Orli's hair.
My feet. Heel spur killed me.
An uninvited guest.
This is what happens when you give your a kid the camera and tell her to be creative.
Here's my speech (Isaac's is in the car. If he brings it up, I'll post it, otherwise, trust me, it was nicely done). Feel free to skip it and scroll straight to dessert.
Orli, 12 years ago you came into this world and immediately made us feel like a complete family. Is it because you were our third daughter and needed to somehow gain our attention that you developed a fantastic sense of humor almost as soon as you could talk? Whatever the reason, Orli, you have kept us laughing for nearly 12 years. You've also evoked other emotions, but we won't go into those on your special day.
As Abba mentioned, when were here visiting several years ago, you chose the Pasuk כי אשב בחושך ה אור לי--"When I sit in darkness, G-d is my light"--to engrave on a necklace we were buying you. When I did a little search (Google, where else?), I found that the source for this Pasuk is in מיכה ז:ז [Micah, the prophet], but is added on in many Sefardic communities to Chana's prayer as an opening to their morning services.
As you may remember, Orli, Chana was the mother of Shmuel HaNavi (Samuel the Prophet), who gave her son to the service of G-d. When she brought Shmuel to Eli HaCohen she offered up a beautiful supplication exalting G-d and His Greatness for blessing her with a son. Your Pasuk, Orli, was aptly added onto Chana's praise. "When I sit in darkness, G-d is my light". What beautiful, comforting words.
I do not have the eloquence of Chana, Orli, but I can say this: G-d has sent you to us, our light. May you always be as luminous as you are today; May you always shine with laughter and humor and follow in his ways.
Dessert!
Party's over. :-)
Oh wait, I almost forgot. What would this post be without a picture of the girls?:
May we all celebrate many, many happy occasions!
