To my son

Six years ago today, at 12:59pm, my son was born.  These past six years has been filled with his laughter, his smiles, sometimes his tears, but a lot of hugs and kisses too.  He fills me with such love and joy, it's unfathomable.

I'm proud of his achievements, as any parent would be.  I don't boast much of those things as they are benchmarks most children reach in their youth.  I am more touched by the things that make my son uniquely Him.  I love how he tells me that his entire body is his tickle spot.  Or how he wants to show me his entire fleet of Lego ships and explains what each piece does.  Sometimes he'll just run around the house at top speed, perhaps imagining that he's helping to make the world spin.  I'll catch him dancing to music but I can't let him see me watching him or he'll stop dancing.  He still doesn't like his veggies and most fruits but he loves tofu.  I love how he'll reminisce of Japan and say how he misses a friend.  Just out of the blue.  He has a sweetness about him, a wonderful innocence that I don't want to go away.  But then I feel guilty that I should not want for my child to have the experiences that would shape him into the wonderful man that he will become. 

He is a gift from God, a gift to this world, as all children are. And he is mine.  I love you Zelig.  Happy Birthday, my love!

re·pa·tri·ate (r-ptr-t) tr.v. re·pat·ri·at·ed, re·pat·ri·at·ing, re·pat·ri·ates To restore or return to the country of birth, citizenship, or origin

August 3, 2009:  We leave Japan, our home for the past 5 years.  13 hours later we are back in the good ole "U" "S" of "A".  We make our way to our new community in Georgia, looking forward to a new life, new friends and new adventures.

July 20, 2010:  I've cast my first vote as a citizen of my little town in Georgia.  I'm planning a birthday party for Zelig.  I gave our new dog, Sparkles, her heart worm medicine and applied caps to our cats nails.  I made a tasty meal tonight using vegetables from my garden.  I didn't have the opportunity to cut up the Armenian Yard Long cucumber.  I tell my friends that I'm still settling in although I'm feeling very settled.  There is so much to do with this house but I have time.  I'm not rushed.  I have at least 19 years to get it all done!