Adam's Toast
Before we talk to Addison, we want to thank all of you for being here with us on this very special day. We made it!First, I’d like to say that getting two Bar Mitzvah party planning newbies, like Sara and I, through this process was no easy task. So we would like to give a special thank you to Carin Lomax, for taking on the role of party planner, details coordinator, and part time marriage counselor. Thank you so much for helping us plan such a wonderful weekend, and for all the advice and patience you have given us throughout this process.
To our parents and step-parents who provide us with unconditional love (even when we test it!) and still serve as the roll models of who we want to be when we finally grow up, thank you for always being there.
To our extended families (and friends of our parents who feel like family to us) you have traveled from near and far to be here today, and we really appreciate the effort you have made to be here to celebrate this important milestone. We wouldn’t be who we are today without all of you, thank you for your continued love and support.
To our friends who have listened to hours (and hours!) of Bar Mitzvah talk and kept us laughing. And to all of Sara’s girl friends who have stuffed gift bags, taken her shopping to find a dress, brought her flowers to spruce up the house, and called to make sure she was still breathing this past week…we can’t thank you enough. Thank you to all of our friends for always making life so much fun!
To Addison’s many friends. To the Camp Manitou crew who are a part of what he calls his second family, to the Nysmith gang who share his day to day journey of growing up and learning about life, and the children of our friends who are such an important part of Addison’s world, thank you for all of the happiness that you provide our family.
We are so lucky to have you all as part of our lives and we could never fully put into words how grateful we are.
And to my lovely wife Sara. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the great sacrifice you made by agreeing to raise our children Jewish. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in life, you are such a wonderful wife and mother, I love you very much.
Addison, we are so very proud of you. Not only today, but every day. We always said that you arrived in this world like you were shot out of a cannon, “one big smile face” as MomMom always says.
Your mother and I feel so privileged to be your parents, to have the joy of watching you grow…take your first steps, venture out into the world, and set goals for yourself….you have always been an ‘out of the box’ thinker, we continue to be amazed by the paths you choose and your approach to life.
We are so happy for your fierce independent nature, the one that took you to camp in Maine without knowing a soul, and the one that had you pushing us out of the pre-school doors telling us it was time to get back in the car. I hope that you will always remember that we linger just beyond the camp gate and wait right behind those LANK doors just hoping to be called back in for advice, encouragement, or just one more hug for good luck.
In your speech this morning, you talked about the building blocks of life. This past year, we have watched with amazement and awe as you have grown and matured and so confidently placed those building blocks into your life. At times, you have appeared to be more of a juggler than a builder as you have worked hard to keep up with your Hebrew studies, managed the increased work load of 7th grade, and dove without hesitation, helmet first, into tackle football….never letting up, always getting up off the ground and back into the play despite any hard hits thrown your way.
When we are tough on you, know that it’s because we know that you are capable of great things. Remember, and I suspect it’s hard to imagine…..but we were once 13 too (I’m sure some of you out there would argue that we haven’t progressed far from that age), we know it’s difficult, but life is worth all of the hard work, ups and downs, and sacrifices that you make in pursuit of your goals.
Addison, weather you become a wide receiver for the Seahawks, an acclaimed artist, a successful entrepreneur, or choose another path yet to be determined……we will be on the side lines proudly watching (and probably embarrassing you) with our pom-poms and bull horn, we will always be your #1 fans.
So…Today in the eyes of your religion, you are a man. Tonight we will tuck you into bed as our baby. Monday you will celebrate your thirteenth birthday and head back to the 7th grade, a teenager. Life… is complicated, we can’t wait to see how you tackle it. We love you very much!