Counting the Omer

Last night was the second Seder . It is also the night that we (you know the"Chosen People") begin counting the Omer. What is the Omer you may ask.
Wikipedia tells us:

 "The Omer.... is an important verbal counting of each of the forty-nine days between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot ....

This mitzvah ("commandment") derives from the Torah commandment to count forty-nine days beginning from the day on which the Omer, a sacrifice containing an omer-measure of barley, was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem, up until the day before an offering of wheat was brought to the Temple on Shavuot. The Counting of the Omer begins on the second day of Passover.... and ends the day before the holiday of Shavuot, the 'fiftieth day.'

The idea of counting each day represents spiritual preparation and anticipation for the giving of the Torah[1] which was given by God on Mount Sinai at the beginning of the month of Sivan, around the same time as the holiday of Shavuot. The Sefer HaChinuch (published anonymously in 13th-century Spain) states that the Hebrew people were only freed from Egypt at Passover in order to receive the Torah at Sinai, an event which is now celebrated on Shavuot, and to fulfill its laws. Thus the Counting of the Omer demonstrates how much a Hebrew desires to accept the Torah in his own life."

I personally have never made the commitment to count the Omer.
In the year following my mother's death I counted the Omer basically because I was in shul every day.
So naturally every evening when we said the prayers associated with this ritual I was aware of it.
When I saw an email this morning from Rabbi Levy launching her observance of the counting , I decided to make the commitment this year.
Not at my synagogue where for me it's just a bunch of Hebrew words that I don't understand, but in my daily gift to myself.
I have also decided to offer to share it with you.
Rabbi Yael (Levy) breaks the 49 days down into 7 weeks, each with a specific point of attention.
Each Saturday night for the next 7 weeks, I will share her weekly area of contemplation with you. 
Each evening, I will share her thoughts connected to the weeks message as well. 
I enjoy when I have a "challenge" dedicated to a specific period of time like the cycles of our weight loss program.
40 days and move on.
Here's an opportunity for 49 days to work on me once again,spiritually.
Personal growth is always a good thing!
Follow along if you choose to. 
Hit delete if you want.
I enjoy a challenge.
How about you?

Shavua Tov!