My aunt arrived on Sunday afternoon, to spend a week with my grandparents and have a break from life in London. I was excited she was coming but sad that my cousin, Gabriella, wasn’t joining her. However, I wasn’t going to let that stop me from giving my auntie a warm welcome.
While my grandparents and mom picked her up from the airport, I was able to make brownies. Thankfully, I didn’t have to work that day so I had time to get everything done before my aunt’s arrival. As I made the brownies, I had this weird feeling like something was going to happen. For some reason, I sensed my cousin’s presence in the country, but I wasn’t sure if that was just me getting my hopes up.
When everyone arrived, I was very happy to see my aunt and tried to push away the fact that my cousin wasn’t with her. It was a happy reunion and only about to get better!
As I was hugging my aunt, I continued to keep an eye on the stairs. I’m so happy I did, because right after I’d let go of my aunt, Gabriella started making her way up the stairs!! To say I freaked out would be an understatement! After running up the rest of the stairs, Gabriella jumped into my arms and I refused to let her go.
Now, last week I wrote that I’m terrible at crying at the right moments but at that moment I actually cried at the right time, which was a miracle! As soon as Gabriella was in my arms, I was flooded with emotion and couldn’t hold back the tears. I just couldn’t believe she was here!!!
From that point on, my week was wonderful! Gab and I were finally able to catch up after months of radio silence, be with each other after being apart for almost a year, and create many more unforgettable memories. It was so good to be with her again!
We spent the week chilling by the pool, exploring the Golan Heights, traveling to Netanya, and spending almost every second together. I didn’t expect this week to be so good, but I’m very thankful it was! This was definitely the best way to spend my first week back in the country.
There was never a dull moment with Gabriella, we were constantly laughing! Everywhere we went we found something to laugh about, whether it was because of the guy who wanted to talk to us or the random things that came out of our mouths. For those who weren’t there to witness our comic act, let me explain some of the funniest things that happened this week. The moment that stands out the most happened on the second day of my aunt and Gabriella’s visit. We decided it would be a fun idea to explore the olive oil factory and the beer brewery in the Golan Heights for the day, so we piled into two cars and set out to our destination.
Upon arrival, a group of young Israeli guys started talking to my aunt and mom after hearing them speak in English. Gab and I hadn’t gotten out the car yet, so we had time to prepare for what was about to come. As soon as we stepped out the car, one of the guys asked my mom who we were. She answered, “That’s my daughter and my niece. I’d introduce you but they’re too beautiful.” To which he replied, “That’s the reason I want you to introduce me to them.”
Before I knew it, he and his posse were walking towards us. As he got closer he put his arms out like he wanted to hug me. I froze and didn’t know how to respond. There was no way I was going to hug this stranger, so I did the first thing that came into my head.
As he came closer to hugging me, I stuck my hand out to give him a handshake. I was quite shocked at what I had done but was surprisingly able to keep my composure as he kissed the back of my hand and started talking to me. It was tough, but the moment we got an opening, Gab and I said goodbye and walked towards the brewery as fast as we could.
The rest of the day, Gabriella and I tried to avoid the bearded Israeli guy as much as we could. Thankfully he didn’t come into the bar area, so we were able to relax and have a good time. Now, before you go and assume what we were doing at the bar, let me assure you, Gabriella and I had a fantastic time eating chicken tenders and fries while our grandparents and mothers tried the disgusting tasting beers. :P
The other funny things that occurred this week just showed the kind of family we are. We’re all very loopy at times, but when we’re all together, we all turn very blonde (no offense to any blonde’s reading this)! At one point, my mom asked a tour guide and a tourist if they could put the short movie on for us, while we were at the olive oil factory. Her logic was that they were both wearing badges so they must’ve worked there. :P
Another ‘blonde’ moment was when we finally got into the small movie room and my papa was blocking our view. Gabriella asked him to move so we could see, so he moved to the next bench but sat in the exact same spot he was in before! He then said, “Is that better?” which made Gab and I laugh so hard we had stitches!
There were many other funny things that happened this week, but I won’t go into it all. Instead, I think I’ll explain our trip to Netanya. It was a very great, but long, day, though totally worth it!
My grandparents decided to stay home that day because they knew it was going to be a long, hot, day. To be honest, I’m glad they did because it was really nice to have a girl’s day with my mom, auntie, and cousin. Along the way, we stopped at Zikhron Ya'akov for lunch, which was a bit of a disaster, and then made it to Netanya just in time to catch the last hour of sun and watch it set.
While in Zikhron Ya'akov, we couldn’t find a place to eat because the place we usually ate at didn’t have much variety for me and Gabriella. So we proceeded to a second restaurant, which my aunt had spotted on the way in. The checkered tablecloths were what sold her, but after sitting outside for ten minutes with no service, mom couldn’t take it anymore and decided we should try the place that made crepes.
After checking out the crepe place and deciding that we didn’t want to eat there, we started to wander. Now, when Gabriella and I get hungry, it’s not pretty. By this point, we were both at our breaking points and couldn’t take it much longer, so we started demanding that we needed to eat ASAP!
In the end, we went back to the checkered tablecloth place, sitting inside this time, and forced the food down our throats. I’m sure we could’ve chosen a better place to eat lunch, but with no preparation and two starving teens this was the best place we could find.
We finally arrived in Netanya in the late afternoon. Of course, we had to stop at the mall for a quick wander and a delicious vegan ice cream before heading to the beach, priorities (haha). By the time we got to the beach, we had one hour of sunshine left before it started to set. Though that may seem late for some, it was perfect for us.
I was itching to get to the beach at this point because Nathan was off work and going to be meeting us there. Gabriella had only met him once, briefly, so I was excited for them to get to know each other better and spend the evening with two of my best buds! As predicted, we had a blast! Nathan is so much like Gabriella and myself that we clicked together instantly and didn’t stop talking from the moment we said hello. :P
This week has been amazing, but there was no way I was going to let it end until Gabs and I had watched our movie, Letters to Juliet. Back in 2010, we made a deal to never watch the movie without the other, so every time we get together we have to watch Letters to Juliet (AKA the best movie ever!). On Gabriella’s final night with me (sigh), we stayed up until 2:30 in the morning watching this incredible movie, which was totally worth it!
After completing our list of things to do, the only thing that was left was to say goodbye. Now, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you will know that I hate goodbyes. When it comes to the people I care the most about, I never want to let them go!
This is how it was with Gabriella. Neither of us wanted to let go of the other and it wasn’t until my papa started getting really stressed that we were forced to pull away. I felt like one of those movie characters watching their love drive away, not knowing when they were to return (dramatic, I know).
As this new week begins, I’m excited for what is to come. I’m not going to start the week by being depressing, instead I want to try to make the most of it. This week I have my army appointment, which will determine if I can return to the States for treatment or not (Please YHVH, let it be a yes!). I’ll also be picking up where I left off in my editing training, which I can’t wait to get back into!
I’m also hoping to spend more time concentrating on growing closer to YHVH. This week, I read an article from the blog, Waiting for Your Boaz, that opened my eyes to what I should be doing in this season of singleness and waiting. Instead of looking for love in the form of a man, I should to be learning how to love YHVH unconditionally. I believe that I will never meet my future husband until I’ve learned how to truly love YHVH.
So this week, I’m making it my goal to learn more about Him and to seek Him more than I ever have before! There are so many decisions that need to be made, but I can’t make them without Him. I’m also praying that I will be strong enough to push the devil aside during this week because I know that he will throw distractions my way. I’m hoping this is going to be a week of soul searching and not one full of distractions.
1 Chronicles 16:11, “Seek YHVH and His strength; Seek His face continually.”
Psalm 37:4, “And delight yourself in YHVH, And let Him give you the desires of your heart.”
Matthew 7:7-8, “‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.’”
This is my prayer for this upcoming week:
YHVH, please give me the strength to go on this quest, which You’ve put into my heart. Show me all the things I’ve been missing and help me understand my belief in You. I don’t want to be unsure anymore. I want to be sure in what I stand for and not some wobbly girl who doesn’t know how to stand on her own two feet.
I love you YHVH, but I know that I have much more love to give to You. Show me how to properly set my eyes onto You and no one else. Help me put my identity in You and not in the people I associate with or even in myself. I want You to be a part of EVERYTHING I do and not just in the serious decisions I need to make.
It's time for me to completely lay down my life at Your feet. I am bowing before You, holding my heart out on my sleeves for You to take. Please want me and guide me through this next week. I don’t want to feel like I’m going on this walk alone. Speak to me with a loud, audible, voice and direct my steps in the ways I am going.
My thirst for You is only growing, so please quench my thirst with Your everlasting water. I don’t ever want to stray from you again or push You to the side. Show me who You have called me to be and tell me what You have in store for me. I don’t want to be blind anymore, open my eyes to see as You see.
I was a lost sheep but then I found You; however, I still do not know Your voice as clearly as a sheep knows its shepherd’s. Teach me how to hear Your voice better. Destroy any distraction that Satan may throw at me so that I might not stumble on this quest to understand Your unfailing love for us.
In Yeshua’s name, I pray,
Amen!