While helping Grace shop for a dress for the occasion, Joan is delighted to finally meet Grace's seemingly perfect mother, Sarah. However, when Sarah's drinking problem becomes evident, Joan begins to understand why Grace is so private andacirc;andeuro;' and why she's long been avoiding having her bat mitzvah. Meanwhile, Luke racks his brain to come up with a meaningful bat mitzvah gift for Grace. Additionally, Adam and Joan have different ways of coping with Judith's passing. Will supports Lucy's less-than-legal means of trying to get one of Judith's friends to describe Judith's on-the-run hugger, and Kevin's ex-girlfriend is deposed for the trial.
A drama about a typical family, the Girardis, facing atypical situations - not the least of which is their teenage daughter Joan's sudden, unexpected conversations with God in such random forms as a cute boy, Goth kid, little girl or the school lunch lady. Joan (Amber Tamblyn) must endeavour to balance the natural and supernatural elements of her life, often with little success. This is not the only major problem the family must face as her elder brother Kevin (Jason Ritter) was paralysed from the waist down in a car accident in 2002. As a result, her younger brother Luke (Michael Welch) often feels that his needs are being ignored.