Twenty Four

Our eldest son, Nadav, turned 24 last month. I shared his 22nd birthday card in January and his 23rd in July. I am squeezing this latest card in at the end of the year so that I can get back on schedule!

Nadav moved to the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva in September and recently began his university studies in Computer Science there. Be'er Sheva is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel and is often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev". He and his girlfriend Hila found a nice apartment there and have made it their home. Their student flat is a lot different to the ones I lived in back in the day!

Nadav's card this year shows him using his new ASUS laptop. He is wearing his 2024/25 red Arsenal home shirt. The logo of the university where he is studying, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is on his left. The flame symbol comprises the letters "alef" and "nun", the first letters of "Universitat Hanegev" (University of the Negev - the name of the University until 1974). The colour orange was chosen to symbolize the different hues of the desert, focusing on the vision of David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, to establish a university with a mission to develop the Negev.

Next to the logo I added a road sign pointing to Be'er Sheva, representing Nadav's move to a new city.

On Nadav's right I added a red heart with Hila's name on it. She is an important part of his life and could not be left off the card! Behind him is a photo of their apartment. They have done a great job of making it look nice. Finally, a big red number 24 marks his age. 

There was a homemade birthday cake as well, though he only got to enjoy it the day after his birthday, when he paid us a flying visit. On the day of his birthday itself there were university studies to get on with!

* This post has been shared on Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) and Creatively Crafty Linky Party.

A Student and a Captain

Every year twins Gabi and Adi each receive one of my customised cards on their birthday. Their mum tells me that my cards have become an essential part of their birthday celebrations. I make cards for each member of the family and for the parents anniversary too. They have built up quite a collection by now!

Last year both guys had been travelling. Gabi had been swimming with sharks in Belize, Central America and Adi went to Bulgaria. I am glad they did it last year and not this year!

This year the guys turned 24. Gabi is now a student at the Open University of Israel. He is studying computer science and has moved into a new flat in Jerusalem. I have shown him sitting at his desk, his laptop open in front of him. A paper on his desk has מדעי מחשב, computer science, printed on it. Behind him I added the logo of the Open University of Israel and a little sign showing that he is in a new home.

Adi is now a captain in the Israeli army. He recently spent a week doing army work in a hotel in the north of the country. It was of course top secret work and he had to do a coronavirus test before he went, but his family teased him about his hotel stay.

Mum asked me to show him outside his hotel, by the pool. He isn't in uniform but is proudly pointing to a badge on his T-shirt that says סרן or captain. Behind him is a poolside umbrella but also a "Top Secret" sign and a little picture of a man taking the coronavirus test. Finally, a big 24 marks his age.

It seems that mum was pleased. "Great cards Lisa. Perfect!" she wrote to me.

* This post has been shared on Little Things Thursday, Creative Compulsions Linky Party, Creatively Crafty, Funtastic Friday and All Seasons.

The Student

Ori celebrated his birthday back in September. I have shown him using weights and as a soldier on previous birthday cards. He is now a student at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, so mum asked me to make him a card with a student theme.

I have shown Ori using his laptop computer and drinking coffee, like all students do! Mum told me that he now wears glasses most of the time, so I added them and gave him longer hair and a scruffy beard (mum's words!).  The logo of the Technion is in the background. He also frequents the gym on a regular basis, so I added a bench press to the card as well. A big red number 23 marks his age.

Mum declared the card my best one yet!

* This post has been shared on The Good. The Random. The Fun., Little Cottage Link Party and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.