It’s hard to believe that it’s been four months since Jonah’s birth. In some ways, it feels so fresh and vivid in my mind. In other ways, as we’ve settled at home and recovered, it feels like the events of the day didn’t actually happened or that they happened to someone else. So, before we get too far from his birth, I wanted to write everything down. First, for me to remember all those moments that led to the arrival…
It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since the last election. During that time, I’ve remained in Jordan where I’ve had an outsider’s view of the Trump presidency. In some ways, I’ve been shielded from everything going on in the White House and with American politics – the distance serves as a filter of sorts that keeps me from getting too close. However, in other ways, I’ve seen the impact that this Administration has had internationally and the…
Following in the Footsteps of the Good Samaritan in the Holy Land One of best (and most challenging!) things that I’ve done recently in the Middle East is hike from Jerusalem to Jericho. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for years but the timing (plus lack of credible information on how to) had prevented me from doing so. However, on my 2019 trip to Jerusalem for Easter, I decided that it had to happen. So, on Holy Saturday, we…
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most well known stories in The Bible. From a young age, we’re taught the story in Sunday School, and its themes are repeated over and over as we grow up. However, what do we know about the place where the story is set? — the path between Jerusalem and Jericho. During one of my first visits to the Holy Land, I was reminded that the parable of the Good Samaritan…
March 8 marks International Women’s Day (IWD) – a day that recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. For the past few years, I’ve shared photos from some of the amazing women that I’ve met around the world (photo essays from 2015 and 2016). Today is no different. And, in a time of the MeToo movement, Times Up, and the release of a letter signed by more than 1,100 aid workers on sexual harassment, abuse,…
It’s Valentine’s Day and around this time of year, you see a lot of lists of the top romantic destinations in the world. While I’d never turn down a romantic trip to Paris, I wanted to share with you some of the more off-the-beaten path, unexpected romantic destinations that I’ve visited over the past few years. #1 – Óbidos, Portugal The medieval village of Óbidos, Portugal, is short bus ride outside of Lisbon – making it the perfect day trip or…