Eighty-four days and counting

With talk of war buzzing in the air, its hard to have great expectations. But still I pray, and hope, and .... count! There are 84 days left til my first born son finishes his service in the IDF (Israel defense forces) God willing. Tzahal stands for צה"ל Tzavah stands for army ... haganah stands for defense force,....L'Israel (for Israel).

Its quite likely we'll have plenty to pray about these last 84 days. With an upcoming vote in the UN in Sept concerning the division of Jerusalem to make a Palestinian state. Of course it is the prayer of all Israelis to keep our beloved Jerusalem undivided. It seems absurd to us that the international community would pressure us to divide our capitol and Holy City of David. We've shared it from the beginning with all faiths and people.

With this mounting pressure,comes the expectation that there will be a fight on our hands in the near future to stand our ground and hold our land. Yesterday our son was given special training for these expected conflicts. It puzzled me that with less than 3 months of service left, they are giving them such intense training. I'm thankful for the training, and I pray that our army will be well prepared and equipped. Mostly I pray there will not be loss of life and no loss of land. I pray that our economy and government hold up strongly in the days ahead. I continue to pray, and count.

If Rocking Chairs Could Talk

I have a favorite rocking chair. When I was pregnant with my 4th child 12 years ago, we got an unfinished wood rocking chair. We stained it and sealed it with a clear coat. It wasn't special and I didn't imagine that it would last this long but it's nearly good as new. This chair has rocked many hours. It has had at least 6 homes and traveled more than 7000 miles. Its rocked countless babies and comforted hundreds of guests. Its arms have held mine up during sleepless nights with nursing newborns, sick or injured toddlers, and scared orphans from afar.

If this chair could tell us stories, we'd likely find a world of adventures in its 12years lifetime. This chair has felt my tears, heard my prayers, held the weight of many children in my lap for a storybook. It has survived two wars and one tornado. It has enjoyed views from porches in the Amish country, and now faces Jerusalem the Holy City for my morning prayers. If this chair could talk, it would no doubt tell us how it has served faithfully to so many.

Some might think its silly to think that a chair could have stories, but I think everything has a story. And someday I'd like to write down the history, the stories that this chair has. It might get passed on to one of my children and grandchildren and this beloved chair will share even more adventures with them. This chair may not have a voice but it has a special place in my heart.

Milestones

February 27th we began our journey to Israel. We arrived Feb 28th, 2006, 5 years ago! Reflecting on it all is rather sobering. When I think of all the challanges of acclimating, the trials we endured, the transformations we've gone through, and what we have learned, it is numbing. I read an article recently that stated 50% of North American new immigrants to Israel, return within the first 5 years. I don't know if that information is accurate, but I wouldn't doubt it considering I have seen more people come and go than stay. And I can't count the number of times I myself have wanted to leave. Though I am fully grateful to the Almighty that we've been given the privilege to stay. Despite all my protests and complaints, God in His goodness has allowed us to enjoy the bad with the good, and not return to the mudpits of Egypt! Baruch Atah Yehovah!

Learn Hebrew with Pictures and Audio ( English - Hebrew Dictionary )

Learn Hebrew with Pictures and Audio ( English - Hebrew Dictionary )

All is vanity

Today my 11yr old son was sitting at the computer in the living room, with his hand raised. He then realized he was not in school, and no teacher was coming to answer the question he had about what was puzzling him. It gave me a chuckle but then I realized I am like a child sitting in a room with no teacher, with my hand in the air, waiting for answers. We are trained for years that someone has an answer to our problems, and simply raising our hand brings forth an answer. Instead of searching, and researching, instead of digging, studying, weighing out facts and seperating fiction, we take someone else's word as truth.

It reminds me of the scene in Fiddler on the Roof when Tevia is hearing an argument between a young liberal and an old conservative; "You know he is right" and then to the other, "and he is also right" but one interjects, "they can't both be right" to which Tevia says, "you know you are also right". I've been swamped with commentaries and debates and books. I see that he is right and he is right.

I think its time I put my hand down.

I don't want a bandaid. I want the cure! I don't want square pegs to fit in circle holes just because they can be made to fit. I want real truth. Real facts that line up and fit, not because I make them fit, or someone else did, but because its what is right.

When we came to Israel we thought we had "arrived" at some place of spiritual completeness. I soon realized that this was just the beginning and we had alot to learn. That process is only in its early phases. Each stage we go through teaches us that we have even more to learn, and we will never have "arrived". Israel continues to be our teacher. My mind, spirit, being, continue to be transformed by the many lessons offered in living life here.

As wise King Solomon teaches us; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further by these, my son be admonished; of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

My Adventures in Israel By Devorah Burnet Don't Sweat the Small Stuff When we first moved to Israel I was less than impressed with the ediquette, or lack of it, in this culture. I can remember being cut off on the road in Nashville, TN and dwelling on it, obsessing over it for days. I would call my friend and tell them the whole story, with drama and animation, about how I nearly lost my life on the road, that it was a miracle we survived. But in a 15 minute drive to the supermarket in Israel, you can experience the same drama no less than a handful of times, and not think twice about it as you are waiting in line to pay for your groceries. The fact that a man just came within inches of taking out your car or your life, and everyone else's, without looking at any of you, as if you weren't there and he owns the road, is completely forgotten by the time you are having an argument with the guy trying to convince you that his agalah (supermarket buggy) should be in front of yours because he placed it near the line while he left to finish his shopping. And by the time you are putting your groceries in the car, you have forgotten all about the grocery line argument, because someone is honking at you to put your kids and groceries in the car faster so he can have your parking spot and agalah. After several near death experiences on the way home, you've forgotten about the person hurrying you out of your parking spot while you stop for gas only to have to wait 3.8 minutes for the man in front of you to double park on the road chatting with someone on his cell phone, causing you to veer into oncoming traffic, scattering cars all over the road of which you don't even notice. Upon returning home, your spouse asks "how was your day?" and you say, "lovely, uneventful, I was happy to find a legal place to park and I found an agalah with three wheels, I only pulled 5 muscles and got one hernia while pushing it" you respond with a smile. "Oh and by the way, no rockets landed near us either and the lines were short, we got out of there in less than two hours without giving anyone a black eye." Israel has a way of helping people get over theirselves. It puts things into perspective and helps us to not sweat the small stuff. I no longer take offense to what others think or say or do. Miracles are a daily occurance and when someone cuts you off or takes your place in line, you laugh it off and let it go. Its forgotten ten minutes later because there are more battles ahead. I noticed a favorite word of many Israelis (in English) is "nevermind". It reminds me of a book I read some years ago called The Right Words at the Right Time. There was a story in the book about the song "Let it Be". Paul McCartney's mother was named Mary and her words of wisdom were "Let it be" I've often found myself singing that song in Israeli traffic. Recently I was thinking about the divisions and splintering of religious or political groups. How in the past in America, when my spiritual or political toes got stepped on, or my political car got run off the road, I'd call a friend to vent about the drama, reliving every detail and obsessing over it for weeks. Funny how Israeli traffic and lack of social graces can cure you of such offenses. Seems Israel has taught me to not sweat the small stuff anymore. Personally, I really don't care anymore what political party you support, what religion you are, or if you agree with my zealous passionate zionist agenda. I really love you no matter what. And guess what, I even love the Palestinians! Turns out that guy double parked on the road holding up traffic while talking on his cell phone was my next door neighbor who I joyfully waved to upon pulling up to the house with my groceries. And the guy with his buggy in line was my arab friend who works at the bakery. Its a different world here. Israeli system of government is based on parliamentary democracy. With 120 parliament members representing over two dozen parties! Israel's elected Prime Minister represents the majority party. So rather than the "us against them" mentality often seen in the states (republicans vs. democrats) we can have 20 friends all voting for more than 20 parties! And in the end all that really matters is that we are all on the same side fighting the same war. And when we are on the front lines, it won't matter that my brother on my right or my sister on my left, belonged to the same political party or not. It won't matter that yesterday he cut me off in traffic or took my place in line. Truth is, I won't even notice those small things. Because when all hell breaks loose, and it will, all that matters is the bigger picture. I often get a chuckle now out of reading American news. People suing for this or protesting about that. In one aspect the middle east can bring on a new kind of stress, but at the same time, I find I get my feathers ruffled a lot less. Israel has one of the highest life expectancies. Israeli teens are among the happiest in the world. Our economy, health, and education stats are off the charts in comparison to most. Sometimes being in "survival mode" can allow us to shed the stuff that just doesn't matter. I'll leave you with this joke... What happens when a fly falls into a coffee cup? The Italian - throws the cup and walks away in a fit of rage The Frenchman - takes out the fly, and drinks the coffee The Chinese - eats the fly and throws away the coffee The Israeli - sells the coffee to the Frenchman, the fly to the Chinese, buys himself a new cup of coffee and uses the extra money to invent a Device that prevents flies from falling into coffee. or this one... A reporter asks 4 men in NY about the recent meat shortage, "Excuse me...What's your opinion on the meat shortage?" The American says: What's a shortage? The Russian says: What's meat? The Chinese man says: What's an opinion? The Israeli says: What's "Excuse me"?.....

Motherhood

My day began with the usual quiet time of prayer in the dark quiet hours of early morning, then snuggling moments with a toddler and 5 year old. Then I raced around to get the 4 younger ones dressed, breakfast, lunches packed, teeth brushed, vitamins taken, stuffing homework into backpacks and finding shoes and jackets. Then I rushed one off to kindergarten and ran errands downtown. Bank, post office, grocery store, etc. I returned home realizing I hadn't eaten breakfast and it was near lunch time. I ran around the kitchen stuffing chips in my mouth as I put away groceries. Midway through cleaning the fridge, and putting away groceries, and cooking part of tonight's supper, my two year old spilled a cup of juice. As I was midway through cleaning the juice, the phone rang. I finished the phone conversation to find my two year old had emptied the book shelf of all the photo albums. It was past noon when I hadn't finished the groceries, cleaning the fridge, eating lunch, cooking supper, doing the dishes, or folding the 7 unfolded loads of laundry. About this time, I began to rethink my opinion of legalizing marijuana! Determined to get something accomplished, I handed my son a rag and showed him how much fun it was to wipe up the juice while we danced and sang "you are my sunshine". Yes, just call me the wiping queen!

Motherhood has given me more joy in my life than words can say. I've been privileged to have been mothering for the last 20+ years. Being pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 18 of those 20 years has been more fulfilling (excuse the pun) than I'd ever dreamed. Always with a babe in arms, or snuggled at my side in bed, it has been a lovely chapter in my life of which I'm so thankful.

In these last 20 years I've changed over 25,000 diapers, wiped dirty bottoms thousands of times, wiped thousands of tears, wiped thousands of runny noses, wiped blood, vomit and spills. Could write a book of funny stories. Have been given thousands of kisses and hugs, a thousand pictures on my fridge, kissed countless boo boos, said tens of thousands of prayers. I've lost thousands of hours of sleep but gained thousands of days of laughter and love. I've learned more from my children than I've taught, and surely have much more to learn.

I've danced with my children, cried with them, learned with them, fought with them, triumphed together over challenges, I've hurt with them and for them, I've sacrificed my time, my own desires, my sleep, my figure, my favorite places and hobbies. I've watched them grow, mature, get married, step out into the unknown spread their wings and fly into new territories. I've watched them fall down, and get back up. I've watched them wrestle with the world, wrestle with their own faith, building their own convictions. I've sensed their passions as they set out to conquer goals.

Motherhood must be more entertaining than any hollywood movie and more rewarding than any university degree. I've reached highs that no drug could ever give!

When I look at all the turns my life could have made. All the paths I might have taken, I think of all I would have missed. My life is rich. Its been good and keeps getting better. The story isn't near over. It must be in the thick of the drama...the suspense...the mystery...the wonder...the awe.... I am blessed! I love my life and the God who gives me the privilege to live it!