Home Again

I'm back! I was actually back yesterday afternoon, but I'm just getting on to post here now. I had such an amazing weekend at convention. I know USY wasn't one of the poll topics that I said I was going to blog about, but its just so amazing, I have to. First of all, if you're Jewish, which I don't think anyone who reads this blog is, join! I can't even begin to put into words how amazing it is, but I can guarantee that it is an amazing experience. ♥
My weekend was filled with a night hike, board elections, Israel advocacy programs, Tikkun Olam programs, lots of praying, amazing study sessions, and a ton of ruach. My favorite part of convention is definitely ruach, fast and slow. Picture over 150 teens standing in tight circle on chairs and singing psalms, hymns, etc at the top of their lungs. Then picture everyone crowded into a small room on the floor, singing really beautiful melodies. It is magical, even though it may not sound that way from my description.
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Now since Passover was one of the topics you wanted me to blog about, here's a little bit to start.
As of yesterday morning, my kitchen was all clean. We have a basket full of food in our laundry room, and our table is still not Pesachdik, but our oven, microwave, and counters are all cleaned off and ready for the holiday.
When I went to bed last night, instead of reading like I usually do, I started practicing the Kiddush, the blessing over the wine. Since Passover this year starts on Friday night, also Shabbat, there are extra words added in, and an extra song to go with it. Last year my grandpa asked me to do it without telling me beforehand, so this I'm going to be prepared, including all of the special parts for Shabbat.
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Okay one more thing. This is short, but really cute, so I had to mention it. We had a chocolate seder in our 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grade youth groups yesterday, and it was really cool. Wondering why I went? Just because I have a lot of 8th grade friends. Anyway, it was a really cute model Passover meal, but everything was some kind of ice cream or candy. 
Kadesh- The first cup of chocolate milk
Urchatz- washing hands
Karpas- Green pistachio ice cream
Yachatz- Breaking chocolate covered matzah in half
Magid- Telling the story of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and a really cute version of the Four Sons modified to be about ice cream.
Rachtzah- Washing hands
Motzi Matzah- Saying the blessing and eating chocolate covered matzah.
Maror- "Bitter" Everything but the Kitchen Sink ice cream.
Korech- Ice cream sandwich
Shulchan Oreh- "Festive meal" of chocolate eggs and marshmallows.
Tzafun- Search for hidden chocolate covered matzah. Winners took home chocolate seder plates.
Bareh- Third cup of chocolate milk
Hallel- Passover song parodies about candy
Nirtzah- Conclusion of the chocolate seder with "Next year in Vermont!" because Vermont is where Ben and Jerry's was started.


Here's a link to one chocolate seder haggadah: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mcoblenz/haggadah2005.pdf
It isn't exactly what we used, but close.