"Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?"

           - Golde, Fiddler on the Roof

From Father
Daughter
dance to...

Junior Prom

As our June newsletter came together and various graduation pictures were gathered, I was reminded again and again that our children are becoming young adults. As parents, we watch in amazement as each child grows into his or her own personality, and develops the skills that will take them wherever they choose to go. Of course, this growth does not always unfold easily or gracefully, with many battles and sleepless nights along the way - naturally, the reason behind the sleep deprivation changes throughout our kids' stages as well!  Investing in the life of a child - any child, whether age 2 or 20; girl or boy - is a gift that we give to the world. We pay it forward to the next generation for all the gifts we were given as children that have developed into the strengths that we have today.

I often remember what one prospective adoptive father once told me, "I would like to give to my adopted child the gift of a family that they can take for granted".

May we all play a part in bringing that gift to the world's children!

- Wendy  Stanley