100%

So, in the end we went to a museum in Springfield, Mass. and from there to Six Flags New England. It was amazing how many Jews were there and even a whole bunch from New York. We were lucky to find minyanim wherever we went! It was a concern since my husband is in his year of aveilut for his dear mother (mshbrfabl). We also went Kayaking/canoing on a different day. Shopping and a movie "Horton Hears A Who" brought out the kid in all of us, and the science museum (great) in Boston on yet another day. Somewhere in there I cooked for the last days of Yom Tov and it actually came out really good.

It seems like Pesach is months away already now that real life has kicked in. I even had to go to a meeting today about summer camp - oy - can it really be that close? I guess that if my omer count serves me correctly then Pesach was only about a week ago since tonight is fifteen - hard to believe.

btw...Did you hear the joke about the baalat t'shuvah who had just learned about counting the omer? Her husband asked her what was for dinner and she answered "last night we had spaghetti!"

Moadim L'Simcha

Yom Tov was nice. Today was my 23rd wedding anniversary B.H. (ken yirbu)! We had a great KLP mousse cake. So many options for Chol Hamoed that it makes it difficult. You know the saying six people, ten opinions... Finished reading Marathon Man and I have no intention of visiting the dentist any time soon!!! My New England Rabbi - that would be my dad spoke beautifully in shul. So...Six Flags, Kayaking, Bowling, Martha's Vineyard...who knows??? Guess we'll sleep on it and decide in the morning. Moadim L'Simcha to all!

Metzorah

My Rabbi told a beautiful D'var Torah in shul last week. I wanted to share just a tiny piece of it that really spoke to me. The Hebrew word metzorah comes from the Hebrew words matzah rah. - to find bad. We have to try in life not to see the bad in things and then hopefully we will feel good both emotionally and physically. How true this is in life! When we are stressed, and negative we don't feel well and we don't exude good feelings to the ones around us. But when we look for the good in things/situations/and people the world becomes a brighter place and in turn we feel good as well! Wishing everyone a Chag Kasher V'Sameach both internally and on the outside!!!

Oh Dear

As I was cooking this evening, I looked out of my window and saw three deer walking gracefully across the snow in my yard. At first, I thought that there were people in my yard and I was concerned. When I realized that it was deer I was mesmerized by their beauty. I thought to myself "mah rabu maasecha Ha-shem." As a child, I was always fascinated by deer. How swiftly they move. How they usually travel in threes. In my adult life I began despising deer. I can't even remember how many tics I (or my doctor) have removed from various body parts of various family members. Then there was always the question of medicate or wait for a rash! Anyhow, today I was happy to once again be able to look at deer and reflect on HKBH's wonderful creations! Shabbat Shalom to all.

We All Feel The Pain

One killed, more wounded.
North and South Jerusalem.
How will it all end?

My son wants a gun.
I don't know how to respond?
I'm not sure he's wrong.

Oh King of the world.
Please watch over your children.
They are all we have!

Guard our holy land.
Let serenity return.
Time for geulah.

Hashkeidiyah Porachat

Happy Tu B'Shvat to all!

Psal Lecha

Restarting a blog is a hard task. I am missing all of my lost posts! But just as Moshe did a great job on the luchot the second time around...I will try again.....kol hahatchalot kashot...so strike one....but I'm not out yet.