Samara, the youngest of our six children, is fifteen years old today. Her journey with us from Guatemala City, Guatemala, to this moment in Santa Clarita, California, has been anything but boring. She laughs forcefully, cries hysterically, screams loudly, and loves cautiously. She fills our days with the extremes of each emotion. She is tough, tougher than her tiny frame would indicate, yet fragile too. And she is finding new and exciting ways to embrace and celebrate her uniqueness.

The photo above was taken last night as the setting sun slipped through the leaves of the pepper tree in our front yard. I can’t believe she is fifteen. Happy Birthday, Samara. We love you.

Jeff Turner

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