Not canceled (yet)

While it may be immanent, they haven't canceled our flight yet. I'm on hold with Delta seeing about rescheduling, just in case. Dublin Airport's closed until at least 11 am tomorrow (they're 7 hrs ahead of us). From this map, it's looking pretty iffy for a flight tomorrow:

Trip to Ireland goes BOOM!!!

Thank you all for your support... We are grieving our trip to Ireland due to a LARGE volcanic eruption.

Updates soon....

An incomplete sneak peak-- Ireland :)

So, a few of the things we are very much looking forward to seeing in Ireland.

Bridges of Dublin:

Who knew Dublin had so many gorgeous bridges? Well... I plead the 5th, but for all who share my lack of familiarity with the beautiful Irish City, the "Liffy" is a river that runs through, and thus, they have many bridges.

Of course, a few of the old homes in the neighborhoods are still around for us to appreciate after a few hundred years.

And, the number 1 draw of Ireland, the views. The "Ring of Kerry" is supposedly the most scenic and beautiful part of the country in the southwest corner. It is a lovely drive or bus tour.

The Giant's Causeway is one of the coolest accidents of Geology in the world. It

is a collection of vertical hexagonal stones. There is a legend about Giants... I won't go into it here, mostly for lack of time. But, very cool, eh?

And, Brent's #1 reason for going to Ireland, The Cliff's of Moore, or as we know them in Utah from the Princess Bride film, the Cliff's of Insanity. "Move the thing... and the other thing! Move it!"

We have a whole day set aside to enjoy these beautiful and clearly very memorable areas.

The countdown has begun. For anyone who may try to contact us, you should know we will be unavailable for awhile, except by email. Seth will be staying at the house for us, and taking care of Buster, aka Gabe.

We do have a magic jack US number that we plan on using regularly, so you can call us at 801-850-6124, and we will be checking voicemail (as we figure out how).

SO EXCITED!!!! :)

CSI: K9

Some crime scene photos:

This first is from last year, dozens of dollars of damage and mass destruction:
We installed a prison fence to contain the suspect in this destruction. He escaped, allegedly by using his teeth to pull the fence so hard that it bent the latch. We repaired the latch and reinforced the gate after the second time. Then, last night, there was another escape. This is what we found at the gate:

Yes, that's a hole in the gate, and no, it wasn't there before.

More evidence, from this morning: Destructo, caught in the act?

The suspect continues to act all innocent, here's a mug shot, see what you think:

Innocent patsy or diabolical destroyer? You be the judge.

Super Curtains!

Some of you may note the "superheroes" in the address and title of this blog. This is a post on that topic...

Last year Nicole decided to give me a superhero themed office. We started working last summer and got it in workable condition for the school year, but despite having bought the fabric for my curtains, my windows have been bare, since then...


Until now:

I did the sowing myself! (Nicole helped with some of the ironing).


And presenting...
Super-dog with his green-ray vision:


Next project for the super-office, finding a way to display the arsenal of freedom:

(Some of these go back over a decade to freshman year, others are my little brother's, but still, it's an impressive sight)

April Fools Snow

We looked out the window and what did we see...


So even after a nice warm stretch AND the official Spring Equinox, on April 1st we woke up to snow... I always knew the supreme forces in the universe had a good sense of humor. This shot is actually from Easter Morning when we had even more snow, taken from the back window.

Why would she want to give up her baby?

Ouch!

I cringe lately when I hear this.

I have been sharing with people that love us and support us about a birth mother we are hoping to get to know soon. I don't know very much about her, but I know she is not a teenager. When hearing this, people, even people that I consider very much supportive of adoption, kind of look confused and ask innocently, "Why would she want to give up her baby?" or "Why wouldn't she want to keep her baby?"

Really, guys?

I know it's not your fault. Our society glorifies single mothers, even teenage ones. I had a heart-breaking conversation with a sweet gal at Kinko's a couple of years ago as I was putting together our 23 copies of our profile for all the Utah offices. I will never forget it.

She was a single mom, and hoping to be pregnant again soon (still single). She was a loving and hard working mother. And she had absolutely no concept of why someone would choose a stable family with a mother and a father for their baby.

She said something like, "Yes, I'm sure there are lots of babies that need families. Women on drugs and people who leave their babies in dumpsters."

I could have fallen over.

My best friend had the courage to place her baby for adoption about 8 years ago. I get that it was the hardest thing she has, or will probably ever do. And she did NOT do it because she didn't "want to keep her baby." She would have given ANYTHING to "keep" her baby. But she wouldn't have been able to give him an eternal family with a mom and a dad, and she wanted that for him more than she wanted anything for herself.

No human being gives birth to a baby and doesn't want to "keep their baby." No one. People who don't want a baby get an abortion. Adoption is not about not wanting to "keep" your baby.

Adoption is about wanting something more for your baby than you have to give. It is about wanting that more than you want anything for yourself. As far as I'm concerned, it is the most selfless act a mother can do besides giving her own life for her child. And it is probably harder.

Single mothers who choose to place their children in a family are a small percentage in any age group, but most are not teenagers. Many more are in their 20's or even 30's. These women know life is not just about them and they know that there is more that their baby can have than what they can give.

If you've said something like this, please don't spend time feeling bad. Just consider this some sensitivity training, and please, if you know a birth mother who is making the courageous choice of adoption, let her know that you get it. It has been hard for me to hear these kind of comments. I can't imagine how painful it would be as a birth mother to hear this over and over.

By the way, this is one of our family pictures we have posted on our new profile. Check it out and give us feedback :).

The Surprise is out! I'm taking Brent Paragliding :)

We have decided to create adventures every month, and this months was going to be a surprise. But, the big day came and the wind was going the wrong way so we had to postpone. But, one day, very soon, Brent and I will be screaming... I mean streaming through the air on a tandem flight through the sky.

Stay tuned for more...

Bienvenido a Miami

Ah the things we do in the name of science...

(This is from my recent trip to a Psychological Conference in Miami, sometimes it's hard being an accademic)*

*The convertabile was NOT my idea, I selected a compact, but the guy I was sharing it with got in first and added an "upgrade." Ironically, there's the same amount of leg room in the back...

And Back!

Now showing the end of Blonde Nicole! And a bit of our St. Patrick's Day party. I made an awesome corned beef and cabbage feast (and 6 kinds of potatoes)*. When you've served a mission in Ireland, you've got to represent!

*In a funny twist, most of these foods are actually not native to Ireland, but I was the only one at the dinner who knew that...