Maybe I'm Amazed (Formely Love From Iraq)

8:41:54 PM EDT
Feeling Blissful

It has been a quiet day here. Not really much to write about.

Which feels odd.

Mark and I went to the d'Art Center today. Two reasons; we heard that the Art Center housed some of the best local artist in the area and we needed our Ketubah fixed.

The Ketubah is the Marriage covneant, signed by the Jewish groom, bride and two witnesses. It spells out the duties and rights of a Jewish wife. This can be done before the wedding or as in our case, during the wedding.

When Mark signed his name, his hands were so sweatly, a bit of the inl ran. So we were given the name of someone who could fix it.

However, we learned today that the woman we were looking for, had moved to another site. But we were given her number and will call her tomorrow.

The d'Art Center is ok. Not really our cup of tea, though we did see a few things we liked.

We came home, had a cup of hot mint tea and just enjoyed being with each other.

So, tonight, when I finish this entry, I need to work on the baby quilt, take a nice warm bath with my beloved and call it a night.

We are reading together one f my flavorite books, AngelWalk, by the late Roger Elwood. Mark has never read it, so we are enjoying it together.

Angelwalk is almost 20 years old, long out of print. But Roger Elwood (may he rest in peace) was one of my flavorite authors and is not light weight. His books pull no punches and leaves you grasping for air, shaking in your boots and makes you truly think about The Holy One and His Ways in a new light. No matter how many times I read Roger, I find something new.

To my beloved friends; have a wonderful evening.

Shalom

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10:38:16 PM EDT
Feeling Blissful

Shalom everyone;

Well, we recieved lots of rain and wind, but by 4 pm, the sun was out and weather was up. So we have weathered Hanna.

But Ike is still just around the corner so, again we are keeping our eye on the Weather Channel.

And thanks for your prayers.

Love to you all.

Mark and Laini

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5:54:39 PM EDT
Feeling Chillin'

I am taking a brief break from preparing for Shabbath to just to give an up date.

Mark just walked in the door when the heavens opened up. Yes, it is pouring right now. But Mark is home safe and sound and frankly, I am most grateful I don't have to face this storm alone.

I would also like to take a moment to remind our friends, new and old, that we do have  other jounrals,

There is We Made Our Own Huppah. Right now we up to Mark's thoughts on our Wedding Day. Soon, I will include some of our wedding pictures that highlight our wonderful day. We Made Our own Huppah

Then there is my craft journal. I really give more attention to. This is where I share about the projects I am working on. Our Story: In Quilt and Tapestry.

The third, which I will be giving attention to next week is celebration of our lives , where I share about the various High Holy Days and Celebrations of our lives. Since the High Holy Day are the last week of this month, I will be sharing about why these Days are times we hold  dear.

Finally, my tribute to our Military. I have decided to start adding other folks who are doing great things to make our nation and our world a better place.  Our Heroes 

LOL, I sound like a Guest Editor to my own journals. But I do hope you visit them. Each gives you a little of an insight of who Mark and I are.

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3:02:04 PM EDT
Feeling Grateful
Hearing Praise Adoni

I just wish to thank everyone who has left reponses to the last entry and letters for their prayers. I will keep everyone up to date with what is going on.

Mark is also picking up batteries for the radio and we should be ok.

If we lose power, we have plenty of candles  for light and books to read.

But then again...we really won't need lights or books  

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1:23:14 PM EDT
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing Israel My Beloved-Karen Davis

As I prepare our home to welcome Shabbath, i am listening to one of my flavorite CDs, Israel, My Beloved. Such a peaceful CD. It has been a while since I have played it now its sweet tunes fill the air along with the soft scent of Rose-Jasmine candles.

Mark had to run to the unit this morning; more paper work-yuck! On his way home, he is stopping at the store. We are preparing for Hurricane Hannah, due to hit about evening time tomorrow.

We have plenty of pillar candles and I will set them out. Store up water and thank G-d for a gas store. Atleast I will be able to cook.

So we are keeping our eye up this storm.

Our eyes and our prayers.

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12:07:04 PM EDT
Feeling Blissful

Psalm 146:3-4  Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

This was the subject over supper last night.

As believers, our true Hope lies in G-d, not Man. This does not mean we are not to do our part as Americans and vote.

But neither Senator Obama or Senator McCain are the Messiah. They can't walk on water, save the whale, change the heart of Terrorist or raise the dead. Niether have the power to make the lazy work, keep husbands remain faithful, single women have enough self-worth not to open their bedroom door to anything male standing upright or stop teenager from strapping a bomb about its waist.

Our hope, as the Psalmist wrote, is not in the power of earthy rulers, but in G-d.

We continue to pray our leaders and future leaders and well. Pray that G-d would give them wisdom as to truly lead our nation.

That is our only hope.

P.S. I just read Betty's latest entry; check it out :)

http://journals.aol.com/lv2trnscrb/kodas-corgi-tales/entries/2008/09/05/change/2701

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11:47:53 AM EDT
Feeling Blissful

Shalom Aleikhem:

We got home after 11pm last night and it was too late to write an entry.

After yestersday's entry, I did my hair and Mark worked on some paperwork. Later, we went to visit Mark's parnets and and then headed off for an evening in Willimaburg.

We had supper at golden Coral. A heavy one since we would be doing a lot of walking.

First, we went on a walking tour, listening to Ghost stories. Now, mind you, both Mark and I do not believe in Ghost. And yet the stories of the times were intriguing.

The time; between 1775 to 1780. It so is funny: change the date, names and times and these stories could very well be played out today.

Next, we went to the Great Hope Farm. I wrote about this in an earlier entry. It is a working farm, like one you would find in 1775-1780s.

On this night, the program was African American Music.  We moved from the time Slavery first came to these shores to 1780's and the influnce of the African music and dance on our culture. Even today we feel the African drum in our music.

Our guide pointed out that slaves were brought from not only West Africa, but from Central and parts of the North. This way, these people could not communate with each other and thus, sowing discord amoung the slaves.

But! Africans, while having different languges in word, there is the languge of dance, music and song. This is what brought the slaves together and kept them together. Song was not just for enterainment, but to teach our young and remind the mature and comfort the old and discouraged.

The work songs were so that everyone stayed in step; the young didn't work faster than an older person, lest the older fell behind and was beaten or sold. They worked hard; because if master had a good crop, then master would be happy and noone would be sold.

We heard one of the songs that is sung in the field. We also lined up and pretending we also had hoes, worked along with the field hands. The song was about five or six minutes and my own back started to hurt. I cannot begin to imagine doing that for 12 to 14 hours a day, in the Virginian sun.

But sometimes, slaves were sold. Not only when crops were bad, but as punishment or given as a Christmas gift. This brought my beloved's heart; "imagaine having your baby ripped from your arms and given to someone as a Christmas gift. Like a puppy."

Our guide spoken how the music in time became less African and more African Amercian. This was in part to the use of the Fife and the Fiddle. But the drums were still there.

Since Sunday was the only day that there was no work, Saturday nights was a grand time of music and dance. The master and his family were often teased and made fun of during these time. The master either didn't play no attention, turned a deaf ear or even joined in the fun. 

The program was about an hour long, yet it didn't feel like it. We weren't into the program five minutes when you felt you had indeed gone back in time.

We heard some of their stories (both funny and sad) and then the slaves showed us (from their point of view) how the master and his wife danced at the Taven. It was a hoot! That I wish I could have taken a picture of, but we were asked to wait until after the program was over.

The man telling us how the master and his wife danced looked "painful!" Watching mock dance left my side hurting from dancing. We were asked if there was any amoug us who would join the dance.

And of course Mark stepped forward; with a slight shove from his wife.

Of course, when the program first began, the group wanted someone to play the CowBell. And the next thing I knew there was a CowBell in my hand; thanks to my beloved.

It was a wonderful evening, fullof fun, laugher and learning.

And any time I get have with Mark, I treasure.

 

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10:30:37 AM EDT
Feeling Inspired

Shalom Aleikhem:

The past few days have been rather intense around here; in our home and in our nation.

As a military wife, you never know when a new set of orders could be cut, that phone call comes in, Leave canceled or even a set of packing boxes could be in your future.

This week, history has been made once again. Last night, a woman, for the second time in our nation's history, could well be the next VP. She is also the first Pro-Life woman that either party has chosen. And that in itself has shaken things up.

I believe much of the attacks against both parties are media driven. Things have been said by and about both sides that is uncalled for.

But Mark and I discussed these issuses this morning. In fact, we even prayed about them.

We could turn off the TV and not read the internet reports. There is nothing we can do about how dirty the elections are, control deployments, training schedules, over worked TriCare staff, AT&T or getting kicked off AOL right in the middle of writing an entry. We cannot stop a man from strapping on a bomb to his waist and kill himself and others. We cannot sit down over cups of tea and reason with nations who are hell bend on destroying us. 

But we can watch our attitudes. If we chose apathy, Terror will continue to strike when we least expect it. If we choose strenght and compassion, life will take on new meaning for each new day.

The choice is our to behave as the children of Light or the children of Darkness.

Mark and I choose to light The Menorah  

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6:45:58 PM EDT
Feeling Blissful

Military Friends versus Civilians August 24, 2008 | Erin Rages

Last year, my sister innocently asked, "So what do you get out of this blogging thing, anyway?"

I explained to her that blogging and connecting with other bloggers makes me feel like I'm understood; most of the people that read my site are other military wives, which means I don't have to explain a lot of the details that I think seem obvious. Other military wives understand the daily grind of having a husband in the military. They don't say, "What a shame," when they find out my husband is deployed. They laugh at and relate to all the light bulbs in the house burning out at the same time, the car breaking down, and the air conditioner acting crazy the DAY AFTER my husband leaves. They've been there, done that, and and they're ready to laugh about it (or cry about it) with me in the comments section.

A lot (not all) of my family is made up of civilians. I love civilians. But sometimes, I don't feel understood by them.

Illustration: While in Seattle a few weeks ago, I was at lunch with my family when my aunt asked me if I had seen a particular movie. I asked if it had come out on DVD yet, and she said, "No, it's still in the theater."

Ok. First, my husband is deployed. I haven't found a babysitter I trust. All of the friends I would trust with my son are people I would want to go to this said movie with (and most of them have deployed husbands and children too. It's not like they need or want another responsibility on a Friday night). Plus, I'm not that big on spending $10 on a movie ticket and another trillion dollars on snacks. Not my cup of tea, but still. I'M ALONE. Going to the theater is a huge pain in the neck!

And guess what? I felt the need to explain all of that to her. Poor Aunt.

So as I was emailing Andi not too long ago, I told her I won't be able to make it to the SpouseBUZZ Live event in Virginia because Scout will be home or in transit for R & R. My mind started to wander. How should I explain how important it is to me to be home when Scout gets off the plane? And then I smiled. I didn't have to explain it.

And maybe that's a bad example. I'm sure my family wouldn't need an explanation for something like that. But I would still feel the need to give one.
So that, my friends, is why I blog. Thank you for helping me to feel understood, and allowing me to understand you. :)

About SpouseBUZZ

SpouseBUZZ is your virtual Family Support Group, where we can celebrate and embrace the tie that binds us all -- military service. This blog exists because of you. We have authors and contributors to keep the conversation going here, but we need you to become an active participant. Submit your comments, questions and suggestions for topics you would like to see our authors address. SpouseBUZZ will make you think, make you laugh and make you cry. Most of all, we hope you feel instantly connected to the thousands of other spouses with whom you share a common experience.

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3:05:39 PM EDT
Feeling Annoyed

"So, Mrs. Reel, do you work?"

"And what do you do?"

Two questions I hate.

Just because I don't have a job outside the home, this doesn't mean I don't work.

My house doesn't clean itself, you know! And to create this what Mark calls "a little piece of Eden" not only took work to create, but mantain.

There are clothes to wash   and iron  

 meals to prepare  

A bed to be made  

 floors that need attention     

and dusting to be done  

 washing up to do    

And frankly, I love it! For I  am blessed to have such a lovely home and an wonderful husband to share it with.

But I am also a needlewoman and often be found with a bit of handwork in my paws. And of course there is Torah study.

True, Mark and I don't have children yet. But I was a single mum and I know what it is like to attend school, hold a job and care for a wee one. Being a wife and mother is a full-time job and we  women have done so for years.

Since  days of Adam and Eve.

So, let's stop the stay-at-home mum verses the career mum war and celebrate our G-d honoured roles.  

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