My Prayer for America

Today, on this National Day of Prayer, this video expresses my prayer for the world, my country, my state, my town, and my self:  for a return to Torah.

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/