In A Community Who Lifts One Another...

Here’s Lief at Camp Firwood ❤️

A heartfelt update—and so much gratitude.

Last week brought another family-court hearing and a very steep learning curve. The outcome required me to pivot, regroup, and prepare for our next hearing on September 1. At that hearing, I will be asking the court to allow me to enroll Lief in his local public school without further interference.

Navigating this process continues to require time away from work, resulting in lost income at an already difficult time. These are steps I must take to advocate for my son’s stability, education, and well-being.

At the same time, new work opportunities are developing, and I am doing everything I can to move our lives toward greater financial stability. I have received so many words of encouragement, and they have carried me through moments when everything felt especially heavy. Every donation, share, message, and act of kindness reminds me that we are not navigating this alone.

For now, here is a picture of Lief on his first day of camp—his first weeklong overnight camp. He did not want to go. He didn’t know anyone, and understandably, he was nervous. After a lot of encouragement, I told him I had faith in him and knew he could do something that felt hard.

And he did.

When he came home, he said he had a good time. Not a great time—he is 13, after all, and apparently only so much exuberance is allowed. But he went, stayed the entire week, met new people, and proved to himself that he could do it. I am incredibly proud of him.

Thank you for having faith in us, too. Your kindness and encouragement mean more than I can adequately express. If you are able to donate or share this campaign, it would help carry us through this next stretch.

I am in immense gratitude for the support I have been shown. Tears of gratitude. Thank you to everyone who has donated, expressed support. Tomorrow I have a court hearing to advocate for my son Lief, facing enormous abuse from his father. All prayers are welcome. For now, here is Lief starting his first away camp. He didn’t want to go. He was afraid. No known friends and yet, as I needed to leave, Henry and his Mom Shawn said, yes! We’ve got him! Thus village grows, and morphs and adapts and becomes. I am so grateful!