Help a worthy cause

My Grandfather, who is 80 years old,  is a survivor of Multiple Myeloma. Which is a type of blood cancer. He was diagnosed in 2004, so he's still in the recovery stages. But doing VERY well. We are so thankful to God for his recovery and for all the help he recieved from his doctors, so as a family we've decided to do a walk for all forms of blood cancer. I don't know if any of you can spare even $1 but if you could I would REALLY appreciate any and all donations to this very worthy cause. You can donate directly to the LLS (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) through my walker fundraising website that they set up for all registered walkers. If you live in an area where they host a walk I would also appreciate it if you walked and raised money in your area. I know asking you to walk is asking a lot lol BUT if you're willing that would be such an encouragement to me and I'm sure to others.


Thank you in advance to all who are willing to help out with this! 

Preparation Day!

Another joyous preparation day is upon us! Friday has become my second most favorite (and hectic) part of the week. Of course I LOVE Shabbat but I also really enjoy getting ready for Shabbat. Knowing that its coming and that in just a few short hours it will be here! Everything that gets done on Friday is in preparation for Shabbat! I love it!

Lechah dodi, liqarat kallah.

 

P'nei Shabbat neqabelah!

Shabbat Shalom,

Tefilah (Prayer)

 I've mentioned before how difficult prayer is for me. I wasn't really taught how to pray. Growing up Catholic I had specific prayers to say but it wasn't the same as really reaching out to HaShem. I would go to confession and say the Our Father and my Hail Marys. But I never understood that Yeshua was teaching us how to pray and that the Our Father is an example of how we should pray.  I never really learned from the prayers. So I find my self struggling day to day and when I really need to reach out. I try to make prayer a priority but I'm not so great at it. I've come a long way but I'm not where I would like to be. I'm the kind of person that just likes to arrive, so the journey can be a bit frustrating. 

Despite my struggles with set prayers, the idea of a siddur (prayer book) appeals to me; I think its the use of the set prayers to get your mind right for your own prayers.  I started to make my own siddur, but, I don't know for some reason that didn't help me. I have a pocket NT that has Psalms and Proverbs, so I wrote down a list of Tehillim (Psalms) to be recited for specific occasions and began using that to recite psalms before diving into my supplications. That helped me out tremendously. Which leaves me thinking that maybe I need a "real" pocket siddur. Something tangible that has prayers that I didn't make up and that makes me feel closer to YHVH. 

The thought of getting a siddur leads me to my next thought which is the three daily prayers in Judaism. Something appeals to me about stopping what you're doing, no matter what it is, to pray. I haven't really made any definitive decisions about this but its something that is really on my mind. 

But what about you? What is your prayer life like?

My book has arrived!

I finally received The Committed Life by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis! I ordered it through amazon.com and was patiently (well not really very patiently) waiting for it to come. I just wanted to dive in. I've heard great things about Rebbetzin Jungreis and her writing. So far the book has lived up to it's reviews! I'm almost half way through it! If I was still child free I KNOW I would've been done with it already, but I don't have a lifestyle that permits much time for non-stop reading. 

I'm pretty sure I will be reading more books by Rebbetzin Jungreis in the future. The next one I want to get is The Committed Marriage. Has anyone else read any of her books? 

Preparation Day!

lyrics and translation from hebrew songs 

Shamor  vezachor bedibur echad                           Guard and remember in a single utterance

Hishmi’anu El hameyuchad                                    We were made to hear by the unifying God*

HaShem echad ush’ma echad                               God is One and His name is One

Leshem uletif’eret velitehilah                                  For His name for glory and praise

Lechah dodi, likarat kalah                        Come my lover to welcome the Shabat  (referred to as the bride)

Penei shabat nekabelah                                            We will welcome Shabat

Hitoreri, hitoreri                                                       Wake up, wake up

Ki ba orech, kumi uri                                               Your light is coming, rise up and shine*

Uri, uri, shir daberi                                                   Wake up, wake up, and sing a song

Kevod HaShem alaich nig’lah                                   You saw the glory of God

Lechah dodi, likarat kalah                        Come my lover to welcome the Shabat  (referred to as the bride)

Penei shabat nekabelah                                            We will welcome Shabat

Boi beshalom ateret ba’alah                                      Enter in peace o crown of her husband

Gam besimchah uvetzahalah                                     Even in gladness and good cheer

Toch emunei am segulah                                          Among the faithful of the treasured nation

Boi Kalah, boi, kalah                                                 Enter o bride, enter o bride

Lechah dodi, likarat kalah                        Come my lover to welcome the Shabat  (referred to as the bride)

Penei shabat nekabelah                                            We will welcome Shabat

Lechah dodi, likarat kalah                        Come my lover to welcome the Shabat  (referred to as the bride) Penei shabat nekabelah                                                    We will welcome Shabat

(*wikipedia translation)

Shabbat Shalom!

Preparation Day!

I love Shabbat. It's such a peaceful time in my house. Spending time with HaShem, no rushing, and no chores. We're still learning about what works for us and how to go about certain things, but since we've been observing the Sabbath we have grown in so many ways.  

*Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, she’asah li kol tzorki*(Blessed art thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who provides for me all my needs)

And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.- Ezekiel 20:20

Shabbat Shalom!

Simple Woman's Daybook 1

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... The sun is shining and the wind is blowing
I am thinking... About what to make for dinner. 
I am thankful for... My husband and my children 
From the learning rooms... For me - Hebrew and Bible study, For Amina - Letter recognition and counting
From the kitchen... Nothing right now but I made oatmeal raisin cookies last night. 
I am wearing...  A red long sleeve t-shirt and an ankle length khaki skirt
I am creating...  A personal Siddur (prayer book)
I am going... No where 
I am reading... I'm waiting for my copy of The Committed Life to arrive, but in my Bible I'm reading Deut
I am hoping... That my book comes SOON! 
I am hearing... Amina singing old macdonald :o)
Around the house... Dishes need to be done and Amina needs to pick up her toys
One of my favorite things... currently studying Hebrew and watching Israeli movies. 
A few plans for the rest of the week: Preparing for Shabbat, making Purim plans,  and doing some studying with Hubs. 
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

We went to an animal farm over the summer. 

This is a species of sheep that is over 3,00 years old 

and if I remember correctly they are from the middle east.