Counting the Omer with Gratitude

The Omer is counted every evening after nightfall, from the second night of Passover till the night before Shavuot.

Forgot to count the Omer at night? Count the following day, but without a blessing. On subsequent nights, continue counting with a blessing as usual. The blessing is made only if every day has been counted; if you missed a day, say the day's count without the blessing.

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Gender neutral: Blessed are you, Adonai our God, (force/source/ruler/sovereign) of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Day 1- my health, having a cozy home in a beautiful place, the good health of all my family and friends, essential workers, my beautiful new grandchild was born this week, Robin and her big sister Riley, my son and his wife and my husband. I appreciate our community and my students who I miss deeply, Grandma Sadie's fine China and Step father Thomas's silverware that we ate from during the two seders - in touch with those who have gone before

Day 2- My adult children, family and friends, this central VT community, the beauty of all of Vermont, one more day of snow! Friends to check in with, The coming of Spring, living in a beautiful place, kind thoughts and prayers of neighbors and strangers, reconnecting with family and friends, being able to give to others, being able to create things for people to enjoy, Grateful for rain instead of snow, All the blessings we enjoy just because we were born into a prosperous nation at a prosperous time, My own good health, my family's good health, The fuzzy buds on a magnolia; when will they shed their fleece overcoats? All the service providers who are essential to our farm -- sheep shearer, veterinarian, butcher, feed merchants, etc., 3 hooded mergansers, 1 male wood duck, 6 pairs Canada geese, splendid musical water falling over edges of beaver pond near the lodge

Day 3- Grateful for the gift of tulips and daffodils, Contact with friends and relations via Zoom - two wonderful New York City seders and tonight having dinner with Lucy, Nicky's daughter, Signs of the curve flattening, coffee brought to me this morning, first loon of spring 2020, slowing down; talking about my Aunt Bobbie with my cousin in Mississippi; discovering my cousin's immense gratitude for what she has learned from having her hand crushed in a freak accident; measuring the trees in the St Paul Street Tree Project a fifth year in a row with Susan to see how much they've grown; the rich red maple flowers about to burst out at the ends of her limbs; the tiny, tiny, delicate, deep violet starry flowers at the ends of the Hazelnut tree buds - the catkins growing long and pendulous with pollen; the Witch Hazel covered in aromatic, golden flowers, already over a week

Day 4-Living in a place where we can take long walks outside, discover new macro and micro surprises in nature each day when we stop to take a look. Grateful that our college-age child is home safe with us and we get precious time together, even when we parents are relentlessly annoying. Grateful, too, that these close quarters are forcing us to face our challenges together rather than to turn elsewhere. Feeling lucky that I can still work from home even when balancing work and family feels overwhelming, a spring cleaned house, perennials popping up year after year, A granddaughter who loves Louisa May Alcott, doing well on a thesis, horses and dogs, nice/caring family on every side, funny in-laws, facetime letting us join in to a graveside birthday honoring of father/grandpop, grateful that we were able to come back from CA, three weeks ago, with no problems. But most of all, we're thankful to see how loving and caring all if our children and grandchildren have been. It's made us feel that we have a special place in their hearts reserved for parents/grandparents.  I am grateful for the loving kindness in our community

Day 5- Sun and clean air, How pleasant the weather was today. I saw a bear in a field on my walk. Because there are no leaves on the trees you can see through to places in the woods you can't usually see. And in the morning, 6:30 or 7:00 am it is easier to see birds. Moments of loveliness. the rain made me feel less guilty about staying in and writing instead of going out to spread wood chips; M&Ms with peanuts - really grateful for those!! on a rainy day; my precious spouse taking his ukulele lesson by zoom : ) I am grateful for the soil that will grow my vegetables this summer and that holds my place in this space. Great books on the couch.

Day 6- the booming beating of the grouse this morning, I am grateful for so much good food that is available to us in Vermont! grateful for Bryan Pfeiffer's blog Viral Spring with its poetry, stunning pictures of birds and flowers; also for the appearance of yellow trout lilies at the foot of the red maple on School Street, our son came upstairs with his dog to visit, without my having to invite - even though we live in the same house, his arrival, in the sunlight in the room, unexpectedly and spontaneously, felt so precious. catching up with a friend in the sun (from a distance) 

Day 7-Sarah Zwegust posting our gratitudes - knowing she is here even if we can't see her Reading the gratitudes of others - they remind me of so much, teachers supporting their students from afar, a bed to crawl into at the end of the day, For the deep generosity and caring of community, friends and family; the ability to bring family and friends across the country together to see and meet each other, to share stories; for the willingness of young people to help older people to use technology to get families together; for the openness of young people to share wisdom with older people; for all of the inventiveness and infrastructure that makes these "communions" possible - such a blessing - with grief grows the seeds of joy

Day 8- Being able to help others with grocery shopping, Grilling outside again and having picnics on the back porch

Day 9- A clean house even if it only lasts for a few minutes, All of the mask makers who have made masks for others and all of the people helping others during this time in whatever way they can

Day 10- The Beth Jacob Shabbat service leaders for continuing to offer services on zoom during this time and connect us each week as a community

Day 11- Waking up to sunshine and a walk in the woods, planting seeds and looking forward to watching them grow, Randi Hacker for sharing her gift of Yiddish learning with the Beth Jacob community

Day 12- roommates who will take care of me when I need it. a house filled with plants. Learning new things and practicing new things.

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