Jennifer, Olivia and I spent part of Labor Day at Valley Forge National Park while Carolyn caught up on work. The weather was perfect. The better part of the afternoon was spent reading books on blankets and snacking.

After a short stroll in a wooded area, we stopped at the vistor center. Jennifer lingered at the exhibits for quite a while (especially when compared with the 5-year-old-driven pace Olivia and I took), learning about living conditions for General Washington and his troops, relations with native Americans, etc. Jennifer seems to have a long attention span.

She chose a novel from the bookstore. Based on the cover it's about a 19-year old and his friends helping General Washington's army.

Aug. 28

From Carolyn

Jennifer is taking a break this week from the American Friends Service Committee to help paint the All Join Hands: Visions of Peace mural that's part of the Inquirer Editorial Board's series on protecting children from violence. For me, it's nice to see the two strands of the series - protecting kids in our home region and in northern Uganda - intersect this way.

Jennifer enjoyed the painting, which she is doing at the studio of Donald Gensler, the lead artist for our project who works with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. That's not surprising since she really enjoyed going to one of those places where you paint ceramics.

On the way to Don's studio, we passed the mural, which already is going up on the wall of Benjamin Franklin High School at Broad and Spring Garden Streets. She wasn't very interested in the morning, but in the evening, after she had painted some sections, she looked closely as we passed by it again.

She quickly warmed up to the two assistants who work with Don - Charlie and Frances. They showed her the large pieces of thin cloth that the mural is being painted on, and how different shapes are outlined in pencil with numbers in the middle. The numbers correspond to different colors of paint - it's like doing one big paint-by-number kit. Not only was the painting fun, but she got to bring her favorite music CDs and listen to them on the CD player in the studio.

For her last day at the studio, I've arranged to have several girls around her age whom I contacted through a school near me, to paint with her and have lunch afterward. Jennifer always enjoys being around kids, and I figured that all of them doing the painting would be a comfortable way for them to get to know each other.

I have this image in my mind of Jennifer returning to UNIFAT, the school in Uganda she attends that is run by her guardian, Abitimo Odongkara, and helping to paint a mural that reflects children's dreams of peace there. That - and if current negotiations bear peace -would be terrific.

Aug. 24

Tim and I work during the day, so I arranged activities for Jennifer. I tried to make them ones where there would be young people because I know she enjoys being around kids her age. She started today volunteering in the African peacebuilding unit of the American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker international relief organization. She is helping to update packets of information on African debt.

Jennifer came home and proclaimed it boring. I had to agree with her (I think her boss there would agree with her), but told her everyone has boring tasks in their jobs, and that she should use this opportunity to learn about being in a workplace, which is a first for her. She called her Maryland friend Maddie last night. I'm glad she has made close friends in the United States whom she'll stay in touch with after she goes home.

Aug. 23

Jennifer came to stay with us today for a few weeks until Abitimo returns to Philadelphia from visiting her daughter and newborn granddaughter. The Goldbergs drove Jennifer in from Maryland, dropped her off to my husband at our house and then stayed in Philly a few days to sightsee. They and the Trost-Magnussons have shown remarkable kindness and hospitality toward Jennifer, and they will be hosting her again for much of the two months or so when Jennifer has weekly sessions with Dr. Dufresne.

Jennifer seemed tired and shy, even though she has been at our house many times before. I can understand that. Just being in the United States is a challenge, let alone staying at different people's houses. After a period of adjustment, Cathy Trost told me, Jennifer relaxes in new surroundings. So tonight we just gave Jennifer some space.

Aug. 16

From Jennifer

Maddie and I went to a swimming pool party. It was awesome. First when we got there it was carrots and chips and I drank a can of Sprite, and we were waiting for other people to come. There were many kids from Maddie's school there. They said, "Hi Jennifer, how are you!"