Israel

My husband has been in port for the past few days and it's been so amazing to get to talk to him.
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Sometimes it's really hard not to get jealous of all of the amazing places he gets to visit, but he works hard and deserves to be rewarded. I always tell him that I won't get too jealous if he 1- Gets me something from every port, even if it's just a postcard and 2- If he takes enough good pictures that I have a good amount to pick from when I pick my two for the wall (something I started last deployment. Two pictures from every port go in a side by side frame and hang above the couch in the living room). So far he has lived up to both of these things.
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I was awe struck when he told me they were pulling into Israel. No one has pulled in for a few years and it was exciting to go somewhere new. I think the most amazing part was that he knew he would get to take a walking tour of Jerusalem. Something he never expected to do in his lifetime let alone in his early twenties.

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I wish I had longer to talk to him and hear exactly where every picture was taken, but time was limited. I will try my best! These are only a few of the pictures he sent me. I didn't put them all up mostly because he did take a ton, but these are a few of my favorites. I need to decide which two I want to hang, I think I have an idea but I don't know for sure.

This is a garden they went to a few times. He said he took some amazing pictures of it at night when it was lit up, but due to a not so great Internet connection and limited time, they will have to wait to get to me.

He said the garden was amazing and the view was spectacular. The one of the plant behind the gate was him facing one way, when he turned around it was over looking the city and the ocean. I can't imagine how beautiful it was.

I want to say this picture was taken on his tour of Jerusalem, but I can't know for sure until I talk to Justin again.

They left early in the morning to head to Jerusalem. The tour was over 6 hours of walking he said. They started in the Desert where Jesus walked from Egypt and moved into the city. They saw where the last supper was, where Jesus was prepared for Crucifixion, where he was crucified and even his tomb. He said it was the most amazing thing he's ever done and that he's never felt the spirit like he did that day.

I won't post all of the pictures he took, but I will post a few that I love.

The Garden of Gethsemane. These trees are over 2500 years old. He said it was such a beautiful place and it was one of the most amazing places he went.

He took a picture of Jesus' tomb, but for some reason this one spoke to me. It was right above it. It's like they are still looking down now on this very spot. I'm almost positive this will be one of the pictures I hang on my wall.

I've been talking to Justin on the phone off and on for a few days. Most of the time our conversations wouldn't last more than an hour, but I'm fine with that. I would take 3 one hour calls in one day rather than 1 three hour call. Then this morning he called bright and early for me to get on skype.

We got to talk for about a half hour just the two of us until Landon woke up. Once he came down I couldn't get a word in. I love watching them together. Even though Justin leaves often, they are still so close. They have a bond that I can't imagine being stronger.

Of course I got a few pictures of J while we were on skype, I don't know a wife who doesn't when they skype with their husbands. lol. He smiled and waved and even blew us a few kisses.

He drew Landon a picture while we were talking. It's of them together with a submarine in the back.

After talking for an hour he had to go catch his bus. It was sad, but I was happy with the time I got. Little did I know he would call again! The bus came early and they missed it. Haha. So they yanked Internet from the hotel behind them and we got to talk for another hour! It was the perfect amount of time that I needed! He was even able to get on here and look at all the things we've done since he left! Gosh I'm glad I started this for him. Haha.

This is J and his friend Dave. I love Dave and he's one of the guys I always make a ton of cookies for when they leave. They were laughing at some of the pictures I had up on here somewhere. I loved just getting to chat while they waited around.

Landon loved getting to see his dad, and while the Internet connection sucked and was $20 a day! It was so nice to get to see him. I miss him so much and can't wait for him to be home, even if it is a long way off.