emergency preparedness in action

I saw this on a friend's blog. Its an email from an american living in Japan with her family. She talks about her experience during the recent disaster and how she was prepared and in what ways she wasn't. its quite insightful. I know it makes me think about what I have stored and what I still need to get. You never know when disaster will come to you. I linked the title of the post to the blog so you can click on that but in case it doesnt work go here: http://www.graciousrain.com/2011/03/24/kindly-advice-from-japan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+graciousrain+%28Graciousrain.com%29

Rachel's 4th birthday

The girls all made jewelry boxes.

And got a ballet lesson from a pretty ballerina


Rachel was very excited to open all her presents and couldn't believe it when they were all gone.

She picked strawberry cake and strawberry frosting so it was all pink. She loves pink!


She got lots of different barbie dolls, not all pictured.

My sister Amanda and her fiance James.

Rachel's birthday is actually the 21st but it was easier to have a party on saturday. She loves birthdays and was really looking forward to it for several weeks. Her party was in the afternoon so all morning she kept asking if it was time yet. It was lots of fun for her and her little girl friends. I tried to simplify it a bit and invite less people this year so it was easier for me too.