April Fools Day

It's hard not to feel like the butt of the joke today.

Tina's phone line has been busy for more than 24 hours. We had the phone company test it and it is "off hook". We aren't sure what that means or if it means anything at all. What we do know is that it is frustrating.

We've had several phone calls and e-mails from dear friends and family and reports of inquiries, thoughts and prayers from even more. We really can't thank you enough and want you to know that your love and care is being felt.

Darin and I both came home from the Bahamas with a pretty bad bug - fever, cough, headache and even some stomach upset and dizziness. The doctors aren't sure if it is the flu or bronchitis but have given us both an antibiotic. I am starting to feel some better today with two doses under my belt (day 5 of the crud) so hopefully that trend will continue. Right now we are holed up at home trying to restrict whatever the bug is to the two of us. We made a big pot of "Uncle Tom Chicken Noodle Soup" or as Nicholas called it "Dom Zoup". Between the soup and Advil by day and Nyquil at bedtime, we are managing ok.

The good news: We are still basking in the after glow of our tropical vacation and can only believe that there was some of God's Grace in the timing for our little get-a-way. We also had an incredibly encouraging visit with a co-worker of mine while we were at Atlantis - he and his wife adopted their two sons and also went through several disappointing experiences before their adoptions were final. It was good to be reminded that the adoption journey has ups and downs for everyone who embarks on it and that even great disappointments don't have to be the end of the road. They are just what they are - another one of the twists and turns that make life the enriching and hopefully growth inspiring journey that it is.

Admittedly, we have struggled in the last week to make any sense of the latest loop in the roller coaster of life but are determined that we will not quit opening our hearts to possibilities. We want this experience to soften rather than harden us and strengthen our ability to trust rather than diminish it - that is where we do absolutely need your continued thoughts and prayers.

If you have called or e-mailed and we haven't yet responded, please don't think we don't appreciate it. Between the cough and fever and lots of emotions we just aren't very prompt right now in returning all of our messages even though we do love to get them.

We will let this be all for now. D and J