Mary dons cap and gown

Earlier this month, we celebrated the graduation of our former nanny, Mary. She leaves academia with a master's in social work. The world's children will be better for it.

She blessed Claire with attention and caring as if she were kin. We know, too, that her compassion for cchildren extends to those less fortunate--foster children whom she oversaw as an intern for the state child welfare office, orphans in the Kenyan bush whom she spent Christmas with as tutor and stand-in physician, Hispanic families she drove 120 miles one way twice a week to interview on the coast.

Mary's got one of the biggest hearts we've ever met. Our afternoon and dinner with her family on graduation day only confirmed that. We'll miss her. Fortunately, she hopes to stick around here, helping Oregon's less fortunate kids find good homes.