Bats

Jonathan,
Do you remember the summer at the web when we chased a bat around the big lodge with tennis rackets??? I think we were sleeping upstairs with Nick and Tiff. I remember Martha being there. And Uncle Fred. I don't know who else. But a bat showed up. And we all freaked out. I remember running around the room. Screaming. And the bat just kept swooping up and down. Eventually somebody went out on the porch a grabbed a few tennis rackets. I am not sure who went up to the loft but we sort of spread out around the room all armed with tennis rackets to whack the bat. I don't remember who finally got him, but the poor guy didn't last long.
Well I have bats on my street. And I am thinking of investing in a tennis racket... a trip to the grocery store after dark is quite dangerous!
Love you
Kirsten

Biking

Jonathan - So I spent the weekend in the Beer Sheva - the not so lively capital of the Negev. My friends, Sarah, Or and I rented bicycles to explore the Old City. So I was a good bit nervous about riding a bike again since I don't ride one often... ever. But it ended up being SO MUCH FUN! And because the city is so dead on the weekends there wasn't much traffic so I didn't stress as much. Of course, Or tried to bike down some stairs and crashed beautifully but he didn't hurt himself so all was well. Anyway - the whole biking thing reminded me of all our fun biking adventures.
Remember riding on the back of Mom and Dad's bikes to the park. I think it was Friendship Park in Ridgeland that we used to go to. Mom would take a picnic and we would play and eat. I distinctly remember zuchinni bread on once such trip.
I also have a number of fond biking memories of the 'trails' at the top of Mossline. They are no longer there. Years ago some developer came in and built some nice condos in that spot. But I can still picture the hills and dips and ramps that someone set up back there. We used to spend HOURS up there playing around. I can't believe some of the stupid stuff we tried. We thought we were so cool.
And we still are...
I love you!

Happy Birthday, Lydia!

Today is Lydia's 21st birthday. I can't believe Lil' Lyd is now legal! I still remember the night she was born. Mom and Dad had gone to the hospital early in the evening and Granny was at home with you and me. I remember Granny coming in and waking me up and telling me that I had a new sister. And for some reason I was so sleepy and confused, I thought she was talking about herself. HA HA HA!
Lydia is an amazing, beautiful, Godly young woman. I am thankful for the bond we have as sisters and friends.
I love you, Jonathan! Wish we could all celebrate together.

More Birthday Wishes!

We miss you…A LOT!!! This time 4 years ago we had just decided to name our first baby Jonathan! Wish we had a chance to tell you….He is an amazing child…we pray he will be like the Jonathan you were! We had no idea what a blessing his name would be.Anyway…….

Happy Birthday to you!!!

Kristi Anderson

Happy Birthday!

Yo Bro! It's your birthday. I bet you don't feel any older!! Ha. Ha.

I decided to do 28 mitzvot (good deeds) today in celebration of you. It would kind of ruin it if I told you all of them but I will say that one of my favorites was the box full of chocolate chip cookies and other goodies that I sent to a friend on his army base. He is going to be so surprised!!

Anyway - here are a couple of gifts I picked out for you...

This guy was just too funny to pass up. I love the MC colors.


See didn't I tell you you would love it. :)

Ok, ok. So seeing as how I am a student and living on a budget, this is probably not the actual gift that I would have gotten you. Sorry. More like a quick phone call and a nice e-card. But you aren't here so I can pretend all I want!!

I went to dinner tonight at a fun new restaurant called Mama's Meatballs and More. And for your birthday dinner I had this...

It is not Mom's meatloaf, but it was still yummy.

I love you!

It's March!

Hey JD! Only three days until your birthday. I found the most perfect gift for you. I just know you will love it!! But you will have to wait until your actual birthday to see it.

David is 17!

Dear Jonathan,
Our baby brother is SEVENTEEN. I can't believe it. I called him on his birthday. Mom answered the phone and I asked to speak to the birthday boy. Dude - I should have said birthday man. When he first said something on the phone, I thought it was you. He sounded exactly like you. All grown up and mature. I wish was there to celebrate with him. I wish you were here as well.
Love you!

Earthquake

Hey Jonathan -
So do you remember all those earthquake drills they had us doing back in elementary school? I don't remember what year it was exactly. I think I was 5th or 6th grade. We had to bring bottles of water and snacks into school just in case. And we practiced getting under our desks. I distinctly remember drills at both McLeod and APAC. Apparently there was supposed to be some huge earthquake with an epicenter in Memphis or maybe it wasn't Memphis. Does anyone remember?

Anyway - I experienced my first earthquake today. It was around 12:30pm. I had gone to the store this morning. And then I was back at home sitting on my bed working on a paper. All of a sudden the wall and the bed and everything started shaking. At first I thought Irene, my roommate, had just banged the wall. But then it kept shaking. Whoa! It was crazy!!!

I read online that it was a 5.3 on the earthquake scale with the epicenter in Tyre, Lebanon. Apparently it was the strongest quake in Israel in the last ten years. Next time I will be ready to dive under my bed... Of course I have to clean it out first!! :)

Love you!

JD,

Why is it that when we try to say the most important thing we just can't formulate the words? I feel like every time I think about you and know that there is something to be said, saying it just won't do it justice. I suppose not saying anything at all is worse...so I'm writing, just trying to get some of this stuff out. I know in real life you would probably be terribly uncomfortable about this conversation. Who knows if you hear this stuff? If you do, sorry for continuing to make fun of you over the last several years...not really...it makes me feel better about you always getting the best of me. Anyhow, I see you, think of you, and miss you every single day. I talk about you all the time to my students...you rocked my life like few people ever have. I'm a better man because of how God used you. I try to keep the thoughts about you surface level...I cry less that way. I went out and bought a roll of duct tape and new set of Sharpies in honor of you the other day. Oh yeah, there's this girl in the youth group that wears about 5 or 6 different colored detachable Sharpies on her carabineer...pretty sweet. Anyhow, most of my adventures just aren't the same without you here...seriously, why did you have to make our times so good that I'd never enjoy anything the same way again?! Of course I have had less bumps and bruises and other injuries since you've been gone...mainly because you're not here to inspire or convince me to do something I never would have by myself. So tonight I challenged our students to truly see the broken world we live in, to live honestly, and walk with those hurting. So we're celebrating Valentine's a different way...the way I think Jesus may have celebrated it. The message and picture are based off of that and the organization it promoted...you would've liked what they are about and the way they go about it I think (www.twloha.com). So here's to writing love and hope on my arms in a way that you helped do on my heart years ago.

Wes

How Not to Get a Date

Dear Jonathan - I had the craziest phone conversation last night. I know you would find it hilarious...

Kirsten: Hello.

Mr.Israeli: Hallo.

Kirsten: Hello.

Mr.Israeli: Hallo.

Kirsten: Hi.

Mr.Israeli: Mi zote? (Who is this?)

Kirsten: Kirsten

Mr.Israeli: Mi? (Who?)

Kirsten: KIRSTEN

Mr.Israeli: Mi?

Kirsten: KIRSTEN!!!!!!

Mr.Israeli: speaks in Hebrew to someone off the phone.

Kirsten: Who do you want?

Mr.Israeli: At medabarit ivrit? (Do you speak Hebrew?)

K: No.

MI: At medabarit anglit? (Do you speak English?)

K: Yes. English.

MI: Where did you get this SIM card?

K: The store.

MI: What store?

K: The cellcom store.

MI: It’s my number.

K: Ha.Ha. No it’s my number.

MI: No. I lost it like two weeks ago.

K: Sorry but it’s my number and I have had it for a year and a half.

MI: Oh. (short pause)

MI: Well can I see you?

K: WHAT!?

MI: Can I see you?

K: No. (laugh laugh laugh)

MI: What I don’t understand you?

K: You don’t understand NO.

MI: It is hard to hear you.

K: I said NO.

MI: Where are you right now?

K: Excuse me.

MI: Where are you?

K: Israel.

MI: Where?

K: Israel.

MI: says something in Hebrew to someone off the phone.

MI or possibly Mr.Israeli2: Where are you again?

K: Israel.

MI: Okay but where in Israel? Tel Aviv? Petah Tikva?

K: Sderot (which is the town near Gaza where the rockets have been landing for the past year. )

And the call disconnects…

So I'm left wondering if he has had success with this method in the past... or was it just a spur of the moment thought... you know, "Hey, while I've got this girl on the phone I might as well ask her out."