Baby Anju

Precious Baby Anju, Welcome to the World! May God bless you with a long life filled with peace, happiness and an abundance of good health!

Before we were ever expecting with Christi and again after Shayla's birth, we had been hosting Japanese exchange students in our home through a wonderful program at Heidelberg College. We met and fell in love with: Miyuki (2000), Mariko (1996) and Mika (1995) all thanks to Heidelberg's program. (Mika still jokes that if her parents ever knew how young we were, they never would have let her come!) While in our care she'd joke, "You're like my brother and sister, not my parents!" as we were in our mid twenties. To this day I do not know if Mika's parents knew Shayne took her out to drink a green beer at a bar on St. Patrick's day, but we thought she should see true American culture and we laugh at what she really must have thought! We promise our Japanese friends to give only the very best of care to their children when they (hopefully) send them to live with us in the future! (OK, ok and no special event beer!)

After Christi & Shayla's birth we hosted two Japanese exchange teachers through Ohio State's wonderful program (Saiko, 2001 and Heidenori, 2000 - amazing individuals and fabulous teachers). We still joke that the girls grew up thinking everyone had a Japanese person living in their home! When it came time for Christi to go on her Make a Wish trip, in July of 2003, there was no doubt as to where she wanted to go and Miyuki, Mika and Saiko provided our entire family with a trip of a lifetime! We will forever be grateful to Make a Wish and to our Japanese friends.

From my understanding the Japanese have strong beliefs in tradition and although things are changing, deviation is not popular nor encouraged. When it comes to naming their children, this is no different; therefore, what came as a complete shock to us was when Mika emailed informing us if her baby was a boy or a girl they would be naming it after Shayne. Sweet little Shayna arrived and is now a darling little preschooler. Shayne was so touched, humbled and honored.

While we knew we were spending our precious final days with Christi in Philadelphia this past September and preparing to usher her out of this earthly world, I had been receiving emails from the other side of the world where Mika was preparing to usher their second baby into this world. (I couldn't tell her how terribly ill Christi was and that I feared her death wouldn't be long.) Mika informed me she wanted to name the baby Anju (for Angela) and I was incredibly touched and honored.

Early this morning we learned that Anju safely arrived five days before Christi died. Without a doubt, Christi is doing her "Angel Work" in Japan too, watching over all of our sweet friends! May God bless and keep safe our dear Japanese friends! (I didn't have the heart to tell Mika that Christi died, but....I'll get to it eventually.)

Mika & Katsu flew to Ohio from Japan to meet Christi in person for the first time and to bring joy and love (Nov. 2002)
Wearing her Heidelberg College Sweatshirt - Christi in Japan for her "Make a Wish" trip. (Picture: Shayla, in a darling yucatta, and Christi with beautiful Mika, July 2003)
(August 2003) Katsu flies to NYC, bringing Christi a darling Pikachu following her surgery. She loved it; it remains on her untouched bed today.

MUCH OLDER PICTURES:
Heidenori and the Thomas team at the Toledo Zoo's "Zoo Lights" Dec. 2000 (Shayla in stroller age 1, Christi in backpack carrier, age 3) Yes, this was the year I FORGOT Christi's coat! Shayne and Heidenori bundled her up in clothing they took off to keep her warm, so sweet!
December 2000, Miyuki & CT (age 3)
Christi & Saiko, Nov. 2001 - age 4