Rosh Hashana 5770

It was a very busy weekend celebrating Rosh Hashana and spending time with friends and family, but we had a terrific time.

L'shana Tova!

Water Filters

In June, we took part in a community wide yard sale. Members of my family contributed to my stash of items for sale and we decided the proceeds would go to benefit the three children (in two different families) we sponsor in Guatemala through an organization called Mayan Families (http://www.mayanfamilies.org/)

With our money we were able to purchase water filters for these two families and through a special matching grant, these two water filters we purchased turned into 8, so eight happy families will receive new water filters. Here are the pictures of our three students with their new water filters:

The homes of many indigenous families do not have clean, running water. This is also true for many schools and community centers.

Mayan Families brings efficient water filters to individuals, families, schools, and entire villages. The cost of a water filter for a needy family is $50.

Note!!: The Florence (Oregon) Rotary will add $50 to your contribution if it is sent directly to them. The Rotary Foundation will then match the matched amount of the full donation. In other words, your $50 contribution will become $200 worth of water filters for Mayan Families to distribute. Thank you Rotary!

If you would like to take advantage of the Florence Rotary Club's matching donation program for Mayan Families, then please send your contributions to:

Florence Rotary Club District 5110
5043 Kelsie Court
Florence, OR 97439
Attention: George Lewis for Mayan Families

Please make your check payable to: Florence Rotary Club. The minimum donation for the Rotary Club's matching program is $50 USD.

After the rain...

After almost a week of overcast skies, cold weather and rain, we enjoyed some time outside yesterday

Weekend Wedding Pictures

We spent the weekend celebrating the wedding of our cousin Bret to Becca. It was an amazing weekend and we enjoyed spending time with family. We stayed in a downtown DC hotel and went to the rehearsal dinner at Old Ebbit Grill, spent time by the pool, hung out with family and attended the wedding at a beautiful historic synogogue and the reception at the hotel.

Congratulations to Becca and Bret!! We love you.

Nathan and Sela getting ready to attend the rehearsal dinner:

Before the wedding - Sela posing with cousins Nicole and MatthewBubie and PopPop:Mommy with her beautiful princess:Sela with Cousin Nicole:

Welcome Baby Fuddie!! And, the first day of school....

Baby Fuddie was born last week and she and her mom are both doing very well. The kids were very dissappointed to learn that Teri decided to give her little girl a new name - Hollie Rose. We were able to visit Hollie and Teri in the hospital and then again at the house yesterday. The kids were thrilled to have a chance to hold their new baby cousin and can't wait until she can get up and play with them.

Today was the first day of school. Sela is now in the 3s at Bet Yeladim with Nathan's former 3's teach Miss Ellen. She was very excited to get dressed up for school this morning and even tried to sneak on the bus with Nathan!

Nathan was in a very silly mood this morning. He chose to wear his new Indonesian soccer uniform my coworker brought back for him rather than the nice new clothes we had picked up, but he was happy!

Here is my big boy getting on the bus for his first day in his new school! He certainly was brave!

Soccer Camp

Nathan went to soccer camp last week and had a great time. Mom took a few pictures:

Can't wait for the regular season to start!

Great vacation...

We had our family staycation last week. It was great being able to spend 9 uninterupted days together with no plans or obligations, no where we had to be and nothing we had to do.

We spent a lot of time at the pool - THANK YOU AUNT SHERRY AND UNCLE SAUL!! We went to the children's museum, to Dave and Busters to play games, saw a movie and ate lots of popcorn, visited with an old friend, and went to Dutch Wonderland, a terrific amusement park for kids.

So sorry that our time had to come to an end, but we are looking forward to the start of school in a couple of weeks!!

At Port Discovery, the children's museum in Baltimore:

Visiting with Tia Shannon, my best friend since grade school:

Dutch Wonderland, the childrens' amuement park in Pennsylvania: