Thank you all for your love and support for the family. We know mom had so many friends and treated them like family because we have been treated like family by so many of you. Thank you all for coming to mom's homecoming. She is having a party in heaven. Today we placed mom's earthly body in her place of remembrance, Forest Lawn Mortuary, Cypress. Although we can visit this place as often as we like, we know in our hearts that Mom is watching us from heaven.
love you, Ron, Juli and Robbi

Christmas 08

Christmas 2008

Dear Friends and Family

Wow! We have learned so much this year. What is our purpose in life? Jesus Christ was born with a special purpose to save the world and give each one an opportunity to be united with the Awesome God of all creation. Jesus Christ served his purpose and that is why we celebrate his birth and also his death and resurrection. God loved us so much and the Takai family knows that, especially through one of His special children, our mom. God’s amazing love has shined through her throughout her 75 years. She has touched so many people throughout her life and we have been her main recipients. How wonderful to be able to celebrate such a life. We were able to celebrate Mom’s Birthday on December 14^th, her actual birthday. What a blessing it was to have so many people that loved mom and those she has loved, together in one room. That was one of her best days in the last two weeks, since we got the news on Dec. 3^rd, of the cancer being in her brain and spine. The day before the party, she slept most of the day and hardly smiled. Only when she heard the preview of Brittany, Mark and Rilee, singing her birthday song, did we see her mouth turn upward. Then at the party, she smiled so much, greeted her friends & family and truly enjoyed the day.

When mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in several parts of her body, primarily in her lungs, in January of this year, we were devastated. The first thing mom said, as we were all crying was, “You know what, God has blessed my life so much already , if my life is done, it has been such a good life, it is nothing to be sad about.” How could the rest of us continue to be down, when such a strong statement is made from the one who has the disease? So I think mom went through all the suffering and the treatments for us, because she was already so thankful for all the blessings that she has had throughout her life. What a privilege it has been to have the gift of her presence for this one more year. Throughout this year she has continued to touch so many lives. She wrote her autobiography, spent what time she could with her bowling group, neighbors, golfing group, church and other friends and family, and through it all, taught us how to love each other even more. Thank you for being a part of mom’s life.

Now this would not be a Christmas letter in mom’s eyes if we didn’t tell you more of what went on this year. In February, Ron and June invited Mom, Dad, Robbi and Juli to go on their 25^th anniversary trip to Hawaii. We enjoyed being together so much. Robbi and Juli’s children were left under the care of their very capable husbands, Mike and Kirk, and extended friends and family, while they were in Hawaii. We celebrated their 25^th with a big party at Robbi and Mike’s clubhouse, along with Mom and Dad’s 55^th at the end of April. Another family event was watching Rilee perform as Molly in the Brea Stage Production, Annie, in July. She’s such a joy to watch. As for the other “wonderful grandkids”, Jeff continues to impress his professors at UOP dental school in San Francisco, and has also taken up rock climbing and biking. Brittany continues to take on so many responsibilities and social events while studying at UCLA. Mitchell is playing on his high school, sophmore basketball team and also SEYO basketball. Matt, is in 6^th grade and also plays in a few basketball leagues, he’s great at stealing the ball and somehow get’s the loose balls. He is happiest when he’s on the court and smiling from ear to ear. Rilee also started basketball this year to add to her busy theatrical schedule, but enthusiastically does it all. Jackson is in 1^st grade this year and finished his soccer season as a great defensive player and will be starting in a basketball league in January. Anyways, God truly has blessed our family. Since I wrote this letter, mom has gone to be with our Heavenly Father. Again she is her bubbly self, enjoying a disease free body and talking face to face with Jesus. We have been so blessed by her presence and we continue to reap the benefits of her love and prayers for us. Thank you to each of you that have helped by cooking, caring, notes, phone calls, taking her to appointments, visiting and prayers. We love you all and wish you the Merriest Christmas and a New Year filled with a Special Love from above.

Love, Don and Dottie

On behalf of Ron, Robbi and Juli

P.S. forgive me for this lengthy letter, Through all the years that I’ve formatted mom’s Christmas letters for her, she wanted me to fit it on one page. I’m sure she will understand, and you will too.