{"id":12326,"date":"2025-09-23T14:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T21:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adoptedjoy.com\/?p=12326"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:28:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T21:28:12","slug":"18-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adoptedjoy.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/23\/18-2\/","title":{"rendered":"18"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week we had what can only be described as a low-key birthday celebration. It’s been an amazing year for Xavier! He completed his GED in just four months, and is on a college path to a medical career. I am beyond proud – not only of what he has accomplished, but his growth as a person. I feel incredibly blessed to be his “other-mother”! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, though he didn’t want a big whoop-de-do for his birthday, we had to do a little celebrating. At Grandma’s for the typical Sunday festivities, in addition to the In-N-Out burgers, there were veggies, shrimp cocktail, strawberries and whipped cream o’plenty, and of course delicious cake. (And I may have stepped out onto the patio to try to capture one of the many bees buzzing around Granda’s enormus Desert Bird Of Paradise<\/em> bush – no joy, they were too fast for me – but the flowers are beauteous!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snaps of the day:<\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n\n\n\n

And, whilst I was slicing the cake, Jacob had my camera and took a few photos of his own…<\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_1_placeholder\n\n\n\n

Natalie has been ramping up her school sports photography again this year. Here’s one of my favorites from last week at a football game:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This week we had what can only be described as a low-key birthday celebration. It’s been an amazing year for Xavier! He completed his GED in just four months, and is on a college path to a medical career. I am beyond proud – not only of what he has accomplished, but his growth as […]<\/p>\n

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