April 2007. Dear Maya, Get ready for another inspirational journal entry! Some months ago, you told me that when you grow up, you’d like to be a librarian and a writer. You specifically said that you would like to write for newspapers.  At that time, I told you that you could start writing for newspapers…

October 2013. Dear Maya, You are growing into your 13. I’m not sure what that means, but I’m witnessing it.  Perhaps it means that you are more comfortable in finding yourself, the Maya that you’ve been with until now and at the same time, stretching and being more grown up.  Before that, I think you…

September 2004. Dinner conversation… Maya:                  When I grow up, am I going to be a boy or a man? Mommy:              No, Maya, you’ll probably be a woman. Maya:                  Pwobably? Mommy:              Yes.  You’ll grow up to be a woman.  Girls do grow up to be women.  But some people choose to change that. Dad:                    (eyes roll) Adin:                   Yeah, like those…

I’ve asked people I know that have lost one of their children, “how is it possible that you can you go on?” My dad, 95, shared as he was stroking my hand, “time, Elise. Give it time.”  He knows this one well, as my sister Steffie passed over forty years ago.  Karen whispered gently to…

August 31, 2008. Maya dear, As I make this entry, you are drifting off to sleep (hopefully) with your three friends, Noam, Gabriel and Tuli, for it is your last night of being seven and you are celebrating turning eight. It’s a whirlwind of a party as you started at the Inner Wall.  You then…

Journal entry from June 2006. Dear Maya, We have much of your art work hanging on the walls of the house.  Yesterday, you had a pen in hand and started writing on a piece of your art that you created last year.  It was a very innocent act, yet I over reacted and yelled at…

Journal entry from September 2000. Welcome to the World, Sweet Maya Gold! I’m so happy that you’ve come to join us. I have nothing but love for you.  You were born into a family of love.  You have already given Adin an opportunity to be a proud big brother.  He is so gentle with you….

When I was a young adult, my mom shared with me, “Elise, it is not for me that I’d want you to have children. For me, it’s not about being a grandmother.  I would want for you to experience the joy that you and your sisters gave me.  You have given me such joy.  Know…