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As we enter December…I once again look back on our year and reminisce our favorite memories: the growth of our children physically, academically and spiritually. January ushered in a surprise phone call from our youngest foster daughter Desire telling us that her mother wishing to reunite after two years of silence. The “sisters” continue to be in our lives on a weekly basis.
In February I surprised Brandon with a birthday trip to Hawaii where we spent 4 days camping out on Kahana beach of North Shore Oahu. We strolled through the coffee plantations, explored Pearl Harbor, went cage diving with Sharks and hiked the Eahukai “Pillbox” trail.
In April I took a weeklong trip to San Diego to welcome a friend’s new baby, born with Willie-prader syndrome, where I helped to care for her older sister while the new mommy and daddy focused on helping baby get healthy and ready to come home. After many prayers and 3 months in the hospital Baby M was released with a G-tube. At 6 months old she weaned off the feeding tube, and is now strong enough to eat and breathe on her own.
As far as the Lake children go: Hannah is loving second grade at Mable Barron. Her favorite subject is math although she’s discovered a love for reading and can always be found with a book in her hand. She listens to kidbop radio with earbuds, mastered the handstand, and plucks away at the strings of her ukulele. Hannah is still very active in her Girl Scout troop.
Zechariah is in first grade and also enjoys math. He is still as active as ever and required a few staples in his head from a reckless injury over the summer. He partook in a 16-mile round-trip hike to Alamere Falls with a smile on his face. His newest obsessions include basketball, Legos, Disney Infinity and Pokémon.
Tabitha began preschool and is fascinated with all of her classroom creatures including stick bugs, a guinea pig and bearded lizard. She’s still enamored with all things Ariel, and while she is still our little princess she’s not afraid of an adventure in the mud. She loves singing, reading stories and snuggling.
All three kiddos joined the community swim team for most of the summer, and we enjoyed cheering for our little stingrays as they made strokes in the city meet! We spent weekends building our tree house on Ommie and Papa’s property, running in a mud obstacle course, frolicking through a bubble run, riding roller coasters in Santa Cruz, and flying kites in Berkeley, digging in the shores of Lake Tahoe and soaking in the inviting laziness of home.
In September we traveled to Reno for the Hot Air Balloon Festival. Shortly after, Brandon made a scary return to the Surgery table, as he encountered a new infection in his amputated leg that has since left him recovering in his wheelchair. This fall’s traditions took on a new twist as both Hannah and Zechi are old enough to appreciate and participate in the annual pumpkin carving and Thanksgiving preparations and cooking. We look forward to recieving your family news updates and Christmas cards and wish you a magnificent New Year.
With Love and Warm Christmas Greetings, The Lake Family.
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