Ramblings, Incoherent Thought and Family

So it's my last day as a 44 year old and as I did last year thought I'd relate my thoughts.  - Just as last year...the last 365 days I've become more a part of this amazing family.  All my life I've wanted to be a Dad...and while I've been calling myself a 'pseudo custodial adult' since I got here in 2015...this year I truly called myself "bonus Dad".  Nicholasn and Sandra along with Wendy and I make a great unit really dedicated to these kids.  I call them my kids...and I hope to God they understand that doesn't mean I'm trying to replace anyone...but just that the love and true hope I have for them would be what I'd have for any blood child I could have had.  This family that God has blessed me with has been an amazing part of my life and I can't wait to make it official this year.  - I've now been engaged almost a full year to the best partner anyone could hope for.  It's not totally easy all the time.  We're not ...

IN late July 2011 I met one of the best friends I’d ever know. My cousin’s mother had passed away and he asked me to do the service for him as I was still an Elder in my church and I guess he just wanted someone who knew his Mom to do it.   When I went over to Nate’s to talk about the service I met Bunny.   See his Mom had a few dogs…and I believe even tried breeding for awhile.   One of the dogs…the smallest, had been hard for him to find a home for.   He’d tried our cousin Dawn but she had two big (awesome) dogs and Bunny just didn’t work.   So Dawn had to bring her back to Nate.   Then while talking about the service Nate and Rachel asked if we wanted her.   See at this time…my former wife and I had 5 cats and were living in a house and kinda pondered getting a dog but we really wanted a puppy to avoid the issues that could come from introducing a dog to a pack of cats.   This little pooch seemed perfect for that.   The idea b...