of weddings...birthdays...birth days....and hopes and prayers

in the last fourteen days, we have had a rush of events and occasions here at kamp kuroiwa.

one wonderful....one pretty good and another?

absolutely freakin' awesome.
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on saturday, i attended the wedding of one of my students.

actually.....she was my student when she was in high school.  she graduated 13 years ago and for the last three years, has been my student, again, in one of my smaller classes.

when she was in high school, she was in a group of five friends that hung together in the class....when the k-man and i were about to get married and were moving into our first apartment together, they came and joined the many other friends that helped us move.

in the 5 years at that high school, i taught so many students and i pretty much just fell in love with almost all of them.  they were all such really great kids.

when i think of my time at that school.....

i smile.

the teachers...the students...it was all just a wonderful package.

but these five girls....

i have watched them grow and become the most incredible of young ladies.

one of them is in australia, where, i'm thinking, she will probably live forever....the last time i saw her, i realized that she was actually more 'foreign' than she was japanese.

another is happily married and has a little gorgeous little girl....

one spent a year in canada on a working holiday visa and is now back working in a research lab at the university hospital doing the office work and helping in the lab,

another one also works at the university hospital, but in the office of one of the big departments,

and then....there is shiori.

she was working at the city library, but has moved since her husband was transferred to another city.

and it was her wedding we attended...well, everyone but the one in australia...we missed her.

the wedding was beautiful....they had a western-style ceremony in the chapel, performed by a foreign man (most of the ceremony was in japanese, but the prayers and blessings were in english...

it's very trendy now).

the reception was small and very elegant. shiori wore two dresses....a white wedding dress and then she changed into a fabulous evening gown.

the food was delicious.

the cakes were yummilious....there was a 'cake buffet'.

we may or may not have over-indulged....just a little.

our friend, tomomi, got the bouquet and was very, very happy.

so even though i woke up early on a saturday morning, had on pantyhose before 8:00 in the morning, had to ride a bus for 2 hours.....it was still a pretty good day.

Oh...and..in case you're wondering....the black dress from my christmas part rocked another party!!

i wish only the best of everything to

shiori and kenji....congratulations.

and thank you for letting me share in your very special day.

*************

on sunday.....my baby....my first baby...

....the one that makes me smile sometimes....just by looking at him.....

.....the one who sometimes likes to go on adventures.....

the one who was really happy when his little brother was born....

 the kid who loves a good costume...

and though it's not as evident these days so very often, he really does love his momma....
(oh yes he does....i promise)

he's the kid that looks cool...no matter how old he is or where he is...

and he's the one who also loves a good cake...

fyi...carrot cake with real carrots on it. yeah. we're all cool like that 

yeah....he really likes a good cake....
.....this "baby" turned 13 on sunday....

happy birthday, issei!

you're a nutter sometimes, but...we love ya!!

*************

i have 6 nephews that range from 8 to 18 years old.

i have 2 sons that are 8 and 13.

i love "my boys"...all of them...almost more than life itself.

in my mom's family, technically, i'm the only girl

(i'm thinking "princess aunt debbie" sounds good, don't you?)

in my father's family, there are three girls.

and now....

one more.

yes, my friends.....

i have a niece.

she was born on valentine's day and she's. just. precious.

it's a girl!!

i'm so excited to be able to go into certain stores and actually look for stuff to buy...you know..for other

than myself!!!

Congratulations to my sister and her husband.....

aunt debbie is oh so very happy.

but tell me, honestly....

do you think it's too early to buy her a bento box? or a back pack?

or a really cute little thermos?

 

*************

 

from me and those around me...

we are sending hopes and prayers for those in new zealand.

what a tragedy this is to happen.

we are eternally gratefully that those we know personally there are safe

 and hope that others will be found soon.

may those who have lost loved ones or who are still searching

find comfort in those around them.