I want to share my perspective on fostering a dog. It was a feeling of triumph of persuading my parents to let us foster a dog. I’m still working on adopting one, but baby steps. Buddy was so sweet. An excellent dog. I already knew he wouldn’t live with us forever, and it was sad at first but then I thought I wouldn’t get super attached. Buddy made that very hard.     He soon got the idea that I was his master. He followed me all the time — whenever I went to the bathroom he would wait outside, and whenever I fed the other pets in my room,…

Quotable quotes . . . Judah. “Mom, I had the best dream. JJ wanted me to be in his next Star Wars movie!”   Amelie. (trying to remember something) “Wait! Don’t tell me — it’s on the top of my lungs!”   Gabriel. “Ams, I’m gonna hide-and-seek you!”   Noah. “Look! A no-man!!!”

Gabriel is four years old today! I’m feeling a little sentimental about it, wishing I could hang on to three just a little longer. He’s growing so much, learning new skills each day. I love the way his face lights up when he sees me, that he hollers out “Mommy!!!” across the library, and crawls into my lap to cuddle. We had a little birthday party for him at the lake on Saturday, with our family, birth mom, birth mom’s boyfriend, and birth grandma. Gabe was thrilled with his presents and “Mikey cake” (thanks Shari!). He and Noah loved the water and sand so much that I think there will…

These photos sum up the rhythm of our summer. Most afternoons have found us swimming and hanging out around Kenny and Shari’s pool. We head over around 3:30, after afternoon rest time, and usually stay ’til 5. (their house is a 7-minute drive from ours) An assortment of other friends come and go. David and Kenny join us when they can. It’s been absolutely perfect. Judah and Amelie have become such strong swimmers this summer; Owen is swimming and diving; and even Oliver is swimming on his own without floaties now. We’re in a couple month stretch where these four are stair-step ages: 6, 5, 4, and 3. We’re so proud…

Along with a whole nation, my heart was gripped with shock and grief last night as I opened my laptop and saw the news of the school shooting that took over two dozen lives. This is the season of celebration and in the blink of an eye, many families are plunged into darkness. Their Christmas season–their whole lives–will never be the same. It’s a heavy, heavy weight.

Grandpa wins the “awesome” award for this week.  I’ve been sick since Saturday with a nasty virus, which I’m finally emerging from, and Linda had a crazy week at work.  So Steve came home and spent all of his lunch breaks with the kids so I could sleep, took Judah for a guy night, then took both kids to the fair last night.  I don’t think Judah and Ams have minded my sickness one bit!  

This week I got an email from my Hindi teacher-and-friend, Neetu.  She misses me.  She prays for my heath daily.  She bought me a saree and stitched it herself to send back with David.  And I burst into tears.  Then we Skyped with Keli and the kids.  More tears, and a huge lump in my throat the whole morning.  Maggie wrote this to me today: “My girls miss your kids SO MUCH, Julie. I don’t think I appreciated what a loss this is for them, too.” On June 6th, we left our home.  I didn’t even get to say good-bye . . . how could I?  I was so sick…