Who says superfoods can't be amazing, and thoughts on amendment 1 passing in NC

Here was my breakfast:


Oh wait a second! I was so excited to eat it, that I just demolished it instead of snapping a pic. Well here is what it was in approximations (I don't measure I just eyeball) Superfoods in pink (a super color).

Cinnamon banana overnight oats:
1/4 cup of old fashion oatmeal
2 tsp chia seeds (necessary)
3 ounces of vanilla greek yogurt
1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk
1/2 a banana mushed in
heavy sprinkle of cinnamon
1 packet of stevia sweetener (I've heard this is a good food not sure if it's super)

Mix well and let sit overnight in your fridge. Stir in the morning and put in more milk if you want. I usually eat these cold but felt like a warm breakfast so I nuked it for a minute. It was so good. SO GOOD.

In other news, what do you all think about Amendment 1 passing in NC? My thoughts are that let's remove actual human rights for a second, and look at separation of church and state. Aren't we supposed to be protected from that? If marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman because g-d said so, shouldn't marriage only be under g-d? Are atheists then not allowed to get married? Are people not allowed to have interfaith marriages, or just go to the courthouse or a drive through wedding w/no mention of g-d? Why is a g-dless marriage okay between two straight people but not okay between two gay people? I think that the church should make up its own mind about if they want to allow gay marriage (I know many reform rabbis that do ceremonies for example, and many that will not). However, the government allows a separation of church and state for marriages so why should gay people not be entitled to that?

Okay, that's about as political as I go. I don't want arguments or debates. That's my opinion, you can send me yours, but hostility will not be tolerated.

Part 2 of back to blogging (what I've been up to/Jaren inspiration)

I stopped working. Long story I don't feel like bloggin about and Charlie has been BEYOND supportive. I finished officially this last week and the moment I was finished I just felt HAPPY. Relief. There are some great (career) things in store for me, and I can't wait.

This summer Charlie got chosen for SOS and we are going to Alabama for 2 months. I got accepted to a course about Israel in Atlanta (rabbi akselrad sponsored me) so I am basically paying $150 for a 3 credit grad course, plus they pay for me to have meals and be housed. Go avichai! I hope to spend time with my sister, with Charlie's sisters (and my new nephew!!), and with his parents. I can't wait to meet Pat (his stepmom). She and I talk several times a week and she said the sweetest thing "if you don't mind, Id like to just treat you like I treat my daughters". So touching. She also invited my mom to stay with us.

Mom had the calcium thing come back to her shoulder and has been in excruciating pain. She had a procedure done today and we're hoping it actually helps this time.

I helped Charlie with some van pool stuff this morning so I was at the park and ride with his car, so I went over to Jarens and finished the flowers to my wreath (finally) and then she drove me home and we had dinner with my parents. Been spending lots of time w/Jaren and Clara and been loving it. Feels like college girlfriends (plus a 2 year old). Here is them last night, we had been making fun of that tagline so I sent this image to Jaren today while she was getting new tires.

Clara LOVED my dad. I hope she can spend some time with him (it would be great for BOTH of them). I titled this Jaren Inspiration because her blog (it's private, sorry, two readers, one of which is Jaren), is the funniest thing ever. I seriously think she could be a comedy writer. She's just honest in a way that most people arent, but it's not the kind that is just for shock value. It's the perfect combination.

I spent two days babystting the Mountain boys.

Jessi and Jason are pcs-ing to Holloman and Jessi didn't want them around the movers. We had a playdate in the pool. Eden got some strange texts talking about naked children in the pool. Kieran was a great swimmer and Aidan had fun w/some of the pool toys. Clara came and kept calling it a bath. Every couple hours Aidan would say "Um, miss Avigail?" And I"d say "yes Aidan" and he'd say "um, I love you". And then my heart melted. Or maybe my uterus melted. Good thing Charlie was out of town in Boston or I may have not fit into my wedding dress.

See you all on a more regular basis. Hopefully. But probably not.

D'var Torah - Parshat Masei (mini Bible sermon of the week)

Tonight we had an education committee meeting at work. In the Jewish Community, before we get to business, many board meetings begin with a D'var Torah.

**For those who don't know** the Torah is the main source of text in Judaism - the first five books of the Bible. D'var Torah translates to "words of Torah" and is the sermon during weekly worship service, but can also refer to a very short, 1 or 2 minute "words of wisdom" where someone takes text from the weekly Torah portion (parsha) and relates it to something relevant in our life.)

The Parsha this week is Parshat Masei. I STRONGLY recommend everybody to go to http://www.g-dcast.com/, hopefully the link through youtube worked above! G-dcast has 5 minute cartoon depictions of every single Torah portion. If you are interested in learning about the first five books of the bible through a Jewish perspective, or want to share these with your kids (5th grade and higher), then please watch these weekly! They are amazing.

I have been starting every education committee with a D'var Torah. This meeting was no different. I didn't write anything down and just spoke, so I will try to make this sound as eloquently as possible.


So here goes!

This week's Parsha is Parshat Masei. In this portion, the tribes are distributed over the land of Israel, and given their land. However, the tribe of Levi (the Levites) are not given property of their own - they are distributed all over and told that they are the example for the rest of the tribes. They are scholars, G-d doesn't want them troubled with working the land.  So they are supposed to be the most important, but they aren't important enough to be given their own space? In a way, it's a great lesson for anybody in education, especially Jewish education. You can be a synagogue or church (or I guess a school if we continue the metaphor) without walls. But you can't be a synagogue (etc) without lifelong learning! Despite any other challenges we may have, our goal, and my personal goal as a Jewish Educator is to make sure that lifelong Jewish learning is desired by our adults, and modeled to our youth.


Okay, now go watch the G-dcast video!

currently reading...

I go through phases of lots of reading and then no time at all for reading, so while im in the reading phase, i'm trying to get in as much as possible.

I recently finished about 6 books (wow, nerd!). Among them, I really enjoyed The Glass Castle, The Red Tent (which i've read before), and Tara Road by Maeve Binchy.

I came home for Thanksgiving with two pairs of jeans, about 3 or 4 shirts (figured mom would take me shopping...?) and about 6 books. Balanced I know.

I finished Vinegar Hill on the plane - it's for this month of book club (join if you want!), and I liked it, but not a favorite. Good solid book though.

I also read the Alchemist which for some reason I think I would have appreciated more in its native language, even though I clearly don't speak it. The end was really good. It seems like a good book to read in a high school English class.

I started Song of Solomon today, and it's good so far. I am reading my sister's version from her high school class and it's funny seeing her highlighted rows and some notes she took. She is the smarter sister so maybe I can take in the book better w/her help.

I have about a million books on my list right now, and I'll keep you updated.

As for other things that are going on.

-Went to teach w/my mom today and watch some of the elementary school teachers so I could observe and learn - very fun. Helped my mom w/an activity in her classroom. The campus she teaches on is beautiful and I am envious that she gets a computer in her room, and one to keep at home (the new macbook and the new imac).

Cooking..what am I cooking lately? Well last night I baked the pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving.  We also made a salad w/a balsamic/wine/garlic sauce. Not my best dish but we were in a rush to go hear Alan Zweibell speak - he was one of the original writers on SNL and a very funny guy - very enjoyable.

The dogs are all together and it's my favorite thing to watch all three of them, even though Maya annoys me by following me everywhere. This morning I was eating breakfast (egg whites, red pepper and onion, some lean turkey, and lean cheese), and she was on the couch and was whining and whining because i wasn't paying attention to her. Eventually she put her paws on my back and was stepping on me (kind of felt like a massage) and licking my face. So cloying! (isn't that a good word? it's on my gre vocab list).

Okay I am off to take the dogs for a walk and then the gym.

Happy Monday!