B"H

With gratitude to the Creator, Shayna Rehberg and Yishai (Jesse) Paquin are joyfully celebrating their marriage on June 22, 2017.

Shayna made aliyah from Texas in 2003 and has spent the past few years in Tzfat (Safed) single-parenting, working in the nonprofit sector, teaching English, and singing.

"How am I going to find a good partner, living in the middle of nowhere?" she used to ask G!d, while contemplating fleeing to a big city as so many of her friends had. Little did she know that a friend on her street, who made aliyah from Florida last year, would offer to introduce her to "a great guy who has a lot of similar views and values."

"He's on the other side of the world!" she protested.

"But he already wants to move back to Israel," the neighbor insisted.

(Shayna singing in an 11th Century water cistern)

Yishai served in the US Navy, came to Israel for his Master's Degree, studied at Pardes in Jerusalem while working as a photographer, and then returned to Florida and the Navy. His former neighbor didn't tell him much about this 'girl in Tzfat' but they set up a video call to get acquainted.

(Yishai blending in with nature)

They hit it off, conversation flowing, discovering that they really do share many perspectives and passions...when, nearly two hours in to the thus-far least-awkward first-date ever, Shayna says something about her kids.

"Oh, you have kids?" asks the uninformed suitor.

"Um...yeah...just four," she laughs nervously.

The conversation continues unabated for another half-hour before saying goodnight.

(Surprise!)

"Well, it was a nice dream," she told a close friend after hanging up, "but I've probably scared him away."

"You always try to," came the reply.

But no, this calling gentlemen had the courage to ask the very next day for a second Skype-date, explaining: "I love children and always wanted a large family. The fact that you have a head start is just a bonus. Four beautiful bonuses."

And we've just kept melting each others' hearts ever since. <3

(Ponce de León Inlet Lighthouse, Central Florida)

As an experienced Boy Scout leader in the US, Yishai already took Shayna and the 'beautiful bonuses' (aka munchkins, or pumpkin heads) on their first outdoor adventure together, where the kids even earned special merit badges. Successfully completing the outdoor challenges gave a great boost to their confidence, especially for the boys, who are struggling in school with learning disorders. All four kids are very excited about the wedding and we're looking forward to many more family adventures!

(Ein Zeitim Park, Northern Israel)

Yishai is relocating across the ocean to Israel in the month of May, and after the wedding we'll be moving together into a home in Tzfat that accommodates the six of us. Rather than a traditional registry, where we pick out plates and curtains, we invite friends and family to instead contribute to our 'Wedding/Growing Family Fund.' Because Yishai is starting life over with only a couple of suitcases, but Shayna has plates and such...because six people don't fit in our five-seater car, or on our lone sofa (which is missing a leg anyways), and two adults can't fit on a single bed, and moving from a small apartment on the fourth floor is quite an undertaking...because we'd also love to get out--just the two of us--for a small honeymoon before diving back into daily life 24/7 with the munchkins. The more you give, the longer we can go away for (like maybe an entire weekend!).  ;D

Your gift to our Wedding/Growing Family Fund will help us have a smooth transition into this fresh chapter of our lives. May we always uplift each other in our new lives together, and may we continue spreading love and kindness to all who cross our paths. Thank you for your support and may you be blessed abundantly!

(A pair of hand-fashioned glass turtles, created just for us by the amazing Kira Lambert Gorwyn)

**P.S. Donations on this platform are possible by credit card only. If it's easier for you to use PayPal, please send to shaynarehberg@gmail.com and select 'goods/services' instead of 'personal' (it's the only type of transfer my account accepts) - Thank you!