We celebrated Nissim's 3rd birthday this past Erev Shabbos- this year it fell out exactly the way it was the year he was born, with his birthday on Thursday night. It was a very emotional weekend for me, especially since the timing was the same - I relived the whole chain of events, from the time he was born, to his surgery (which was on Shabbos). Numerous times over Shabbos, I said to Bentzi and the kids- do you know what was happening at exactly this time three years ago? B"H it was so nice to be able to look at this adorable boy, full of energy and good spirit, and to realize how far we've come since that fateful Thursday night three years ago.
I put together a little slideshow, with pictures and videos that most of you have seen already right here on this blog- but when you see them all at once, and you witness how Nissim has B"H grown and developed so much during these three amazing years- it really makes an impact. Its so easy to forget how sick Nissim was when he was born, how swollen his face used to be, how hard he had to work to be able to walk and run and be the joyful, energetic boy that he is today.
I cried my eyes out as I prepared this slideshow- tears of thanks to the רבונו של עולם that B"H we've made it to this point, and tears of תפילה that we should continue to see Nissim grow and progress, and that Hashem should continue to watch over him and give him- and us- the strength and סיעתא דשמיא that He's given us until now!
Showing posts with label upsherin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label upsherin. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Nissim's Upsherin
(Sorry for the delay in posting...)
When Nissim was still sick in the hospital, I remember Bentzi saying to me, "BE"H this little boy is going to get better, and IY"H when he's three years old, we're going to take him to Rabi Shimon to cut his hair". It gave us chizzuk at the time, to hold onto a hope that the difficult time we were going through would pass. Its amazing to realize that almost three years have gone by since then, and B"H we were zoche to see that dream become a reality this past Lag B'Omer.
Since Lag B'Omer this year fell out on Motzai Shabbos, we decided to take the entire family to Tzfas for Shabbos, so that we'd be closer to Meron once the Lag B'Omer festivites began. We kept our plans a secret from the kids until we woke them up that morning and told them "Quick- get dressed nicely- we're going to Meron!" Aunt Dinah, who had just arrived from the US earlier in the week, met up with us in Beitar to join us for the trip- we figured it would be nice to have another adult with us to help out with the kids (little did we know how crucial her help would be!) We had a nice (LONG) drive up, with some stops along the way, finally arriving at the apartment we'd rented in Tzfas early Friday afternoon. After eating a quick lunch, we got ready for Shabbos, while the kids explored the apartment and its surroundings.
Shabbos was beautiful- we really enjoyed the change of scenery and the beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. Nissim fell off a chair at one point and cut his chin (never a dull moment, even in Tzfas!) but B"H the bleeding wasn't too terrible and it stopped right away, and B"H we saw that he was okay. Late Shabbos afternoon, once it had cooled off, we went for a huge walk up to the old city of Tzfas, where we got to do a bit of sight-seeing, and were able to enjoy the magnificent views from one of the most highest points in Tzfas.
Motzai Shabbos saw Bentzi and I heading out to Meron much later than expected (I ended up taking Nissim to the ER to get his chin stitched up) and by the time we headed out (thanks to Aunt Dinah for offering to babysit!) the road leading to Meron was completely backed up. We finally parked the car on the side of the road and walked the rest of the way. What should have taken us 10 minutes to get there, took over two hours- but it was well worth it, as I was able to get all the way into the "Ma'ara" (building over Rabi Shimon's kever) to daven.
The next morning, after packing up our stuff, we headed out to Meron with the entire family, to cut Nissim's hair. We got out much later than expected, which worked to our benefit- little did we know that the roads were completely backed up all morning- but by the time we headed out at 1 PM, traffic had settled down and we made it to Meron in a matter of minutes. With each adult holding onto two children and one pushing the stroller, we battled the crowds in Meron until we found a nice shady spot overlooking Rabi Shimon's kever, where we cut Nissim's hair.
Poor Nissim wasn't very excited about his haircut- I'm not sure if he was tired because of the previous day's events, or if he was sad to see his "kookoo" go- but he cried as we cut his hair. It was very emotional, watching my baby transform into a little boy, thinking of everything we've been through with him. To be in such a holy place, on such an auspicious day- it was really beautiful.
As we were leaving Meron, we spotted a cousin of ours- Bentzi's cousin Priva from Bnei Brak, who had hosted me after Nissim was born, while he was in Tel HaShomer after surgery. It was so special that out of the hundreds of thousands of people who came to Meron, we saw her- it felt that we had come full circle- she had been with us in the very begining of Nissim's illness, and now she was able to join in our Simcha of his Upsherin.
We headed back to the cars, ate a quick lunch, and began our long drive home. We made a stop along the way to daven Mincha at the kever of Rabi Meir Ba'al HaNes- a meaningful way to end a beautifully uplifting weekend.
Just as we were zoche to bring Nissim to Meron for his Upsherin, so too, Hashem should help us see the realization of all our hopes and dreams for this precious little boy!
When Nissim was still sick in the hospital, I remember Bentzi saying to me, "BE"H this little boy is going to get better, and IY"H when he's three years old, we're going to take him to Rabi Shimon to cut his hair". It gave us chizzuk at the time, to hold onto a hope that the difficult time we were going through would pass. Its amazing to realize that almost three years have gone by since then, and B"H we were zoche to see that dream become a reality this past Lag B'Omer.
Since Lag B'Omer this year fell out on Motzai Shabbos, we decided to take the entire family to Tzfas for Shabbos, so that we'd be closer to Meron once the Lag B'Omer festivites began. We kept our plans a secret from the kids until we woke them up that morning and told them "Quick- get dressed nicely- we're going to Meron!" Aunt Dinah, who had just arrived from the US earlier in the week, met up with us in Beitar to join us for the trip- we figured it would be nice to have another adult with us to help out with the kids (little did we know how crucial her help would be!) We had a nice (LONG) drive up, with some stops along the way, finally arriving at the apartment we'd rented in Tzfas early Friday afternoon. After eating a quick lunch, we got ready for Shabbos, while the kids explored the apartment and its surroundings.
Shabbos was beautiful- we really enjoyed the change of scenery and the beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. Nissim fell off a chair at one point and cut his chin (never a dull moment, even in Tzfas!) but B"H the bleeding wasn't too terrible and it stopped right away, and B"H we saw that he was okay. Late Shabbos afternoon, once it had cooled off, we went for a huge walk up to the old city of Tzfas, where we got to do a bit of sight-seeing, and were able to enjoy the magnificent views from one of the most highest points in Tzfas.
Motzai Shabbos saw Bentzi and I heading out to Meron much later than expected (I ended up taking Nissim to the ER to get his chin stitched up) and by the time we headed out (thanks to Aunt Dinah for offering to babysit!) the road leading to Meron was completely backed up. We finally parked the car on the side of the road and walked the rest of the way. What should have taken us 10 minutes to get there, took over two hours- but it was well worth it, as I was able to get all the way into the "Ma'ara" (building over Rabi Shimon's kever) to daven.
The next morning, after packing up our stuff, we headed out to Meron with the entire family, to cut Nissim's hair. We got out much later than expected, which worked to our benefit- little did we know that the roads were completely backed up all morning- but by the time we headed out at 1 PM, traffic had settled down and we made it to Meron in a matter of minutes. With each adult holding onto two children and one pushing the stroller, we battled the crowds in Meron until we found a nice shady spot overlooking Rabi Shimon's kever, where we cut Nissim's hair.
Poor Nissim wasn't very excited about his haircut- I'm not sure if he was tired because of the previous day's events, or if he was sad to see his "kookoo" go- but he cried as we cut his hair. It was very emotional, watching my baby transform into a little boy, thinking of everything we've been through with him. To be in such a holy place, on such an auspicious day- it was really beautiful.
As we were leaving Meron, we spotted a cousin of ours- Bentzi's cousin Priva from Bnei Brak, who had hosted me after Nissim was born, while he was in Tel HaShomer after surgery. It was so special that out of the hundreds of thousands of people who came to Meron, we saw her- it felt that we had come full circle- she had been with us in the very begining of Nissim's illness, and now she was able to join in our Simcha of his Upsherin.
We headed back to the cars, ate a quick lunch, and began our long drive home. We made a stop along the way to daven Mincha at the kever of Rabi Meir Ba'al HaNes- a meaningful way to end a beautifully uplifting weekend.
Just as we were zoche to bring Nissim to Meron for his Upsherin, so too, Hashem should help us see the realization of all our hopes and dreams for this precious little boy!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Naftali's Upsherin: Part One- the haircut!
Tonight we gave Naftali his haircut- he was so excited, he couldn't wait- he kept saying, "Nu, haircut!" At one point he grabbed the haircutting machine (I gave the older boys a haircut too while we were at it!) and pretended to cut his hair- I guess he felt we were just taking too long and he'd have to take care of it himself!
Each of his siblings enjoyed taking a snip of his hair, and then Tatty and Mommy finished him off. I must say the finished product is ADORABLE! Now that Naftali's ponytail (or lack thereof!) is gone, you can actually see his precious little פנים without any hair blocking it!
Tatty sat down with Naftali and put Tzitzis on him for the first time, and then Naftali said and "tasted" the א-ב together with Tatty. He really loved licking the honey off the letters- lucky guy will get to do it again tomorrow in Cheder with the Rebbe!
Stay tuned for more pics tomorrow, IY"H, when Naftali will celebrate his "Chalakeh" with his friends in Cheder, and then with all his Minkus cousins!
Each of his siblings enjoyed taking a snip of his hair, and then Tatty and Mommy finished him off. I must say the finished product is ADORABLE! Now that Naftali's ponytail (or lack thereof!) is gone, you can actually see his precious little פנים without any hair blocking it!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Cute Quote: Upsherin Essentials
As I was dressing Naftali after the bath on erev Shabbos, I realized its one of the last times we'll be combing his hair, as his upsherin is fast approaching! We started talking about his upcoming "Chalakah":
Mommy: Naftali, soon you're going to have a Chalakah! And then you'll have Peyos! And...
Naftali: a Pekelah!
Mommy: Yes, a Pekalah! And Tzitzis! And...
Naftali: Tztizis! And Pekelah!
Mommy: Yes, a Pekalah! And a Yarmulka! And...
Naftali: Yarmulka! And Pekelah!
Can you guess what he's most excited about?!
(We'll try to post some pictures here after his haircut - of him, not the pekelah...so stay tuned!)
Mommy: Naftali, soon you're going to have a Chalakah! And then you'll have Peyos! And...
Naftali: a Pekelah!
Mommy: Yes, a Pekalah! And Tzitzis! And...
Naftali: Tztizis! And Pekelah!
Mommy: Yes, a Pekalah! And a Yarmulka! And...
Naftali: Yarmulka! And Pekelah!
Can you guess what he's most excited about?!
(We'll try to post some pictures here after his haircut - of him, not the pekelah...so stay tuned!)
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