March roundup

Molly and her birthday twin, Montse, on their birthday:

Another Molly birthday picture:

Dieter, me, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Cyndi (they had planned to visit Mary before she died, and kindly kept their trip and came and stayed with me anyway):

Molly & Lulu:

Molly ready to swim:

Dieter & I:

With Molly this time

Happy Birthday Mollly

You are turning twelve, even though it feels like the world has stopped. It's been months of deferred attention, and even your birthday week has been interrupted by life: by the death of your Nona. And you have shown incredible grace, strength, and clarity in these difficult times. Zach says (and I think he gets this from somewhere, but I can't remember his source): difficulty doesn't make character, rather it reveals character. And the difficulties of the past months have revealed so much of your remarkable character. One that rises to the occasion, looks around, sees what needs to be done, and does it. 

Nona always loved these birthday letters to you and Clara. I'm not sure what the next year will have in store for us, much less for this blog. But in Nona's honor, I am, at the very least, posting this letter to you, my amazing Molly, on your twelfth birthday. May it be filled with light and peace. 

Love always, mama