Tena'im Contract

True and certain, established and enduring, fair and faithful, beloved and cherished, delightful and pleasant, awesome and powerful, correct and accepted, good and beautiful is this affirmation to us forever and ever.
Robert J. Lowe, son of Doris Lowe and the late Joseph Lowe and, Shawn Ann Welton daughter of Wallace “Rocky” Welton and Phyllis Welton agree to enter into the covenant of marriage, through huppah and betrothal, in accordance with the Laws of Moses and Israel.
The wedding will take place, b'ezrat Hashem, on the 11th day of July in the year 2009 corresponding to the Jewish date of the 19th day of Tamuz in the year 5769, at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Robert and Shawn commit to the following conditions for their marriage
• To create a home that follows Jewish rhythms, including a meaningful celebration of Shabbat and holidays, and incorporates Jewish rituals, traditions, and laws into their everyday life.
• To make tikkun olam a part of their everyday life by having an environmentally conscious home, being involved in social justice projects and organizations, and giving tzedakah on a regular basis.
• Robert makes a legal commitment not to withhold a Get should one be required.
• To live a life that affirms their belief in the importance of diversity and equality in their community and the world.
• To give friendship and support to one another and to work together as equal partners through life's challenges.
• To resolve conflict through listening to each other and empathizing with one another, and through taking responsibility for their own feelings.
• To support each other to be excellent in their professional endeavors, but, at the same time, to make their home life and time together as a family their top priority.
• To share financial responsibilities for the family and, at the same time, affirm each other's freedom to make personal spending decisions. They will also maintain awareness that money is a means to an end and not an end in itself.
• To share home responsibilities fairly, recognizing each other's abilities and constraints.
• To, God willing, be blessed with children and to raise them in a home filled with love for one other, dedication to Judaism, and commitment to inclusiveness.
• To create a warm and open home where their family, friends, and community always feel welcome.
They shall not run away nor conceal from each other anything with regard to their possessions; rather, they should equally share authority over their possessions, in peace and tranquility, as is the way of those who are children of the Torah and who are in awe of God. All this was done with perfect understanding and due deliberation,
AND EVERYTHING IS VALID AND CONFIRMED.

The Date Has Been Set

Finally, they all say! October 12, Rob and I set a date for a wedding. How auspicious, 12 years and we decided on the 12th. We are getting married July 11, 2009. We're headed to Lake Tahoe and hopefully, when the guy calls me back tomorrow, the venue I want won't be booked. I'm hoping to be married in the Aspen grove at about 7:00 pm on that day. I've got a book and I'm taping all kinds of ideas into it, but it's starting to become a little overwhelming. I've got the check list and have done some of the things. I have someone to marry us, I've figured out a dress, I just have to spend some time with Mom to get it all going, I've figured out about a ring for Rob, one of our local jewelry artists is going to do it for him.

I've talked to Rabbi ElizaBeth,and she will happily perform the ceremony. We're going to have blues and greens, like the Mediterranean, for our colours.

We had our engagement party/ceremony on Saturday, October 25. It's called a Tena'im. We read a contract that we have written, kind of like a pre-nup, only I get sheep instead of a lot of money, if we split up. Really, It's kind of cool. I've put it on the blog page, so you can read it if you are interested.

Then two of our older friends broke a plate to mingle our families together. Neither of our parents could be here, so that's the way we did it. We had about 20 people and it was a lot of fun.

This is when I really wish I lived closer. I miss everyone so much, and would like to share all of this with them, daily.

Remember when I said that there were three projects I wanted to get done this summer? One of them was the porch, well, Rob found someone who's going to do something to the porch, I'm not sure what, but we have to scrape it and prime it and something else. I really didn't want to do this when school was going on. But, there will be no tennis and no goofing around today, and we'll work on the porch.

Ick!!!

Back to Elko

I made it back to Elko on Wednesday, yesterday in hopes to get lots of things done for Yom Kippur. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The house was a sty. Seriously, I've never seen something like it in my life. I thought for sure after I swept the house that the dog would be bald. There was more hair than you can imagine. I ran to the grocery store after I finished cleaning the house. I had hoped to have a leisurely afternoon, but we are having people here on Thursday evening for break the fast, so the house had to be clean and I had to buy food for Thursday evening. I'm just doing a big macaroni and cheese since we are eating dairy with salad. Mira is bringin gefelte fish and bagels, Marianne is bringing egg salad, I suspect that Herb and Barb will bring something, as well as Pam. I'll just have to find out when they come for prayer services at 11:00. I'm not sure what we're supposed to do there, but I'll figure it out.

I really do miss being in Abilene. I like being involved in family. It's nice that everyone supports everyone else and I'd like to be closer to do that.

Dad has an MRI today, and I am wishing him lots of luck with that and many prayers.

At Home

I've gone home this week to see my family.  So I'm in Kansas.  It's been a tremendous amount of fun and activity.  I got here on Thursday and then had to go to the emergency room with Mom.  She had an infection that was feeling like a heart attack.  We took care of that, and then Friday we had homecoming in Abilene.  That's where they are at now.  We watched Kane get to stand on the sidelines of the varsity game.  He was not happy and came home and said it was the most boring thing he had ever done.  

On Saturday we had Miller's soccer game.  His team won.  2 - 0. It was a hoot watching the little 5 and 6 year olds play.  Miller played goalie and he saved the day, keeping them from making a goal.  He also played the defense and up front.  They play all the kids in different positions.

Today, Sunday, I am going to watch Malorie play volleyball and then there is a block party for the neighborhood.  Meriam and Tate along with there kids are coming.  Hogan, Jadyn, and Tiger.  It should be a lot of fun to see everybody.  

Monday, we are off to the doctor for Dad, and then there's something else going on.  

Tuesday, there is cross country in Ellsworth and jv football here, so I'll get to watch Kolby and Kane.  The only two I didn't get to  watch were Keil and Audrey.  

I have to say that Dad's memory is much worse than it was in April.  It will be interesting to see what the doctor has to say on Monday.  Hopefully he will order a new MRI and we'll see how that goes.

Wednesday, Nancy is taking me back to the airport early, early, early, as I fly out at 7:00 am.  That way I'll be home, and can get things ready for Yom Kippur the next day.

It will be hard going back, it always is.  I feel depressed for a while, because I really do miss everyone a lot.  I like being here and being involved in what the kids do.  It's nice to have family so close by.