Author archives: Julie Kim
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Dear Romy,
My small but mighty, fun and free spirited child.
My littlest sidekick with the strongest kick but who also happens to pack the biggest punch.
The one who fully knows how to kick back and live life to the fullest, from demanding back scratches to leg and foot massages after a long [...]
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Dear Jason,
Two months ago, you spent your birthday at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Yesterday, you spent our Anniversary at The Hospital for Sick Children.
Either we have terrible luck or we're just terrible parents. But really I suspect our girls are trying to steal our shine.
This p[...]
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Dear Zoey Yuna,
Turning, changing, growing.
You are a tiger turned Yuna-corn.
I think it may have happened around seven magical months ago, around the same time you got your magical, sparkly, brand new rainbow-tastic braces.
It all happened right before my eyes, in a blink of an eye. A tru[...]
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Dear Jason,
You plan. You're a planner. Even your plans have plans.
But nothing could prepare you for what happened on the morning of your birthday.
On our much anticipated, nine years in the making, family road trip to Virginia Beach, you had many pit stops planned out but a pit stop to the [...]
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Dear Appa,
When we look at you, what do we see?
We see your belly that sticks out just a tad bit.
We see your scratchy chin and overgrown helmet hair.
We see your big wrestling arms and your tickle monster hands.
We see a Sir Yells-A-Lot.
And a Mr. Clean Drill Sergeant.
If you're no[...]
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Dear Emma,
For you, some things just take time.
Like finishing your meal.
Cleaning up your toys.
Finishing your homework.
Getting dressed.
Getting your attention.
Getting out the door.
Even blowing out one small candle.
Some things even take six years.
Like finishing your meal.
Mast[...]
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Dear Romy, my roamer.
Born in the year of the Horse, wild and free, you love to run and roam, of course.
Born into a family with two sisters, a Tiger and a Dragon, you've always loved company and embraced chaos.
You've always had a strong kick yet a twinkle to your trot.
You stand your groun[...]
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Dear Jason,
And so here we are.
10 years up and off the ground.
Somewhere on this steep and slippery slope.
We are here.
At the beginning of our forever, we stood at the base of what we would soon come to realize was our mountain.
10 years back, at the base, we dreamed big.
Backpackin[...]
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Dear Zoey,
Born in the year of the tiger.
You are one of its kind.
You are not just a tiger.
You are our timid tiger.
You have a loud roar, yet you are afraid to let others hear even a peep.
You are nervous in front of crowds, but feel at ease close to your tribe.
You have quite the a[...]
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Dear Jason,
This past year, there were pluses.
And there were minuses.
And then there were minuses that divided us.
But through it all, it added up to another blessed year.
Rewind back ten plus years and the pluses outnumbered the minuses.
Or at least it seemed to outshine them.
It was [...]
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Dear Appa,
You wear hats. Many of them.
Brown, black, green, warm, casual and spiffy.
When you wear your clown hat, you make us laugh until our tummies and cheeks hurt.
And when our tummies and cheeks hurt, you quickly change into your doctor dad hat.
Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, you put on [...]
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Dear Emma,
Five years ago, I was in awe of how tiny your fingers and toes were.
Five days ago, I can't believe you turned five years old.
That's one whole hand!
Through the short five years, your feet have already journeyed so many miles and your hands have accomplished so many things.
Now [...]
