Its unofficially Official!

We sent in our pre-application to Bethany Christian Services to begin our adoption journey. And so begins the hurry-up-and-wait phase! At this time, we're waiting for Bethany to call us for a phone interview. After that we'll receive our Formal Application. We're so excited!

Please spread the news to anyone and everyone. :) If you have any questions email or call us! We'd love to talk about it with you.

Grief is...

aching... a black gnawing pit hungry for what it cannot have
awakening... from a dream in the night that made wishes reality
sobbing... while the world blindly continues on
hiding... because pretending is too hard

And yet - my eyes see what was unseen before.
I don't wish the time back.
I don't wish my story any different.

Sometimes though - I forget.
I wrap myself in self-pity and settle in for a good, long stay.
in the muck and mire
that is familiar and...

comfortable.

But, when I remember - I see what was unseen before.
I see depth and compassion in myself
where I used to see judgment and self-righteousness.
I see hurt and pain in others
where I used to see anger and nastiness.

Though what lies ahead is unseen.
I know where I am.
I know which road I'm traveling.
I know where I'll end.

I don't know what waits between now and then

Sunrise

Cory and I have a deal... He gets up early (usually around 6:30AM) to take Mariska out. (He hears her stand up in the morning and it wakes him up. I, on the other hand, don't hear a thing!) Anyways - he gets up early 6 days a week and I get up early 1 day a week (our day off). I usually put her outside on her lead and then go back to bed. However, I can't sleep - I just lay there worrying she'll dig the tie-out up out of the ground or manage to get her collar off. On the mornings when Cory gets up and puts her out - I don't think about any of those things! Irregardless, I still think I got the better end of this deal. This week - I took Mariska outside and saw this:

So worth that early morning.

Crazy Basketball Guys...

Dude Perfect raising money for Compassion International.

am i my brother's keeper?

we were taught under the old ethic that man's business on this earth was to look out for himself. that was the ethic of the jungle; the ethic of the wild beast. take care of yourself, no matter what may become of your fellow man. thousands of years ago the question was asked: 'am i my brother's keeper?' that question has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory to civilized society. yes, i am my brother's keeper. i am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the higher duty i owe myself. what would you think of me if i were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death?

- eugene v. debs, usa union leader and social democrat