Gratitude.

To honor American thanksgiving this week, here is a list of ten things I am grateful for:

1. The beauty of the Galilee.


2. People who build churches with beautiful domes and good acoustics that allow people like me to have extraordinarily wonderful experiences.


3. Sunsets over the Mediterranean that remind you that your life is awesome, even if you are missing your last Galilean sunset.


4. Singing “O Canada” on a small boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee (picture pending).

5. People who are hypothetically willing to hold your hair back when you hypothetically throw up on the bus after hypothetically eating an entire chocolate bar and a package of cola flavored Mentos for breakfast.


6. Christmas decorations.


7. Having an appetite on Thanksgiving (picture pending).

8. Jerusalem flavored ice cream (vanilla, pistachio, halva, and white chocolate).



9. Eating shawermas to my heart’s delight.



10. Sister Killian. This woman is such a gem. My day is always better after talking to her.

Fear of needles: conquered

Dear friends and family,
I thought that if I told anyone my plan to donate blood today none of you would believe me. In fact, I only half believed it myself, which is why I decided not to tell anyone until it was done. Anyone who is familiar with my past relationship with needles would have good reason to doubt my ability to actually volunteer my blood to be drawn out of my arm. However, I am here to tell you that I, Stephanie Lee, conquered my fear and donated blood today! Special thanks to Jake, who filled my form out for me while I cried, helped me document the experience, and organized the blood drive, to Sister Judd, who was an angel and stroked my arm and told me stories while I was on the bed, and to the patient nurse who dealt with my periodic sobs and shaking. For proof that I'm not lying, here are some pictures: