The One That Is All About The Court Day

Dave sez,

LOL

So, I just asked Cathy what stood out in her mind about today. Without missing a beat, she replied, "We have NO patience. God keeps giving us opportunities to build and develop patience, and we haven't done it yet!"

Today started at 3am, when the alarm went off so we could Skype with Justin. The first question he had for Mom was, So, when are you going to court? Cathy told him that today was his brother's court day. So, when are you gonna be coming home? Are you coming home Saturday? Cathy smiled. I'm thinking. Why? Do you miss me? Nah...maybe a little bit. How 'bout if I come home - tomorrow? Justin smiled really big.

We spent about an hour with him, and then went back to bed for a nap.

Our court appointment was for 10am, so we agreed to meet out at the orphanage at 9:30. Skipping breakfast - because feeding butterflies is never a good idea - we caught the Number Eighteen to Independence Square, headed down to Maidan Station and out to the Holosiivska stop. Normally it is not a long wait for the 507 from Holosiivska out to the orphanage; but naturally, since it is court day and we need to be there at a certain, specific time! Every. Other. Bus. But. The. 507. The. One. We. Need. To. Catch. Goes. By! I tell you what, that bus is rarer than hens teeth! We finally caught the 507 and made it out in time to jump from the bus to the car for quick hugs with Ethan and we were on our way to court.

Where we waited for the judge. Not only were Cathy and I anxious and nervous, but so was Ethan. He chattered away with question after question for the social workers and our facilitator in Ukrainian and fidgeted.

Last year we were in a court room. The courtroom was filled with benches but no state or defense counsel tables. just a podium for plaintiffs. On the judges right, our left at the front of the court was a cell. There were three chairs behind the bench for judges. The judge sat in the one to our far right, enjoying a view out the window during the proceedings. I will never forget how close Cathy, Justin and I became by expressing how we felt about each other before the judge, our facilitator, and the social workers.

This year, we were in the judges chambers. Along with the judge, her two clerks, and a court reporter, there were two social workers, our facilitator, Ethan, Cathy and I.

"I remember you from last year!" the judge said to us through our facilitator. "How is your son?"

He is awesome! He's great.

She was incredibly warm and friendly to both of us and especially to Shani. She asked both of us why we were adopting again. I told her that Justin introduced us to Shani, and we got to know him and we came to love him as much as we love our son, Justin. The two boys are friends and we all want to be together. Cathy answered the same question the same way, but the way she put it was so much more eloquent. I can't remember the exact words she used, but I will never forget what she said.

There are three things we have to ask the judge: we would like permission to adopt Shani, we would like permission to change his last name, and we would like permission to be named as his parents on his new birth certificate. The way Cathy put that is: "We would love to adopt him! We would love to change his name. We would love to be named as his parents."

The judge called Shani up next to her. She asked him how he was and several questions about what he wanted. She asked about his Math and English. His Math is not so great. She asked if he could calculate how far it was from Ukraine to his new home. He couldn't. She kidded him that if he could calculate it he could go. Then she asked about his English. She asked him to say something in English. He said his new name. She told him he had very good English.

We stepped out into the corridor while she reviewed the case for a final decision.

A few minutes later she invited us back into her chambers to congratulate us. In ten days we would have the court's final decree and we could then proceed to getting his new birth certificate, tax id number, final physical, passport and visa. Then Ethan and I will be wheels up for home!

Then, the adventure really begins! Brothers. Two boys - and ANOTHER year of "firsts"!

The One About The Word We Heard...

Dave sez,

At 2:06pm local time, as we were standing at the bus stop waiting for the 507 to take us back to Holosiivska station, for our subway ride back to Independence Square, the cell phone rang. We had been waiting for this phone call since around four yesterday afternoon, when our facilitator let us know he had gotten permission from the SDA to schedule a court date. He said something to the effect, "Wait for my call tomorrow morning. I will talk to you then. Okay? Bye-bye!"

We both had trouble sleeping. It is not difficult PUTTING things in God's hands. It is LEAVING them there that is the challenge. We've both felt that our hands were sticky with glue, and as we came away, what we wanted to hand over was still there in our hands, like a hot potato.

This morning we were both very tired. We didn't have any breakfast, we just hurried to the Number Eighteen to Independence Square, and down to Maidan station as if the faster we went and the closer we got, the sooner we would get the call we were expecting.

Shani has been growing increasingly restless. The weather is turning colder; and his cough is getting worse and worse. He's not in school anymore, so his only activity has been working on his English and video games. He's not at a point where he is ready to read or be read to. He's struggling with simple transitional words like "of", "us" and "are"; he's working to tell the difference between brother and brothers. He knows the alphabet through sing-song, and he seems to bog down around "L-M-N-O-P", and if you throw a single letter out of context at him he can't recognize it. So we have some work to do. But we knew that. We also know that his brother Justin struggled until one day it all fell into place and clicked; and what we heard at the last parent-teacher conference is that Justin is a very accomplished young man. Shani will probably carve out his own path to the same destination.

We surprised him by not eating lunch at the same time he did. He did a double take and (O_O) over that. But he managed to gobble down his food and come back to us for over an hour of Uno.

It is not the English lesson or the Uno game. It is the sound of his voice and his giggling while we are together that I lock up deep inside and store to share with his future children, one day.

We did spend the day looking at the cell phone, like the expectant parents we are. Every few minutes I'd check the time. Cathy would look at me. I would shake my head.

We were feeling a bit discouraged as we walked to the bus stop. Like the disciples after the crucifixion, wondering what would happen next.

At the bus stop, Cathy turned to me and said, "I guess it wouldn't be a good idea to call HIM to find out would it?", just as I was pulling the cell phone out of my pocket to check the time once again. The cell phone came out of my pocket ringing. It was the orphanage director.

"Hello, Dave, how are you?"

"I am fantastic, how are you?"

"Good. Good. We have scheduled a court appearance for you for tomorrow morning at ten." He gave us instructions on what time to meet to go to court, and those words went to my instinctive brain, where I will recall it when I REALLY need it. I was making a spectacle of myself by dancing like Steve Martin with "Happy Feet" at the bus stop. Yes, I can embarrass Cathy ANY where in the world!

Paul defined "faith" in Hebrews 11:1 as "the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."

Seems to be all about great expectations happening.

During National Adoption Month, six days before Thanksgiving in "the colonies" I am most thankful for family and extended family following our journey. Thank you for being here with us, and for adopting us, supporting us, encouraging us and praying for us. I believe that the prayers of a righteous person avails much.

We are now reaching the halfway point of our journey. There is still more road ahead... 

The One That Was Written While We Were Mostly Awake...

Dave sez,

Hi! We are Cathy and Dave; and this is our ongoing adventure with our son Justin, and the journey we re on during National Adoption Month 2012 to bring our other son, Ethan (nee Shani) home. Thanks for taking the time to get to know us and follow our journey!

"...How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned about me, but you didn't have the chance to help me. Not that i was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything, I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me the strength." (Paul, the apostle in his letter to the Philippians; NLT, Phil 4: 10 - 13)

As we wait for our court date, and make our daily journey back and forth to see our boy during National Adoption Month, just a week before Thanksgiving, both Cathy and I take comfort in Paul's words. He strikes me as a patient individual. Neither Cathy or I are. For years our motto has been, "Lord grant me the patie - I'm still waiting!"

We've been talking about the things we miss here in Kiev. We've been enjoying the culture and history of Kyiv, Ukraine. They have three McDonald's within walking distance of each other. This morning we shared an egg McMuffin and a couple of hash browns. Cathy is wondering if she'll find a Popeye's at O'Hare on her flight back home. She even confessed that she could eat a Subway sandwich. Cathy worked at Subway during high school and college and a few years after we first got married. She won the Subjammers contest a few months after our wedding. Her prize was an all expense paid trip for one to the finals in Hawaii and one thousand dollars. We used the prize money to get me on a flight with a two-hour layover in Oakland - yeah, Oakland! - we were mostly dirt poor newlyweds at the time, so there wasn't a lot of disposable cash for extras on the flight. I remember buying William Shatner's TekWar novel in the gift shop before our flights - a nineteen hour flight with a two-hour stop in Oakland - Oakland! I spent the first five minutes of the flight struggling to follow Shatner's prose. Believe it or not he writes exactly the way he delivers dialogue! I spent the rest of the flight trying to nap. I wasn't successful at either. There was an in-flight movie that was playing, Pretty Woman. Cathy told me all about how much she liked it when we got home.

We laugh at that story now. To this day, I have never been able to finish any of those novels.

There is so much to enjoy here, in addition to bonding with Shani. We found some nice things to take back home with us. We take pictures at every opportunity. We're trying cuisine we can't find back home. Cathy is making a list of meals that will be added to the menu when we are all home. she's made Borsch a couple of times since Justin came home. We found a salmon soup that is very good; and, I still keep asking when she will make Russian salad.

We've agreed that my first Sunday back with Ethan, she's going to cook my favorite breakfast: biscuits and gravy.

The other night our host shared some ice cream with us. There is nothing like ice cream to make me long for next March, when the three Dairy Queens in town re-open for the season.

Today, we walked down toward the SDA, where we had our appointment on the 29th. Today has been rainy, cold and windy, so not many of the street venders had their kiosks open. Maybe it's the change of seasons, but there seem to be fewer of them, this year. Across the street from the SDA, the sidewalk is lined for a block on either side by the grey, metal kiosks. Heading back toward the police and fire station, are the vendors selling paintings. Directly behind the SDA is a Church. Last year, there was renovation going on and fresh sod was being laid. The street down the hill behind it was under construction. Now, the brick road and sidewalk is finished, the street lined with amazing street lamps and venders that sell their wares on small square wood tables. We found a Ukrainian scarf for Shani, and a couple leather wristbands. We're debating over getting him a Ukrainian soccer ball, because this is where Justin started his soccer ball collection.

The most important thing for Cathy and I right now, is that this is the first time since Justin came home that she and I have had any time just the two of us. Amazingly enough, after the years of being a couple, and twelve months of being new parents, we haven't had much couple time. We've been enjoying each others company, and talking on our walks, subway and bus rides out to visit Shani. It's been nice rediscovering one another all over again.

We still wait to hear word on our court date...

"...And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about these things that are excellent and worthy of praise...Then the God of peace will be with you." (Phil 4:8)

The One That Was Written On A Friday...

Dave sez,

Hi! We're Cathy and Dave. Thanks for helping us celebrate National Adoption Month 2012! And, thanks for letting us share our adventures with Justin and our journey to bring Ethan Shani home. We are actively participating in celebrating national Adoption Month!

We are near the end of the second week of our process. Monday begins the third week that we've been here; it is also what could be the halfway point of our trip. Last year we were here six weeks bringing Justin home. We are hoping that sometime early next week we will hear word on our court date for Ethan.

While we are here, we are learning a lot about the culture and customs of Ukraine. Just as we did last year. When we got on the Number Eighteen bus this morning, I paid the fare with my usual, "Dva," in handing it to the conductor. She handed me the bus passes for Cathy and me. She continued talking, and I wasn't sure what she was saying as I had stuck the passes in my pocket. She waved me to hand our passes back to her. She took a step over to one of the handrails, where there was a ticket punch. She put both of our bus passes in it and punch them. She handed them back to me with a smile. There were two open seats near where she was sitting and she invited us to take them. She walked from there to the back of the bus and returned, sitting down, still smiling at me. At the corner near the police and fire station, she announced the next stop as Maidan station in Independence Square. A few minutes later, when reached the stop, she said to us as we were getting off, "Goodbye! have a nice day!"

Last night, on our way back to the apartment from seeing our boy, we stopped at a neighborhood grocery store. I put the backpack I lug back and forth to the orphanage in a locker, put the numbered locker key in my pocket and caught up to Cathy. We only bought a couple of things, so I was back over to the locker for the backpack pretty quick. There were a couple of employees standing there. A customer had come up to one of them, and she asked him for help. She had put something in a locker and taken the key, but it didn't have a numbered tag, and she couldn't remember which locker it was - because, y'know, when they're all closed and locked they all look pretty much the same! So, here's this poor store employee, trying the key is about eight different locks. Another customer comes up alongside me, and we both wait patiently, until the key was fit to the right lock. The other young store employee shrugged and rolled her eyes at the whole incident. I nearly ROTFLMBO!

I saw a farmer's market set up in the parking lot of a strip mall on our ride out to the orphanage today. It was pretty cool to see something like what we have back home. There are street vendors every where around the city, selling everything from cosmonaut and military uniforms, flags, Christmas tree ornaments, paintings, jeans, sweat shirts, fruit, pig heads - this is on top of what you will find on grocery store shelves.

We've been able to find comfort food in a couple of local restaurants. Steak fries are awesome! What's nice is that Kiev is an international city, and English is the second language after the native tongue. So, most menus come with subtitles; and the subway stops are announced in Ukrainian first, then English.

Our visits with Ethan are becoming pretty routine. We try to vary what we do. Always English first for an hour. He knows certain words, but does not recognize them yet. The alphabet and the words and sentences he's working on are all symbols to him, just as much as the Ukrainian alphabet and language is to us. He's doing well with his new full name, who we all are, but he is still struggling with the sentence, "All four of us are a family". I'm sure that will come with time, in understanding and concept. It is amazing to see what concepts are attached to English words. We use our index finger to indicate "brother", and closing a "v" of the index and next finger over to indicate "brothers" for both Ethan and Justin. We make a circle between us to indicate "family". We've been connecting the most important words into basic sentences so he can identify himself and who we all are.

After an hour of English, we either watch a family movie, play Uno or war; or, like today, we go outside for some soccer. I'm learning from last year: the object is to make HIM do ALL the running and wear HIM out. We played soccer for a half hour and he was ready to go back inside. This year, Popi did not break a sweat. I'm sure once my boys put their heads together, that will change. But, I plan to pit them against one another as much as they plan to gang up on me.

As hard as it is to imagine our visits seem to fly by as much as the last two weeks has. If this trip is anything like last year's, we are nearly a third of the way through it. It just feels like the time is flying by. Even though we are enjoying a little bit of down time, there are a number of things that will happen quickly, and nearly all at once, once we've had our day in court.

Our adventure is just beginning!

The One That's Just About Another Day...

Dave sez,

So, today was another day. Completely different from yesterday. Maybe you're feeling the same way for one reason or another. Yesterday, there was rain in the morning on our way to see Shani. Today has been sunny and clear, but cooler and windier. We caught the Number Eighteen bus up the street from the apartment to Independence Square and the subway station. The bus had no conductor, but a lady driver who exchanged fares for bus passes. There was a little slide tray for the fare. Away went the fare and in return came the passes. The driver is in an enclosed compartment from the passengers. We made the complete ride to the Square. I was kidding Cathy that apparently it takes a lady driver not to have an accident in the rain. I have no idea if the driver yesterday was man or woman, but the difference today from yesterday was noticeable. Most of the bus drivers we've seen on the 507 bus from Holosiivska station have been men. 

Yesterday, we were able to "mall walk" our way through the closed underground shopping mall below Independence Square, but not today. I would imagine that the mall opens at nine in the morning and we were passing through at about eight. Young Gandalf, the security guard, said in Ukrainian, You shall not pass. That is not intended as s slur, more as a point of reference. On our ride around to the Square, we pass the police and fire station. We must have passed right after roll call, because all of the officers were rolling out onto their beat. We saw them walk across from the station house passed the Hyatt and the apartment we stayed in last year. We've seen a lot of police officers while here on our journey. Mostly on the weekends when there are families out and about; on the street, on the subway platform and waiting to get on the bus. It doesn't matter where, the hardest working people we know where blue; police, fire or security. The only people that we've seen work harder, work in public transportation.

We Skype with Justin three times a week. Last night was one of those nights. Eight hours ahead, his seven o'clock is our oh-dark-what-were-thinking-we're-going-to-be-so-dead-in-the-morning-when-we-HAVE-to-get-up-ay-yi-yi! It is a credit to twenty-some-odd years of marriage that we can keep the irritability to a minimum. If you've been married as long as we have, you know that means Cathy tells me to shut the **** up and not bother her until she's had a chance to wake up - and, I do it. That's why God invented the iPod. Of all the things that I have on mine, from Country to cool movie soundtracks, what I'm listening to is actually Justin's favorite albums by Big Time Rush. Nothing else works for me right now, not even Brad Paisley, Little Big Town or The Band Perry. I've actually tried listening to my collection of Bond songs and only Paul McCartney and Wings, Shirley Bassey and Tina Turner are the least bit tolerable. Every thing else is like fingernails on a chalk board. I'm not sure why. Our gracious host recorded an album, but I'm not sure our machines are set up to download them to our iPods. I think we're a different zone. We've seen a video that is pretty awesome!

Today was another day working with Shani on his English. But, today, I decided to change it up and have him start with some basic sentences, to incorporate the basic words he's learning, like his new name; who Cathy, Justin and I are and what we are becoming. The sentence that he finds most challenging is: "All four of us are a family." But he is writing his words out three times each, so the repetition is helping him. Hopefully in a couple of days he'll have those sentences down.

Right now, we're just counting down the days until we are all together again. Today puts us one day closer than we were yesterday. Which is why I didn't mind the cold or the wind as long as there was both the sun and our son.

The One With All The Latest

Dave sez,

Happy Adoption Month!
We are Cathy and Dave; and this is our ongoing adventure with our son Justin and the journey of bringing our second son Ethan home...

Hopefully you are enjoying the humor and the lighter side of our adventures...

Did I mention that we do a lot of walking here? Cathy and I have been looking forward to the walking...forced exercise...as if Justin weren't enough of a work-out, we've decided to expand our defense to man-on-man; and start our day with some vigorous exercise. It's a good hike to the subway, and the walk is highlighted by the weather. a couple days we've had rain. Like today. But we are near enough to a bus stop, where we can catch the Number Eighteen Trolley Bus to Independence Square, where we catch the subway to another connecting bus ride out to the orphanage. It was pouring this morning, so we decided to do just that. The bus ride is $1.50, local currency. We've hesitated in riding, because there is not always a bus conductor to take the fare and issue a bus pass. This is a different bus entirely from the one we catch off the subway to the orphanage. On THAT bus, the fare is $2.50, local currency, $5 for two, and every passenger is responsible for paying the driver the fare. You can either pay the driver - by placing your fare on the engine hump, front and center of the bus - or, by passing it forward. If you need change that will be passed back to you - count on it. We were fortunate that the bus we got on this morning had a lady conductor, taking fares and handing out passes, as well as the driver. We'd forgotten since our last trip here what the fare was. I handed the lady a dollar bill, Cathy handed her a two dollar bill and she took our bus passes. We found a seat.

A couple blocks from where we got on the bus came to an abrupt stop with a loud crashing sound. The doors opened and every one got off and started walking. What Cathy and I saw was a red compact car stopped in front of the bus, with the back window shattered. The back fender may have been bent. The front fender of the bus was warped slightly from the impact.

None of us passengers felt the shock of the impact, which is a good thing. Except for the loud noise, I would have thought we had stopped at a red light, or to take on passengers. The other passengers didn't seem the least bit fazed. The doors opened, they all exited and made their way by foot. It was morning rush hour, after all.

We've seen a couple of accidents - fender-blenders, the big "how-do!" - there was a two-car accident at the top of the cloverleaf, at the middle point of our ride out to the orphanage; and a truck (semi) versus car collision as we got closer into the neighborhood. Truck 1, car 0.

We're getting to know Shani's personality. He is a bright and happy boy. He is a very typical kid. We spend our time with him working on his English. So far we've gone easy on him. We give him a page of words to write three times and then we spend our time playing Uno, or war or we let him play Angry Birds. Today, we expanded his English writing. Every few minutes he would sigh, "Oh my gosh!" and then, "Come on Shani!" When he finishes it's always with a "Shani good?" Yes, Shani good!

We brought a few movies over to watch during our stay. The last trip we brought the Karate Kid remake with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. Justin wore the DVD out, we had to get another copy, he enjoyed it so much. I "forgot" to bring that movie. I wish I had brought it. I think Shani would have worn it out, too. I think I'm actually glad I forgot it. I've seen it so many times, I could probably recite it. He'll probably watch it enough when we get home to make up for not watching it on this trip. I did bring a few other movies I thought he would like just as much. This trip is going to seem much longer than it is if he doesn't.

It isn't going to be hard to keep him as active as Justin. With all the rain we've had, the playground is a soggy, muddy mess, but we did find a dry spot to play some "enclosed" soccer. There is a shelter on one side of the playground opposite the front door to the orphanage. We played one-on-one soccer for about a half-hour. The only way I can keep up with either of my boys is to cheat every opportunity I get; so there were a lot of potential penalties for holding and carrying, as I scooped Shani up in a bear hug, while I kicked three goals in a row. He would have the ball headed to my side, when I would spin him around, scoop him up again and kick another three goals in a row on his side. Justin would have been livid, and screaming "Penalty! Penalty! Penalty!" But Shani just giggled and squealed until he couldn't breathe any more.

Honorable Number One Son is very competitive; and I appreciate that. He's already figured out that it's not that hard to beat Popi. Honorable Number Two Son, Shani is learning how to "cahoot"...as in, he is learning the BEST place to be is in cahoots with Mom playing Uno to beat Popi. Of course Mom is "cahooting" like there is no tomorrow! I have a feeling when we get home, I'm going to be ganged up on!

Looks like it's going to be a pile up on Dad!

The One That's Not Really About Any ONE Thing...

Dave sez,

Friday. The end of the five day work week. We'll be entering our second full week on Monday. What is weighing heavily on my mind is Thanksgiving.

Something else that comes to mind is Genesis 11: 1 (NLT) "At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words."

It funny how very little talking goes on when Skyping with Justin. You know what Skype is: it is basically video-phone. He makes faces at us, we - and when I say "we" I mean "me" - make faces at him. And neither he or Cathy and I want to hang up. So, we make faces and point and act silly with each other for a half an hour.

We found out why the bus changed its route. The road that is the normal route is under construction. Not that I am paranoid or anything, but I am starting to see orange in my sleep! It is exasperating enough to try to figure out how to get across Rochester through construction, and now it is here too. Oh, and apparently Mother Nature can't make up her mind here either; it rained Monday and Tuesday, was kinda cloudy on Wednesday, really nice yesterday, then back to rain with a cold wind today. I bet there were saints somehow involved in that...

We just realized today that Shani is not just one of the last of the children we got to know last year; he is one of the few boys here anymore. The boys are seriously becoming outnumbered by girls. Shani referred to one of the girls as his sister. Something tells me this journey will not end with just two. Cathy and I have no desire to become "Jon And Kate Plus Eight" - a family with an outrageously large number of children - we do want to provide what is in our children's best interest. We're trying to navigate what Justin needs, what Ethan needs, what they both need, and what Cathy and I need both individually and as a couple. It's nice to think about what happens next. It is important to plan a head and look at the larger picture. I think right now, both boys need our time and attention. Cathy and I will probably be talking about this from time to time over the next few months as we watch our boys' progress. It is interesting to see how he interacts with the other children here.

A rainy day like today was nice to spend quiet time with him working on his English and spelling and watch him play "Angry Birds", bowl and drive a race car. I kept looking out at the empty playground and the soccer field, where Justin, Sasha, Andre, Ruslan, Vlad and Kolia all played last fall. Ethan played with them, too. They're all home now. Ethan will be home soon. I keep telling myself that these are his last few weeks here. The quiet is a big difference this time. Justin has a lot of energy. He was - and is - very active. I may have mentioned this before but as active as Ethan is, he does have his quiet moments. Both boys have a laser focus, where they can shut out the rest of the world when they are concentrating on something. It was nice to see Ethan keep trying until he figured things out, both with his English and spelling and the games.

We are still praying that our court date comes up sometime during the week of November 12th through the 16th.

Don't forget we fall back - in the states - this weekend and get and extra hour of sleep. That's a refund on that hour we lost in the Spring. Don't forget to set all the clocks back, you don't want to go into a time warp walking from room to room in the house.

...So George Lucas REALLY sold Lucasfilm (Star Wars) to Disney? Well, Lucas is a lot like Walt Disney. Both innovative and inventors. Disney's Song of the South will never be seen on DVD or Blu-Ray because it is so politically incorrect, and unless Disney reverses Lucas' passionate hatred for the Star Wars Holiday Special - which was surprisingly a lot like an episode of The Muppet Show! - that will never be seen, except for on YouTube. Carrie Fisher and Natalie Portman can now be considered Disney Princesses. Expect straight-to-DVD films on those concepts. If I remember right, the adoption theme is so heavy in Star Wars, because Lucas himself adopted, and "wrote what he knew".

I remember my brother Tim taking me to see Star Wars when it first came out. We saw it at the theater at the River Oaks shopping mall. I think that was back when a theater was a single theater, and not yet a googleplex. You might wonder why it was my brother, Tim, who took me to the movie, and not my dad or mom. As a dad myself, I am learning that presence is the most important thing.

Watching Ethan play video games today, I can not wait to take both him and Justin to the arcade at the theater back home. If Justin becomes absolutely "twitterpated" by the games, Ethan will need an oxygen mask!

I wonder what great things I will see my boys accomplish...

I wonder how much proof-reading and editing Cathy will do in the morning when she wakes up and reads this - it is 11:49pm here...