01 FEB 26

It's barely seven o'clock in the morning... while Yali pounds down the hall to the shower... I check on the mourning meowing of Puck's cat in the basement and find the treadmill running at about 0.5 miles per hour... no answers... maybe the cats are responsible for this one also...

It's a frozen popsicle drive to church... where our pew is a little loud that morning with all the bumping thumping scratching dropping things and an accidental tear in a hymnal...

Back home nearly three hours later I sit at the table writing up a menu and shopping list for the week while Yali sits next to me with one of the little photo albums looking up snaps of Puck...

“Any special requests to add to the grocery list?” I ask the kids...

Yali's eyes brighten... “PUCK!” he chuckles...

“YES! PUCK!” Patience agrees...

Maybe Puck's drill sergeant hears this plea because a few hours later Puck buzzes in another call from the fort... it's about two minutes long but we get to hear his voice and that training's “not too bad”... he requests a delivery of hand warmers... check...

It's already evening... bus Yali over to the old Presbyterian youth group for a first visit with his buddy fresh off their pinewood derby victories yesterday...

Two hours later Patience and I pick him up in the school gym... he is PUMPED... two cheeseburgers and high energy games and a discussion on creation...

“Want to go back next Sunday?” // “EVERY TIME!”