Summer is coming

This is for SEP

The summer is quickly approaching. Are we ready to protect ourselves against the internal wars that are bound to jump within us?

I find that the summer is a time when the yetzar hara tries very hard to grab us. The weather is warm, or hot. Schools are closed. People are usually out and free, having a good time. I see it as a period where lust is increased and skin is flaunted, the protection of winter air leaves.

I don't want to leave my house. Not because it's hot and I'm wearing my long skirt and long sleeve shirt. But because of the sights that jump out at me in the street disturbs me and cause me great discomfort.

(I'm a girl and i can't imagine what affect the atmosphere has on guys. :-( )

So i feel like i must protect myself before the summer comes. I know that it's gonna come and that there are things that i can and must to do guard myself against the yetzar haras planned attack.

I think that it's necessary for me to do something extra. What ever small thing i decide to add will be done every day, and therefore stand as a constant reminder that it's the summer and i need to be extra careful. It doesn't have to be anything big. Something that makes a big enough difference in my day, just by doing it, to stand as a reminder.

That is what i hope to do to protect and guard myself against the summer. There are many enticing things that pop up. Like going down to one of the many beaches i have near my house or bike riding along the sea wall. I'm sure that everyone has their own tivout that spring up, as well, when more leisure time is added to their day. I hope that H' will help us to be matzliach in protecting ourselves and growing during this frightening time.

I miss music

I'm sitting here at the computer and i REALLY wanna tune in and listen to my music. BUT.... it's sefira and I CAN"T. I didn't even bring my ear buds with me cause they're attached to my mp3, which only have 'real' music on it so i don't cary it around with me.

I'm feeling the affects, of lack of, that music has. I just thought i'd remind everyone that it is a big influence in our behavior, throughts, and actions. That is why it's VERY important that people are careful with what they allow themselves to listen to. B'h, as least i have acapela when i get home.

I hope everyone's faring well. Good luck singing on qui!

Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

It's coming soon., Tuesday night.
It is known that Nissan is a zeman for geula because this is when we were taken out of mitzriam. Lets define that term geula, revelation:

1. Depending on ones situation, geula can be understood as the removal from a 'bad' situation to a 'good' situation. As in, one is physically taken out of a negative situation and 'redeemed'.
2. Geula can mean clarity or 'ciata d'shmia'- Divine assistance that enhances clarity of a situation or 'reveals' to a person how the person should react to the given situation.
3. Geula can be interpreted as the verb to overcome. When one has passed a test in life or overcome a challenge.

These are a few of the definitions that come to my mind when i think about geula and it's affect on my life. Regardless on your interpretation of the word, Nissan is a chance for us to grow and overcome a lot of the difficulties present in you life. We have just a bit longer until this immense Koach departs and we are greeted by the month of Yyar. Until then we should try to use this zeman to improve our service to HaShem.

I wish us hatzlach in the refinary of our tefila and personal midout during this time and the continuous future. May our teffilot be answered to allow us to be zochei geula!

Sefirat Homer

Hello. I hope that everyone is doing well and who ever is taking exams or midterms does well and remembers all the necessary information during the examination. I'd like to talk about sefirat haomer.
It was just last week when we finished pessach and continued counting the sefira. To me, it seems as though there was higher spiritual potential during pessach then there is now. Unlike most, i felt down after pessach as a result of this shift. I know I'm wrong in this prospective and I'll explain myself below.
We are told that during pessach haShem gives us the ability to leap madregot/spiritual levels/ regardless of our previous position on the ladder. Just as He "skipped" over us in mitzraim and only killed the first born mitzrim, so too does He NOW gives us the ability to jump, once again, while He holds our hand.
But there's a catch in the system. Because it's compulsory that we have stable footing that is strong enough to maintain our position on the ladder, we must go back during sefira and fill the gap we just jumped over. We need to make sure that everything up to level x was accomplished and we are now strong enough to remain on level x and keep moving upward.
For example: One didn't have the will power to start keeping shabbat and during pessach he resolved to start and it is because haShem is holding him up that he is able to maintain that level of observance, even though he's not spiritually ready. Once pessach ends haShem SLOWLY puts the person down and he or she is supposed to work on attaining the level that was jumped to during pessach.
I hope I'm making myself clear. There's another positive result of this ''jumping session. If i see that i have done something once, then i believe that i can accomplish it again. So, if I've already kept shabbat a few times during pessach (this is just an example) then I'll have confidence that i can keep it again in the future. HaShem is giving us this confidence to reach new levels by showing us that WE HAVE and CAN continue to maintain that level of kadusha.
It is our responsibility to work on ourselves and take this opportunity that haShem is giving us leap and bound forward. HaShem has carefully mapped out this time period of sefira, showing us what can be worked on when and how much can be accomplish but putting one foot in front of the other. Baby steps is all it takes.
OK, be well and i hope you enjoyed and that i was clear enough in my explanation. If there are any questions or comments PLEASE post and i will respond or try to clarify my words. Good luck.

Fasten Your Seatbelt and WAIT

I regretably admit that until Monday i was will be COMOPLETELY unavailible. Until 1pm on that day i will be studying and taking exams. After that time i plan to write a very nice post ( or a few posts) about freedom or the omer, or anything. I hope that you can wait until then cuase i GOT GO STUDY. Wish me luck. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

http://www.everythingcarz.com/images/Mustang_Orange_Flame_Seatbelt_Belt.jpg

But don't just sit in the rain either. (Though i'd love to since i love rain.) "the sun will come out...." just not tomorrow.

http://www.area-56.de/chapter56/uploaded_images/sp_0368_waiting_for_the_sun-761881.jpg

I love this pic, it makes me want to splash in puddles. Though I don't know why he's so upset. I LOVE the rain. That's why i came back to Vancouver ;-)

Ok I"M ramboling. Be well everyone and hold on tight! Cause when I'll start posting again there might be a flood.

(Very ambiguous statment there :P)

Freedom

http://www.desktop-meditation.com/images/meditate-on-freedom.jpg

Freedom. The word means many different things to many different people. But for us, during pessach, the definition narrows down. I think of two main definitions during pessach.

1. A time where we should unlatch our previuos sins from our present actions. When we should no longer do what has become a bad habit. We have the ability to disassociate ourselves with our past middeeds and concentraite ONLY on the good.
2. Freedom from the goyim. It is a time when HaShem WANTS us to be separate from the goyim and HIS nation. We are ment to act and think as HE wants us to . Not in accordance with the goyims perspectives and ideals.
3. ( I know is said two but here's a thrid) The ablity to JUMP. Sefirat haomer has started and we're able to jump as high as we want antil pessach ends and then work our way up there, step by step, during the rest of sefira.

Maybe i should write a newpaper called:

http://www.anarkismo.net/attachments/aug2006/freedom.gif

ops, someone has already ;-)

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/27486/2/istockphoto_27486_freedom.jpg

We aren't stuck and locked behind our habits. We have the ability to change and be who we're supposed to be. Every situation that we find ourselves in allows us to work on this and come out closer to our goal.

Especially during pessach and sefira, we're given the gift of BECOMING the reflection we see in the distant past. The person we HOPE to be in the FUTURE. We can become that person today, now. We have the ablility to try on those positive behaviors that didn't fit last year. We can start shedding our ragged clothing for royal garments that belong to the princesses we truely are.

It is not only a time for anti chametz inthe physical sence:

http://www.weirdnewstoday.com/uploaded_images/fruitcake-freedom-725886.jpg

Or and opertunity to lose or gain weight. We are supposed to reflect the physical to the spiritual and internalize the process as food for our neshama.

I know I haven't been very clear, since these ideas are very broad and abstract in my mind. I appologize and ask that and quiestions be made in the comment box. Thanks. I hope you were able to read inbetween my words and understand what i'm really trying to say.

Pessach cleaning

This is for Lea:

So pessach is just arond the corner. I don't know what everyone's personal scheduel is, but I know that mine is very busy. My last week of school is next week and i'm only showing up for two days of that week. As well, I have quizes schedualed for everyday of that week, i'm missing a few, and all my assignments are either due this week or next week. As a result, I have been getting less sleep and having very LITTLE time to clean.

Two weeks ago I cleaned my room as an atempt to get a 'head start.' I actually enjoyed the process becuase I was able to think about things while I was cleaning. Instead of going from one assignment to the next, or studying for one subject and then continuing to the next, I actually had the time, a whole hour, to stop and think about my life and what has been occuring over the previous months.

It was then that i realized how much I enjoyed cleaning. Not becuase I was able to get on my hands and knees and sweep, wash, and organize my room. But because I was able to think, for that short hour, about things. Unfortunately I have not been able to clean since then. Besides for the table I clear and wash at work, I have not cleaned anything else in my house, thank you family for doing it.

I now find myself WANTING to be able to clean and have the time to do so. Strangely enough, this have never happened to be before.

With this feeling came an insight. Maybe the reason we are told to clean before pessach is inorder for us to take the time to STOP our daily busy ruitens and think. A lot of physical energy goes into cleaning but your brain isn't under any strain. During this time we are given the oppertunity to think about our life and how we might want to change some things that happening. Maybe we want to be come more productive or less agressive, or maybe we want to appreciate people more? There are a lot of things we all need to work on, but we can only work on one thing at a time. Are we making progress in our growth as human being?

I could really go on about this forever, talking to myself as i type. I hope you get the message and start to appreciate this time that HaShem has given us to STOP AND THINK>

I wish you all a chag kasher v'samayach. Be well!

Good luck cleaning ;-)

Having fun spending money

So i have a phone that takes pictures, and i just realized how i can upload them, then i found out that it costs 50 cents a picture, how crazzy. But the deed is done so i thought i'd show you what i look like now, after 8 months of not seeing me. Here i was erev shabbat having fun!
Honestly though, i like this one the best, i even made it my facebook!
Trust in HaShem, only. Yup yup, cause even when you have a ton of hw to do and cleaning He'll help you get it all done before pessach!

Be well everyone, hope you enjoyed!

Almost Done

WoW, i just gave me inclass presentation today. It wasn't perfect but i think it went pretty weel! Now that i have that done i feel just a LITTLE better. Since i'm on the 'road to success', i hope, i decided to include this comic:
So that's it for now. I'm on my way to accomplish as much as i can in the next 3 hours. Wish me luck! I'm so excited to pessach cuase then i'll me reports and essays will be handed in!

Good luck everyone!
(I should probably start citing these pictures...)

NEED SLEEP

I am very tired. So I decided to post these pictures of animals who are also, seemingly, very tire. I hope you enjoy and go and get some sleep. Be well!





This is my favorite, probably cause I like cats a lot.

HEHEHEHE

Me on purim!

I AM NOT MARRIED! THIS IS A PICTURE OF ME ON PURIM. I DRESSED UP LIKE A MARRIED LADY.

I am with my co-worker Veronica.

optical illusion 2

Optical Illusions

I decided to internalize something that i've been learning in psyc. Below i've explains some of the reasons you preciev them the way you do. The main point of my expination is to remind us that we NEVER know the full story of any situation, even ones that envolve us. Just like we've learned recignition cues to understand what certain objects are we've created 'made up' situations where if we SEE someone doing something we automatically know that it's becuase of A.) B.) and C.) But we really have no IDEA why they're doing what they're doing.
So, since pessach is coming up in about three weeks i thought i'd remind us that we never know the full details of a situation and that we should pay more attention to OURSELVES and less to others. It's a zeman teffila and teshuvah! Remove the chametz that's clogging your pores.

In psyc we were learning about preception and the certain 'clues' we learn in order to distinguish what objects are. For example, since we live in a very linear world we've learned that when two lines are running parellel to eachother they appear to be going close together as they get farther away

Another thing we learn is called 'figure gournd.' When looking at something when we either expect something or need to used bottom up identification, we decide that one thing is 'forward' while the other is 'background.' This way we're able to see more then one thing, though only one at a time. If you look at the first picture you can either decide the the black is background, in which you see a face, or that the white is background, where you see a man smoking. But you can't see them both at the same time.

Back 2 Reality: Happy Birthday to Me!

http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ECardDisplayView

Happy Birthday to Me!

http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ECardDisplayView

Since there's no WAY i'm gonna be able to call everyone and give them a bracha i decided to put one on my blog. It is my hebrew B Day today and i'm offically ending my 20th year of life ( ie: I't my 20th birthday.)
I want to wish everyone a few things.

1. Clarity to know what HaShem wants from you in every situation
2. Complete understanding that He's listening to your teffillout and answering you.
3. Siata D'shmia to know what you need and see that you're being given
4. Patience towards all those you have trouble being patient with
5. Understanding that everyone is 'just like you' in the sence that you never really know what they're going through and why they act in certain ways. This should help you to judge them favorably.
6. Lastely, knowledge that i really wanted to call you but my B day is an erev shabbat and i have a LOT do clean and bake before it arrives. I miss you and hope you have a GREAT shabbat!
   

Please have patience

Hello everyone.

I am entering the last month of school for this semester. Therefore, I will be very busy for the next month since I have a lot of projects, reports, and essays due. Please forgive me but I won't be able to post so regularly.

I'll try to post once a week and see how that goes. Even more so, pessach is coming and I need to shop and clean.

Thank you for your patience. Please stay and comment though,I love comments. Thanks for you support and I empathise with everyone who is in school and knows what I'm talking about.

Be well.

Purim is just around the weekend!

I hope everyone is excited for Purim and is able to use the potential of the day properly when it comes. I won't be able to call all of you on purim, but please know that i would love to. These are some dolls dressed up in costumes just to get you in the 'mood.'

This is a frog,

i tried very hard to make sure they were all as tzanuah as possible!This is a sweet little bee!
here is a cat.
And this girl doesn't feeel like matching so she dressed up in all the colours she could find.
have a great shabbat and pruim!

P.S i don't want anyone to think that i incorrage girls our age to dress up on purim to the extent shown in these pictures. Please don't take it that way ;-)

Remember

Remember last year when we would all go to nishmat on Thursday night. It's a ziman teffilah that we would all look forward to . And then on the shelosh regalim we trekked all the way to the kotel for bircat cohanim! The energy in the air could make anyone cry. To see so many yidim congregating during the chagim to say teffila to HK'BH!
Well today is taanit Ester. A ziman for teffila and teshuva. B"H we're fasting and trying to wake ourselves up and remind ourselves Who is the focus in our lives. We're very fortunate to be where we are and accomplishing what we are. HK'BH has given us a lot and yet we NEED to do teshuva. How was yearn and cry for mashiach, geula, and yeshua. We can be zoche all of these things if was readjust our focus or straiten out once again.

It's hard to know if we're on the right path or making the right decisions. It's important that we're in contact with daas Torah when making important decisions in our lives. Let's try to reconnect to some of those people, mentors, that we thought we'd never let go of.

It's never too late to give a call to a forgotten almuna. It's never too late to call up an old teacher or mentor and just ask for chizuck.

We're doing great and I'm very proud of what what we've accomplished and achieved since we've left Israel. We can continue to bring kedusha into chutz la'aretz by being the best Jew we can in the situation we're given.

Kol hakavod to everyone! Tizku la mitzvout! I hope that EVERYONE has meaningful fast and that, by the end of adar, we are zochei to see mashiach with the coming for nissan.

Kol tov.

Snow White Random I know but oh well!

Princess Sarah Rut

Since we're all supposed to act like the princesses we are, I decided to make a doll representing what I would look like if I could walk around physically diplaying the princess I am inside. More simply, what I'd look like if I were a princess, though I know I am cuase i'm a bas Yisroel. Anyway, so this is what i came up with. I hope you like. Have a great day everyone!

- Sarah Rutti