29,000th dairy question

It's the nine days - no meat.

WHAT's YOUR FAVORITE DAIRY DISH or MEAL?

2:10 am ramblings

This happens when I get a good three hours of sleep after putting Ely to bed.

I'm up. And the house is quiet.

This is a momentous occasion in the SarahB household: Tonight is the first night since we moved into the house that it is only our family sleeping here. We had a family dinner together, just the 6 of us and now everyone is asleep in their own beds in their own rooms. No extras.
I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong. I'm just stating the reality of the moment.

Our "refugee" from Haifa went back up to Haifa today to get some things from her apartment and promised to return in a day or so.

Shabbat will be here with the Greenberg family from Ramat Bet Shemesh - looking forward to that!

I am looking for my old supervisor from Methuen, Mass. I have a client who is selectively mute, which means, she refuses to speak. She hates people b/c people like to talk and she hates to talk. Somewhere in this teenager's life she got the message that she has nothing important to say. She uses art to speak to me. With absolutely no commentary or feedback or processing. I need a good supervisor and Cat was the best one I ever had.

Ari has decided to do the Alyn hospital bicycle ride from Jerusalem to Eilat. I'm supporting him, although I think he's crazy! He is so out of shape, but good for him for trying to get into shape for such a great cause. He is looking for sponsers. I'll post a link as soon as he gets it up, so you can sponser him...

DB didn't pass his theory driving test. He missed by two. Now he has to pay another 100 NIS to take it again. For the money I hope he passes. For prolonging my anxiety, I hope he doesn't. How did my parents ever allow me behind the wheel at 17?!

House stuff is getting boring...

Guess I should try sleep!

Revolving door and random thoughts

Since we moved into this house, we have not been alone - just our family. Not that I'm complaining.

I only wonder if it will ever be just the 6 of us? Then again, isn't that why I built such a big house?

I only wonder...

Amy came before we moved and moved with us. When she left Lisa came down from the north to take refuge from the bombings. She is welcome here indefinitely. My MIL came the same day and left this morning. Ari's best friend came on Sunday and is here through Shabbat.

I have my own room and bathroom and can shu tthe door away from everyone. I like that!

Last night (AND THE LAST 4 NIGHTS) MB's friends have been here until late. We asked them to leave at 10:30 last night. They like hanging out here. Isn't that why we built such a big house?

DB went into Jerusalem early this morning to take the theory part of his driving test. Is it true that my little boy will be driving by the time 2006 is over?! He's just a little boy!

MB is learning how to sew again. She is taking a sewing class with some friends in the town next to us. She has already made two skirts. This makes her grandmother very happy!

NED is getting a lesson on how to stick to one responsibility. She took over for another friend working at a backyard camp here on the yishuv. She and another girl are responsible for 6 or 7 six year olds from 8:30 until 3:45 Sunday through Thursday. She's never done anything like this before. Every night she asks if I allow her to take a day off. I hope this will be a good lesson/experience for her. She has ahard time sticking with anything...

Ely is trying to read and spell in English. Not very successfully. My other kids were all reading by the time they went into 1st grade. This is a new experience for me.
She calls out from the bathtub, "M-A-I, I'm reading to get out." I correct her. "You mean M-O-M?!"

Another day of life here...

Rosh Chodesh Av

It's a new month.

A difficult month in Jewish history.

Went to the kotel (western wall) last night with my friend, Sarah B. Because I can!

Walking in Jerusalem one would never know there was a war in the north.

Patching holes in the house today.

I'm going for a back massage, then to Jerusalem to see 4 clients - and then therapy for myself. Intense day!

Smile

It's 2 am, I'm going to sleep...

My kitchen is back up and running, Thank G-d.

So I have just baked a banana chocolate chip cake, a apple nut cake, two batches of my special chocolate chip cookies, and some nestle crunch bars.

The mixing bowl is washed and ready for me to bake challah in the morning.

Did I tell you that we have 11 sleeping guests coming for Shabbat (oh, and they'l be eating with us too!)

This is why we built this house...

Have a peaceful one!

Smile,

P.S. Happy Birthday to neice from BB#!!! Sending hugs and kisses!

TJ Class of '84

Everyday I drive into this yishuv where I live in Israel, and I think, "I'm just a little public school girl from Frederick, MD. How'd I get here?"

It's all a miracle really, but that's for another time.

This past week I received an email from an old high school acquaintance checking to see how we are doing over here. There seems to be a web list or something where my high school class can stay in touch with each other. I haven't had the time to figure out what it is yet, but there seems to be some discussion about me and my well-being on the list.

I subsequently received emails from friends (some I remember and others only vaguely) letting me know I am in their thoughts and prayers.

I am so touched!

I have always carried a special place in my heart and thoughts for my public school friends. It was a confusing time in my life - high school. But I had the most supportive group of friends any Jewish girl could want. They had no idea what I was doing religiously, but accepted me with my Sabbath observance and kosher home. They never made fun of me, nor taunted me to do anything different. Instead, they supported me when we had to change the date for our high school graduation because it was planned for a holiday (shavuot) and didn't blink when prom was changed from a Friday to Saturday night so I could shake my grove thang with Matt Pedersen! What a night that was!

So to all my friends from Governor Thomas Johnson High School class of 1984, thanks for the emails (keep them coming!) and most especially thank you for your love and concern and prayers!

It's another smoggy hot day here in Israel.

The arab workers are already here to continue building our neighbors' homes. I can see Tel Aviv off in the distance, and I go to work in Jerusalem today.

Life goes on...

Life goes on...

I have received several emails and phone calls from friends and family wondering how we are doing and praying for our safety.

Thank you.

We are fine here in the middle of the country. Last night our friend Lisa joined us after spending two days in bomb shelters in Haifa. She'll stay here with us until things quiet down up there.

Life goes on...

Today the carpenter came to "build up" my kitchen cabinets so that when the granite guys come tomorrow, I'll have the proper height cabinets.

The plumber came by to fix a toilet.

I rearranged and cleaned up the basement playroom a little bit.

The mother-in-law arrived.

The window treatment guy came by to show me some samples.

And we went out to eat for falafel and shwarma in Modiin.

Life goes on.

Tomorrow I go back to work - time to wear a different hat.


Be safe where you are too...

Happy Birthday little Brother

Brother Matt turns 38 on July 17!

He'll never see this email in South Africa, but it's therapeutic for me to write it anyhow.

I miss my brothers...

Ignorance can be blissful...

Today, while my granite was being lifted, my ceiling fans installed and my tiolets being fixed, my friend Lisa S. was running for a bomb shelter in Haifa.

My phone rang as usual, my lights turned on and off, and I made a list room by room of all the problems that need to be fixed.

Is there really a war going on?

The 28,000th + anxiety question

This building and moving into a new house has tested my anxiety muscles. I have tried to let go of the need for control and breathe...with only limited success.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO MANAGE YOUR ANXIETY?

Back again...

Hello to all! I apologize for being out of touch for so long. Life and lack of internet connection has made it impossible for me to post.

There is so much to say, I don't even know where to begin.

It's 2:15 am Saturday night and I have to be up and moving early tomorrow morning.

Needless to say, we are in the new house.

We have electricity.

We have plumbing.

We have internet.

There have been many bumps in the road, but every day more bumps get smoothed out.

There is a war going on up north, but we don't feel it down here. It's scary and disheartening, but we pray it will end soon!

I turned 40 last week.

I will try to be in touch once again.

Life goes on...

Any specific questions you want me to fill you in on?