how lucky I am.

Last week, my mom and I got to see our sweet Niva Grace (aka Halle) for the first time in almost a year. She is three and a half now and lives in Iowa with her mom, sister, and new stepdad (we were in Iowa for the wedding!). Niva Grace and I have always had a special relationship. However, since it had been 11 months since we'd last seen her, Trish wondered if she would even remember me. I knew she would. And she did.

Mom captured some photos of our very happy reunion.

Leaving her in Iowa the next day was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It was ten times harder than the first time I had to say goodbye to her - for both of us.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Carol Sobieski and Thomas Meehan, Annie

This foster care stuff is not for the faint of heart.