tales from a far-land

Growing up, I was raised as a non-denominational Christian.   This provided me a strong moral compass to live my life and many family traditions to pass down.   My parents elected not to baptize me as they wanted their children to choose their own religious paths.   For that, I am grateful.   I spent my childhood and young adulthood dabbling in different sects of Christianity to find the religious connection I seeked.   Nothing quite fit.   Then, I met my Jewish husband twelve years ago and my Jewish journey began.   Although Josh wasn’t raised Jewish, he connected to it culturally and biologically.   While we dated and during our first couple years of marriage, I decided to start self-educating myself on Judaism.   It was the first religion that I felt a true connection.   I love the traditions, the culture, the history, the foreign language, the food and the people.   In fact, in 2009, I was so excited to surprise Josh by cook...

On August 28th, 2019, at a memorial attended by family and friends, we said goodbye to an amazing man whom my family fondly named GP. Stan lived an amazing ninety-one years! His life was full of love twice over, laughter and fun. He was one of the lucky ones to have retired from his professional career at the age of fifty-five.  This allowed him to fully enjoy retirement.  He enjoyed golfing, games like Sudoku and chess, and a good meal out with family or friends.  He was never afraid to wear pink and would often wear his black socks up to his knees.  His smile could light up the room and he witty comebacks still continue to make me chuckle. He adored my kids and loved watching the them grow. Their fondest memories of him will be eating waffles with GP for breakfast, trips to the 99 Cents Store and riding around the block in his golf cart. He was so proud of their acc omplishments - big or small. And he only wanted the best for them and encouraged them to fulfill a...

As I reflect back on our summer, it was full of so many fun times (and one so not fun time).  We were blessed to spend time with our friends playing cards and swimming.  We celebrated birthdays.  We enjoyed sleepovers with friends.  We all loved spending time with our cousins and grandparents.  The kids had a wonderful camping adventure with Josh and the dogs.  And I was able to spend an evening catching up with my Palmer sisters.  The only unfortunate thing that happened this summer was that I got into a car accident on my way to the airport for a business trip.  Thankfully, I was safe and luckily still made my flight. I know I say this every summer, but it passed by so quickly.  But we can honestly say that we enjoyed every moment of it. Enjoying Neighborhood Games with the Raetz Family Sleepover at the Woods House Friend's Birthday Party An Evening with my Palmer Sisters Playing Pinochle in the Pool ...

Aiden had a Pokemon themed birthday party this year.  All he wanted to do at the party was trade Pokemon cards and watch the newest Pokemon movie, Detective Pikachu.   Thus, that is what we did.  Being that his birthday is in August, we also told all of the attendees to throw in their swim suits, just in case.  For the first hour of the party, Aiden and his friends traded and discussed their Pokemon cards.  It was rather funny.  It was like their own version of the New York Stock Exchange.  They would go from person to person, huddle to huddle, negotiating for the card they really wanted.  I was so shocked that the bartering went on as long as it did.  After an hour or so, the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to Aiden and enjoyed some brownies or cheesecake.  Yes, that is correct, cheesecake.  Aiden wanted cheesecake for his birthday cake.  Too funny! After the brownies and cake, the movie was started and some of the kids enjoy...