The Making of
the Seven Cs

Jeremy is the kind of person who doesn't make a lot of noise about the things he carries — he just carries them. He's the steady presence behind this family's story, the one who showed up every day and figured it out.

Fostering had been on Jeremy's heart for a long time — since before the kids, likely before the wedding. When someday finally arrived, it was Jeremy who — walking into the foster care process — said the words that would define their entire journey: let's keep the siblings together. That one decision changed everything.

Jeremy works remotely, which has proven to be one of those quiet provisions that makes the daily rhythm of a seven-person household actually possible. He is also the worship leader at their church — where Nellie has recently started joining him on stage, which might be one of our favorite new developments around here.

If Jeremy is the steady hand, Lindsey is the engine. She is the one who keeps seven people fed, loved, scheduled, and moving in the right direction — often all at the same time.

Fostering had been on Lindsey's heart since long before it happened — one of those quiet callings that sat patiently until the timing was right. When the 3 Cs arrived, she didn't just open the door. She learned their therapies, showed up to every IEP meeting ready to advocate, fought for what each child needed, and built a routine out of what most people would call chaos. She gets them to OT, PT, Speech, and BT. She tracks the progress. She celebrates every milestone — because she knows how hard every single one was earned.

We won't pretend any of this is easy. But Lindsey makes it look like love — because to her, that's exactly what it is.

Nellie is fifteen going on thirty-five — in the best possible way. She was our first, our only child for more than nine years, and the only grandkid for many of those years. She had every bit of our attention and love, and she soaked it all in. She was also, from very early on, asking for siblings. Long before Matthew, long before the 3 Cs, Nellie knew this family was meant to be bigger.

When Matthew finally arrived, she stepped straight into "little mama" mode without being asked — and she hasn't stepped out of it since. When the 3 Cs came home and this family went from a chill family of four to complete, beautiful, wonderful chaos overnight, Nellie didn't flinch. She rolled up her sleeves. She helps get everyone ready, keeps up with the constant movement, and brings a steady presence to the whirlwind that is daily life for seven people. We genuinely couldn't do this without her.

She has a special bond with all three of the Cs, though Charlie — now thoroughly a mama's boy — attached himself to Nellie first. Something about her just made him feel safe, right from the beginning.

Nellie has been homeschooled her whole life. She's a reader. She sings, and has recently started joining her dad on stage at church. She swims. She's recently taken up cross country running, and though it's hard, she is pushing through with pure determination. She is not a quitter.

And since spending time with Peter, Cami, and Charlie and their therapy teams? She's decided she wants to become an OT tech — working directly with kids just like her siblings. We can already picture her perfectly in that role.

Nellie is also dyslexic — a challenge she worked through with grit and dedication, graduating her tutoring program having fully overcome it. Because that's just who she is.

Matthew is one of those rare kids who came into the world already knowing exactly who he is. Before the 3 Cs arrived, he was Mr. Independent — happy adventuring on his own, unbothered by other kids his age, and deeply content in his own world. He had his people (a carefully selected few), and that was enough. He's been tinkering with things since he could reach them, driven by a brilliant, logical mind that understands how things work well beyond his years. He doesn't just want to know how something works — he wants to know the why behind the why.

And then the 3 Cs arrived, and something shifted. Matthew, the boy who didn't need anyone, connected with all three of them in a way that has been one of the most beautiful surprises of this journey. He and Peter are absolute best buds — partners in adventure, partners in mischief, and a perfectly balanced pair. Matthew may be tiny, but Peter's size means there's no adventure too big for the two of them together. He and Charlie share the "twins" bond, and he's taken to big-brother life like he was made for it.

He still tinkers. He still asks why. But now he has a crew — and this family wouldn't be the same without him.

Matthew is homeschooled and just wrapped up kindergarten. 🎉

Charlie Bear — our youngest C, the boy who will say "mum" approximately 450 times a day and mean it every single time. At 6 years old, Charlie has a Level 2 autismLevel 2 autism means Charlie needs significant support in communication and daily life — more than some, less than others. With the right help and environment, kids at this level can make remarkable progress. diagnosis, meaning he needs significant support — but with the right people around him, he is absolutely flourishing.

Life with Charlie looks like hours of trampoline jumping, coloring and painting at any available surface, a standing popcorn request (the answer is usually yes), and a very important collection of tigers lined up with great care — anywhere and everywhere he goes. He is a boy of deep passions and wonderful routines, and we wouldn't change a single thing.

Since joining our family, Charlie has made huge strides with his AAC device and sign language — and he is constantly finding new ways to verbalize more. He receives OT, PT, Speech, and BT therapies and is enrolled in general education with an assistant. Watching him grow has been one of the great joys of this journey.

And here's a fun fact that never gets old: Charlie and his brother Matthew are just one month apart — which means this house has two 6-year-olds. We sometimes call them "the twins," and honestly? It fits perfectly.