When Mary Alice sees Julia, she calls her ‘sister’. I don’t know when that started, but hearing them call one another ‘sister’ as they play together and spend time together strikes a chord deep inside me.

Julia is old enough to remember many of the miscarriages. She remembers when Brian and I told her that we were not able to carry more children. She stood with us in the courtroom when we adopted Riley. And she was standing next to me when I was healed during Adoration.

She knows the treasure she has and is with more siblings.

This summer, we filled up our hearts and every empty, awkward moment with one another. We rode out chapters one and two in this crazy Pandemic with one another.

I watched as Mary Alice made precious memories with her big sister in college. I watched as Julia soaked up spending bonus time with her sister.

As I watched from the other room, I could hear the Magnificat, playing deep inside my memory:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
who has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”