What we wind up doing for our kids! We start down that road thinking it's just for fun. Then we find a part of ourselves we didn't even know existed. It is the coolest of life's journeys, and the most important.

My older daughter was here for a quick visit earlier this week. Between classes (she is studying to be a nurse) and work I don't get to see her very often. She went through her wild years and now she is an adult. I knew it for sure from her dog. Ruby was a hurricane rescue dog from Arkansas. No papers, no known background, not even a known breed other than mixed. Labs and Rotts suspected. Allie adopted her on faith and they are both happy. There are rules which Ruby accepts. No, you do not jump up on people. No, you do not jump on the couch. No, you do not go for food on the table, it's not yours. (Ruby is still having a hard time accepting that one). Allie is going to be a really good nurse. For a long time she was overshadowed by her sister. No more.

To those of you of childbearing age, go ahead. Light the fuse. It will be aggravating at times. One of my neighbors is an Illinois state trooper who has a baby daughter. We were out on the street and of course the conversation went to her. I said the first year you're mostly a caretaker. He said I wish someone had told me that. He said I would die for her and wouldn't even think about it. This was a pretty serious guy until she wrapped him around her little finger. It gets better and better and better.