Dear Tammy and all my dear friends here on the board,
It is truly heart-warming to know that you all care. Yes, here in Israel we are going through really difficult times. Last night the atmosphere was quite different, it was almost jolly. I know that sounds strange, but we know here in Israel that we have very good defense things in place to thwart off attacks, and I suppose also because of all the tension we have been undergoing lately, it was as if finally something was actually going to happen. So we were warned that our country was about to be attacked, and then we were told that missiles were on their way and we were told to prepare our safe rooms and be ready to go into them. And then we started to hear explosions and the siren went so we went into our safe rooms. Actually, our "safe room" is one particular corner of our apartment that has no outside walls, and we quickly grab two chairs and go and sit there with our radio and our mobile phones. It was just after one in the morning, but sirens were going off up and down the country, and people were filming the rockets that were all intercepted by our defenses. Our children and grandchildren were sending us messages and sending us films they had taken of the "fireworks" in the sky where they live. I know it sounds ridiculous, but the atmosphere in the country was just positive. Today the country is going back to normal.
My family is so huge, we have just had a wedding of a granddaughter. A grandson is getting married in July, another grandson is going to be bar mitzva on May 8, a great grandchild is due to be born next week, so we are really being kept busy with family stuff, which is wonderful. Of course there are no excuses -- we have to be present at every occasion. My husband says that our job these days is to just be there and smile, and hug. That's our job in life. And to give presents, of course!!!
So that's my update. Love to you all.
Love, Esther