Day of Atonement

Today is Yom Kippur. The holiest day of the Jewish year. You are supposed to fast from sundown last night until sundown tonight. I am not fasting this year, I feel the need to take advantage of my appetite on the days I feel like eating. And keep up my strength and good health to prepare for Thursday. I had plans to go to services this evening and leave the girls with my dear sis-in-law but Talia woke up not feeling well and I decided I should be home with her. I feel so much desire to be with my kids in a more intense way than ever before. It's taken me by surprise, but in a wonderful wonderful way.

According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a "book" on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year, which is always 10 days prior to Yom Kippur) and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God and against other human beings. (I am not this religious, I'm taking this from Wikipedia so it's all accurate). I am taking this opportunity to atone for my sins and seek forgiveness from all of my wonderful family and friends who I may have had fights or disagreements with, whose feelings I may have hurt or ignored or offended in any way. It is during times like this that make you really think about your relationships and you realize how important it is to treat people with respect and kindness all of the time. I continue to be blown away by the support and generosity of everyone I know (literally). From Katie, who I haven't seen since Talia was 5 months old and knit me a beautiful hat to keep my head warm to Teri in Florida who's daughter and I were friends when we were younger who has sent me cookies and a wonderful book on breast cancer for kids, and to Jen J. in SoCal who ran the Komen race in my honor, even though we haven't spoken or seen each other in 8 years. The list goes on and on, my intention is not to omit anyone, it's to point out how grateful I am that people that I barely know, or who I haven't talked with in years, are still supporting me and cheering me on.

To my friends and family and co-workers and acquaintenances, I love you all and appreciate everyone so very much. May you all be inscribed in the Book of Life and have a healthy and joyous new year (Jewish or not!)