Phew. That was a crazy week and I'm thankful its Friday night. Except that we are missing our daddy for a few more hours.

Since our "on hold" status began last week, time has drug along until we could

have a meeting today and get a sense of the direction our adoption plan was heading. Oh wait... time didn't drag along...there was plenty to fill it: baseball practices, homework, music lessons, gymnastics, oh and chicken pox!

Only sweet Jonah was struck with the pox because he didn't get the shot. The older two had the dreaded vaccine so they, so far, have shown no signs of the illness. Jonah has taken it in great stride and with a fairly happy spirit. No fever and his appetite is fine. Last night he began to say his skin was "uncomferble." Today he began to itch.

So anyway, today we received some encouragement about our adoption plan and we are pretty hopeful and excited that two little precious souls should be joining us soon. I kinda can't believe it! The boys are so excited. The very first thing they asked when they got home from school was, "how was the meeting?" and "will we get the babies???" It was a comfort to my heart that they are so into this adventure. I feared they would dread the pending attention-divider but they are so excited to bring these children into our family. Praise God!

Tonight the boys and I had a date on the town that included dinner out and a movie. I utterly hate spending money at the movies. Tonight I have no regrets. We went to see Dolphin Tale, which opened today and was filmed in nearby Clearwater. I cried. Jacob cringed at my tears. Yes, we're at that stage. Oh, this movie was great. Even better is that I bought a groupon recently for a family membership to the marine aquarium where Winter (the star) lives!! Woo hoo!

There are two widows in the movie. Their widowhood is almost a non-issue, hardly mentioned. Harry Connick Jr, clean-shaven plays one and Kris Kristoferson, goateed, plays his dad, also a widow. Somehow, smack in the middle of the heartwarming movie, my classically morbid son (yes, Joseph) leans over and says, "mom, if you die before dad...he may end up growing a beard." This is the kind of stuff I get, folks. Artistic, often-disturbing, randomness.

So, I ask him if he would like daddy to grow a beard.."maybe, not really" ok...what made you think of this? "um, I don't know..." Ok then, back to the movie, shall we?

I was very moved by the movie and it seemed the boys were too. On the way home we talked about the parts that moved us and why. At one point Jacob said, "you know what part really affectioned me...?" I love it. At 9 1/2 he still uses the wrong, yet-still-big-and-fun words.

A big theme is overcoming the obstacle of limb loss. Jonah kept saying over and over, 'they jumped in but had no wegs and swimmed but had no wegs.' Mr. Morbid said to me, "do you

think when we go see Winter at the aquarium, there will be hundreds of people there missing their arms or legs because that might freak me out. " A real sensitive soul, that one. The great thing about him is he says what he feels, whether its PC or not.

And during the beginning when Winter is found stranded on the beach caught in the trap and her tail is bleeding he kept saying (loudly) "oh, she has a bwister!" Charming, for sure. At least to me!

Good night!