25 Things I love about my daughter, Jaleh

I love her natural abilities with children
I love to watch her interact with her nieces and nephews
I love the way she picks herself up after she’s been knocked down
I love that through all of her tests her love for Baha’u’llah remains strong
I love her unique sense of style
I love her odd assortment of friends
I love that she keeps me up-to-date with music and the arts
I love her creative ideas for saving the “ambiente” - ecological bikes made of bamboo, creative grocery bags, concerts to promote awareness
I love that she can ride her bicycle to the U for Peace and back (lots of hills)
I love her cooking
I love her concern and caring for me
I love her eclectic taste in music
I love her off-the-wall sense of humor
I love her sincere expressions of joy and happiness for her friends who have babies, even though she does not yet have her own and would like to.
I love her neighborliness
I love her identification and concern with all kinds of people
I love her bravery and courage
I love her talent as a writer
I love the care she gives her cats
I love her optimism even in troubled times
I love to watch her swim – she’s like a very fast, smooth bullet going through the water.
I love that she teaches yoga to her friends just for the love of it (and her friends)
I love that she shuns imitation
I love that we share the news, fashion, films, the Oscars and our love for Barack
I love that she’s my daughter!

Happy Birthday, Jaleh

25 Things I love about my son, David

I love the way he takes charge and gets things done
I love that he is such a great father
I love that he puts his family's needs before his own
I love that he gets up in the morning with Ela so that Gianni can sleep in
I love it when he loses control and laughs out loud
I love that he is steadfast in his Faith and love for Baha'u'llah
I love that he still enjoys Chavo del ocho
I love that he is obedient to Baha’u’llah’s laws
I love that he writes poetry in song
I love that he sings when he’s asked, even though he doesn’t like to.
I love that he is devoted to Gianni and her family
I love the gleam in his eye when Ela does something special
I love the way he dances
I love that he is so loyal to his friends
I love his shyness
I love that he understands my shyness
I love that he speaks out on matters that count
I love that he takes care of his family’s every need the way his father did
I love his visits with Ela in the morning
I love his honesty
I love how he comforted me the night his father passed away
I love that he still plays basketball and surfs
I love that he’s generous with his family and friends
I love that he is such a beautiful enigma to me
I love that he’s my son!

Happy Birthday, David