happy 5th birthday, sanaa

on the morning of her birthday
(20 jan)
she woke up with her eyes swollen from rubbing them all night
(pink eye)
and was recovering from another illness as well
that required some foul-tasting herbal medicine.
she was going to have a painting party at a near by pottery place
(art from the heart in smyrna)
but we decided to just do the family party at home.
it was nice to do just family,
blood family
– grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins –
rather than friends we claim as family
(though we’re thankful for both).