July 2026 Newsletter

Finding joy, connection, and meaningful moments wherever summer takes you.

Author

Tracey Albrecht
July 15, 2026

Visiting the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago with 3 of our foster children and 2 of our birth children.

Summer Memories Foster Families Carry With Them

Summer has a way of making us think of long vacations, packed bags, and days spent far from home. It brings to mind the kind of season that looks beautiful on paper, full of easy schedules, big adventures, and picture-perfect memories. But for foster families, summer often looks a little different.

Summer can be complicated in foster care. Schedules, visits, and transitions do not always line up with the way a typical family’s summer might unfold. There are still ways to make it work, but there can also be layers of planning, flexibility, and emotional awareness that shape the way we move through it. Sometimes that means staying closer to home. Sometimes it means choosing shorter trips. And sometimes it means being willing to adjust our plans so we can meet the needs of the children in our care.

Foster families may not always be able to plan a big vacation, but that does not mean summer cannot hold meaningful moments. Over the years, our family has learned that some of the best memories come from simple outings that fit our season of life. Trips to kids museums, aquariums, beaches, and other nearby places have given us the chance to explore, laugh, and make memories together without needing everything to be elaborate or perfect.

There is something special about those kinds of adventures. Kids may not remember every place they went, but they remember how they felt. They remember whether they felt included, safe, seen, and cared for. They remember the laughter, the rhythm of the day, and the sense that they belonged and had fun. A day spent watching fish swim overhead, a hands-on exhibit that sparks curiosity, or a sandy afternoon at the beach can become part of a child’s sense of home in ways that are hard to measure.

That is one of the quiet lessons fostering keeps teaching me. Family life does not have to be picture-perfect to be beautiful. In fact, some of the most meaningful moments come from the real summer, the one that includes both joy and limitation, both planning and flexibility, both what we hoped for and what was possible.

And maybe that is what makes these seasons so tender. We learn to hold our expectations a little more loosely. We learn to find delight in what is available instead of mourning what is not. We learn that a family does not need a perfect itinerary to make lasting memories. Sometimes it just needs a willing heart, a little creativity, and the grace to help children feel safe along the way.

So while summer may not always look like the brochures, it can still be full of wonder and possibly the first trip your foster child has been on, first hotel visit, first beach. It can hold adventure beyond what we assume. And for foster families, maybe that is part of the gift, learning that home, no matter where the day takes us, is often the place where the best memories begin.

I like this quote: "Hope isn’t loud. Sometimes it’s simply staying the course, offering consistency, and choosing love again today. You’re doing holy work, even when it feels ordinary."

With gratitude,
Tracey

IN OUR HOUSE

A mini-trip to visit an aircraft carrier at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in SC.

Simple Summer Adventures in Our Foster Family

Speaking of trips and making memories… We have an upcoming trip to Illinois, and I have been looking forward to it for what feels like a very long time. We moved to South Carolina a year ago, and while this new chapter has been good for our family, there is still a part of my heart that aches for the people we left behind. Our four boys, two birth sons and two step sons, are still in Illinois, and I have not seen them since February. For a mom, that kind of distance can feel like forever.

This trip will mean so much more than just travel. I will get to take our two adopted girls back to see their brothers, and that alone makes my heart full. We also hope to spend time with our youngest daughter’s biological sibling and their family while we are there, and we are trying to fit in a visit with our 8-year-old daughter’s biological grandparents too. In foster and adoptive family life, visits like these matter deeply. They are part of the bigger story of belonging, connection, and holding pieces of a child’s life with care.

Showing our boys the beach we frequent trying to entice them to move to South Carolina.

I am so excited to see everyone soon!

I’m counting down the days until we get to be together, laugh, catch up, and make some sweet memories. I hope your summer is full of good things too, whatever that looks like in your home right now. Whether your days are busy, quiet, messy, healing, or somewhere in between, I hope there are moments of joy sprinkled throughout your summer.

BOOKS I’M READING

Anne of Green Gables

By: L.M. Montgomery

This month I’ve been reading Anne of Green Gables, and I was reminded why this story has captured hearts for generations.

Anne Shirley is an orphan who has experienced loss and uncertainty, but she longs for something every child deserves: a place where she belongs and people who choose to love her. When she arrives at Green Gables, she begins discovering what it means to be truly seen, accepted, and valued.

While Anne’s story is not a traditional adoption story, I think many foster and adoptive families will connect with the heart behind it. Anne’s past shaped her, but it did not define her. Through the love and commitment of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, she learns that she is worthy of belonging.

Anne’s story is a beautiful reminder that children need more than a place to live. They need people who believe in them, celebrate who God created them to be, and walk alongside them as they grow.

Sometimes family is about the people God places in our lives who choose to love us well.

👉🏻 Find the Anne of Green Gables Complete 8-Book Box Set here: https://amzn.to/44ro4CM

FEATURED BLOG POST

One of the greatest gifts of motherhood is watching your child discover the world.

What I Love About Being An Older Mom

Summer has a way of reminding us to slow down and appreciate the moments right in front of us. The backyard adventures, the simple outings, the laughter, and the everyday memories often become the ones we treasure most.

In this post, I share what I love about being an older mom and how life experience has changed the way I view motherhood. I’ve learned to appreciate the little things, embrace the chaos, and recognize that the best memories don’t always come from big plans or big vacations.

Parenting later in life has given me a deeper appreciation for the gift of time, the joy of watching my kids grow, and the beauty found in everyday moments.

Whether you are raising biological children, adopted children, or foster children, every season of parenting is filled with opportunities to create meaningful memories that last far beyond a summer vacation.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

This is a digital PDF download. No physical product will be shipped.

Creating Staycation Memories One Activity at a Time

Summer doesn't always have to mean big trips, expensive outings, or packed schedules. Some of the best memories are created in the simplest moments, sitting around the table, making something together, and enjoying time as a family.

For foster and adoptive families, summer can bring a mix of excitement and change. Without the familiar routines of school, having simple activities ready can help create moments of connection, creativity, and fun throughout the season.

That is why we love the Summer Craft & Activity Pack. This resource is filled with easy, engaging activities designed to help families make the most of summer days without spending hours planning or preparing.

These aren't just activities to fill time. They are opportunities to slow down, create together, and build memories that kids will carry with them long after summer ends.

Inside the Summer Craft & Activity Pack you will find:

✔️ Easy, ready-to-use summer craft activities
✔️ Creative projects that encourage imagination and fun
✔️ Simple ideas that work well for a wide age range
✔️ Activities perfect for quiet afternoons, rainy days, or family time
✔️ Low-prep options for busy summer schedules

Whether you're staying home, planning a staycation, or looking for simple ways to add fun to your summer routine, this pack makes it easy to create meaningful moments together.

Because big memories don't always require big vacations. Sometimes they happen with crayons, crafts, laughter, and a little time spent together.

Do you know someone that is thinking of fostering? We would love it if you would forward this email to them so they can sign up!

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