Today is our oldest daughter’s 15th birthday. This is the 3rd year in a row that Grampa has been in the hospital on Kaleo’s birthday.
Two years ago (May 2008)
When Kaleo turned 13, we had her b-day in Grampa’s hospital room. Nani (my mom) literally transported the party there. We had balloons, décor, presents, and delicious chocolate cake!
Auntie A (Antoinette), Kale, my mom, and dad
Last year (May 2009)
On Kaleo’s 14th birthday we headed over the hill to a Civil War re-enactment. Most of the kids had a great time. The cannons were a bit loud for the babies!
Dad was in the ICU and the youngest children were too young to visit Grampa.
Our dear friend, Sara, came to visit dad, and cut his hair.
Dr. Selivanov (left) who is operating on dad now, also operated on him last year.
Later we celebrated Kaleo’s b-day with a BBQ at our house, complete with a pineapple upside down cake and roasted marshmallows!
'Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Kaleo......'
Cecilia and Malia with the birthday girl
Kapena (3)
I think Kili (2) had the most marshmallows...
This year (May 2010)
We woke the kids at the crack of dawn for an early b-day breakfast at our favorite breakfast place.
Kaleo and Kainoa
Kaleo and Kawika (15m)
Kapena (4) and his hot chocolate - good to the last drop!
Later, Kaleo and I had a wonderful lunch with our dear friend, Lisa, and her girls, Cecilia and Malia. 
While we were out, Kainoa (9) was hard at work preparing for her sister’s b-day. Kainoa baked a lovely pound cake and muffins. She also cleaned up, set the table, and did all the decorations. Kaleo made her own b-day dinner – yummy taco casserole! And the new most requested b-day ‘cake’ - rootbeer floats!
Kaleo, Kawika, Nani, and Koa
On every birthday we end the evening with a time of prayer. We gather around the child whose b-day it is, lay hands on them, and mom and dad pray a special blessing over them. This year we added the older children to also pray a blessing over their sibling.
Kaleo is growing into such a wonderful young lady. At home with the little ones she is my right hand. It is awesome to watch Kaleo as she is studying and building her own biblical worldview. In addition to her other studies this year, she took a Starting Points class. This David Quine cirriculum is a Christian worldview class. It has been wonderfully challenging and thought provoking for her. It has also provided solid re-enforcement of our own family devotional studies.
Kaleo looks forward to becoming a keeper of her own home one day, as a wife and mother. She is contemplating becoming a nurse as these are skills that she could use to earn a living if need be, she could take them out on the mission field, and she can use them to care for her own children and family one day. We are so blessed to have her in our family!
A portion of the blessing prayed over her:
The living God called you by name before the foundation of the world. You have been pre-destined to be ‘lovely (Kaui)’ and a ‘voice of love (Kaleoaloha)’ for the glory of God – and He has chosen this family for you to grow in – to be taught in – to be trained up in – to be nurtured in - to be loved in...
Our children are a blessing, a heritage from the Lord Psalm 127:3
And all thy children shall be taught of the lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children Isaiah 54:13
Our children too shall serve him, for they shall hear from us about the wonders of the lord
Isaiah 54:13
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