A New Year for Trees

Well, dear friends, I've made it thru the first three weeks of tax season and I'm still kicking! (Just barely some days, but kicking just the same. LOL!) Things will be more than hectic for a few more weeks and then they'll slow down to a more reasonable rate. So please hang in there with me.

This week we have Tu' B'Shuvat. That's Hebrew for "the fifteenth of Shuvat". This is the eleventh month of the Hebrew year and the 29th of this month (which is the 15th of Shuvat) is the day we start over on figuring out what we're to tithe from our trees produce for giving to YHWH. Now, since there isn't a Tabernacle in Jerusalem anymore, we really don't have to count out a tithe and send it to Yerushalyim. But it's also when we plant new trees. Dodi would like to get a couple olive trees, but I don't think they'll grow here in our area. Our second choice would be a pomegranate tree. Little Critter and I LOVE to eat pomegranate. So it'll be fun to search out a new tree for our yard. (not to mention figuring out where we have room to plant another tree!!!!)

For Shabbat this week, our congregation is planning all sorts of wonderful foods made from things from trees. I'm planning on making some old fashioned Kolaches with apricot and prune fillings, pear and pomegranate salad (it's wonderful!!!!) some date logs and possibly a walnut encrusted fish to go with our salad and barley soup. Oh, and I was asked to make cinnamon sticks for the congregation. So I have lots of cooking to do this week just for Shabbat. I wonder what I'll cook for our meals this week.....hmmm. Forgot to think that close to home....worried more about getting everything I'd need for Shabbat. Oh boo!

Our scouts will be having their car races. Little Critter has done a really good job on his car....in my humble opinion. And my little cubs all made some great looking cars. It'll be interesting to see who wins the races. I'll try to get a pic of Little Critter's car after the race and post it. He did it himself with Dodi only helping him put the tires on. And I helped him draw the letter Zayin on the trunk. It's also the number 7 which was the number he wanted his car to have but he wanted it in Hebrew. He even took one of the little Star of David's we used at Hanukkah that missed being put up and placed it on the front of his car. It really looks cool!

All other things are going well. Work is busy, but really going quite smoothly. Still a little trouble with our afternoon receptionist, but she's young (really young) and a bit immature. So I'll have to continue doing some retraining on how to deal with folks with her. But the rest of it's going well. Wow, I don't know what's going on outside, but that's the third set of sirens I've heard going nearby. I'd better get off here and start praying hard for the emergency personnel and whoever they're going after. Ya'll have a great week, be blessed and don't forget to thank Papa for the beautiful and varied trees He made for us. I'll try to post again before next week, but no promises. Shalom. Spitfire

Prayers for Haiti

By now everyone has heard about the earthquake in Haiti....even if you've been under a rock somewhere hibernating you've had to have heard about it! It will start to really get bad down there in the next few days if the aid workers can't get in there to start the rebuilding/rescuing. I'd ask all to pray for the victims and their families. I'd also like to ask all my dear readers to say a few extra prayers for Francios. He's an orphan down in Haiti that we supported for several years. We had to withdraw our support 3 years ago when we had the twins living with us but we've continued to pray for Francios. He lived in an orphanage just outside Port Au Prince. He's the same age as Little Critter....9. We've been able to find out from the website that the orphanage is in pretty good shape, but haven't been able to find anything out about Francios. He lived in the mountains at one the orphanage's other buildings....some of those collapsed. We're praying Francios is well and that Papa would keep the terrors away from him...and I ask that you join us in that prayer.

I've now made it through the first two weeks of tax season. It's been busy, but really pretty enjoyable! I love my job....both of them. Little Critter is having a little trouble adjusting to having to get up early and do his work more independently than normal, but he's adjusting. He's used to sitting at the kitchen table with me and he works on his work while I work on my work....usually working on future lesson plans, writing letters or sewing. Now, he has to sit in the back room and I'm up front usually with either a client at my desk, or a pile of paperwork to get done for the office. I miss getting to hear from everyone, but realize this is for a season....and it's a relatively short season! So now I'm thinking and praying for each of you and hoping things are going great for you. Let me know you're all OK if you have time. I try to check your blogs on the weekends....but sometimes don't say anything. So take care and I'll try to post as I can. Shalom, Spitfire

PS LM-thanks for the update. I was beginning to think we'd lost you! Grin. Looking forward to hearing more about your survival blog.

2010 begins....and a note to my friends

Sure hope everyone had a great holiday season. We had a great Hanukkah! Lots of food, fun and family time. We also had a great time with both families. Just returned from the hinterlands where we spent almost a week with the in-laws and Little Critter got spoiled rotten!!! (It'll take me weeks to unspoil him! Oy vey!) MIL was so sweet, she cooked for us several nights up there and kept asking if her menu was acceptable to us. Bless her heart, I know from experience, that trying to cook healthy food that's both Kosher AND on Dodi's diet is a trick!!! But she did a good job. Of course there were far too many carbs, but we adapted. We also got to see some snow! It was after dark, so hard to see, but I went out and played in big, wet, gloppy snowflakes until I was soaking wet and freezing cold. (Being a lizard by nature that didn't take long.....oh boo!)

Now we're home again and getting ready for school to restart, tax season to begin and all the great things Papa has planned for us for this year. I predict things will get more and more crazy in the world around us, the economy will most likely NOT get alot better for the time being, and there will be plenty of things to really make my blood boil if I let it. (I've read the back of the book....it could get downright scary for a bit! You should read it too....just know the 'good guys' win, the 'calvary' comes in just the right moment and things WILL get better....eventually) But I propose to remain as calm as my nature will allow as I let Papa handle things as only He can. I propose to do all I can to make my little space in this world as peaceful and loving as I possibly can....knowing Nana, dear sister and asundry others will make that as difficult as possible. LOL! But Papa calls me to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength...and to love my neighbors as myself. So all I can do is my best to live up to that mitzvot (commandment).

My wish for all my readers, friends and family is that this year 2010, will see all of you so covered in Papa's love that you not only grow closer to Him with every breath you take, but are so covered in His blessings you can't hold them all and have to share them with others. May each one know His love, His word, His rest as you follow your journeys towards Him. And may His plans for each of us come to fruition so that we each become more and more the people He ordained us to be before the beginning of time. Shalom my friends.

OH, PS....I almost forgot. I need to warn you that my posts may continue to be rather sporadic for the next few months. I am not only the office manager, lead tax preparer but also owner in training of a tax office. And tax season has begun here in the US. So I'll be working horrible hours, while continuing to homeschool Little Critter, keep the house as best I can, and still take care of my folks and cousin. So my life will become hectic on steroids for a few months.. I love what I do (especially during the 'off season' which is after April 15th. LOL!), I'm good at it, and Dodi and I both feel this is where Papa wants us to be right now. So if I'm not here as often, don't fret....feel free to leave messages, and I'll answer as I can or email me. Again, it may take a couple days to hear back from me, but I WILL get back to you. I'll be praying for you daily as I always do and will post as I can. So enjoy these winter/spring months and I'll be back ASAP.
Pops, that means you take care of yourself!!!! Don't make me have to come fuss at you!!!!! There's still adventure out there for you Honey.. enjoy the adventure. I'll be checking on you....and praying for you.
Gayle, don't work so hard! Enjoy the life you have....it's a great life! Come see me, I miss you!!!
AOW, hug Mr. AOW for Little Critter and I and know we still pray for you both.
Abouna...do NOT let the turkeys get you down...you know what's coming and it will be good in the end!
Skippy, keep writing...you're doing a great job and don't worry about your needs. Papa WILL supply them!!!! Keep searching, looking and knocking. He'll answer you. If we can help, just call!
Nanc, darling girl, you keep being you and know I'll be here if you need me Sweetie. You are a jewel!!!
Ahava, I'll be checking on you....and fussing if necessary. You take care of yourself Sweetheart. You're precious...to me and to HIM!
Local Malcontent, I miss hearing from you dear friend. Hope you're well. I pray for you and Leti daily and know He'll take care of you both....and Dillon too!
Christopher, I haven't seen anything from you in months....I pray your health issues aren't preventing you from posting. You have wonderful things to share and there's tons of folks who need your wisdom. Be blessed.
Quiet Life, I pray things are easier for you now that husband is home and that you're having the time of your life! I enjoy your occasional posts and pray His blessings on you and your family. And thanks to your husband for keeping us safe and doing what he does! He's awesome and you're more awesome for being a military wife!!!!I know how hard that is, and the sacrifices you make on a daily basis. Thank you for being you.
If I missed anyone, please forgive me....I'm only on my second cup of coffee and not functioning well yet. Just know you're prayed for and wished all His best for you. Shalom