Today, I am relieved, ecstatic, joyful, delighted, and kvelling to learn that all 12 boys and their soccer coach are rescued, safe and sound. The collective global sigh of relief is holding me up and getting me through the rough parts of our world. There really are heroes in the world. We need to celebrate them!
Big was dancing…And oh, how they played…Oh, how they play…
Hold your kinderlach (children) closer today, and every day.
Yiddish Proverb:
Troubles overcome are good to tell. Ibergekumene tsores iz gut tsu derseylin.
These past couple of weeks have left me verklempt (overcome with emotion). We’ve gone from tsuris (troubles)to nachas (joy) and back and forth a few times over. But hey, all is good. No kvetching (complaining) here… still quite grateful just to be… In my glass-half full world, the temples are gray, yet the mind is still childish (es iz groi di pai’eh un narish di dai’eh). Now look, sit! Enjoy some shots.
Ice crystals on the car window, early morning… sometimes, cold is beautiful. Who knew?New Years Day T-Bone… not in the plans. And in one second, the car becomes bubkas (worthless, nothing, zero)My left foot… this boot is made for walking? Oy! I needed this like I need a lochen kup (whole in my head)!Okay, we can do this! And my bubbaleh’s (little one’s) , they are better than fine ❤Blech! We had to have one more vermin sighting, right before we left… I was going to put a little chalk outline around him for management, but then I threw up (brechen) a little in my throat before I could do it…Me and my Mrs., and that smile of hers. Gets me every time! Now that’s a “we have a new home” smile! Shana punim (beautiful face)!My first cuppa in our new home… Mornin’ joeGatsby is the ruler of his domain, and after a squirrel, or a bird, or a piece of sky???
So friends, for today and this week, may you all be a mensch (decent and honorable person) and may you only run into mensches.
the sciencebranch of knowledgeprojection of feartsuris (troubles) concerned with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services buying the stuff you need today, tomorrow and the next day for your family.
verb
Meshuggah (crazy) behaviors or actions, that oftentimes arise with heart palpitationscreatively as the direct result of the scarcity of means, in order to achieve certain common and normal ends. Huh? ex.: We need to brush our teeth, we still, really!!!have no toothpaste… Achh!
BTW, my Mrs., she is a BeautyCounter consultant. Click here to see how you can get safer personal and beauty products to help keep you and our world healthier.
Take a look at this photo. I walked into our bathroom the other day, and this is what I saw, no joke! From our loo to your eyes. I ran for my magical iPhone to snap this baby. And with this, comes a tale. After all, you that is why you are here …
Did you know, that when you run out of toothpaste, you can actually cut the tube in two or three parts, and have enough toothpaste to last a normal family of four at least five more days? Did you also know that when the deodorant thingy-mah-jiggy-holder falls from its container and bounces on the bathroom floor a few times and lands in the corner, a linty, hairy mess, you can remain odor free for about two weeks more, if you pick it up, wipe away the yuck, and rub it under your arms? Two weeks! And, that pump in the shampoo bottle… when that stops pouring out perfect spurts of soapy suds-making, you can lengthen and lusciously lather for days, maybe even a week if you take it off? The little straw itself holds two days worth of ‘do-cleaner! Then, the bottom of the bottle, don’t get me started! It’s robbery! In Yiddish, we call this, aroizgevarfeneh (pronounced ah-royz-geh-varf-ehn-uh). It literally means thrown out, wasted.
Extrapolate this scenario out across your personal purchases: think about the sunscreen, moisturizer, conditioner, make-up (like I would know, Nu?) caulk, paint, glue, … wait, don’t. It’s too upsetting to think of the money we’ve all put in the landfill left at the table. Look at this little Yiddisheh gem:
It is not so good with money, as it is bad without. Es iz nit azoi gut mit gelt es iz schlect on dem.
Living in the frugal lane, we’ve learned some very good money-saving tips and ideas. We’ve all worked to change our anti-penny-pinching ways many years ago. It’s all good. And we’ve argued and cried learned and grown. Vey iz mir (OMG!), it is madness if any of you let the above actions go unnoticed! Think conservation! Teaching the kinder (children) about resources and savings, everyday environmentalism and, well spartanomics!
Big and Little, my kinder…
My glass is always half-full. Now, I think it may be even more full than I ever imagined! What I do know:
To make promises and to love don’t cost any money. Tsuzogn un lib hoben kostn kain gelt nisht.
So try these tips. See if you save. If you have tips for us, please! Do tell! My Mrs. and me, we are trying desperately to save our money for a home. Alevai! (It should only happen!) These small humans we are raising, Little and Big, they cost a fortune! And, yes, these shanah maidels (sweet little girls), they are indeed priceless.
It’s been an ‘all hands on deck‘ kind of week. School is in full swing, dance lessons are back, and as they say in this Yiddish Proverb:
If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. Aoyb ir alts darfn a helping hant ir vet gefinen eyner in di suf fun deyn orem.
Take a look at my kinder (Sweet kids) and their hantalehs (hands) at work play!
They were so fascinated by the typewriters! They didn’t want to leave! Azoi!
Shana Tovah to all who celebrate! May it be a sweet and happy new year ahead for us all.
Birthplace: EARTH, Race: HUMAN, Politics: FREEDOM, Religion: LOVE
Some things will forever and always smell, taste, hint to the glimpses of summer. Freshly cut grass. Watermelon. The sun on your back. Swings. A skinned knee. The hint of chlorine. Mosquitoes. Bikes. Dirt. Ice Cream. And laughter. There must always be laughter.
Let’s all hope this summer is a good one, a safe one, and a healthy one for us all, filled with more laughter. ❤
Life is like a child’s undershirt–short and soiled. Dos leben iz vi kinderhemdel–kurts un bash.
So much darkness lately. In the news, in the world, in our lives. I try so very hard to keep my glass half-full. Some days, they are easier than others. Today is one of those days. I approached a gloomy, wet commute this morning, and I tried hard to find some lightness. An old Jewish proverb says:
A little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness. A kleyn bisl fun likht pushiz avek a platz fun finsternish.
Let me share some of my light with you, in case you need it too.
Gold glitters, even in the mud. Gold sheint fun bloteh.
Constant joy is a great mitzvah (a good deed). Keseyderdik freyd iz a groys mitzvah.
It’s abundantly clear to me, that the very best parts of this life are unplanned little moments spent with those you love. Make sure you are present so you can catch them.
My Bashert (my heart)What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul! And this family can laugh!The love of eating goes deep, shows early, and can’t be taught. Hymie’s whitefish salad! TDF…Frayndshaft (friendship), nothing like it!Shep naches (get such pleasure from) these faces…
What a wonderful couple of weeks we have had, this holiday season. We are so rich with love! ❤
Ver gefinen a getray fraynd, finds a austr. Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure.
Wanna ride on the friend train?Arts, crafts, friends…a good day indeedMovie night at the Manor. Now playing, ELF!No mom, I don’t think we should read the news anymore. You get too upset…Yes! These new dresses for the shvesters (sisters) have excellent twirlability!Wasp’s up? There’s no place like home…
Well, who knows why, but Wordless Wednesday passed me right by. Oy vey… Knowing me, I’m gonna share with you anyway. Enjoy our trip to Valley Forge Park with my Explorer Kinder (kids) and Nona.
Az me gait gleich, fait men nit. If you walk straight, you will not stumble.
Maybe, the world, it looks better this way?“To all the little girls watching…never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world.” —Hillary ClintonWhen they go low, we go high!My shvester and bruder-in-law, and a nice cabbage saladMy mishpocheh, and a nice pizza!“This loss hurts. But please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.” —HillaryWhat do you mean she didn’t win?Bei mir bist du sheyn. (To me, you are beautiful.)Always, teach the children well.Stop, look, listenA nice walk in the woods
Linus: “Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He’s gotta pick this one. He’s got to. I don’t see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there’s not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.”
The Great Gatsby ‘Tail-o-meter’ at workWe picked ’em MomsI think we’ve been here beforePotter. Harry Potter.Is it Hedwig?Even work is play with Little and Big!
I can get them, I know I can (floaty bugs in the water)Split by a rainbowRoar!Mommy, I have to pee!There is something not right here…They cannot get me, they cannot see meLittle and Big’s worldWe found her, Amelia Earhart, she’s here
Oib di velt vet verren oisgelaizt, iz es nor in zechus fun kinder. If the world will ever be redeemed, it will be only through the merit of children.
It’s a Marvelous night for a moon danceOops. She found me…So this is where they live?Flying in a blur…They deserve so many freedoms — family equality among themYou gotta have heart!This tree missed me and Gatsby by 6 inches, literally! Good luck! Bring it on.
In a guter sho tsu reden; in a baizer sho tsu shveigen. In a lucky time it’s good to talk; in an unlucky time, it’s better to be silent.
Oy, A gezunt dir in kepele! Are you ever a clever child!
If we keep eating the jelly beans in the back, Mommy and Ema will never noticeLearning some new dance moves from our new friends, Fara and MercedesSo long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodnight… Thank You O’Malley’s! ❤I don’t want to smile. I want to be grumpy and I will be grumpy all dayCharlotte’s house must have flooded Mommy…Mommy, look at me…
Dedicated to beloved children’s’ book writer, Anna Dewdney. Read a book to your kids today.ShvestersLook papa!Oh, Papa can do this!Playing at Nutcracker tryouts