase you head out on a overseas outreach. Israel is the second outreach I went on with YWAM, my first being a few years earlier.
Israel changed my life, I wouldn't say it was a time of our team doing great ministry, but Israel impacted me and has led me on the path which I am on now. Being there as a believer you truly feel like you are home, it is familiar due to the fact that we have read about it from the Bible.
Leaving was heartbreaking and I long to go back someday with my husband and children. I had many experiences there and due to lack of technology back in the day I don't have a lot of pictures to show that. This little ditty I put together are a few of the good pictures I have with a story behind it.
Again due to technology back then and my lack of knowing how to really use my new camera, some of the pictures are not too clear. I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Is the Grass Greener?

After about one week of warmer temperatures this sudden cold snap that we are experiencing is like a punch in the gut with a big "gotcha" attached to it. For some ridiculous reason the warmer weather had me thinking about spring, excited for all the plans we have for our dirt heap of a backyard. It had me thinking about green grass, a new baby, birds and travel. Well as I said reality was like a cold, harsh slap in the face. Winter is here and still going strong.
Considering the place where I live, and the frigid weather there was nothing to do today but stay huddled up inside racking our brains about what to do to pass the day. There is one conversation I know, without a doubt, that I will be having and it's my husband trying to talk me into possibly moving to a more human climate.
It's funny, as I braced myself for this talk the regular feeling of my back going up, my argument of sticking close to home for family, that this part of Canada is one we are familiar with didn't leave my chapped, almost blue lips.
It almost took me back for a moment. Ever since we've moved to our little town, away from family and close friends, I have been trying to persuade my hubby that moving back at some point would be the best thing for us. I'm not sure I feel that way anymore.
Nothing crazy has happened in our family that makes me want to not live near them. When I really think about it I think it has been a good thing for us to be away. I figure if I can live and survive here, moving someplace further away and warmer would be alright.
So for most of the morning we cuddled together on the couch, hot coffee in hand and researched a few places here in the great north that indeed do have mild winters, hot summers and early springs.
A few areas have jumped out at us and we are looking at taking a road trip this summer to check out the city and surrounding area. A road trip with 2 boys and a 4 month old should be interesting, but we are looking at renting a house for the week once we get there. I am looking forward to it, and looking forward to seeing if the grass is greener.