October 22, 2006

  • Long day today.  Last night, I had dinner with Grace and Bill Schouten, along with Garrett, Kim, Tyler, and Carly.  Grace and Bill have moved to Mountain Lakes just south of Bluff Dale, and I had an incredible time with them.  The Schoutens are wonderful people and beautiful friends.  Grace, as always, prepared a feast, and the companionship was indescribably comforting.  Before I left, we called Tepic and had a superb conversation with Lorena and Stephanie -- with ALL of us talking to the two of them.  Needless to say, there were lots of tears and laughter.

    Today, I rode out to Lipan with Danny and Mindy Golightly and little Jenna (?).  [I just realized that I don't know how they spell her name.  She is just one year old and BEAUTIFUL!!!  For those of you who don't know, I worked with Danny there at Lipan (and commuted with him) for five years, so this was a very nostalgic trip.  Stacie Garrett Gary and Joe Gary were having an adoption shower for new son Luke (who was born September 29), and it was extremely touching.  This old man made a fool of himself boohooing all over the place.

    Stacie was always like a daughter to me AND to Danny, and when she and Joe were unable to have children, she began discussing adoption with us, knowing that some of my siblings were adopted and that Lorraine had adopted Shane to Shelby and Andy.  Stacie met with Rainey and Shelby and Shane here at the house to discuss their adoption experiences.  Danny and Mindy had gone through the adoption process with Jenna, so they mentored Stacie as well.  As a result, our being all together there today was especially wonderful. 

    Besides getting to see Stacie,  I was able to visit with Angie, Patty, Mattie, and a ton of other folks that I have not seen for years.  Patty is Kacy's mother (Kacy is my missionary in Africa), and Angie is Kacy's sister (and both are cousins to Stacie) -- and all are incredible young ladies and favorite ex-students.   I have been so blessed by knowing all the folks I was with today.

    Tonight, then, I called Stephanie and Lorena, and we had the singularly best conversation that we have had in ages.  I gave Lorena the greetings that all the different folks had given me to pass on to her, and there was a flood of tears on both ends of the conversation.  Lorena remembers all of you, and we ended up with great laughter...