Hello again

I have been away from this blog for too long! I just saw that the last post was in May. A lot has happened to our little family in the last 5 months. I will try my best to recap and remember what all has happened.
Our family was blessed to be placed in to temporary housing at the end of May. We moved in to our new little place the last week of May. It was a huge blessing and we felt humbled to receive so many donated items. The Japanese Red Cross donated appliances to every single housing unit that has been built. We received a washing machine, microwave, propane gas burner, large refrigerator, rice cooker, water boiler, water heater for the bath and sinks, air conditioner, a TV and many many other wonderful things. Our home came with futon mats and sheets for all three of us as well. It made it easy for us to get back to life. Our housing development is at the top of a very tall mountain from which we can see the city and ocean. We have been able to watch from above as the town is slowly cleaning up the debris. We really have seen a lot of changes in the town in the last 6 months. There is still a lot of wreckage but they are making progress and new buildings are popping up everywhere. There is a sincere spirit of hope filling the town.
Our neighbors are so friendly and we all get along well, sharing things that we have too much of. Violet adores our neighbor Niinuma san. She is a sweet woman who seems to be in her 40's. Her and her husband have a long haired chihuaha named Chacha! Violet chases Chacha around and runs up to Niinuma san screaming out her name and calling her friend. When we wake up she hears Chacha and always asks to go out to see them.
Violet has grown so much in the last six months and I feel I have failed to record all the changes she has made.I do not write these accomplishments to boast only to record them for her to see one day.
She is jumping, running, singing, dancing, conducting music, building with blocks and reading a little too. She rides a tricycle and speaks up to 15 word sentences. She gives complements and has wonderful manners.She knows her whole alphabet and can count to 20 unassisted. She can name the letters of the alphabet when she sees them and knows the phonetic sounds of each one as well. She is constantly pointing out letters and saying things like, "Mama U U U, I see a U! U is for umbrella!" She loves the alphabet. She is also speaking Japanese more these days. She loves to find things that are similar and will say "onajii". She is learning a little Spanish and Chinese too. She will randomly shout out words that she remembers. And sometimes will say them at appropriate times too. She makes up her own stories and songs. She has an amazing memory and recalls things from even 6 months ago. She asks Daddy to come in to pray at night. She understands when she has done something that she is not supposed to do and says I'm sorry. She says "I forgive you." when we do something that we shouldn't be doing too. She is such a loving little girl and she is very sensitive to others feelings. She will comfort us when we are sad or hurt. Yesterday morning when she woke up she sat straight up in bed and said "Mommy I love the big one. I love him so much! I want to hold him. Oh I love him so much." She had this sweet, pure smile on her face. I tried to ask her who she was talking about and instinctively looked around the room to see if someone was there. She just kept calling him "Big One". I can only guess that she was dreaming about someone special or perhaps she had a visit from an angel or maybe even God. I really do believe, as I have said before, that children have a better awareness of the Almighty than we adults do.

Violet loves to help mommy in the kitchen. She insists upon taking her plate to and from the table and will put the dishes in the sink after the meal.She thanks us for meals and books and pretty much anything we give her. Yesterday when we drove up to the house after work and school she said, "Daddy we are home! Thank you for my home Daddy! It's a great home isn't it Daddy! Thank you for my home!" We just smiled at one another and said, "Yes, it is great isn't it Violet." She always seems to know what to say.

Violet also started going to nursery school on September 1st. It has been a real challenge for all of us to get used to this new life. I tried as best I could to prepare her for her new routine but as much as I tried the first day was torture. She cried so hard and she cried all day they said. When I went to get her she was hoarse from screaming. She didn't eat and she didn't sleep. She told me, "I don't like it here, Mama. I don't want to be in the cage." (they have a security gate at the door) The next day she knew what was coming and begged and pleaded. As I said goodbye she held on to me so tight that I had to remove her hands from my clothes. It was heartbreaking for me and Gabe. As the days went on she seemed to be experiencing anxiety. She would constantly ask us if we were going bye bye. At night she wouldn't even nurse to sleep. She would start to nurse and then cry and ask if I was leaving. Eventually she would cry herself to sleep lying on my chest. It has been a month now and she is doing a little better. She eats her lunch at school and takes a short nap most days. She still cries terribly in the mornings when we part but Gabe says she stops soon after I am out of sight. She cries when I pick her up as if she has been waiting all along for my return. But the teacher says she only does that when she sees me. She still asks if we are going bye bye on days when we are together but not as often. And since yesterday she tells me, "Mommy, I don't like to go to my school." But we are making progress and I am praying it will get easier. Violet is still nursing a lot and we are fine with that. It is still something we enjoy and we are just letting her wean herself naturally. There have been times that I have offered it and she says, "No, thank you." So I know she is slowly letting go a little.
Being away from Violet is so difficult for me and I know it is hard for Gabe too. I worry about the lack of time we get to spend with her and worry about what she is learning in our absence. But I know this is all a part of our life right now. She is a strong and brave little person and we learn so much from her. I thank God that He decided to give her to us when He did. She has brought so much joy to us in a world that is full of so much sorrow. She helps us to see the beauty in everything. She helps us to see the kindness in all of those around us. We are learning, everyday, we are learning.
Sorry for the long post and sorry that it was so jumbled up. I tried my best to recount what I could and I will try to be better at posting more often.
And also today is Gabe's birthday! Happy Birthday to my best friend and the love of my life!!! I am so thankful to be able to celebrate another year of your life on this earth. We love you!