Thank You Hashem for returning my soul to me!

After eating those pecan nuts, I went to bed having sweet dreams of my next day -- thinking about -- oh w0w- I can't imagine how my next day's מודה אני שהחזרת בי נשמתי - will be.. and my strong desire to say it -- so passionately -- Thank You Hashem for returning to me my soul.

It's been almost 4 months with no skating trips. It's been lots of inward journies and maybe too much. But Today, it's changing - Tu B'Shvat is coming up a new year for the trees.. for tree huggers.. and for people who want to bloom..

I'm headed to Jerusalem and from there to the sea of life.. While putting on my skates I sing to myself a song about "and you forgot what it is to live .. Hashem please remind me what life is" - of joy and happiness - and love -- where everything and everyone is so so beautiful -- glowing -- alive!

I had an excellent skating trip -- it felt great to be back.. The road, though, was quite rough.. (and wish it was repaired). I was going to head to my favorite hot springs but met someone who told me that they're gone - they have been covered in earth with the recent flash floods. But --there was a new one - another hot spring - I think I have never been to that one - I was so lucky to get a ride directly to it - this magical place.. a hot spring right off the ocean..
It was the best! No one was there.. just surrounded by desert mountains, cliffs, beautiful sky and the ocean..

The ocean was like I've never seen before -- so so stormy with crashing waves.. Wow!
It was just what I needed. I bathed in the hot springs, splashed in the ocean and went in for a quick dip in the cold waters of the ocean, got muddy, warmed up again relaxing my body and bones in the hot springs, washed up with the cool water of my water bottle, put on my clothes.. The winds were blowing and I sat there taking in all this and felt really good. I davened Mincha- wow! I was so thankful to Hashem!! and then walked along the shore while watching sunset. It was marvelous!

As it was getting dark, I headed to the road and then soon later got a ride to Jerusalem for a refreshing rejuvenating experience in a bit different environment - in the world of the mind and feelings -- Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz Musical meditations on Tu B'shvat and the sefirah of Binah! The meditations reflected my day's experiences and brought them even higher.

לב טהור ברא לי אלוקים ורוח נכון חדש בקרבי
cherry tree roots, trunk, water rain blossoms kids delighting with sweet cherries..
binah.. attracting the collection of treasures חכמה , becoming a vessel to develop and nuture..

May we all continue blossoming!
Happy New Year!

the hidden pecan treasure

Thank You Hashem!!
w0w- that started the good cycle-- even though the pecans have being there for some years stashed away--they still had all the sweetness and holiness.. You have refreshed me and gave me the energy to go... Thank You Hashem for Your fruits and for sending these "adventureland eggs" in my adventure world of life..

ותוכל

Wow! This has been an amazing Shabbos B"H!! Endless great songs!
לכה דודי .. יום זה לישראל.. and so much more - non stop. Thank you Hashem for all musical gifts!

(The food winner was--The abundant berry chocolate smoothie-- it was divine! Second place was the לחם חמודות savory breadsticks and third the Indian masala chulent. For presentation: the award is for the zig zag cucumbers and colorful pepper tulips..)

(Three hours into Motzash for some) -- It was still really hard to let go of Shabbos.. I felt a bit down.. I made Havdallah, lit candles for מלוה מלכה and started singing again.. until 3:09 am.. that did it! and then got a beautiful ותוכל musical confirmation..
inspired from the messages of מלכה של תורה - which I read ealier today, always finishing off with amazing humbleness, gratitude and hope: thanking Hashem for being with him and a prayer that Hashem continues to be with him.
אברך ה' שהיה לי לאורה ועזרני בביאור פרשת וארא כן יגמלני בטובו לבאר פרשת בא
and then the answer is right there - Hashem says don't worry -- just come with me בא
also remarkable פרי צדיק on שבת פרשת וארא ראש חודש שבט
so with these inspirations, while singing זמירות, Hashem with his great kindness reassured me with a musical interpretation of ותוכל

(some of the underlying messages)
כי שרית עם אלוהים ותוכל אל תירא עבדי יעקב
just come with me בא אל פרעה don't stop yourself short, don't be afraid to face it! just come with me - ותוכל - you'll make it!

(this is amazingly timely as I need to leave home, and go to NY but can't bring myself to buy a ticket yet. I hope this will be a catalyst for great miracles and wonders)