This week we celebrated Becca’s 15th birthday. We started the celebrating about two weeks ago with Becca’s birthday countdown calendar. This year’s calendar had a Dickens theme. Each day had questions about Dickens with the answers and surprises inside the doors. Becca’s birthday movie was The Sound of Music, the first time for our family to watch it together. Other treats included gifts, fresh squeezed orange juice, and snacks.

On Becca’s birthday Isaiah shaped her eggs in a special way. In the morning we took pictures, and Becca decorated her cake – with peanut butter frosting. In the afternoon I did a birthday salon for Becca on the back porch. In the evening, we all dressed up for Becca’s birthday dinner of tacos and chips (I made chips from corn tortillas). After dinner we headed downstairs to do a Jane Austen era dance. Everyone enjoyed it, minus two of our boys. After the dancing we returned upstairs for cake, gifts, and a slideshow of Becca’s past 15 years.

Gift-giving is always fun. Becca’s siblings were quite excited about giving their gifts to her. It’s so fun to watch their joy in giving. Becca’s special gift this year was receiving her great great grandma Hanyen’s high school ring. My great grandma gave it to me when I was a young teenage. Two other gifts were Jane Austen books that I received 24 years ago from my grandparents.

It’s a delight to watch Becca grow as a young lady. This year she is in high school and is doing well with the academic challenges it is presenting. She loves her family and Cambodia and others. She’s grown in her desires to be a help and in finding creative ways to help her siblings. Recently she’s started a Young Ladies Society with her sisters. Becca loves to read and write. Some of her favorite authors are Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. We very thankful for our dear daughter and can’t imagine life without her. We love you Becca!