A Day of Jru.

When Nicole and I were in Vienna, we saw things everywhere that reminded us of Jerusalem. Like the falafel they had every 15 yards we walked, or the Nativity sets that were from Bethlehem at all the Christmas Markets, or all the crepes and waffle places, of the times when we were convinced people were speaking Hebrew (but most likely German) or even freakier, when we were sure they refered to us as Mormons.

Well, I thought that the days of everything somehow connecting with Jerusalem would eventually stop but boy was I wrong. And today was a big Jerusalem/Israel connection day.

Here's the deal. I babysit nanny for a couple that work with my dad. I know that the husband is Jewish. And his mom is living with them right now because she just had hip replacement surgery. So I knew there was Jew blood in the house.

Well, today, **Grandma's friend came over and they talked about Bat Mitzvahs and about their Rabbi and other cutely Jewish things (like friend's grandson going to Israel on the 25th. Oh, and his name is Daniel and I was SURE when they started talking about it, that they said Danielle. I was so jeal.)

First time I was reminded of Israel.

I then noticed that I had a text, from my dad telling me "I just had falafel for lunch."

Number two for Jerusalem.

A little while later, I was talking to grandma's friend while grandma was having physical therapy and she asked me what movies I had seen recently that I liked. I explained to her that I hadn't seen any movies recently and that I had been studying abroad for the past semester so I was a little out of the American-culture loop. (My sneaky segway to start talking about Israel/Jerusalem to someone who would appreciate it).

She asked where and I quickly told her Israel.

She kept asking more specific questions to get me to tell her Jerusalem, Brigham Young University on Mt. Scopus, etc. She was excited. We then talked about it for quite a while. I want to say it was like 20 minutes but it was probably at most like 10. We talked about what we both liked about the area, the coolest things we saw, what our specific group did, etc. It was lovely.

Jerusalem/Israel: 3

They then went out to lunch and while they were gone, I flipped through a couple of magazines (because little nino was napping) and in the Mental_floss magazine I was looking through, they had a whole little section about Turkey. And I knew most of the stuff that they were trying to inform me about. And the stuff I didn't know, I felt even cooler learning because I could imagine the places where it all took place.

Jerusalem (ish) number 4.

When the little grandmas got back home, they told me that they went to a little Mediterranean resturant right down the street "by the Chase bank" which doesn't help me because I have no idea where the Chase is... But they said that they had falafel and shwarma. I'm sure they only told me that because of the conversation we had previously had about Israel but it was funny.

Jru: 5.

Grandma's friend also told me I looked like I could be 16. Which I guess is supposed to be a compliment but I'm not sure I agree. Although, I guess it does show that I'm aging proportionally to how time is moving... because last year, around the same time, someone thought I was 15. But the good part of this is that my future husband is 17 sooooooo, if I look 16, that's working with our plan perfectly!

[insert picture here of Josh and I where we look like we're the same age.]

And that brought back Jerusalem again: Six. (Although this was a mental connection... I didn't tell grandma's friend about Joshie, surprisingly.)

I also talked on the phone with/texted Jerusalem people a significant amount today. As in, more than ever-ish.

Charlotte (who's mission papers are IN!)

Junior (who's less bored than me but still bored, in Provo)

Suzy (whose voice sounds just as lovely as the last time I heard it, more than a month ago.)

I'm supes excited to be reunited with them all in a couple of weeks. It'll be marvelous!

Cuddle sesh in Suzy's bed like the good ol' days? Yes please.

Fighting with Junior like normal? Of course.

Being connected at the hip with little Lottie? YES.

Ahhhh. I've never in my whole entire life been excited to go to Provo.

But yes, it's been a much better day than yesterday, which will go on record as one of my worst days babysitting, ever.

**Whenever Grandma is mentioned, it isn't my grandma, it is the grandma of the kid I watch.