Count the Omer-Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

Barack and I at Adas Israel.

Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

"You who are journalists, writers, citizens, you have the right and duty to say to those you have elected that they must practice mindfulness, calm and deep listening and loving speech. This is a universal thing, taught by all religions."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

So many years ago at 8:30am I was born and at 11:00am on this birthday I sat and listened to the President of the United States in one of the sanctuaries in my synagogue. Each year, each month, each day is a journey in itself of ourself that we can choose to take and build outward making ourselves and the world a better place or see it as an onion that we need to peel the layers off. Who am I? So many different answers come to mind but whoever I am if I can try and listen, be mindful of my actions and reactions then I will be tending my small garden which will help the garden of the world where we are all one.

After nightfall on Friday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-nine days which is seven weeks of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

My two brothers when they were young.

Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

"Half-smile when you first wake up in the morning. Hang a branch, any other sign, or even the word 'smile' on the ceiling or wall so that you see it right away when you open your eyes. This sign will serve as your reminder. Use these seconds before you get out of bed to take hold of your breath. Inhale and exhale three breaths gently while maintaining the half smile. Follow your breaths."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

This evening I am thinking of my brothers who were waiting for me to be born. I am also thinking of my mommy who was home alone as my father was in England on business. I think of her, ready to give birth, alone and wonder what she would have been thinking. She and my father had decided I would be a little girl, though they had no proof. It was their third go round and so far they had had two little boys. Would the third time be the charm for a daughter? Maybe but my mother was busy thinking of the practical side of running a house. She decided to mow the lawn before she went to the hospital.

After nightfall on Thursday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-eight days which is six weeks and six days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

The path I was walking today.

Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

"The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves, 'inside the skin' of the other. We 'go inside' their body, feelings, and mental formations, and witness for ourselves their suffering.."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

This week and in particular this day has provided me with opportunities for compassion and suffering. Our synagogue will be host to President Barack Obama on Friday. You may or may be able to imagine the amount of security that goes into such an activity. As the speech will be in the middle of pre-school it is changing our schedule. I am delighted the president will be here because the occasion is also my birthday and I fancy it as a special birthday gift but the tension many staff are feeling makes me sad. Today I found myself walking this path of splendor as I walked through the woods on a class tiyyul. Later I found myself walking a tightrope of stress as I listened to co-workers issues. Occasionally I was experiencing splendor and stress at the same time. Another way perhaps of refining ourselves to better receive the Torah.

After nightfall on Wednesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-seven days which is six weeks and five days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

The children and I in the pedicab.

Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

"Everyday we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize; a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child-our own two eyes. All is a miracle."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

On Tuesday I had two charges to take care of. Religious school ended so Nathan and his older sister Talia came to me for a couple hours. What could we do that would be fun and educational. As a child I loved going to the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum and so we did. In the foyer is a giant stuffed elephant and we wandered around the mammals wing. Upon leaving I spied the pedicabs and inquired about one taking us to the metro stop. "$25, $20, $15" were the amounts the drivers said. I shook my head and we went to a bench to eat our snack. A short while later one of the drivers came up and said he would do it for $10. Off we went with the wind in our hair, pretending to be tourists, a glorious end to our museum adventure.

After nightfall on Tuesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-six days which is six weeks and four days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

Two manicured hands; little Vera and aunt Janet.

Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

"Remember that there is only one important time and that is now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person you are with, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? The most important pursuit is making the person standing at your side happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

My aunt Janet and her grand-daughter Vera went to for manicures before the wedding. My aunt is not the type to commonly do this but wanting to make her daughter the bride's day perfect she went. As I looked at these two sets of hands sitting on the breakfast table, one young and at the beginning of her journey and the another much older and reaching into the ending I couldn't help but feel compassion for both. We often have no idea where we are going (the young hands) and when we get to a point where we can now give advice (older hands) realize some lessons must learned by the person themselves.

After nightfall on Monday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-five days which is six weeks and three days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

Bride and groom hold hands during the ceremony.

Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

"In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change"

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

During the wedding ceremony the bride and groom didn't just hold hands but massaged each other's hand. Words came out of the mouths of many but all the while I was watching the two hands as they connected and spoke in their own way. We are both our intelligent minds and our spiritual bodies. We wear our tefillin on our arm and on our head. The connection between one another should include both of these aspects of ourselves. As the two souls before me made promises so did the hands. Let us hold each other up.

After nightfall on Sunday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-four days which is six weeks and two days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

Cousin Debbie under the chuppah with her new husband Aaron.

Week 7-/Malchut (KINGDOM)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

"We really have to understand the person we want to love. If our love is only a will to possess, it is not love. If we only think of ourselves, if we know only our own needs and ignore the needs of the other person, we cannot love."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

The day started with a little 13yr old girl I didn't know becoming bat mitzvah at Beth El synagogue in Durham, NC. The day ended with my cousin Debbie Boxill standing under the chuppah at King's Daughters Inn in Durham, NC marrying her beloved Aaron. There was a lot of love in both spaces and a lot of commitments. There was a lot of preparation and a lot of help from friends and family. For me I was very happy and yet a little bit sad, the lesson of the glass that was broken at the end of the wedding. Journeys just starting!

After nightfall on Saturday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-three days which is six weeks and one day of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

Holding Monty the ball python.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

"The Buddha said that if in a certain moment of place you adopt something as the absolute truth; and you attach to that, then you will no longer have any chance to reach the truth. Even when the truth comes and knocks on your door, and asks you to open the door, you won't recognize it. So you must not be too attached to dogma-to what you believe, and to what you perceive."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

A parent brought their ball python snake to school to visit the classrooms interested. Sitting on a low chair he held the Monty the snake, talked about wild animals and how we have to treat them with respect and care. Then he invited children to come and touch and or hold Monty. They were all fascinated with him but their reactions to this invitation varied from from fear to desire; to not touching at all to totally embracing the snake. I did not have knowledge of the visit ahead of time so I had could not prepare them. I wondered what they would have done given a second chance. Ah but that is how life sometimes is.

After nightfall on Friday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-two days which is six weeks of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

My friend and I after our second day of training.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

"Fearlessness is not only possible, it is the ultimate joy. When you touch non fear, you are free."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Wanting to change something in your life? Look at the truths you live by and consider whether they need adapting. Don't be afraid of the difference in direction your path may take. Be fearless. Whatever it is you can do it but you will need help so search for your angel, your friend, your colleague. In the Torah God tells Moses he will have his brother Aharon to support him against Pharaoh. We know his sister watched over him. My friend and I intend to run a 10K across the Chesapeake Bay bridge in November. We want to make sure we are prepared so tonight was our 2nd training night. What is it you want?

After nightfall on Thursday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-one days which is five weeks and six days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

The children throwing stones into the creek.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

"Your breathing should flow gracefully, like a river, like a water snake crossing the water, and not like a chain of rugged mountains or the gallop of a horse. To master our breath is to be in control of our bodies and minds. Each time we find ourselves dispersed and find it difficult to gain control of ourselves by different means, the method of watching the breath should always be used."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Why is the idea of tossing a stone into a body of water so appealing? First there is the clean athletic piece of throwing, of power, like a giant who moves mountains.Then there is the wonderful vision of creating a ripple with your throw just like we create ripples in life with our actions and ideas. I took the children to a bank of the creek where stones are plentiful and the creek flowing by their toes. Soon there was the splendid sound of happiness, of rocks moving through the air and finally the plunk when they enter the water. If only we can be brave in our lives and move forward with intention.

After nightfall on Wednesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is forty days which is five weeks and five days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

The toad I met in the woods today.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

"If you can feel that Mother Earth is in you, and you are Mother Earth, then you are not any longer afraid to die because the earth is not dying. Like a wave appears and disappears and appears again.""

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Today I took the class for a walk into the forest. We went early to miss the heat only to  discover our meadow being mowed and unavailable.  We took a minute or two to regroup ending up going down another trail, steeper and narrower but okay for kids who have hiked with me over half a year. All of a sudden something hopped from our path. It was a big, brown, bumpy toad! We were all delighted and took our time observing. I felt as though toad was speaking to me, a wise wizard that might appear in a fairy tale. When toad was in the same place on our return trip back the same way I was sure of it. Nu?

After nightfall on Tuesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-nine days which is five weeks and four days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

Stephen Stills and Graham Nash playing together.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

"We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Reading up on the history of arguments and actions that led to brake ups and later to getting back together of Crosby, Stills and Nash. They may be famous but that doesn't make them immune to the regular problems I have. Ego and lack of deep listening can be an issue for anyone. As I watched Graham Nash tune into his two friends I guessed there has been a change in them. To sing in harmony, to live in harmony requires being open to every possibility. Today I tried the children to be brave and go after whatever it is they want for time passes quickly. At the same time I reminded them to wait and listen as opposed to waiting to talk. Every moment a blessing.

After nightfall on Monday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-eight days which is five weeks and three days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

David Crosby singing at the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

"As a Buddhist Sutra hears the voice of the Bodhisattva of compassion: The wondrous voice, the voice of the one who attends to the cries of the world. The noble voice, the voice of the rising tide surpassing all the sounds of the world. Let our mind be attuned to that voice.."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

This evening I went to Baltimore for a concert of Crosby, Stills & Nash. I was excited as this band of musicians (with Neil Young) has written songs  that have been part of my life since high school. Obviously older with brown hair turned white they still had wonderful harmonies and guitar picking skills. At one point each of them played new music they had written. "After all" Crosby commented "we are singer-songwriters and making music is like breathing to us." Some of their lives may have been difficult but the beauty of working together and creating meaningful sound is still there. As the encore song, "Teach Your Children", was being sung the crowd (whose hair was also mostly grey and white) stood, danced and cheered. 

After nightfall on Sunday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-seven days which is five weeks and two days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

Moonbeam class with Mimi Schwartz Koenig, front row left.

Week 6-/Yesod (FOUNDATION)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

"As grown-ups, we can remind young people that they're already beautiful as they are; they don't have to be someone else."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

I have neither partner or children of my own. My love has to go to the children I teach. Some parents understand this and include me in the lives of their (my) children and for this I am blessed. Last night, today and tonight I celebrated Mimi Schwartz Koenig's bat mitzvah. I was there at her naming when she was born. I taught her when she was four turning five and now I am here to celebrate her at thirteen. Tonight I heard her mother Amy give her this blessing "When your kids are thriving, when things are going well, you really feel like you are raising them in partnership with God. We look at our kids, somedays you just hold your breath, at how fabulous they are. If I could bless you with an additional blessing i would hope for you that you would be blessed with the blessings you have been to us  every day of you lives." May it be so. 

After nightfall on Saturday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-six days which is five weeks and one day of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

Two of my five year old students give me a blessing.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 7/Malchut (Kingdom)

"To be loved means to be recognized as existing."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

This week was designated as Teacher Appreciation week at my school. Chocolates, breakfast and a lunch were provided on different days. There was a Starbucks gift card and a traveling coffee mug given as gifts. Today at our Shabbat Sing program a group of parents sang a song and then a prayer however the best was saved for last when the children were invited to put their hands on our heads and bless us. I told the children too far to reach me to lift their hands up, palms facing me just like the kohenim. Let us recognize each other on a daily basis of being people of worth and worthy of loving. 

After nightfall on Friday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-five days which is five weeks of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

A newly "married" couple gives each other a loving hug.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

"The Buddha said this: 'The object of your practice should first of all be yourself. Your love for the other, your ability to love another person, depends on your ability to love yourself.' If you are not able to take care of yourself, if you are not able to accept yourself, how could you accept another person and how could you love him or her?"

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

I built a chuppah in our classroom as part of our Lag B'Omer festivities. Any couple who wanted to could come, put on a kippah, get wrapped in a tallit (to symbolize the need for teamwork), stand under the chuppah (to symbolize their future home) and have me marry them. Any couple could marry as long as both wanted to. We had boy-girl, boy-boy and girl-girl combos. Instead of a kiss I asked the couple to lovingly hug as the final gesture. Couple after couple came up and the warmth in their unions and in their hugs was astounding. I found myself desiring that life always be just this sweet.

After nightfall on Thursday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-four days which is four weeks and six days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

Lady sculpture amidst the azalea bush on Biltmore Street.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

"In mindfulness one is not only restful and happy, but alert and awake. Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene  encounter with reality."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Walking home I spied a sculpture of a lady in front of a townhouse. She was standing amidst red-violet flowers of an azalea plant, holding up a large scarf above her head and seeming to almost float in place. Happy colors, happy pose I wonder how often we feel totally in synch with our surroundings? Staying present and being alert to moments of perfection isn't a job but a mission. Now it was me standing and I just let the colors wash over.

After nightfall on Wednesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-three days which is four weeks and five days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

The official Race for Hope time.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

"Don't do any task in order to get it over with. Resolve to do each job in a relaxed way, with all your attention. Enjoy and be one with your work."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Why is it that getting an official notice of one's time seems so special? I know what I did because I timed it and yet getting this is a confirmation, a validation. It isn't just the time but looking at how many came after so I can see that too. Last race I was one of the last three people but not this time. We can endure, we can do it but everyone needs to feel a pat on the back, a good job or thumbs up. Now the trick is to realize if I need it then probably everyone else I know does too. Note to self, I have to remember to do that.

After nightfall on Tuesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-two days which is four weeks and four days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

One of the deer I saw on my walk in Rock Creek

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

"Those who are without compassion cannot see what is seen with the eyes of compassion.."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

We came upon the first deer by accident. It was 7pm. We were walking my friend's dog. All of a sudden the dog went wild and I saw the deer. There were several of them eating their dinner. So beautiful with brown coats amidst the green leaves. Rex was barking and I felt badly he was stressing them out. My heart became full I noticed the deer had not fled. They seemed to realize Rex was on a leash. We watched each other as I came closer to take a photo and my friend walked the dog further away. During the next two hours we would come across several different deer families greeting each with silent love. 

After nightfall on Monday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-one days which is four weeks and three days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

After crossing the finish line in the Race for Hope 5K.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

"We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we'll also have a lot more joy in living."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

There is something wonderful about working hard over a period of time and then seeing that work produce visible results. Today I jogged/walked a 5K after a couple months of training and ended up doing it 5 minutes faster than the 5K I did in March. Sometimes thought we can't see so clearly. As a preschool teacher I don't always find out what the children learn or discover after being in my class. Sometimes we have to work hard and take it on faith our good work will produce good results. One student told me his Tae Kwan Do teacher teaches "Practice doesn't make perfect but it does make habit."

After nightfall on Sunday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty days which is four weeks and two days of the Omer.