Trying to be Jolly

While I am usually full of holiday spirit, I am finding it hard this year to be jolly and full of Christmas spirit. This year is a bit bitter for us, rather than sweet. The loss of Eric weighs heavy on our minds everyday and especially now as the holiday arrives. BB and TT will be in Germany for the holiday making the Toothaker household down to Bill, AA, Faith, Megan and me. While it is sure to be filled with laughter and excitement from the children, it will also have its quiet side as well.
I pray for peace for my family at Christmas. The hope of new beginnings that Christ symbolizes and the comfort from knowing that it is always is in his time not ours.

Happy Birthday Megan

So, tomorrow is Megan's Birthday. I unfortunately have clinical half day and need to be out the door by 6 a.m. but I wanted this posting to be up first thing, so that we can love on her today.

So to keep with tradition, here are the top 10 things I love about Megan.......


10. That we can both say we survived the Reading Hospital School of Nursing....a big accomplishment....I am proud that you went to my alumni, even prouder of the nurse that you have become. Touching lives is a gift that you do so well, and I am honored to share this profession with you.

9. That my children love you and the way you love my children. To be accepted so unconditionally brings a tear to my eye, a smile to my face and my heart brighter. I love you alot too, just like AA and Faith.

8. The cuteness of you and your inability to cook, but your willingness to learn how to make lasagna. That night at your mom's that you made your first lasagna makes me smile and laugh as your willingness to dive into a hard dish right off the bat to make your honeybear happy.

7. That despite your "tough" outer shell, the heart that is under your sleeve is so incredible. Your willingness to give so freely of yourself, is one of your best qualities.

6. That when we went to the Reba concert you danced in your seat, sang out loud and savored the moment. It reminds of the song, "I hope you dance".
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.


I hope you always dance.

5. That Eric thought you hung the moon and the stars...hold onto that...Bill and I think you hang the moon and stars too.

4. I love the way you help my daughter into being a girly girl, from painted fingers and toes, to dress up, she loves spending time with Megan, calling Megan on the phone and loving on Megan. To her, you are her sister, and that is important to me as a mother. AA loves to stay home with Megan too, guess she is cooler than me.

3. I love that you needed rotors for your car, and your car was shaking when you asked Dad to do them. This is great to me, because if you see my posting of my Dad's birthday (March), you can see that I didn't even know that cars took oil when I started to drive. It was bone dry......Oops.

2. I love that you loved our son Eric, so unconditionally, so willingly, so completely. As parents, there is no greater gift than to know that our children are happy and loved. You made that happen. We will love you eternally for this, standing beside you no matter what. You are our family forever.


1. That you are not only my daughter-in-law but my friend. That I love you each and everyday and I am truly blessed to know you.


Today, is a tough day, but I need you to know how special you are, how beautiful you are inside and outside and just how much you mean to me and my family. I only hope to bless you in this lifetime as much as you have blessed me. Happy Birthday Megan. I love you!

HELP

A friend of mine has posted this on her blog. Spread the word..this family needs our prayers and help.

My daughter Lydia was adopted from Guangdong Province China on July 5, 2004. In August 2008, she was diagnosed with AML, a very pernicious and deadly form of leukemia. With the help of her Chinese-born doctor, we were able to locate her birthparents and some of her siblings in China that her family kept. We know she had at least two sisters older than she (born somewhere between 1993 and 2002) who were also abandoned. The birthparents have refused to assist with her bone marrow transplant, even though two of her already-found siblings were a match. We are now looking for these other potential siblings to see if they were adopted and might also be a match.

Lydia is part of the Hakka ethnic group, and so a match from someone other than a relative is unlikely because of her unique, almost bi-racial typing. Lydia has classic Hakka features: “Brooke Shields" eyebrows, and rather full lips and a round face. Photos have been posted of Lydia and her birth family on their Caring Bridge website.

Thank you for any assistance you may be able to lend.

Blessings,

Monica Miyashita
email: kensingtonlawyer@gmail.com
website: http://www.caringbridge.org
website name: lydialimeieikomiyashita

Wordless Wednesday

Do you see what I see?

So tonight, we took AA to his bowling league, which is 4 kids ages 4-7 bumper bowling. While this is usually not the most exciting moment of our lives, I will tell you tonight was a joy. AA bowled a 111. While that in itself is exciting, the moments leading up to this was priceless. Here is a boy, throwing his ball, gets a spare and is so happy, ear to ear grinning, jumping up and down in victory. "Yes, Yes, he exclaims, with such pride in himself. Then his teammate gets a spare, and the encourager is set in motion. Equally excited, high fives and "Good job" flows from his mouth. You would think that they were playing for gold, but instead it's just fun. This is the same boy, that came home yesterday with a 100% on spelling, and God knows he needed that, not because we need to be perfect, or he has to have an A, but it proves to him, his capability. So today, I am celebrating AA, for his capabilities, his drive to have a good time, do his best with his heart and celebrate the laughter and joy I saw on his face tonight.

Mmmmmm........ Happy mother am I.

Faith is 3

Saturday November 1st was Faith's third birthday. This year we had a Dora the Explorer birthday party. She wanted Barbies and baby dolls, which she got alot of, but her sister, Megan got her dress up clothes and she loves them. You can see all of the photos above from her party and you can see how happy she is. So to keep with tradition, here are the top ten things I love about Faith Yu Le.

10.) I love that you are inquisitive, and always ask why without fail.
9.) I love the way you talk to your baby dolls, love them and rock them, what a great "mommy" you are.
8.) I love when you Sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider.
7.) I love that you love to call your Mom Mom and Pop Pop on the phone, multiple times a day, just like me.
6.) I love that you are a girly girl. You love to put on dresses, fingernail polish, and lotion. Then get all dressed up just to take your baby dolls for a ride in the stroller in the kitchen. So cute. Brings a tear to my eye.
5.) I love that you need me to go to bed. That you want me to lay with you, while you play with my hair. To me, I know you feel safe there with me and I have waited for that moment for a long time.
4.) I love that you are blossoming now, that you have found your comfort zone, play while I leave the room, and are enjoyable.
3.) I love when you belly laugh. You find joy in all you do. Your laugh is contagious.
2.) That when I say, I love you, you say....I love you.....ALOT! Oh baby, I love you alot too.
1.) That God gave you to me, to love you, teach you, and bless you, the way that you have blessed me.

With these blessings, Yu Le, I say Happy Birthday Baby. This day is sweet sorrow for me, as I look at the blessing that you are to me, the joy you have brought to our lives, and the sorrow I feel for your birth mother in the memories she is missing. She is in my prayers today and always as I look at you each moment and truely believe, I am the luckiest woman in the world. Oh, how I love you sweet, sweet baby, thank you for your laugh, your love, your hugs, your kisses..........Happy Birthday Feng Yu Le.

One Barbie, One Luke Skywalker

Trick or Treat was more than ten days ago and I am just getting around to posting. Every year we head to Light the Night at our church, however the weather was not cooperative this year and the night ended up being canceled due to rain. Thursday we went trick or treating in our neighborhood with Barbie and Luke and let the children have some fun. We always let them for one hour, or until their bag is filled, whichever comes first, usually its the bag is full.
Here are some photos of my two on Trick or Treat night. Enjoy!