Thursday, August 31, 2017

Thankful Thursday - Everything...Just Everything



As we've watched the devastating news about Hurricane Harvey this week, my heart has ached for the victims of all the floods.  I've been through many hurricanes here in Florida, but have never been through flooding. We're praying for those in Texas and Louisiana, and are preparing donations to help.  

Seeing all these people have lost has intensified my gratitude for every little thing we're blessed with. . . a roof over our heads, food to eat, clean water to drink, ice, my bed and pillow, my bathroom, my phone, my car, sunshine, hospitals, grocery stores, drug stores. . . everything . . . just everything.  

Just think of losing every thing. . . your home and everything in it, your car, employment, public transportation,communication through your cell phone.  Everything . . . just everything material that is. 

I've been encouraged to see those with faith speak of trusting in God and being thankful for their family's making it out alive.  Times like these can really bring out the best in people.   

I've also been thankful for the ones who are helping . . . rescuing victims, taking food and water to the shelters, opening businesses and churches as shelters.  I even saw a woman singing Amazing Grace in a shelter.  She said she just wanted to bring them some encouragement and comfort and to make them smile.  What a blessing, right?

Here are some other things I'm grateful for this week:

We dedicated a beautiful baby girl to Hashem at the synagogue this month (see her photo above).  Her name is Jeanette Gail.  Isn't she gorgeous?  She was really rockin' that animal print headband.



Rabbi Jem with the parents, grandparents, and Jeanette's two brothers.  Don't those two little boys look like living dolls?  Every week, they run in with arms wide open to give me and Rabbi big hugs.  I wish you could see how well behaved they are in the service.  They pay close attention to Rabbi, and when he asks a question, they answer.  They even get it right sometimes.  Their ages are three and four - amazing!  I'm thankful for parents and grandparents who teach their little ones to honor Adonai.


I spotted a beautiful, rare swallowtail in the Golden Cottage Garden, and was so thankful to have my camera.


And enjoyed the glorious blooms around Golden Pond.  Jemima Puddle Duck did, too.

the boys putting together a wooden race car

Our grandson is now wearing glasses.  He really likes them.  He said things aren't fuzzy any more.

We were thankful to see the effect of the solar eclipse in our driveway.  The crescent shapes are the sun's light filtering through the tree in our front yard.

Cool, huh?

We discovered a caterpillar on our garage door.  Our grandson inspected it closely.  About a week later, it turned into a black and gold butterfly.  Jem saw it emerge, but it happened so fast he couldn't get the camera.   Now, every time he sees a similar type butterfly he says, "I think that's him!"


It's been two weeks full of gratitude here at the Golden Cottage.  What are you thankful for this week?





Thankful Thursday is my day to focus on and be thankful for all the good things in my life.
~ ~ ~ ~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends: 

Spiritual Sundays     GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday       TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up        Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday

Friday, August 25, 2017

Sabbath Music - When They Ring Those Golden Bells

source:  MiYah Music on Facebook

Yes, it is very good to praise Adonai and make music to His name.  Our home is always filled with music, especially on the Sabbath.  It sets the tone for rest, worship and a thank-full heart.

Last week, when I was thinking about the song, Brighten the Corner, I ran across some videos by The Browns.  They were a family group, popular in the 1950's.  I always loved their gentle tunes and sweet harmonies.  Here is a playlist for your Sabbath enjoyment:  The Browns Playlist
The list starts with the song, When They Ring Those Golden Bells, which I always loved.  It brings tears to my eyes as I think about how wonder-full Heaven will be.

Have a rest-full, worship-full, and joy-full Sabbath, dear Gail-Friends.

~ ~ ~ ~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends: 

Spiritual Sundays     GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday       TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up        Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

A Timely Poem


The protests over our Confederate statues are insane.  I ran across this poem and thought it was share-worthy because this is what it's come to:



A Bright New Day - Chuck Porretto
-
Kick in that marble headstone, for he wore a coat of grey.
He has no right to rest in peace upon our bright new day.
Dismantle that old statue; for he battled for the south.
And don't you stand against us, either join or shut your mouth.
-
Knock down that bloody obelisk; you know he owned a slave;
and dump his wretched remnants deep inside an unmarked grave.
The bearded top hat fellow, blow him up and knock him down.
The Navajo will tell you that he scorched their sacred ground.
-
The one that wore a wheelchair, let us purge him from the earth,
His new deal was internment for the sin of Asian birth.
And every war memorial is next upon our list.
for the innocent collateral demands they not exist.
-
Blow up that Black Hills mountain, as we feel the rush no more;
for a roughish riding monger killing Spaniards by the score.
The other peddled genocide against the native Sioux,
and bondage is the stain upon the loathsome other two.
-
Rip up the iron railway from our sea to shining sea.
The Chinaman was chattel, as he toiled slavishly.
Incinerate the White House, and then bury its remains;
for some of its construction was completed wearing chains.
-
There is no rest until our noble cause is finally through.
And that is when we burn the flag adorned with red and blue.
And now that we are at it, let us cross the briny sea,
and topple every monument where righteous disagree.
-
The Roman Colosseum, for the Christians that would bleed.
The Arc de Triomphe glorifies a tyrant's bloody greed.
And all the German building that were built before the war.
And every Ancient fortress that still stands upon a shore.
-
The Pyramids an edifice to power over serf.
The China Wall a racist, xenophobic love of turf.
The world is full of evil, we shall right it with our force.
And everyone is guilty..... Well except for us of course.
-
(no permission needed to share)

 ~ ~ ~ ~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends: 

Spiritual Sundays     GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday       TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up        Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday

Monday, August 21, 2017

Thoughts on Elul and the Solar Eclipse

Total solar eclipse
source: Wikipedia

 


I found this article by  Sara Debbie Gutfreund on Aish.com very thoughtful and hope you'll be blessed as you watch and think about the eclipse today.

Elul and the Solar Eclipse: Removing the Blocks to Find Meaning

Three steps to embrace the ever-present meaning in our lives.


On Monday August 21, 2017 as the Hebrew month of Elul begins, all of North America will witness an eclipse of the sun. The last time America saw a solar eclipse was in 1979. For approximately three hours the moon will pass between the sun and the Earth, blocking all or part of the sun from a given location.

For those who will be in the path of ‘totality’ it will appear to them for a few minutes that the light of the sun has disappeared. Even though we can’t see the sun during an eclipse, we know that it is still there. Similarly, there are times in our lives when the meaning and purpose in our lives isn’t visible to us, but it is still there waiting for us to see it.

Similar to the period right after three minutes of total darkness, when God moves the moon and reveals once again the powerful light of the sun, Elul is a special time when He makes it easier for us to rebuild our relationships and forge a deeper spiritual connection with Him.

Often we look for meaning outside of ourselves, but a meaningful life is really a mindset that we need to work on developing every day. There are three steps we can use to develop this mindset. The first step is believing that each of our lives has a purpose even if we aren’t yet sure what that purpose is.

We need to know that each of us is called to something just like we know that the sun is still shining behind the moon. Reconnecting with our faith that our lives matter and that our roles within this world are significant is the foundation of a meaningful mindset.

The second step to develop a meaningful mindset is recognizing that what ultimately makes our lives meaningful is giving to others and using our gifts to contribute to the world. When we make the meaning of our lives solely about our needs, we will find ourselves stuck in a dead end. Adding value to the lives of others is what opens up new opportunities and reveals to us different levels of meaning in our lives.

And the third step is realizing that happiness is not a goal that we can directly achieve, but instead it is often the result of living a meaningful life. Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, taught us that there are three things that give meaning to our lives: first, a project; second, a significant relationship, and third, a redemptive view of suffering. Happiness isn’t something that we can pursue; it must ensue from these three life areas – devoting ourselves to a higher cause, creating meaningful connections with others and seeing the pain and the obstacles in our lives as stepping stones to growth.

The Kotzker Rebbe said: “People are accustomed to look at the heavens and to wonder what happens there. It would be better if they would look within themselves, to see what happens there.”
In Elul we have the chance to look within ourselves and to find the gifts within us that are hiding behind the shadow of life’s distractions. This month is the time to learn from the lesson of the eclipse: the light has been here all along, waiting for us to see it and use it to grow."



Please note this statement :  This article is from  www.chabad.org
The content in this page is produced by Chabad.org, and is copyrighted by the author and/or Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you do not revise any part of it, and you include this note, credit the author, and link to www.chabad.org. If you wish to republish this article in a periodical, book, or website, please email permissions@chabad.org.






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I sometimes share my posts with these friends: 

Spiritual Sundays     GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday       TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up        Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Thoughts on the Solar Eclipse

Image result for solar eclipse images public domain
source: Google Public Domain

When a pnehomenan like this occurs, people often become afraid.  Others immediately attempt to make money from it, including TV preachers. Shame on them.  I found this article on Aish.com today and thought it was good to share.

by Rabbi Benjamin Blech
  

The world will soon be witness to one of the most spectacular events in the universe.

On August 21 the sky will suddenly go dark in the middle of the day. The temperature will noticeably drop by many degrees in a few short moments. Birds will stop chirping and flee back to their nests. And millions of Americans will gather under the heavens, from Oregon to South Carolina, to view the first total solar eclipse to cross America in many decades.

It is an awesome spectacle – and throughout history, in many eras and in countless cultures, its occurrence was fraught with fear and consternation. For those who lacked the scientific knowledge to understand the temporary darkness due to the coverage of the sun by the overlapping of the moon, superstition bred many myths and fanciful folklore. The very word eclipse comes to us by way of old French from the Greek for abandonment or forsaking – as if the sudden darkness expressed divine displeasure so severe that God chose to temporarily remove the gift of his presence.

How do Jewish sources view a solar eclipse?

At the very beginning of the Torah, Jewish biblical commentators find a direct allusion to the phenomenon of an eclipse: “And God said, ‘Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the heavens … and they shall be for signs and for appointed seasons and for days and years’” (Genesis 1:14). What is the meaning of “for signs”? The classical commentary of Rashi tells us this refers to the times when the luminaries are eclipsed – and “this is an unfavorable omen for the world”!

Does that mean that we ought to now be very afraid?

Remarkably, Rashi concludes his commentary with a reference to words from the prophet Jeremiah: “… As it is said ‘And from the signs of the heaven be not dismayed, etc’ (Jeremiah 10:2) When you perform the will of the Holy One, blessed be He, you need not fear retribution.”

If an eclipse is a prediction of imminent divine punishment, as Rashi inferred from the verse, why would Rashi immediately negate that very idea with a quote advising us not to be dismayed or fearful of heavenly signs? The answer is profound and rooted in the supreme importance Jews attach to the concept of free will, the ability of mankind to directly affect their destiny by virtue of their self-chosen actions. The concept of Greek fate runs counter to Jewish thought; fate can be altered by faith. As the High Holy Day formula puts it, “Repentance, prayer, and charity override the evil decree.”

It's a moment that reminds us of God’s awesome power and goodness.
An eclipse may be an omen but it is not a verdict or a final judgment. It is a moment in time which serves as a reminder of God’s awesome power and goodness. Without the benefit of the sun, its light, its warmth, its power, its energy and its role in the solar system, we could not survive for a moment. That is why, with infinite wisdom and at preordained times on the calendar, God removes us from its rays for the briefest of times so that we might reflect on the miracle of its otherwise constant presence which we so readily take for granted. It is that which the Torah refers to as “a sign.”

A sign asks us to take note. It has a message. Fail to heed it and suffer the consequences reserved for those who take God’s gifts which make life possible for granted. It is not hard to believe that the Creator of the universe built signposts predicated on natural law as ongoing reminders for mankind.
The awesome message of an eclipse and its meaning for us has a remarkable parallel to a universal Jewish custom.

It is extremely important, NASA and other experts tell us, that we cover our eyes and not look directly at the sun when it happens. Failure to heed this counsel could lead to blindness. I cannot help but think of the very same admonition to cover our eyes when we recite the Shema. At the moment when we contemplate God’s uniqueness and greatness we indicate that His splendor is beyond the capacity of our vision; to think we truly see His essence with the limited perspective of our eyes is to be blind to the reality of His infinite magnificence.

The eclipse reminds us of a universe so much vaster than our ability to fully comprehend. Don't fear it, rather welcome it as a sign, as the Psalmist King David reminded us, that “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”(Psalms 19:1).



Please note this statement about this article from 
www.chabad.org
The content in this page is produced by Chabad.org, and is copyrighted by the author and/or Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you do not revise any part of it, and you include this note, credit the author, and link to www.chabad.org. If you wish to republish this article in a periodical, book, or website, please email permissions@chabad.org.


 ~ ~ ~ ~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends: 

Spiritual Sundays     GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday       TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up        Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday

Friday, August 18, 2017

Sabbath Music - Brighten the Corner








This song is from my childhood, and I was reminded of it this week.  I remember this rendition of the song Brighten the Corner Where You Are by Burl Ives. 

The lyrics are included, so I hope you'll enjoy it, sing along, heed the words, and think about what you can do to brighten your corner in the week ahead.

Rest, worship, refresh, renew and enjoy your Sabbath.


~ ~ ~ ~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends: 

Spiritual Sundays     GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday       TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up        Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Thankful Thursday - Refrigeration





This week, I'm thankful for all things related to refrigeration.  Things like my refrigerator, freezer, and most of all air conditioning.

Since I was born in the very early fifties and am a life-long Florida gal, I remember a whole different world than what we enjoy today. When I got married, in the late 1960's,  I had a 1950's refrigerator which required defrosting the freezer. It looked a lot like this:

Image result for 1950's refrigertor
1950's refrigerator. (source Bing.com)

This week, I was thinking about this fine old antique and the defrosting process.  I'd put pots of hot water inside the freezer and wait for the ice to drop.  It was a monthly chore since the ice built up pretty quickly.  I was beyond excited when we purchased a new, side-by-side refrigerator that had a frost-free freezer.  Oh, happy day!  Thank you, Father, for my wonderful, frost-free frig.

And air conditioning, oh how I love thee.  I remember growing up without it.  We slept with our (screened) windows open at night and had a big window fan that pulled the air through the house.  Believe it or not, it was cool.  But in the daytime, not so much.  All of the houses in our neighborhood had front porches, and people sat on them to stay cooler. My parents got a window air conditioner in the late 1960's, and I was spoiled forever.

 Image result for window air conditioner

 When I got married and left home, we didn't have an air conditioner.  We did have a big attic fan, though, and it kept the house cool in the daytime as well as night.  The house also had awnings that really helped keep the temperature bearable, too.  But I remember getting our first window air conditioner.  I was happy, happy, happy!  Thank you, Father, for air-conditioning, especially central air.

Not all cars had air conditioners back then either.  My first car, in 1967,  was a pretty little Chevy II, and it did not   I can remember driving that car with sweat rolling down my legs like a river.  And I'd get so irritated that I had to keep the windows down and my hair would blow around.  Ahhh....those were the days of Aqua Net hair spray, but even that couldn't hold hair blowing in the car wind.  The cars had little triangle windows that you could use to direct the wind toward you.  That, too, messed with the hairdo.  So, thank you, Father, for car air conditioning.

Image result for 1965 Chevy II Nova

I went through elementary, junior and high school without air conditioning.  The building had huge windows along the walls to let the air in, but that air was hot, so we were sweaty, believe me.  Churches were the same.  At least the churches had those nifty cardboard fans.


All of this got me thinking about another thing I'm thankful for . . . disposable diapers and electric dryers.  But that's a post for another day.  :)

I think it's good to reflect on the things we take for granted these days and be thankful for them.  We are blessed to live in this day and age, don't you think?

Thankful Thursday is my day to focus on and be thankful for all the good things in my life.  

~ ~ ~ ~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends: 

Spiritual Sundays     GRAND Social      Modest Mom Monday Link-up      The Art of Homemaking Mondays
   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday       TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS    Share Your Cup Wednesday Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up        Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday