Advice for Gardeners

My new planter for greens.  Grape vines and our budding fig tree are behind.

 My sweet husband has begun our garden.  He even built this planter for lettuce and spinach.  I saw it on a gardening website and he graciously agreed to make one.  I like it because I can snip the new leaves without having to bend over.  Pretty ingenious, huh?  He's the best husband in the world.  

I ran across this poem earlier in the week, and wanted to share it with my fellow gardeners.  It's old and I don't know the author, but I like it.  

 Advice for Gardeners

 Plant three rows of Squash:
Squash Gossip
Squash Criticism
Squash Indifference

Plant three rows of Peas:
Purity
Patience
Perseverance

Plant four rows of Lettuce:
Let us be Kind
Let us be Faithful
Let us be Obedient
Let us Love one another

No Garden is complete without Turnips:
Turn up for Meetings
Turn up for Service
Turn up to lend a Helping Hand

To conclude our planting,
We must have Thyme:
Thyme for G-d
Thyme for Study
Thyme for Prayer

Water freely with Patience and Cultivate with Love.
There is much fruit in Your Garden.
Because you Reap what you Sow.

The world is G-d's garden.
We are here for a short time.
Let us be thankful for having the privilege of the visit.

Author unknown

Keep calm and pray...

My life is topsy-turvy right now, mostly due to my mother's illness.  She fell and broke her left hip and left wrist. She was already weak from having a fall last year.  She broke her right femur and hip at that time. I have been at the hospital with her.  She also has had breathing and heart rhythm issues this week that really scared us.  She is almost 83 years old, but is a real trooper.  I believe she will come through with flying colors.  Please pray for her healing and peace. 

Two weeks ago, my older daughter had an unexpected gall bladder surgery.  Last week, my husband woke up with a blood-red eyeball and severe pain.  A trip to the doctor week revealed an eye allergy. Eye drops every three hours, pain pills and sunglasses have helped ease the discomfort.  He goes back to the doctor tomorrow.

Add to that some other serious family problems and everything else normally on my plate, and you have the answer to my absence.

I remind myself daily that Hashem will not give us more than we can bear.  He has given me strength when I could not take one more step.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that every great trial I've gone through has taught me something about Him that no one can take away from me.  I will let you know what I learn in this valley.

The lovely graphics I've used are from http://www.littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com/

Passover Seder Memories

Our seder turned out to be a great success and a wonderful blessing.  It was our first seder in our new synagogue location.

Altogether, forty people attended the seder.  Most are members of the synagogue, but we had a few visitors.We were blessed to have a family attend with their eight children, and she is expecting another baby.  They are such a beautiful and loving group.

 I love it when a person attends who has never experienced a seder.  Their eyes always light up when they see the Messiah depicted in the matza.  The stripes and holes are pictures of his stripes and piercings on the cross. That realization is awesome. 

The whole seder shows us G-d's provision and protection through the blood.  If not for His blood, we would be faced with eternal death.  But through Him we can have eternal life.  Thank You, Adonai, for Your love.

We sang and danced and rejoiced in the love of our Father.  I love it when we sing Deyanu....It Would Have Been Enough.

The children look outside for Elijah

I love it when the children look for Elijah.  One year, there was actually someone coming toward the door, and they yelled, "He's here!"  Rabbi Jem rushed out to see, but it wasn't Elijah.  Too bad, right?  I am ready for Elijah...and Yeshua to return.

Gideon, our youngest Torah scholar

Gideon, our littlest guest was really cute.  While Rabbi was teaching about the Israelites leaving Egypt, he put his backpack on, picked up a flag and began walking around the room.  He is a very serious little boy and seems to understand so much more than one would think.  I didn't get a picture of it, sadly.

The beauty of the Passover seder never fails to renew my confidence in the loving care of our Heavenly Father.  Every year, we are reminded of the power of Hashem.  We remember His guidance, His provision, and most of all the power of the blood to save.  His blood will never lose it's power.

Learn more about Passover, by clicking on Passover in the subject index on the left of my blog.