The Bill...

The only settling Rashel and I do!

May Peace and Blessings Be Upon You...

Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified.
*Baha'u'llah*

What ARE You Ladies Doing?!?

Here we are, celebrating Mona's birthday!

You or Me?

There is the you you are, the you you present to people, and the you you would like to be...

Sigh. Aimee Piper.

I'm a sucker for love, in its myriad shapes and forms, every day of the week - and twice on Sundays...

I love how the words are contained within her and that with all of that fire, all she speaks is love.

Support the Artist!

If you like these images, you can check the artist out at
http://coverthatmother.blogspot.com

A Study of the Covenant - Break!

PJ, Leili, Scott, Donesh, Adib, Allen, Julia, Rashel, Justin, Iman, Nasim, Aimee, Mona

Mrs. Atha Hill

My Great-Aunt, Mrs. Atha Hill, has passed away this week. While it is natural to mourn for our loss, let us instead celebrate her life - and infact the beginning of the rest of her life. Baha'u'llah tells us that "Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed... It conferreth the gift of everlasting life."

Let There Be Light!

Why it's good to befriend your neighbors, Reason #214.

In what is proving to be the coldest winter of all (so I'm taking artistic license), my flatmate, Kalila, and I lost our power - only momentarily, thank God - last night. Naturally, the power went out just as I was taking my (first ever) quiche out of the oven. BUT! It was delicious, as everyone present can attest - thanks for the recipe, Mom!
Thankfully I have superior friends and neighbors with as yet untapped comedic-cum-MacGyver skills... in a "what can you do with tea lights and a butter-knife" kind of way....

Some of my colleagues and I from the Department of Pilgrimage at the Baha'i World Centre. Melissa Tansik, Christine Luis, and yours truly - respectively.

This photo was taken at the Pilgrim Reception Centre as our Department prepared to meet the first of the pilgrims from the 2007 season!

Celebrating the Twin Holy Days

Some words of inspiration while I reflect on the Twin Holy Days of the Baha'i Calendar, the Celebration of the Birth of the Bab and the Birth of Baha'u'llah. This year they were held on 10 January and 11 January, respectively.

O Son of Spirit!
My claim on thee is great, it cannot be forgotten. My grace to thee is plenteous, it cannot be vieled. My love has made in thee its home, it cannot be concealed. My light is manifest to thee, it cannot be obscured.
*Baha'u'llah*

My friend Nava caught this picture of the sunset at Bahji, outside the Shrine of Baha'u'llah. Even the sun seemed to celebrate the Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah.

The Gradual Unfoldment of Game Night...

Celebrity and dinner, anyone? ...still one of the funnest nights, yet!

Listen!

Here we are, mid-celebration for Grand Master Jeegar, aka John Amir Abassi, and I'm defending my anti-sushi policy. Will no one think of Prometheus' struggle?

This cemetary is in Akka, Israel. The headstones with green markings indicate descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

More Pictures From the First Six Months....

These pictures were taken in Akka, Israel.
There was a celebration of some kind, and the different local schools had "battling" marching bands - truly an amazing scene! The central meeting point was in the square in front of the Al-Jazzar Mosque.

the most important meal of the day...

While my apple and cup of tea were perfect today, it's more important, still, to start your day with some spiritual sustenance... to that end:

"O Son of Being!
Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants."
*Baha'u'llah*

This is my friend Nasim and me - and I can assure you that we have never been so soft as we are in this picture!

We were at the Ein Gedi spa and resort - and this is just before we left for Haifa.

Yes, my friends and I are a resourceful lot!
We had veggie and meat kabobs - and for my Persians... there was even some "jeegar" to be had.


This picture is of your's truly in the ancient fortress of Masada, overlooking the Dead Sea. This fortress marks the last Jewish stronghold against the invading Roman forces.
Modern Israelis and archaeologists have been able to restore much of the site - including the still intact frescoes you see behind me.

Dead Sea and Masada

This is where we camped - at the Ein Gedi camp grounds. Not a bad view, and the sunrise over the mountains in Jordan was amazing!

Happy New Years!

Whether you're in the habit of making resolutions on an annual basis, or not - a little inspiration is always welcome.
"O Friend! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love..."
*Baha'u'llah*