Greetings Friends and Family,
We've got about 11 days until we leave for Israel and, now that Ryan is home from his work trip to Colorado, we are starting to plan and get ready for our trip.
It is interesting how different people prepare for a trip like this. I (Ryan) went to the library yesterday and picked up four books on Israel, modern and ancient, to read and prepare for the trip. I've got each day's itinerary highlighted and different biblical references to each of the sites listed. I like to prepare by reading, planning and strategizing to maximize our time 'on the ground' during our trip.
Kealy, on the other hand, takes a wonderfully different approach. She wants to experience each of the places we will visit 'as is', in the present, without seeing photos ahead of time and become over-saturated with information or opinions about each particular site or location. I've come to really appreciate this about her, because she helps me to be present to each moment and experience, rather than living too much in the past or the future.
We are however, trying to 'strategize' for the kids with a fun daily activity they can do while we are gone that will hopefully keep them from missing us too much and give them something to look forward to 'from us' each day. On the day we travel the Sea of Galilee by boat, we'll provide boat supplies in a box so they can go to the bath tub and build a boat and float it in the tub or swimming pool outside. On the day we visit the traditional site of Jesus' resurrection, we'll encourage them to make a tomb 'fort' and practice leaping out of the fort and yelling, "Jesus is Risen!" We also have special stuffed animals they can hug while we are gone and, if they hug the stuffed animal, it'll be like they are hugging us.
So, we are continuing to prepare for our trip and wait in anticipation for this amazing adventure!
How do you prepare for big trips?
Grace and Peace,
Kealy and Ryan
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