Hapde burfday Sam!

 My dearest Samantha,

Today you are 10! 

At 10 you are: 

Developing a much more mature attitude 

Still into art 

Always with a book, a pile of books, heaps of books (the library closure has been a little bit of a challenge)

Honest 

Responsible 

A font of knowledge (gleaned from all those books) 

Starting to enjoy video games as much as your brothers (and maybe the most tech savvy kid when it comes to the nuts and bolts)

Growing! Finally into a size that matches your age 

Not the least bit interested in things like combing your hair (cough), fashion, or makeup 

Obsessed with Mac n cheese but starting to branch out and not complain about trying new foods 

Often found wandering around the house from place to place with your chromebook (still cant sit still, eh?)

You are such a great  kid! I continue to be amazed at how different you are from the boys, and I can’t wait to keep watching you grow! I hope that as we enter the preteen years you are able to continue to hold true to yourself - never let anyone tell you it isn’t cool to just be you.

Love, mom 

New year, a letter to the children

My darlings, 

At some point in the future you will look back upon this time. I sincerely hope that when you do you remember to be proud of yourselves. You have given up everything this year - clubs, sports, school, parties, play dates, visits to Santa, holidays with extended family, vacations, day trips. Not only have you done it, but you’ve done it well and without complaint. You’ve made a tremendous sacrifice to protect the health of dad and I, and of our neighbors and community.  I

Don’t want you to look back and see as it as sacrifice, instead I want you to see it as proof that you can do anything! You can do all the hard things, the unexpected things, the seemingly impossible (and never ending) things. You can depend on each other. You can find joy and peace in small

Places and with just the things around you. I simply could not be prouder of all you for doing what so many adults have been unable to do. We’ve turned the page to a new year, and with it comes renewed hope that at some point this year we shall return to some sort of life out of our big little house (that has sheltered us so, so well). I hope we all carry the messages of this time with us forever. Ever forward. 

Love,

Mom