Yesterday, I took the dreaded trip to the US embassy. I was providing moral support to a person who needed to replace a lost passport.

First, take the train and then a taxi - it's a door to door thing - and easy as you can't believe!

Second, storing your stuff will cost 10 nis. It's two doors down from the main entrance. Take your wallet and papers. Easy.

If your are a citizen, go through the doors, and they direct you down a nice, clean hallway to a desk to check you off the list (appointments are listed).

You wait in a large room (it has toys for little ones) until your name is called go to the window specified. You turn in your paperwork, then go to the pay window. Pay. Then wait again and agent will call your name and ask a bunch of questions ( to verify that you are who you say you are).

Then that's it, go home. Catch a taxi back to Hashalom station, and go home. That's it. Done.

Yes, folks - it is that easy. Pay a few extra shekel on the taxi - it's worth it's weight in stress reduction!

I am telling you this because there is so much to do about nothing. Going, getting there, dealing with it, it's easy. The weirdest thing was English- it was everywhere! I am so not used to that anymore... and responding everything without a second to define/translate it... I have to admit. That was nice. But stepping out into Israel - was a relief beyond measure. My Israeli taxi driver was "family" and we talked about living here, choices and loving this pace, warts and all.

Okay, so this is not about birth, but I felt born into my choice to be here, yet again! Love to be here and helping you all to transition to parenting.