Another day....another phone call

One day this girl walked into our lives, at the time we didn't know she had actually run away from home, but we knew she was having problems. So we took her under our wings and did what we could to support her.

Over the past 8 years or so, we have had 7 young women come and go thru our lives so when Jennifer came along it just seemed normal to us. Our house is one of those houses were the kids hang out.....I guess once you start to feed them, well they just hang around.

Last year Jennifer met this guy, a good friend of my oldest daughter and before we knew it she told us that a baby was on the way. Once Drake was born, again we started to baby sit the little fellow as Jennifer went off to work. I'm not sure why this rugrat is different then the rest, maybe it's the way he throws up on you if you're not paying attention.....but he is so funny and almost the perfect baby. He snores, eats everything and laughs.....I think it's a laugh or good gas....:)

About 2 months ago, we lost Drake and our hearts were just broken when he left us without any warning. My wife and I talked about having more kids of our own, we talked to both daughters about having kids........no response there. We talked about going somewhere and adopting a child.

Last week, when our world again was turned upside down with the fire......and it was tough to come back to the states and see the damage but Drake was still on our minds more then the fire.

Today around 1:00pm we got another phone call...and I have to tell you that when the phone rings my heart drops now. Not my cell phone, but the house phone....that is never good news it seems. But it was Jennifer, and she had taken our advice and went back to Orlando and worked out her problems with the family. After having Drake, she understand the importance of family. However, she deicided that it was time to come back to where she wanted to live. And the family is coming here over Labor Day.....

This is one thing that we always try to make the kids understand......family, family, family. Even with the peaks and valleys that come in our lives, it's important to believe in yourself, in your family, in your wife, with good health and friends along with strong faith.....it's easy to replace the wood we lost in the fire last week.

Every Friday at lunch time, my wife goes up on the hill and counts the people working. Then down to KFC and buys chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and drinks for everyone. We all have lunch together, just this week we have 3 fire marshalls but that's ok too. The people that are working on my dream, are not just workers.....they are part of our family and we treat them that way.

Saturday, Jennifer and Drake will be back home here and we can't wait for the return of our favorite rugrat. The pic on the right was taken up on the hill, as he goes with me everywhere...the ECO foundation is in the background.

SO happy days are here again.......I hope you also have the joy in your life as we have in ours.....PEACE