Get to know me and allow me to share some perspectives on current adoption or foster care issues. In addition, the newsletter will immerse you in the beauty of nature and offer encouragement to get through the month ahead. The newsletter comes out bi-monthly, so it won’t clog up your inbox.

Dear Friend  This time of year is birthday season at our house. Over the years, this has meant different things. Sometimes it has involved themed parties with running, screaming children. At times, there were more quiet whispering sleepovers with late-night movies. As time has moved on, birthdays have sometimes become more efficient. There may be a transfer of money and a family dinner out.  But birthdays can be more complicated than a simple celebration. They can remind us of people who are no longer with us, or give us too much time to reflect on what might have been over the course of a person’s life. I have been thinking about the evolution of birthdays in our family and wondering how they might proceed into the future. I know my hope is that birthdays, going forward, will allow us a day to remind my family members of their value to our family and in the greater world.  Even if no one else is present to take note, I hope we all take advantage of our birthdays to do something nice for ourselves. Get a coffee and a moment out. Take a walk and remember the happy moments of the past year. Life is too short to spend too much time wallowing in our insecurities and regrets. A birthday can give us the excuse to be kind to ourselves, and we should use it that way.