Friday, May 26, 2017

Sabbath Music - Shimcha Kadosh


This song is so beautiful and so perfect for Shabbat.  Shimcha Kadosh means Holy One.  The song begins in Hebrew, but in the middle switches to English so you can understand the lovely words.  I pray it blesses your Sabbath as much as it does mine.  I always feel such a sweet peace when I sing this song.  Enjoy and Good Shabbos, Gail-Friends.



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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:



Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up       


Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Thankful Thursday - Spring Has Sprung



I'm grateful for the beautiful weather we've had this spring.  Usually, we go from cool (70's) to blazing hot (upper 90's) in one day.  Spring lingered this year (about six weeks) and it was just absolutely wonderful.  The highs during the day were in the mid 70's with light warm breezes.  This began around March 1 and has continued through April and into May.  This is why I call our home the Golden Cottage in paradise.


Rabbi Jem and I celebrated an anniversary this month and renewed our vows at the synagogue.  Two other couples joined us.


After the service and the big "smooch", we all sang the Beatles song, "64", which we'd played at our wedding.  That was so much fun!

I received some beautiful flowers.


That's another thing I'm thankful for - that fresh flowers are always available to enjoy.  I usually have fresh flowers in our home year 'round because they just make me so happy.  I'm thankful, too, that they can be purchased so inexpensively.  A bunch of carnations or daisies cost a mere $4 at our local grocery store.  They make me feel rich!

My dear friend (and fellow mother in law love), invited me to the annual spring tea party at the local women's club.  What a delightful time we enjoyed.

Fresh flowers and candlelight - two of my favorite things

Each lady had a unique and beautiful tea cup


Such a lovely silver tea set and a lovely lady to serve us tea.

So many pretty goodies - tasty tea sandwiches and even the popular French meringues. 

Isn't this punch bowl gorgeous?

Every lady in attendance received a handkerchief to take home.  Betty gave me hers because she knows I collect vintage hankies.



Speaking of tea parties, we had a fabulous tea party/baby shower at the synagogue this week.  Here's one of the pretty things the ladies enjoyed.  Next week, I'll share more of the festivities.  You won't want to miss it.  I've been to a great many baby showers, but this one wins the prize for creativity.



 What are you grateful for this week, Gail-Friends?

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


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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:



Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up       


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Loyalty Day






I was blessed to learn that President Trump released a statement in  April declaring  May 1 as Loyalty Day.  This declaration was made to "recognize and reaffirm our allegiance to the principles upon which America was built."  It called for all government buildings to display the U.S. Flag and for schools to observe the holiday with ceremonies.  The proclamation reads in part,

"The United States stands with the world's leaders in
upholding the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice.  
Together, and with these fundamental concepts enshrined in our
Constitution, our Nation perseveres in the face
of those who would seek to harm it."

You can read the entire statement HERE.

The information about  Loyalty Day through the communications of the  Presidential Prayer Team.  I sincerely pray that you will join me and the team in praying for President Trump. You can join the prayer team by following the link in this paragraph.  These statements are on their website:
Since 2001, The Presidential Prayer Team has served over 6.4 million Americans with encouragement and inspiration to pray for our President, our nation, and its leaders.

The Presidential Prayer Team believes that Almighty God rules over the affairs of men and moves in response to the prayers of His people. So, with unflinching devotion, members of The Presidential Prayer Team work every day to raise the shield of prayer over our nation.   


President Trump is presently under great attack from all sides and especially the media.  I, for one, am very grateful for the strong stand he is taking to return our country to its core values - faith in G-d, righteousness, justice, liberty, freedom, and patriotism.  I applaud President Trump's efforts to make America great again.

May G-d continue to bless America.

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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:



Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up       


Friday, May 19, 2017

Sabbath Music - Love Lifted Me


Are you preparing, Gail-Friends? It's preparation day for the Sabbath.  For me, that includes preparing the music for our congregation's worship service on Erev Shabbat.  This song has been on my mind this week after I read a meditation about being "lifted" by our Heavenly Father.

As you prepare for the Sabbath, you may be sad, overwhelmed by problems or emotions or fears and feel like you're sinking into a pit.   If that's you, meditate on these verses:


But You, Adonai, are a shield around me, my glory and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:4 


Hashem brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psalm 40:2-3

When people are brought low, and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
    then He will save the downcast.
Job 22:29

Hashem will lift up!!! What a glorious promise, Gail-Friends.  As we turn our faces to Him and tell him what's on our hearts, He will lift us up.  We don't have to make positive affirmations or act as if.  All we have to do is turn to Him.

Each week as we start our service, I see some people with sad faces, burdened with cares and concerns. Yes, I admit I'm like that sometimes, too. But because we came to observe His Sabbath, and begin to worship him in song and dance, we are lifted up!  Oh, Glory! Oh, Haleluyah!  As we put on the garment of praise, that spirit of heaviness has to go.   

This song is one I sang in church as a child and teenager.  I hope you enjoy it.  Love Lifted Me by Alan Jackson

My prayer for you, if you need it, is to be lifted up this Sabbath.

Good Shabbos, Gail-Friends.

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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:



Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up       


Friday, May 12, 2017

Sabbath Music - Chai Hashem


This is a song we sing often at our synagogue Chai Hashem by Steven McConnell.  The title means "the L-rd lives!"  I say, "Halleluyah" to that, don't you?  Without Him, I don't know where I would be.  This video includes the lyrics, which I love.

I'm also including video of a dance to the song and I hope you dance, Gail-Friends! Chai Hashem Dance. Never miss a chance to dance!  I don't.

I hope you are blessed by it and that it will enhance your observance of our L-rd's Sabbath.

Good Shabbos Y'all.

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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:


Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up       



 

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Thankful Thursday - Little Ones, Dogs & Rocks


I love being around children and am grateful for all the entertainment and JOY they provide. They are the best entertainment in the world and it's all FREE!  Our grandson delights us every time we see him or talk to him on the phone.  He's quite the jokester and loves to play tricks on us, like hiding.  He's easy to find, though, because he can't stop laughing.  When he comes over, it's Play Day with Jon-a-FUN!


We're still painting rocks for  Brevard Rocks each week, and here he is with his latest creation:


I've been busy painting a family of lady bugs for the Golden Cottage back porch:


I love watching and listening to the children at our synagogue.  Here they are under the tallit for the weekly children's blessing.


The little one in the pink shawl is hilarious.  Each week, she comes in and shows me her outfit, parading and turning just like a model.  Last week, we were getting ready to leave after the service and she said, "You can't go home, Miss Gail! Play the dreidel song." (It's her favorite.) She's pretty strong-minded for a three-year-old, but I'm sure you have to be with three older brothers!

Last week, we sang a song with a video called, "As the Deer Panteth For the Water", and one of the little boys said, "That deer better watch out for the alligators!"  I said, "No, don't worry, honey, the deer is in Israel, not Florida."  He said, "What's Florida?"   He also let us know last week that he wanted to blow the shofar, which we do each week to start the service.  Here he is, and if you've ever tried to blow a shofar, you will know this is amazing for a four-year-old.



Dogs are another source of great free entertainment.  Ours is a dachshund/Jack Russel terrier mix which is quite a combination.  Even though she's got little short legs, she can jump three feet off the ground.  She bounces like Tigger!  Here she is, ready for her bike ride, with her Minnie Pearl hat on.  (Oh, yes, that's another gratitude -- I got a new three-wheel bike with a big seat and a big basket.)


Zoe is blind, but she can run like Rin Tin Tin, and her middle name is Go.  She rides in our grandson's car seat when we take her for car rides.


Zoe is quite the actress.  Lately, she has learned to moan and groan to tell you she wants something.  She cracks me up with her drama because when we first rescued her, she didn't even bark for a couple of months.  Years ago a friend told me dogs can talk and I thought that was so funny.  Now I believe it whole-heartedly.

All of our tadpoles have gone to Golden Pond.  One morning last week I was sitting on the porch and saw this:




One of the last two tadpoles had grown his front legs overnight and escaped through the hole in the top of the aquarium.  They were both relocated to Golden Pond immediately.  So, now they're all gone...and I'm grateful.  One of them came on the porch for a visit the other day:


Jem was getting ready to feed the tadpoles, and this little guy was sitting on top of the food container staring at his long lost buddies in the aquarium.  Jem took him outside to the potting table and snapped this photo.  He (and all the others) are not frogs, but tree toads.  I'm grateful they're all gone now because if one of them got on me, I'd have a hissy fit for sure.  You can read more about the tadpoles HERE.

What are you grateful for this week, Gail-Friends?

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


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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:


Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up