The Joy of Shabbat

Yes, I know it has been a few months since I have written.
Life has come to a slow pace, a peaceful place.
Mark is still home and no deployments are in sight for the next few months.
The exciting news is we will have a soon a Civil Affairs unit stand up at a nearby base. Exciting because the base is only forty-five minutes from home instead of four-six hours. It means my support when he deploy will be right here.
Of course this means Mark's beard will have to go.
And it is now so nice and full.
But I am not thinking about that right now.
I am thining about the chuck roast in the oven, smelling good. I am thinking about how nice Mark will look in his Shabbat clothes.
The lighting of the candles, the sparkle of the wine and the scent of challah. The blessings. The time with the Holy One and with my beloved.
I think of the torah being chanted and the discussions afterwards.
I think of the peace that fills our home and pray for that peace to fill other homes, other hearts, even for the people of Egypt.
The joy of Shabbat.
There is nothing like it.