Invite my 43 friends to the 2nd annual virtual Hanukkah party!!

This was a fun goal and I learned from my fellow 43things friends too. See everyone next year!

With sadness, yet fond memories, I lit the last of the candles tonight. It was a very quiet night, just my wife and I. We ate a small dinner at a neat sandwich shop in town, then came home and watched a little TV together. Lastly we lit the Hanukkah candles and said the Bracha (blessing, prayer).

I love this holiday. We’ve had exciting nights and quiet nights. Long nights and nights we went to bed as soon as the candles burned out.

This was my families first Hanukkah and I can say that it was a wonderful success! See you all next year.

After having no electricity at all since before midnight last night, we were worried that we wouldn’t be able to celebrate the 7th night of Hanukkah.

We got home and the electric company had been able to restore power to our neighborhood 30 minutes before. Whew!

There are 300,000 homes without power tonight in the Oklahoma City metro. We are so fortunate.

We took in three extra teenagers this evening who’s parents have no electricity in their homes tonight. They were thrilled to be part of our Hannukah celebration tonight. They had no idea that I was converting to Judaism and they were very ok with it. Lots and lots and lots of questions about Judaism and Hanukkah. I answered the best that I could. They ate like horses! Next they all took showers and sleeping bags have be laid out in the den next to the fireplace.

I got to tell the story, again, of the Maccabees and the lamp oil that lasted 8 nights instead of 1. We sat around the fireplace and taught everyone a few songs, then they taught me some songs (more like rap actually).

You will notice in the picture that 2 of our dogs and a cat got into Hanukkah too!

This has been a long day and a wonderful night to fulfill the Mitzvah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitzvah of Hanukkah.

I can’t wait for night 8 because each night seems to have become progressively better this year!

We had a quiet evening at home. 10 minutes after the photo was taken, we were eating at the table and the electricity went off due to the bad ice storm we are experiencing tonight.

We appreciated the candles and the reason for this Mitzvah even more. I told the story, again, of the Maccabee’s and the overthrow of the Greeks, the lighting of the Menorah and the miracle that occured.

I could not have asked for a better segway into the story than the electricity going off.

10 minutes after we all finished eating and when the candles had burned so very low, the electricity came back on.

This was a special evening indeed.

We had a BLAST tonight. We had an Indian pot luck dinner with a total of 14 people. I’ve never seen so much food! Everyone got into this holiday. They were amazed with the description of the holiday and the Bracha.

Lots of food, wine, laughter and presents! We bought a little gift for all the kids and our guests. We spent most of the time in the kitchen standing, cooking, sipping wine, eating latkes fresh out of the pan, telling stories. I had such a good time.

My brother in-law who lives out of state sent me a gift for every night of Hanukkah. It was so special to receive that. I have such accepting friends and family.

I feel truly blessed tonight.

Night 4 was fun, but different. Kids going here and there. We went to dinner with me, my wife, and one son. We went out to dinner because everyone else went to their friends. We try to be flexible. I sure missed having Latkes though.

All the kids have arrived at home now, each got to watch the Hanukkah lights before they burned out, get a present, then off to bed.

It is cold outside and the blankets and bed are calling my name. Happy Hanukkah everyone!

I took the entire family out for a nice meal. We came home, lit candles and hung out together watching a movie. It was a nice and fulfilling evening with just family.

We had a subdued, but very enjoyable night two of Hanukkah. One daughter is in her collage class, another daughter working, my stepson with his father and my youngest son eating dinner with his friends family.

I took my wife to a very nice restaurant, then we came home an lit the Hanukkah candles. She has such a great voice. It was nice to hear her sing Hanukkah O Hanukkah.

Click on the picture and you will see a nice shot of our Hanukia and some of my wife’s paintings and my pottery.

Happy Hanukkah

I have my Menorah in place, ready to go. Guests will be arriving shortly and family members are gathering. I made this Menorah myself. What do you think?