שָׁלוֹם (Shalom), blogworld.
That was too predictable, wasn’t it?
😉
I just wanted to say hello.
My mind is still a bit muddled from the jet lag but the tiny fact that I can’t seem to make out a single coherent thought has never stopped me from talking heretofore so I shall proceed.
And besides, y’all are forgiving and this should help:
Just another thing I love about Atlanta: Octane cappuccinos. By the way, what is the best cappuccino you’ve ever had? That is a random but profound question for a Friday, don’t you think? It just makes my entire week when the barista makes the little intricate designs with the foam.
Have I mentioned that I keep waking up at 4:00 in the morning hungry for hummus?
Yesterday I spent hours on end making this very basic video slideshow from my pictures from Israel. My new hobby as of late is photography (and yes–it has taken the place of cooking for now). Israel is quite a location for the photo enthusiast, let me tell you. Please understand several things before you watch the slideshow:
- 1) I am not Rich Kalonick, though he did walk me through several things via text message yesterday. For the first time I think I fully respect the work he does when he creates the slideshows for the LPL events. It takes more time and work than you might imagine. So thanks, Rich!
- 2) The slideshow is quite long, running about twelve minutes. By no means should you watch the whole thing if you are bored to tears. You have complete control and you can’t say I didn’t warn you! 😉
- 3) This slideshow reflects about 5% of the people and places on our trip to Israel. I literally whittled down 2,000 photos to about 200. Sadly, there was just no way to include them all here. But on the bright side, if I had included all 2,000 the video would have been about six hours.
Having made this disclaimer, I do so much hope you enjoy it!
Israel Trip from Melissa Fitzpatrick on Vimeo.
Music added: “Beautiful” by Shawn McDonald & “I Stand Amazed” by Chris Tomlin.
Our trip was truly incredible. I have some more substantial thoughts that I would like to share but I will get back to you with those ponderings when I am not in such a fog–hopefully sometime next week.
Have a wonderful weekend, Siestas! We sure love you!
Warmly,
Melissa
Melissa, Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you again for posting this video!!! It was incredible! I enjoyed every minute of it. I teared up during parts and just thanked my Savior, Jesus Christ, for the privilege of getting to see the Holy Land. I hope to go someday. Thanks again for sharing!!!
Love,
Wanda 🙂
Beautiful Pictures…. I have always wanted to go to Israel and I am so glad that you shared your trip. It made me feel like I was there with you. THANKS
Melissa,
I loved your slide show. I was in Isreal 5 years ago and recognized all the places in your pictures. What a place!!! No other place like it on earth. Hope to go back again.
Oh my gosh gorgeous. It makes me even more eager to jump on a plan to Israel the second I am given an opportunity. Thanks for sharing visuals of your trip!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing with us! When is the next trip? I am ready to go! 🙂
Thank you so much for the slideshow, Melissa! Excellent job! I especially liked the sign of the Western Wall–“where His Presence always rests”. Such love in those words.
Favorite cappuccino: English Toffee in a local hospital of all places. Discovered it when my mom had to be in there for 3 weeks. So sweet and rich, you didn’t need to add a thing!
Enjoyed the video so much!! I want to get over there one day!The scenery is just beautiful! You did a great job of capturing your trip and what it means to be there.
Awesome and inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing 😉
Oh me OH my these are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen. The views are worth a thousand words. It is so amazing to be in the presence of the ALMIGHTY in a special form. Oh how I would love to go. I am so blessed that you shared this journey with us. Thank You!!!
Absolutely wonderful Melissa!!! You did a fantastic job!!
I loved every minute of it…..so heartfelt….very moving!!
You did a great job of taking us there. The songs were perfect as well. (Watch out Rich….competition 😉 Oh to have been there….so much emotion ran through me as I watched. Thank you for sharing!!!!
Have a great blessed weekend.
Bible Bunny in NO MI
Melissa, what a beautiful job you did and thank you so much for sharing! I watched the entire show with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and surrounded by the presence of Jesus – I truly felt like he was showing me around his home town. While I don’t know if I will ever be able to go there, you and your mother have placed it on my heart to add that to my bucket list. If only I could take your mother with me! What a joy it would be to hear her speak along the way! Beth, have you thought of putting together a guide book with commentary and studies????? Just saying 🙂
Love to you and your family – you are such a blessing to us Siestas!
Thank you, Melissa, I did enjoy the slide show. You did a great job! Those were awesome pictures. Have a great weekend!
How very beautiful and touching. I can’t imagine how it must feel to walk those roads.
I am a latte girl. I have to confess that foam does nothing for me (please do not throw me out of siestaville for this). The best I ever had was a chocolate orange latte from Cafe Amichi in Findlay, OH.
What GORGEOUS pictures!! I was tearing up and had goosebumps during the video. Such a beautiful place!!
And that cappuccino picture was pretty inspiring too. 🙂
Karen
Melissa,Amazingly beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Wow…the video was wonderful, enjoyed the background musci as well, found myself singing along. The pictures were gorgeous. I hope I can visit there someday.
Well, I loved that video. I go to a church that has a Bible Institute and the students went to Israel in February. And our pastor takes tour groups there. Just makes me want to go so bad. Well, at least I’ve seen some great pictures. Thanks for all 12 minutes–it was beautiful, and we only had a glimpse of what you saw.
This was beautiful! I just watched for the second time. Lots of tears in gratitude for what He did for us!
Praise you, Lord Jesus!
These images and these songs gave me the perspective I was sorely lacking today. Thank you for adjusting my attitude! Some days we really need it, don’t we?
Melissa, you did a wonderful job! The music and pictures were very moving and I had tears in my eyes while I was watching. I couldn’t wait for the next picture to appear. Looks like you had an amazing time and will have some awesome memories. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for sharing-here I am balling 🙂 What an awesome time, I imagine.
The slideshow was awesome! Truly amazing! Thank you so much for taking time to put something like together for us!
God bless!
Marilyn…in Mississippi
Thanks so much for sharing the video! How awesome!
That was a great video – thanks for sharing. Loved seeing so many Siestas in Israel.
Melissa-
What an amazing job you did on that video!! There were times of tears for me as I felt I was actually with all of you at the wall and at the tomb! Thank-you for the time and effort to put that together.. I have shared the link with all of my friends!!
In His Love-
-Kelly Bryant
AMAZING!!!! Thank you SO much for sharing the pics Melissa. I wept at the pictures of the tomb — I don’t think the heart and mind can fully take it in…can’t imagine being there!!! The songs made it all the more emotional 🙂 Blessings!!!
Wow! Thanks so much… beautiful pictures… my husband and I have always wanted to go… and the pictures of the signs..I bet you could read them, couldn’t you Melissa? Way cool!
Jmommamo
Melissa,
This is amazing and thank you for your hard work in putting it together!!
Loved it!!
Oh Melissa, great pictures! I can’t imagine going to the Holy Land. That trip would be so remarkable in and of itself. But to make the trip with the LPM staff and volunteers and to be able to walk where my precious savior did and be able to glean insights from your mom, well that would just have blown me away. I know it was an exhausting time, but probably even more meaningful to you after all your studies! Looking forward to hearing more.
Jan
Absolutely stunning.
thank you!
stephanie
Wow. breathtaking. beautiful. awesome.
the last portion of the wall and the people worshiping as they stood there, just took my breath away. blew me totally away…..
thanks, Melissa
Beth Herring
Thanks Melissa for the great pics of Israel! I’ve never been there, nor have I seen many photos of Israel. The building with the gold rooftop…is that the temple? Oh how I wish I could know where each photo was and how it related to Jesus’ walk here on earth.
I’m so glad you and all the other gals were able to go with your mom. I pray that God will give each one of you a treasure in your heart, something very precious, from this trip.
LOVE seeing all the photos! What an awesome trip you had!!
I just got 48 emails from people who left a comment. I thought when I checked to be notified, I was checking to be notified if someone replied to MY comment. How do I get out of this? I surely would like to know if someone replies to me, but I don’t want everyone’s comment sent to my email. HELP.
Thanks and love you people.
There should be a link on your emails that allows you to unsubscribe. I hope that helps!
Thank you Amanda!
I did that last week and well it made for good reading on my cell phone while waiting in the Dr. office. I never good that many emails in a month LOL.
That’s funny! I don’t have email on my cell phone, but I bet that did help with your wait at the doctors.
I had to unsubscribe. I wish there was a way to get an email when someone replies to your own comment, but apparantly, we get all the blog comments if subscribed.
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing your trip.
The vimeo was awesome, you did a great job Melissa. The pictures were breathtaking and a few of them brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing them with us.
P. S. I had lunch at the Flying Biscuit here in Atlanta yesterday and it was great.
God Bless you a bunch,
Brenda
Was there last year. Tears falling down my face as I watched. Most touching: the tiny pieces of paper of the prayers tucked in the Western Wall. Biggest smile: Beth and the bread…hey, I had it too! Sigh moment: the Sea of Galilee. Thank you for sharing the beautiful land of Israel with us all. Amazing~~
Beautiful!!! You did a great job. You captured such wonderful moments.
Absolutely beautiful! What an amazing opportunity. Glad everyone returned home safely.
Wow – I am so stunned by the impact this slide show has just had on me – I feel like I just walked where Jesus walked even though it was only pictures – it just opened up a new layer of my Lord to me and all I can say is Oh how I LOVE HIM!
Thank you so much Melissa for any trouble you went to in order to share these with us. It means the world that you would share your trip with us. If you could see my tear stained face I think you would understand my gratitude.
Suddenly I am feeling a need to put a trip to Israel on my bucket list.
Shalom back at cha! And I won’t even attempt to write that in Hebrew 🙂
302 comments later-my comment may not even be noticed, but I must say to you Melissa… that was awesome!! What a beautiful, talented gift from God you surely are. The video/music was breathtaking-priceless-WOW-could not quit watching. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this with all of us. What a blessing! Does anyone know…could this video in any way be downloaded on to my simple IPOD? Wouldn’t that be great!!
Thank you again–you are a blessing~
Thank you so much Melissa How beautiful! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about your trip. I want to go next time you all go!
Shannon
Thank you so much for posting your video. It is my dream to visit Israel. So neat to see the pictures. Enjoyable 12 minutes:)
Beautiful!!….and you made me cry…how I hope someday to visit the footprints of my Lord…I have been so blessed to “visit” by way of your pictures. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Tina-KY
Dear Siesta…your work in pictures and the hand of our Father on my heart is a wondrous blessing. As I watched all through your slides, I wandered through what I can recall in my memory from the Word and tried matching the locations. It was a lot of fun and encouraged me to know more and get more detail in this rolodex of a brain. Did I just date myself…ah, no matter, praise Him who is able to renew us no matter the time!
Wow….Amazing pictures! Thanks so much for sharing part of your trip with us, Melissa! I wished we all could have been there! It’s definitely a trip that I want to take someday! Share more pictures when you can!
Thanks again…Truly sights to behold!
Blessings to you….
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures of the Holy Land. I took about 600 pictures but just cant seem to see enough of that wonderful and emotional trip. Between the jet lag and being just totally exhausted I still can not stop thinking about how blessed I am that I was able to go and be with all of my siestas.
Love and Blessings,
Siesta
Rhonda Smith
Rhonda Smith
Wow! Such amazing sights! I sure hope someday I’ll get to see them with my own eyes, but for now thank you for sharing!
Awesome video Melissa – thanks so much. Hey, would our Siesta Mama ever consider hosting a trip over there for those who wanted to go. Wow, I would learn so much going with her and the expense would be totally worth it!
Be blessed everybody!
Love
Rhonda
Melissa,
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us, and in such a wonderful way.