The Journey Back

Shabbat

Posted on June 7, 2013

Today was filled with highs and lows.  I spent the morning drafting most of my talk for the infant loss event, which included the full story of losing our daughter.  Tomorrow is her birthday, so by the end of my writing time I was a bit tearful.

I enjoyed a little time with Ethan out on the dock.  We watched the swan, ducks and a loon-ish type bird.  We talked about the lake and enjoyed the warm sun.  It was a nice little time together that we rarely get.  He’s getting so grown up.  It was good to have that time with him after spending the morning thinking about Grace.  Babies born after a couple has suffered a loss are often called “rainbow babies” – the idea being that they are something beautiful after a storm.   Ethan is my rainbow.

In the afternoon I practiced a special dance for the Shabbat celebration with the Ukrainian girls, Anna and Lydia.  Then we had  craft time with the Israelis.  Some of the ladies had already changed into their dress clothes for Shabbat, so I decided to go get the bracelets I currently had and give some away.  This may have been a mistake.  If I may humbly say so, they love them.  So much so that I’m really not sure I will be able to make enough for everyone!  I’d really like to give one to some others as well (April, Lydia, Klara, Oksana, Tanya, the sweet ladies that work in the kitchen, the ladies that are working the infant loss event).  I don’t have enough stuff!  Anyone want to go to Hobby Lobby, buy supplies and the spend a fortune shipping them to me in Poland? No?   I’ll ask April if there is somewhere here that sells such things.  Anyway, the ladies have started giving me gifts in return – cookies, hand cream from the dead sea, a Jerusalem magnet, and a very nice pair of earrings from the lady I spoke with yesterday at the concentration camp.  They are too nice, really.  I tried not to accept them, but she was insistent and held me so close.

Ben spent the afternoon going to the computer store again and buying a couple new routers for the camp.  This allowed him to fix the 3rd floor WiFi and gave him the supplies to extend WiFi to the chapel area as well.  He said trying to change settings on an old Window’s XP machine that is entirely in Polish was a fun challenge!  

Finally, we enjoyed Shabbat – the Jewish celebration of the day of rest, or Sabbath.  It begins on Friday before sunset with a special dinner.  Then we had our evening session, which included Bible teaching, song and dance.  Anna and Ethan got a good taste of Jewish tradition tonight!

I’m pretty tired.  I think Shabat is exactly what I need.  So I’ll leave you with some pictures and a video clip!