I was just worried that something might go wrong with driving back and forth, or that I might not be as focused as I needed to be, but from the moment we entered that room, there was a very special magic.

Jill’s friend, Janet, who is a mutual friend of my bff Mindy, was there, and she told me the story before we started about how she was responsible for baking Jared’s challah from scratch.  She baked one the night before, and she said “It just wasn’t feeling the love…” so..she got up the next morning, and baked a new one.  This time, she had all the positive, yummy, feel good intention for Jared that she was feeling as she was rolling the dough, and this one came out just perfect!  I thought – what a great thing to share in the service!!  It is so true that when we make things with love and positive intention, they come out even more yummy than we could ever imagine! YES!

The morning just got better from there.  Jared was one of the most poised, unflappable young men I have seen on a bimah. He knew his material, and was so proud to be there, that his attitude helped make the day so incredibly successful.  Jill, who was so worried about writing her “Dear G-d” prayer for Jared, spoke so beautifully and eloquently, and so did Bruce.  Their prayer for Jared was just what we all pray for, for our children, but knowing how nervous Jill was, it made it all the more special for me to listen to.  Hard not to shed a tear at that moment, for everyone – including me!

As I promised Jill, but she might not have originally believed, the service was over in a flash.  Torah reading, prayers, Aleinu, Kaddish…all short, but very sweet, and it was time to move on to the celebration everyone had waited for.  Jared was moving on to be the rock star of the day!

I moved on – to go collapse at home!  A wedding the night before and a Bar Mitzvah the next morning can take quite a bit out of a traveling Cantor.  But, the day was peaceful, and filled with beautiful memories of two amazing events in one single weekend.  This was one incredibly proud traveling Cantor!

What made me even prouder, was to receive Jill’s email the following day.  It was the best email I had ever received – and so I am going to be a tad boastful, and publish it here, on Jared’s blog entry.  (As well as my references page).  I’m just so proud and fulfilled to bring these kind of feelings to a an experience, not to mention a family who I have really grown to love…

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I don’t even know where to start this one. Have you ever developed such an incredible connection with someone, that you completely have no idea how you came into each other’s lives? But, the relationship is just so easy and wonderful, that it feels like you’ve been in it forever? Well, that’s Andie.

Somehow, Andie got my number over a year ago. Austin hadn’t been in Hebrew school for many years, though he had worked for a while with a local tutor. He was rapidly approaching 13, and Andie was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to have a Bar Mitzvah. Life had gotten in the way of life, and there were many obstacles to being able to plan the event they had always dreamed of for him, and it was looking as though it might not happen. I won’t go into the events of the year, but suffice to say, that neither Andie nor I were about to let Austin’s 13th birthday come and go without him becoming a Bar Mitzvah, and I’m happy to say – we made that dream a reality.

Last Friday night, aboard the Sun Dream Yacht Charter’s “Catalina”, on the EVE of his 13th birthday, Austin became a Bar Mitzvah.

This was no ordinary Bar Mitzvah, but it was certainly amazing, and I couldn’t have been happier with the way it all worked out. And the best part is, I know I have a friend for life, not only in Andie, but her whole family, and I couldn’t be happier.

Austin is a mensch. Take one look at him, and you instantly see his simple presence, kind hearted soul, and easy going personality. He’s adorable. Such a cutie, and one of my all time favorite kids. It’s only natural that his Mom has quickly become one of my closest friends.

Andie put this whole night together, and the events of the evening and the way it came together were incredibly beshert. (Even my good friend, Desiree Wilcox was the photographer and we had a blast working together!)  I have to say, the highlight of the evening (well, one of them) was the Singer/Babice family wardrobe – not your typical wardrobe, but a theme driven wardrobe that couldn’t be beat!

But, the real highlight of the evening, was the amount of love and energy in that room. From the beginning to the end, it was pure joy, and honestly, I felt like I was floating on a cloud while performing it. But – I have to mention, that the evening didn’t start out so smoothly. I had a funny feeling that I didn’t remind Austin to actually bring all of his materials and papers he had written, and when I got to the yacht to set up, I immediately started calling Andie to make sure Austin brought his Dear God prayer, that he had worked SO hard on. Well- I don’t even need to tell you that the answer to that question was “NO” – he had left it home, and I was FREAKING OUT by the time he got on the yacht. So – as Austin made his grand entrance, I quickly stuffed a pen in his hands and whisked him away to quickly re-write it – to the best of his ability.

Andie and I decided that it was what it was, and we weren’t going to freak out, nor were we going to rattle Austin and that was a good choice. The service was so much fun, and Austin was so amazing, that nobody even noticed, and we pulled the whole evening off without a hitch.

Austin’s brothers, Jordan and Miles are about the cutest things ever, next to Austin that is. They gave him his Tallit, and made a beautiful speech to him. I just love them all!! Andie totally could have the sequel to “My Three Sons”, because between her humor and theirs – it would be a top ranked sitcom for years!

And speaking of Andie’s humor – her own Dear God prayer was beyond funny, poignant, meaningful, and incredibly emotional, and I’m so proud of her too – for getting through it all without hysterical tears!

I’m proud of everyone, and even prouder to call this family my own. Andie – we’ll be besties forever. You are my soul sister, and I’m so lucky I found you – and Austin too!

XOXOXOXOXOXO