Christmas 2014

I wish you a Merry Christmas. I’ll get you a lot of presents. Please let me introduce myself. My name is Solomon. I learned how to do a hula dance (does demo). I’m six. I’m in kindergarten and I like it. It lets me learn my numbers, even though I already know them. Now I can count to 100. I played t-ball this summer and I got a home run. So did my sister. So we were the winners at the same time. We also put up a Christmas tree; I helped with the lights on my house and the deck. This year we have visited our Grandparents, our friends and our cousins. I started Kindergarten. I like it because we have free choice—that means we play with the toy we want. I play soccer and football a lot at recess. Please come to my house someday. I want you to show you my Christmas tree. Merry Christmas! I love you! Love, Solomon ****************************************************************************************Merry Christmas. My name is Cici. I helped decorate our Christmas tree. I like school because I get to do “free exploration” and go to “listening.” (“you listen to someone and do whatever they say”). I started Kindergarten and I like my teacher. I am learning how to read. I know how to make a snow flake—Aunt Candy taught me. I like to play at recess with my friends. My favorite family day was going tubing. I hope next year I learn how to do a cartwheel. Me and my family went to see people singing Christmas carols and I got to sit on a fire truck. When I grow up I want to do people’s hair and be a doctor. My favorite thing to do after school is go to the park. I love you, Merry Christmas! Love, Valancia ****************************************************************************************Kisses are nice. Deer come to my house. I give them apples. Bucky and Randy (the names of the deer). I’m two. I like Cici’s room and babies. I like Christmas tree. I like Ana (frozen). I’m grateful for Dada. I mean Cici. NOOO, MOMMY! Merry Christmas. No no no no no nono no no NO. Oh, are you ok Bubba? (attending to Solomon). This Christmas tree? Angel on it, Santa’s on it. Merry Christmas! Love, Samara ****************************************************************************************Dear Ones, Minutes tick before bedtime on a school night. Cici is sounding out words in a Christmas book. Solomon is playing basketball on the Nerf goal in the kitchen. Samara is currently standing up on a stool demanding “BUBBA, LOOOOK!!” Patrick is grabbing a few moments of non-peaceful repose in the chair before we herd the kids like cats up to the bathroom for the bedtime routine that is always the same, night after night, year after year….yet mysteriously still requires constant repetition as if we were instead reading the kids an instruction manual for lawn mower assembly. Jammies are on, now off. A dance party breaks out and then dissipates. Kids tell stories, tease us, yell at each other to get off their chair/out of their room/GIVE IT TO ME. Random stories about the school day or work day are relayed in spurts. There is kindness in the chaos: Samara making sure Sol is ok after he tripped, Sol helping his sister get a cup of water, Cici volunteering to clear the table. The kids yell and laugh and joke and scream (and repeat). My whole body aches for sleep, and yet this is what I look forward to all day… sitting here in the noise, in the chaos, under the twinkling lights of our wild looking Christmas tree that towers above us, turning an ordinary Wednesday night into something a little more magical. This season we are working on Gratitude—an exercise as important for us adults as for our kids. We take a moment together before bed to remember a few of the multitude of happies in life rather than ruminating on mistakes made, disappointments, or plans for the future--Living thankfully in the now. We have so much to be grateful for: you, most of all—our community of family and friends who create the vibrant web of life and support around us. We continue to be grateful for this mountain perch that evolves more into home year after year rich with peace and fresh air, breathtaking skyscapes and landscapes and frequent visits from our wild-life neighbors. We are grateful for this golden time of living with small children… watching them learn, discover and mimic in all their innocence. The kids are growing and maturing yet still harbor glimpses of the small children within. Cici and Solomon started kindergarten this year, in separate classes for the first time allowing them to be a bit more independent, growing in experiences that are all their own for the first time. Cici continues to grow more sensitive and attentive. She is so comfortable in her skin and is liked by her classmates and teachers. She amazes me in her deep chocolate eyes, her kindness, and her constant curiosity. Cici likes her bike, time with paper and paint, and plowing the drive with her Dad. She dislikes her sister getting into her stuff and getting into trouble. Solomon is ever the clown, the coordinated athlete and learning so much in school; he proudly displays his school work nightly that proves he knows his numbers, is learning his letters and how to spell. He continues to be strikingly sensitive, routinely cuddly and fiercely protective of his sisters. Sol likes dance parties, soccer with his buddies and foreign language cartoons (?!?). He dislikes the end of good times and broccoli. Samara will be the family politician—walks into a store and gets to know everyone there by name. She has learned exponentially from her ever-involved brother and sister and shocks us with what she can count or phrases she’s learned while we turned out head for a second. She likes her brother and sister most of all, changing clothes (constantly) and going on hikes (straight up, if she is in the lead). She dislikes most food and getting her hair combed. Patrick is ever the champion father and supportive husband all the while trying to figure out this next chapter to his work life. He manages to make us all laugh and kiss away our ouchies daily. He keeps us connected to Haiti—a connection that is deeply important to us all. He is our dedicated snow removal expert, has discovered the back yard gems of our mountain, and is thriving as a lumberjack. He likes his new chain saw, playing living-room basketball with his kids, and a bed free of children. He dislikes mechanical breakdowns and anything loud. This year I left a job I loved in the spirit of simplification. I am now working at a mountain clinic in my community, treating my kids’ classmates and mountain hermits alike. I miss speaking Spanish and delivering babies, but enjoy nights at home, a call-free schedule and proximity to home and family. Yet again, I’m undergoing a new “cultural change” in medicine, enjoying the more rural feel to my patients as well as the fact I am treating the people I engage with daily in my community. Despite living on a ‘logging road’, I love living above the clouds, seeing my family AWAKE every day, and the challenge of a new job. I like fires in the woodstove, one-on-one time with any of my unique children, and the sacred quiet of early morning before anyone else wakes. I dislike urine splashes on the toilet the smell of a long-forgotten sippy cup of milk. In a night where gratitude spoken were stars, naps, Christmas lights and Sadie puppy (who is approximately 400 years old and perfect), we send our love and gratitude to you—the cherished characters in the movie of our life. Thank you for memories, love and laughter that have colored our days. May your season be filled with reminders of all that sparkles in your life, all that is cuddly and warm and full of love. Never forget from a little winking light on the top of a far-off mountain, a family of crazy, loud, and ever-exploring people love you. Merry Merry…. Kim **************************************************************************************** Merry Christmas everyone. I hope that 2014 was filled with joy and peace for all of you. It was an interesting year as always in the Bentrott household. Samara is now a 2 year-old which means she is defiant, moody, and loves to say, “No Dada.” She is mastering the English language, which is definitely a mixed blessing. In fact, just last month she let us all know that she knows how to say, “God damnit.” A father’s pride is immeasurable at times like this. When she isn’t repeating swear words she learned from her dad, Samara can usually be found playing with princesses or watching “Elsa/Anna” (Frozen). She is a feisty little girl, but filled with a great deal of compassion and sweetness as well. She will never allow either of her siblings to cry without giving them a hug and asking if they are alright. I love to watch her run laps around the house for no reason, tease her brother and sister, and when she is finally ready to settle down and cuddle I couldn’t be happier. One of my favorite things about Samara is when she wakes up in the morning, comes downstairs and demands to watch baseball highlights on the computer. A father’s dream for sure. Oh, and by the way, Samara’s favorite song is “All about That Bass.” She demands that we crank it anytime it comes on the radio. That’s Samara. Solomon is our social butterfly. It’s so cool to go to the park and watch the other children flock to him. Solomon is extremely active and loves to play baseball, soccer, basketball and volleyball (with a balloon in the house). I think I am most amazed and proud of Solomon when I watch him interact with Samara. Despite sometimes being a naughty little 6-year old, he is nothing but sensitive and patient with his little sister. In addition to being a great big brother, Solomon also invented a word this year: “Samosby.” He uses it in several different ways and typically employs it to get a laugh. He is our little comedian and loves to make those around him laugh. Kindergarten has been very good for Solomon as we have watched him learn a lot and morph into a little man. Cici is by far the easiest of the three. By far. Sometimes I think that Kim and I forget that she is only six due to her high level of maturity. Whereas Solomon and Samara seem to intentionally try to find ways to irk me, Cici is terrified at the thought of upsetting anybody. I think the worst thing Cici did this year was set the thermometer to 90 degrees. We are currently taking out a loan to pay for the propane, but it wasn’t intentional. Cici is thriving in Kindergarten. She is learning how to read and loves to do art projects. Cici is extremely creative, sensitive, and a great big sister to Samara. I love her belly laugh and the way she instinctually takes care of those younger than her. And then there is my wife. What can I say? I hit the marriage jackpot. I feel so fortunate to have a partner who I love and respect. Kim continues to amaze me as she effortlessly balances being a mother of three and a full time doctor. She also routinely runs up and down our mountain at 10,500 feet. Seriously. I’m a lucky dude indeed. 2014 was a year of transition for me. I left my job at CCAI in June in order to pursue an opportunity to work with a non-profit that serves farmers in Haiti. I am now proudly the Executive Director of The Foundation for International Development Assistance (FIDA). We just filed our paperwork with the IRS this month and are getting started in our quest to raise awareness about the plight of rural communities in Haiti and allow for relationship with these communities. I hope to offer an easy way of being in solidarity with the people of Haiti in a manner that is respectful and empowering. If you are interested in learning more, let me know or check out FIDA’s website: www.fida-pch.org. I wish you all the best in 2015 and hope to see many of you! Merry Christmas! Patrick

Dear Mom,

"Just you wait..." you used to say, as a disclaimer to the worry, the concern, the unconditional, the pride in the littlest accomplishments, the abundant emotion, the affection you poured upon me.  You were right.  And more. 

As a child there was never a question whether you loved me.  You told me multiple times a day.  You hugged, kissed, affirmed, celebrated.  I do not remember your love expressed through gifts, although memories of birthdays and christmas mornings stand clear.  I do not remember your love through expectations, although it was fun watching your pride and reaction at our accomplishments.  I always knew your love to be unconditional, although not breaking your trust or respect was very important to me.

I'm proud to say I appreciated you long before I became a mother.  You were my absolute best friend in a time when I had a lot of friends but the friendships didn't go very deep... and I needed the depth.  I recognized early on that you KNEW me in ways that I barely knew myself.  You have celebrated EVERYTHING, both noteworthy and only mostly mom-worthy.  Although sometimes I rolled my eyes at your enthusiasm, it soaked in, re-enforcing a sense of self.  Somehow you loved me in a way I didn't need to rebel... I just need you to trust.  And when your love made me feel confident to go boldly into the world we hit some of our only conflicts...  As a mother now, I recognize where this comes from now... fear... launching from the nest.  Yet how far we fly is a direct reflection of how we were loved, how we were trusted, how we were challenged and raised without fear.  You also instilled a concern for the human condition and a responsibility in this life to leave our pocket of the world a better place.  You loved me unconditionally but demanded responsibility.  Thank you.  Now more than ever I thank you for that first 18 years under your roof... the things you exposed me to, the philosophies gently introduced, the truths of life taught, the expectations and mostly the love (and fun and curiosity).  Because I have had and currently have a great life.  And there is no doubt that is directly related to all you taught, the way you loved, your firm devotion and gentle guidance.

I'm convinced that the meaning of being human, the source of being human, the evolution of humanity and our only purpose in this life all boils down to relationships.  Who we become, who we are is defined through relationships; we develop our sense of self through the love and guidance of others, we refine who we are under the influence of the people around us.  We are able to give in whatever capacity based on our stockpile of love that is ever-reinforced by our active relationships defining, redefining, reinventing who we are and what we have to offer.

You gave me life. You made me human.  Through your love, your influence, you planted passion, curiosity, laughter and fearlessness with a foundation of good common sense.  You instilled values of hard work, respect, and a global mindfulness.  You introduced a foundation of spiritual awareness that has allowed me to live comfortably and amiably in this world, easy inspired by all views of creation and the divine.  During times when people naturally question, I only was re-inspired thanks to your framework of this life.  

As a mother, my respect, my love for your goes beyond description.  And I know you understand the depth of this because you, too, had a REMARKABLE mother.  You, too, became a mother under her guidance.  And the generations of INCREDIBLE mothers in our history reinforces all I believe in the power of relationships and our ability to affect future generations.

Thank you for exuding complete happiness and excitement EVERY. TIME. we see you after a time apart (even if it was only a good night's sleep).  Thank you for celebrating everything.  Thank you for being the first person I want to vent to as well as share accomplishments with. Thank you for being a source of endless joy to my children who have become my new reason for living and refining myself.  Thank you for continuing to "mother" long after I have flown from the next.  Thank you for taking me on my worst and best days with absolute equal enthusiasm.  Thank you for being an inspiration, a role model, a hero in my life... defining how I want to be in the lives of my own, precious, remarkable, funny, challenging, full-of-potential children.

Happy Mother's Day... today and every second to follow.  Because mothering doesn't take a break, take a pause for a holiday... it stays up all night, wakes before dawn, has no holiday or no weekend.  And as much as I pray to my Grandmother, I know it doesn't end after death.  Thank you for being an ever-breathing, ever-inspiring, ever-loving presence in my life.

I strive every moment to be the mother to my children that you are to me.

With endless love and respect,

Kim

Bentrott Family Christmas Letter 2013, Idaho Springs, Colorado

Dear Cousins and Friends,  I wish you’d have a nice Christmas. I hope you get what you want for Christmas. This year I went on a hike with my mom and dad and looked at my neighbor’s view of the city. On my birthday, we went to Jumpstreet where we jump-jump-jumped.  There’s a tiger slide and a skateboard slide and a jungle.  I learned how to do cartwheels this year.  I liked when Daddy made a fort of snow with his snow plow last winter.  I like to go sledding.  Now I like to play with my friends.  I like to do monkey bars and roller skate.   Merry Christmas, I love you.

Solomon

I hope you have a nice Christmas.  I hope you get a Christmas tree. Our Christmas tree has lots of lights on it and ornaments. We got our Christmas tree on our land.  I liked when I turned 5 this year.  I went to the Butterfly house and held a tarantula and we went to the Aquarium for dinner and we saw lots of fish.  I like to go sledding and ride my big-kid bike.  I like going to school because we learn new things.  We learn new songs and we do play plans.  I can climb the rock wall and write my name “Valancia.” I can do head-stands in the swimming pool and swim in the deep end.  Merry Christmas. 

Valancia (Cici)

“HEY!!” “This” “Mo-peese”  “Apple” “Ice” “Hot” “Dada” “Mama” “Bubba” “Titi” “puppy” “baby” “Up!”

“Oh WOW!”“  Mwa (kiss)”

Samara

Merry Christmas! 2013 was a good year for our family. It’s been a joy to watch each of my children grow, change, and become little people. Cici is independent, sweet, bossy, highly emotional, and likely the best big sister in the world. I continue to be amazed at how far she has come since her challenging beginnings. Solomon is funny, wild, loving, and suffers from an inability to do what you ask him to do the first time. While I expected Cici to be an incredible older sister, Solomon is an equally sensitive and protective big brother. It’s been one of my favorite parts of parenting to watch Cici and Solomon love-up on Samara with an incredible amount of patience for their age. Samara has fit into our family very well. She knows how to use her fingernails, her scream, and her large personality to get what she wants. I love her blue eyes, mischievous laugh, one-move bounce dance, and how she jams out in her car seat to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Kim and I celebrated our 10^th anniversary last summer. Needless to say, I outkicked my coverage with her. I’m an extremely lucky and happy man to have Kim in my life.

I continue to work at CCAI Adoption Services running their Haiti program. We will be celebrating our 100^th Haitian adoption this month. I hope to travel to Haiti more in 2014 and to continue to decipher how I should be in relationship with the country.

I hope that 2014 is a great year for everyone!

Patrick

I’m sitting in our cozy living room, fire crackling in the woodstove.  Samara is happily screaming on the carpet, entertaining her siblings who reward her antics with laughter.  Cici and Solomon have been dancing around in Santa hats making up Christmas songs.  Patrick is checking sports scores on the computer following games by noting numbers as they flick by—a poor second to actually watching the game on ESPN which we lack. J Our Christmas tree looms above us, tickling our two-story ceiling, making up in height what it lacks in girth.  From its branches, years of ornaments gifted and home-made dangle from its branches.  The tree is so tall we had to pre-decorate the top half on the floor before hauling it upright…. PERFECT.  I feel like a little kid again, successfully talking the Father of the House into a ridiculously enormous tree. J

We have survived a full year and a half in our mountain-top perch, loving the snow, the wildlife, the silence, the vast views, the starlight.  Given our crazy lives, it’s not a practical perch, but serves that need for adventure that our otherwise comfortable existence lacks. On days off, the great outdoors is just beyond the window… a hike ready if we step outside.  Mr. and Mrs. Fox routinely visit us, teasing Sadie-dog relentlessly.  We’ve watched bucks but heads in the trees and a mother bear escort her cubs across our yard.  The pine and peace of the forest hugs us and brings us back to center.

This fall marked my 3^rd year at Clinica Family Health Services.  I have only deepened my love and appreciation for the incredible team of people that work closely together to serve our challenging patient population.  I work with exemplary and fun-hearted folks who pour their hearts, energy and humor into their work day after exhausting day.  Because of them, we provide nationally recognized primary care, and work is a place fun to be.   My patients continue to entertain and inspire me, surprising me with their resilience, tickling me with their sense of humor and challenging me to coach them into happier, healthier lives.

We’ve had an incredible year of being parents. Cici amazes us in her emotional maturity, mothering anyone lucky enough to come across her path.  She has deep, delicious dimples that pop out when she laughs at her brother and sister or when she is chasing her daddy around the house.  Solomon will climb anything from rock wall to playground equipment to bookshelves.  He works very hard to make people laugh, and still loves to cuddle when the lights go out.  Both Cici and Solomon love preschool as much for the friends they’ve made as for the new things learned.  They keep us running with their love of climbing, swimming, running, playing all things “ball” and the-ever popular dance parties.  Samara has wowed us with her transformation from infant to a little person taking command of a room.  She is at that frustrating age where she doesn’t yet own the vocabulary to express her desires.  If we guess wrong, she responds with a vigorous head shake “no” and a scream.  If we DO happen to get it right and hand her what she so desperately needs, she confirms our choice through hysterical giggles.  She adores her sister and brother beyond any other and runs toward them with arms stretched wide for a morning or mid-day hug.  After a road-rash first month of walking, she is now a nimble little mountain goat with a personality 3 times her tiny frame. Cici loves the swings, catching butterflies, and chocolate milk; she dislikes the END of swim-time, hurt-feelings and crust. Solomon loves wrestling, birthday parties and pizza.  He dislikes sleeping in his bed, being cold and shots.  Samara loves dogs, bath-time, tickles and mac-n-cheese.  She dislikes loud noises, wet diapers and vegetables.

This year was “Lucky 13” of being in love, year #10 of living that love in marriage.  Although we lack the time with each other we crave, I adore partnering with Patrick is in this crazy swirl of sleepless nights, chaotic days and alternating work schedules.  Patrick likes his chainsaw and splitting wood, teasing us all, and long hikes.  He dislikes anything loud, solo parenting on baby-puke day, and the threat of future fertility.

In the last year, we had to say a lot of final goodbyes.  So many people I know lost someone close this year.  With loss brings reflections of past and present.  I lost my grandmother a year ago; she nicknamed me her “clone”—an honor I’ll forever try to live up to.  She lived a dazzling life and her feisty spirit still makes me laugh. Her commitment to family and tradition lives on in the ties she bound tight.  I love that all my children met her at least once; Cici and Sol often talk about GG watching them from somewhere beyond the highest mountain peak.  We also lost my uncle this year, the person who influenced my world view remarkably.  He was the reason my brother and I fought racism before we even understood really what it meant.  Both my grandmother and uncle suffered long-fought illness, and in this year of saying goodbye, we remember them in their most vibrant, most laughter-drenched, most influential state.  The spirit of who they were inspire our future as much as they lit-up our past.

With loss, I am again reminded that change is the only constant in life, and the importance of the present is ever-felt.  We have hopes for future adventures on the horizon, but for now are comfortable letting them play out in due time while we keep our eyes wide open on the here and now as our family grows, laughs, cries, screams, learns  and loves together.

Night falls on the forest beyond the window, the glow of candles and Christmas lights take center stage.  In the warmth of this evening, I send you love and hope for a beautiful year.  May you recognize the best in the people around you, and enjoy the simplest of comforts.  Thank you for your own light in our lives, the love and laughter you’ve provided to our past and present.  May all of our futures be warm and bright. 

With Love, 

Kim

Christmas 2012

2012 In Review

December's Christmas Greeting

Dear Friends and Family,

Sitting in a sun-drenched living room, listening to the cool wind blow the chimes on the deck, enjoying a rare moment of quiet with a sleeping infant and kids off for some recreational time with their dad.  A tall, wild-looking Christmas tree stands in the corner proudly supporting years of collected ornaments dangling from wide-spaced branches.  

Life is good, remarkably, miraculously good.  In fact, I recognize we are living a very charmed period of our lives, one that we'll look back on one day as some of the BEST of days.  Past experiences and my current profession make me exquisitely aware of the fragility and unpredictable nature of life. We live lives in the constant flux of change, so I find myself yearning to slow down time, allow for these delicious moments with young, funny, beautiful children to be fully lived, fully appreciated, fully noticed and enjoyed.  The whine-free moments, that is.

2012 was a banner year for us.  For half the year, I waddled around pregnant, delighting in the kicks and flips of a little life inside.  Despite years of working with pregnant women, doing deliveries and advising on the nuts and bolts of making babies, there is no substitute for the experience.  The mystery and magic of life created left me enchanted and amazed.  Pregnancy also offered a rare bonding experience with some of my patients pregnant at the same time.  I had an unhide-able condition giving people an instant glimpse into my personal life.  The connections it created formed special bonds with patients that continue to grow as we raise our babies together.  Love that about Family Medicine.

As my ever-expanding belly reminded us of the shrinking space of our wee cabin, we made the decision to finally invest in a location, set down some roots in a place we've grown to love... a place that has meant recreation, relaxation and healing to us over the years.  We landed in a perch high in the mountains above Evergreen, on a little patch of land covered in trees.  We now watch the sun rise over the city every morning in splashes of pinks and oranges, observe  cloud formations drifting by and sinking  into the valley below, breathe in fresh pine air and relax in the quiet of country living.  It is a piece of heaven, a true escape when work is done.  It will be a great place to call home and to raise mountain-goat-like, nature-loving children.  Patrick and I have long loved city life and are glad to work our respective jobs in multicultural, busy urban locations; but the peace and quiet of home is an equally wonderful retreat.  Come visit!

In July we welcomed Samara Anne into our family and she has completely captured our hearts with her big blue eyes, toothless grin and infectious giggle.  Cici instantly turned into her second mother and Solomon has been fiercely protective of his baby sister. After fretting a bit about how a 3rd baby would rock our family dynamic, I now enjoy watching our remarkable children easily take on the responsibilities of big siblinghood.  Sweet Samara takes it all in, delights in her big sis and brother, and has perfected the ability to nap amidst noisy chaos.   

Cici and Solomon continue to thrive, grow and entertain us with their colorful personalities.  They started preschool this year, and love it, their teachers and the friend's they've made.  Cici is mature beyond her years and at the young age of 3 (now 4!) was an incredible help to me when I brought home a newborn.  She is kind, compassionate, nurturing, smart and funny, and has a bright sparkle in her eye.  Solomon is a boy’s boy who loves to help his dad outside, ride his bike, wrestle and practice flying around the house with his super powers.  He also wears his heart on his sleeve and still loves to cuddle.  Both children tease their parents as much as they get teased and have sparkling senses of humor.  

I am married to my best friend.  One of the highlights of my year was holding his hand in the labor suite of the hospital, sharing the intimate moment of welcoming a life into the world--a life that represents our love for each other, a life that carries a little bit of both of us in the fiber of her being.  Patrick is an incredible father and partner.  Despite our crazy schedules, he still finds time to make me laugh.

I continue to work in community health and love my job and coworkers.   Through their personal stories, my patients illustrate the difficulty of living lives challenged with unemployment, undocumentation, lack of insurance, violence, tragedy, and depression.  Yet my patients also amaze me with their resilience and ability to keep moving forward despite incredible life circumstances.  I am continually reminded of my own blessed life, am thankful for it every day, and inspired by many.

I love the holidays because they ask us to slow down, cozy up together under the twinkle of lights and take stock of the good things in our lives.  Thank you being those good things.  Life is worth living thanks to the relationships it allows us to form.  For us, life is valuable, better, memorable because of you.  May your holiday be merry and bright.

Love, 

Kim

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I love you family and friends.  This year we went on a hike.  Then we started preschool and I like preschool.  I like my cousin, but sometimes he goes in time-out.  Once me and Caden locked Daddy and Tonton and Pop-pop on the porch and Daddy had to swing like a monkey.  Then we um had swim lessons; I do like swim lessons, but my Daddy only watches me at swim lessons. I like to ride my big kid bike.  Merry Christmas everybody.

Love,

Solomon

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I love you family and friends.  I love you cousins.... and... (sigh, smile) uh, Merry Christmas.  This year we went to swim lessons, we went to school.  I like preschool because all my friends are there.  We moved to a new house and I know what our road is called: Squaw Mountain Trail.  And I became a big sister.  I like Samara.  I like being a big sister ‘cause I like to play with her.  This year I learned how to ride my big-kid bike.  And that's all.  Merry Christmas

Love, 

Valancia

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ahhhhhh-ah ah ah sbzzzzts (toothless grin)

Love, 

Samara

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2012 was a pretty awesome year. Momentous and fun events include the following: 

1) The birth of Samara Anne...who has captured all of our hearts and earned a nickname "Bunky." I love Samara's half smile, gorgeous blue eyes, and her insistence on being held at all times. Kim is already talking about a fourth while I am simultaneously looking into the living conditions at the local loony bins. 

2) Purchasing a beautiful house in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. While I am arguably the most unqualified person to own a house due to my inability to fix anything (thanks Dad!) I have to say that hanging out on 5 acres of tree covered land in Colorado is not a bad way to live. 

3) Marrying two really good friends Shawn and Lyndsey in August. Highlights included a reception with an oxygen table and a hookah bar.  

4) Seeing children from Haiti come home to their forever families. After two years of working what can only be described as the most bizarre and frustrating job ever as a Haiti adoption coordinator for over 70 families, I was thrilled to see 8 children from Haiti actually have their adoptions finalized and arrive home to live with their adoptive families. It's likely that our adoption program will have between 40-50 children come next year making it one of the largest and most successful Haiti adoptions programs in the country. I feel good about that.

5) Watching Valancia and Solomon naturally and beautifully take on their new roles as big sister and big brother. As amazing as Samara's presence in our family has been, it has been equally remarkable to watch Valancia and Solomon care for Samara. They are gentle, loving, and incredibly sensitive to the needs of their little sister. These two continue to amaze even their most ardent admirers. 

6) Valancia was the only child in her preschool class who knew what a trapezoid was! I have no idea where she learned that, but it's becoming increasingly evident that she will be smarter than her father in the next 1-2 years. 

7) Watching Solomon discover superheroes.  My son has decided that men wearing tights and capes are the greatest thing ever.  Solomon insists that he also has superpowers like Spiderman. When I  asked him what super power he has, he replied, ‘I can toot on people.”

8)2012 was a very good year in terms of discovering new music. My favorites from this year are River City Extension, Blind Pilot, and The Lumineers. If you are interested in really good folk/rock music let me know and I'll burn you a CD. 

9) The purchase of a 1976 Ford truck with a snow plow. Like Bunky, this truck has captured all of our hearts and has also been given a nickname; "Rusty." We look forward to Rusty clearing our driveway after big storms

and being a part of our family for a very long time. 

Merry Christmas!!

Love,  Patrick

Christmas 2011

2011 Year In Review

December's Christmas Greetings

Dear Friends and Family,

  Writing to you on a happy Saturday morning.  Mid-morning sunlight is filtering through evergreen branches outside, sparkling off the snowy ground.  A few deer congregate near an Aspen grove searching for greens in the winter landscape.  Solomon and Patrick are wrestling on the carpet while Cici sings "Wheels On The Bus."  The Christmas tree twinkles and proudly displays ornaments collected over the years.  They've gotten more love and attention this year by curious little hands yanking them off branches, inspecting them, and re-hanging them on overloaded branches drooping heavily with treasures.  Sadie-old-lady-dog is curled up in a patch of sunshine on the carpet, oblivious to the playful racket around her. In the midst of lives busy with work schedules, balancing child care, travel and responsibilities, these simple moments at home with all of us in the same room have become a most treasured time in the week.  In this moment, I send love and thoughts to you, our friends and family.  We have been blessed with health and well-being this last year and feel grateful to live in a beautiful place, to have jobs, to have healthy children who are learning and growing, and to have YOU in our lives creating a community of family, support and love.  Whether you live down the road or miles away, we are grateful for you in our lives and wish for you a happy holiday season.  

  I am starting year #2 at Clinica Family Health Services--a local community health system reaching out to the rapidly growing uninsured and under-insured population of our city.  After a year, my Spanish is getting a bit better; I have a familiar list of patients and am seeing extended families including pregnant moms, their children as well as their elderly parents.  Such relationships are one of my favorite parts of the job. The clinic I work in is a very well organized family practice endeavor, winning national attention for its approach to comprehensive family medicine.  I feel lucky work with great people in supportive system while trying to meet the needs of complicated patients who have little resources.  I have a full time schedule that I've packed into 3 long days, to afford more days at home with the kids--a perk of my job for which I'm incredibly grateful. Despite liking my job, there is no place like home with my funny, creative, energetic kids.  I like the quiet of early morning, stories told and songs sung by my inventive children, hugs and snuggles, and living/hiking/running amidst the mountain pine.  I dislike call nights away from home, fatigue, clutter and whining.  

  Patrick continues to keep ties closely drawn to Haiti through his work at CCAI adoption agency.  He travels to Haiti 3-4 times a year to introduce new adoptive parents to their children and to the country at large, helping them navigate the confusion of a new and chaotically vibrant country.  He has been able to keep close connections with the kids' biological mothers, passing pictures and stories back and forth. He has also managed to create a schedule that affords several days at home with the kids making him an active, consistent presence in the lives of our favorite little people.  He is a loving father and sensitive, patient husband; he continues to amaze me in how he chooses to live his life, pursuing his passion and keeping priorities always at the forefront.  Patrick loves cuddling his children, going on hikes, making jokes to Haitians in Creole, lazy mornings and watching his son hit baseballs.  Patrick dislikes temper-tantrums in public, Newt, and the BCS. 

  Cici and have surprised us this year in their rapidly developing dialog, animated personalities and their state of constant motion.  Cici continues to be a force.  What once was a skinny, starved, malnourished, fragile waif is now a strong, tall, affectionate girl with Attitude who provides a non-stop narrative on events seen and unseen in her world.  She outweighs and towers over her brother.  The fragility is gone.  Cici likes babies, Dora-the-explorer, swimming, her Super cape, singing, reading and chocolate milk.  She dislikes moths, bubblegum ice-cream, and going to the doctor.  Solomon is proving how little genetics play part in the realm of personalities: he is a little lively version of his father.  He has gone from a chunky-cheeked baby to a lean, energetic, well-coordinated bundle of boy who has mastered the art of teasing.  Solomon loves baseball, bikes, Scooby Doo, swimming, wrestling, silly words, juice and early morning snuggles.  Solomon dislikes being cold, flies, and scary monsters.   They both have giggles that are contagious, curiosity in the world around them, and miraculous patience with our busy schedules.  I struggle at missing the babies they used to be with amazement at what they understand, what they can accomplish, how they continually grow and learn.  They challenge us in their full-blown 3-ness which brings with it their ever-changing need for independence, oscillating moods, moments of brilliance and kindness followed by moments of dark clouds of defiance.  Through it all we attempt to recognize their needs for reassurance, affection and respect.  On our good days we do this well, but there are days when fatigue wins and it is just a big hot mess. Ah parenting.  Humbling. They continue to add perspective to our lives, challenge us to be better people, help us bring things down the most important, and remind us to laugh at our selves.

They both now have green-cards, applications for citizenship are in the mail, and we have hopes of them being passport-carrying Americans in the year to come.  After this, all legalities will be finished and the world will once again open up to our family for discovery and exploration together.  Yeah!

  In a time when so many struggle with financial straits, worries about the future, illness, loss and uncertainty, we pray that the seasons offers for you all time to celebrate and snuggle into what makes life miraculous and important.  May you hold loved ones close, take nothing for granted, enjoy the resilient beauty of nature, and hope in what a sunrise can bring.  We send love and laughter from our perch in the pines and wish you the happiest of holidays, health, healing and contentment.  

With love,

Kim

I want to tell you I love you.  We couldn't walk (when we were babies), now we can ride our tricycles on the road.  We can ride it on the platform.  We can run and swim.  I like to paint paper, I like to ride my bike up the road... no, down the road.  Can I ride my bike, Mommy?  We can run and play.  I played with my friends. I had a birthday, I played in a bouncy castle and ate birthday cake and I blew out all the candles.  I go "whhoooooo" then I got a hat.  We went on road trips this year to Nana and Pop-pop's.  We went on a road trip to see Grandma Jane and Grandpa Craig.  My cousins were there.  They were driving driving there.  Arriba UP, Abajo DOWN.  I want to sing "If you're happy and you know it."  I want my brother to have a turn now. Merry Christmas.  I'm done with my letter now.  I love you.

Love, 

Cici 

Ummmmmmmm.  Trick or treat.  Dinky dinky.  We can do, um, I can hit baseballs and go under the water and hold my nose.  I run fast.  I like to go in the bouncy castle.  I like to go to Nana and Pop-pop's to see GG and Conor-Bean and Caden.  Cows.  And hay.  And combines.  Um, I like to eat pizza and I eat it all gone in my tummy. I had a birthday day--one, two, THREE.  I want to count, one, two, three, four.   We have snow outside now.  Knock, knock (who's there?). Stinky.  Um I want pizza now.  Merry Christmas.  I love you.  I say I love you, mom.

Love,

Solomon

2011 was a fascinating year as I watched my two little babies turn into 3 year-olds. Three is a particularly interesting year. Solomon and Cici fill each day with laughter and joy, and also frustration and temporary insanity. Being a parent to two 3 year-olds is quite an adventure. But primarily it is a gift...a very demanding gift. Parenting 3 year-olds requires that you always work on being more patient, loving, and compassionate. As kooky as they are, Solomon and Cici live out these qualities better than most...except for maybe the patient part. I am in love with them both and feel incredibly fortunate for their presence in my life. 

Cici has continued to grow into a beautiful little girl. The days of seeing her exposed ribs and cheek bones are long gone. In fact, Cici recently landed herself in the 85th percentile of both height and weight. This has resulted in her new nickname "85." She has an equally big personality, which is defined by an unparalleled sweetness. Cici is an amazing care giver, always searching for a baby to care for and looking out for the needs of her little brother. She is also extremely bossy. Our little Napoleon does not hesitate to tell you in no uncertain terms exactly what she wants. In truth, I'm kind of afraid of her...as much as one can be afraid of a 3 year-old. One of my favorite things about Cici is that she is always giving unsolicited hugs and saying "I love you" to her family. She is filled with a sensitivity and wisdom uncommon for such a young soul. I suspect Valancia will do great things with her life simply because she loves so easily and has a curiousness about the world around her.

Solomon has continued to not grow. He is our little shrimp, but he makes up for it with an unlimited amount of energy. Solomon has many talents, including an incredible ability to jump from any place in the room onto my stomach when I am not looking. He loves to be active and particularly enjoys playing baseball and hitting the ball like "Tulo." Solomon's ability to climb mountains is also impressive as he scales rocks and traverses steep hills without any assistance from his nervous parents. Like his sister, Solomon does not lack for personality. He has extremely animated facial expressions and the greatest belly laugh that I've ever heard. In addition, Solomon has also created a language all his own which he routinely employs. My favorite Solomon word creation is "Icky boogy"; a mythical figure who appears to evoke crazy dancing and a burst of shear happiness in both Solomon and Cici. One of my favorite things about Solomon is that he usually wakes up slowly like his dad. There are many mornings when Solomon and I cuddle on the couch and enjoy our juice and coffee respectively while allowing the day to unfold before us. These are cherished moments as Solomon is a man on the move, always entertaining those around him.

Then there is my wife; Kim and I have managed to remain married amidst the chaos of Hurricane Solomon-Cici. Kim continues to do an amazing job of balancing her very demanding job as a doctor with her even more demanding job of living with two 3 year-olds and me. She wakes up most mornings at 4 am and goes running...seriously. I've never understood where she gets the absurd amount of energy that she has, but I'm really thankful for it these days. I'm a lucky man to be married to such a talented woman, especially one that I adore.

I recently celebrated my one-year anniversary of running CCAI's Haiti Adoption Program by taking my third trip to Haiti with adoptive families. I enjoy my job and feel really lucky to have landed a position that affords me the opportunity to stay connected to Haiti. Leaving Haiti in the manner that we did was devastating. So having this job has helped ease some of the disappointment that came from our radical life shift after the earthquake. On the other hand, navigating between anxious families and arguably the most dysfunctional country in the world has its challenges. Everyday at work is filled with victories and setbacks, but I'm glad to be a part of them and look forward to watching several of our families bring their beautiful children home next year.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a 2012 filled with peace and contentment.

Patrick

Merry Christmas 2010

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas.

May you find moments of peace this season, and reflect on the blessings of your life.

May you pray for those burdened with hunger, poverty, violence and strife.

May you know you are loved

Dear Friends and Family,

Last night I introduced a holiday tradition for the first time to my children. We pulled a pillow under the Christmas tree, and lay together beneath the boughs looking up through layers of evergreen and twinkling lights. As little fingers pointed out different glowing colors and ornaments that swung above their eyes, I soaked in a precious moment, familiar in the tradition yet with faces of a new generation.

2010 has been a year worthy of a spectrum of adjectives: Tragic. Grief-stricken. Unbalanced. Disorienting. Blessed. Challenging. Frustrating. Inspiring. Renewing. A year too big to capture in a letter; emotions too vast to sum up in words. But what a year it has been. A year ago, we were a family of three, living and working in Haiti, realizing long-held dreams of international work, service and cultural emersion. Last Christmas we celebrated in tank tops under a hot sun and sultry tropical breezes. Tonight I sit by a roaring fire in layers of fleece, watching snow fall on aspen.

Days after ringing in the 2010 New Year, our world shook for a violent 45 minutes, our home and place of work came crumbling down with the rest of Port-au-Prince, and our lives and the lives of hundreds of thousands of others were forever changed. We survived, many didn’t. As the dust settled, our work, home and family were soon to be redefined.

In the days following the earthquake, we did what we could amidst rock piles and loss, locating supplies, finding friends, helping where we were able, standing in solidarity with a community we had grown to love like home. As we grieved lives lost, projects in ruin, a city in enormous suffering, we were simultaneously matched with our daughter, Valancia—a tiny, severely malnourished but incredibly strong and affectionate little girl. Several weeks following the earthquake, we were evacuated out with 82 children of an orphanage in the belly of a military cargo plane, and Valancia settled into our lives. She has taught us about survival, acclamation and love in ways we can hardly believe.

For most of the year we were homeless vagabonds taking refuge with friends and family everywhere from the mountains of Haiti, the neighborhood of Klercin, the countryside of Kansas and Iowa, and in communities around Denver and Kansas City. We had planned on returning to work in Haiti, immigration difficulty surrounding the adoption of our children forced us to say good-bye to our hopes of being part of the re-building process with our partners in Port-au-Prince. We unpacked out bags in Evergreen, Colorado and started re-establishing jobs, a home and routine again. These days “home” is a small cabin in the mountains—a wild refuge where our concrete jungle days have been replaced by pine and aspen trees, visits from birds, fox, chipmunk and deer. We’ve struggled with rectifying our guilt for taking comfort in this peaceful place while our hearts pull to the beautiful chaos of a tropical country we miss. But life goes on.

Solomon has stretched and grown into an active, happy, spirited, cuddly and athletic little boy. With only a few growing pains, he has welcomed Valancia as a virtual twin sister, and together they race, give “lovies,” dance to and play music, sing songs and discover new ways to mess-make. I no longer recognize the starved little girl from an orphanage in my daughter’s eyes. She healed at a remarkable pace, and now is running, climbing, talk-talk-talking, laughing, hugging, kissing, and loving at the same pace as her brother. Solomon loves cereal, puppy dogs, tackling his sister and jumping off things. He dislikes plastic toy whales and good-byes. Cici loves chocolate milk, “babies,” bellies and her red boots. She dislikes floating pieces of paper in the bathtub and getting her hair combed. Both astound and entertain us on a daily basis. They have been our champions for moving forward, climbing out of despair and dreams fractured, helping to manufacture new vision and hope for our days. They have grown sturdy mountain legs, love watching wildlife out of our cabin windows, and their magnetic personalities charm everyone from friends and family to strangers in the street.

Patrick has finished the year with Global Ministries, monthly traveling to Haiti visiting our friends and partners, escorting groups down and advocating awareness and action. His trips have been complicated by a dire situation turning ever more difficult as one tragedy and upheaval after another affect the country. He has worked diligently, keeping tabs on the news, on friends, studying Creole and working to find ways to get supplies and funds to people who can use them well. For 2011, he has accepted a job with CCAI—the organization through which we adopted our kids, and will work as the director for Haiti, keeping his passion for the people and children of that country alive and active. Patrick likes hiking, reading books with the kids, chopping wood like Paul Bunyan and home-cooked Haitian food. He dislikes traffic and sleepless nights.

I am working at a community health center in Denver, serving the poor and uninsured of urban Middle America. Certainly I’ve experienced a new culture shock of working within a community of professionals in a highly organized and functional clinic system and amidst a new culture of patients. For jobs here, it is as perfect of a match as I could hope to find. One day I dream of building clinics out of boxes in underserved areas of the world once again (the challenge and adventure is addictive), but I am happy serving an international mix of patients here in a job that allows me to be an active mother as well. Raggedy Spanish is replacing my Creole, and I salute anyone who can keep more than two languages alive and functional in their heads. Not easy at all. I like hot coffee, the mountain-sun-and-sky view from our windows, the giggles of my children when tickled and a crackling fire. I dislike whining and “coaches” on work-out videos.

This year, we witnessed incredible suffering. We’ve lost friends, colleagues, and students. We’ve watched as loved-ones suffer loss, struggle with disease, battle with love lost and economic strife. Our family momentarily lost material possession, home, work, and foothold. But despite the tragedy that has weighed heavy on this year, luck and love overwhelm the loss. We celebrate and are humbled by friends and family who surrounded us, held us, fed us, loved us at our most fragile, took us in and showed us the beauty and healing of community unlike anything we’d ever previously experienced. We’ve been inspired by suffering people who choose to move ever forward in incredible demonstrations of resilience and spirit. We’ve become a family of four--a chaotic, growing, learning, laughing family of four. We’ve had to learn how to let go, be flexible, find humor and redefine our dreams, moving forward with the help of many.

This year I celebrate the Christmas season in the country of my birth and culture, appreciating piped-in Christmas music while I grocery shop, the ease of the “drop in” at the homes of friends, the comforts of family within a quick phone call or a small road trip, and snow sparkling like glitter in the sunlight. No matter what life has in store for us in the future, in the NOW I can only feel privileged and blessed with the tremendous gifts of love, health and safety we revel in.

Our prayers are always with the people of Haiti. Our thoughts are with you in this season of love and reconnection. May you revel in the traditions and magic of the season. May your tragedies be balanced with love, your loss be countered with the gift of life, your struggles be enlightened by new insight and growth.

With love and gratitude the gift of YOU in our lives,

Kim, Patrick, Solomon and Valancia

I've been absent on this blog for a long time. Starting a new job, balancing being a full-time working mom and the precious hours I get to be home has been a challenging transition. Slowly we are settling in to a routine. I'm happy to be working in a community health center with a largely Latino, uninsured, underserved population... Somedays I feel like I'm in another country without need for a passport.

And as we adjust to this American life, our hearts still pull toward Haiti.

I just read a blog by a woman living and working in Haiti. I haven't read her before, but this entry made me weep. She writes honestly and brutally about the orphan situation that patrick and I struggled so hard with while we lived there. And I want to repost her writing because I feel like what she describes needs to be read, needs to be considered. Although I had walked through so many of the experiences she described, I was shocked how raw my emotions felt reading her descriptions... as if I was too quick to cover up the truth of the situation in Haiti, padding my soul so it didn't hurt anymore. But sometimes we need to be reminded of pain to be jump started into action. Emerge out of apathy. Throwing away, "its not my problemness." Because we are human. And it IS our problem.

Her blog is: http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/

THIS is the post I needed to read tonight. I hope you are equally moved.

New Gig

I am pleased to announce that I will be continuing to work for Global Ministries and CONASPEH for the next 4-6 months. This position will be a transition job for myself and CONASPEH until they hire full-time missionaries in Haiti to replace Kim and I. My primary duties will be to organize and lead three groups traveling to Haiti for various reasons in the next few months. I will also continue making public presentations on the work of CONASPEH, as well as the history and culture of Haiti. I am excited for the opportunity to keep working for and with the amazing people of Haiti.

Patrick

I want you to meet....

Frank and Jillian.

I stumbled across their blog for the first time after catching up with Haiti friends, Ben and Alexis.

We met Jillian for the first time during Lent, 2009. She was one of several in the group that I vowed would become good friends during our time in Haiti. At the time, she was living apart from her newlywed husband who had plans to move to Port-au-Prince after the holidays. And he did. And they experienced the earthquake as harshly as any survivors did.

I've spent the evening devouring their blog, loving the pictures and the descriptions of daily life that at times sounds hauntingly a whole lot like pre-quake Haiti.

Because I'm not there, no longer a voice for the experience of living in that amazing country, I'd like to share their blog with you. Because they are there. Living it. Loving it most days, but honest about the grit.

http://goatpath.wordpress.com

Enjoy.

A Good Day

This afternoon the sun shines in a cloudless sky, illuminating the light green aspen leaves, highlighting every turn of leaf and wave of branch. The world looks sun-drenched and washed. Rains fall nearly every day in the mountains this time of year, and as a result we are surrounded by lush green and cool evenings. This morning, during my run, a single cloud in the sky burst sending a gentle rain misting down while the sun shown brightly overhead, creating an incredible weather dichotomy. Warm sun shining and cool rain falling, neither sacrificing the other. Pondering the magic of it all nearly distracted me from the task at hand... RUNNING.

Huffing and puffing doesn’t begin to describe what I look like on my first weeks of running in the mountains. Pasty, gasping and heaving paints a more clear picture. Incredible how lack of oxygen to the brain, tho, creates a unique high... and nausea. If I get in shape here, I am going to be brazen about how awesome I am. As it is, I still get dizzy and feel my lungs expanding well past their normal boundaries in efforts to find useable oxygen--sometimes I think I even TASTE them. I celebrate when I can run longer than ONE MINUTE (count it, 60 painful seconds) as I'm heading the return trip back UP the mountain toward home and water and couch and snacks. Oh its so deceiving... I take off from home feeling like a million bucks... run for 20 or 30 minutes and think "man, I'm doing awesome," conveniently ignoring the fact that I've been running downhill the ENTIRE time, letting gravity be my fuel. Getting home is another game COMPLETELY. But the scenery is breathtaking (or is the altitude or my out-of-shapeness?), and I keep shaking my head in wonder that we really LIVE here now. Incredible.

Despite coughing up a lung today, I feel great after my run. I'm having one of those days which I am inspired to get my life back into rhythm and balance with the universe. Of course this usually means first making a list (there is always a list, I'm so type A) of goals and hopes for the oncoming year. 2010 has had a rough and challenging start, but one that despite its tragedy and trials has gifted us with tremendous love, generosity, and a new-improved family. We've seen the true colors of family and friends, and let me tell you--they are spectacular. We also found out what we are able to survive and weather. Instead of throwing the books at 2010, I'm hoping that we can take a rocky beginning and round out the year stronger, healthier, better for it all.

Solomon, Valancia and I just came in from playing outside... throwing pinecones at trees (rather than at sisters, brothers or mommies), climbing over rocks and playing "jump-jump" and "run-into-a-hug" (highly technical, evolved games, I assure you). They are currently in a window of cute behavior and loving on each other in ways that makes me want to bronze a moment and live in it for all time. When Cici throws her arms around Solomon's neck, or Solomon takes Cici's face in his hands and brings her in for a smooch, when they walk hand-in-hand up a hill, everything else melts away and I instantly forget the previous episode of slap-fight or screaming match. I am so glad I have them, but even more grateful that they have each other. I'm not so neive to think that their lives will be charmed and trouble free. They are growing up in a family that will cause the parts of the world that are unkind to question or judge. I pray that we'll get through such rocky moments with love and grace. But when I look at my kids, at the way they are becoming such good friends, I know that no matter what they'll have to face, they'll do so having the other there to understand, to sympathize, to walk the sometimes bumpy road. I am reminded of all the things my brother and I have weathered together, the history and stories we share. Chris makes me stronger just knowing there is another person in the world who understands, who comes from the same beginnings and who has my back no matter what. I was gifted with a best friend conveniently packaged within a family. I am SO GRATEFUL my children have the opportunity for such a relationship and that they are so quickly well on their way on becoming great friends.

Strangers often ask if my kids are twins. No... born on a different day, to different mothers, but brought under the same roof by a twist of fate and a whole lot of luck. Siblings, yes. And may they forever be so. In the best sense of the word.

So on this gorgeous day that invites reflection and play, I celebrate how far we've come as a family and what we've become. I soak in the here-and-now with the warm sunshine. I give thanks for sun and rain, for lungs that breathe (no matter how dramatically), for kindness shown between children, for my family and precious time to play, to explore and to cherish each other.