(Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series.) After a whirlwind weekend spent with my newly engaged daughter as she said “yes to the dress,” she and my future son-in-law drove me to the Dallas/Fort Worth airport to catch my plane back to Wisconsin. Packed full of a cornucopia of sights and sounds and after experiencing French, Thai and Japanese cuisine, it was time to go home. Flying solo was formidable to me.

(Editor’s Note: This is the first part in a two-part series.) Enjoying the experience, we’ve been on a sweet journey that holds much promise as the path unfolds. A couple years ago, our daughter met a tender-hearted young man who purely and respectfully pursued her.

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’re well aware of how our family was formed, but in case you don’t know, I’ll fill you in with an abbreviated story. We’d tried for seven years to start a family. Because we’d always known we wanted to have a family, our journey led us to pursue adoption.

“Eek!” slipped out through clenched teeth — unbidden yet totally expected, an automatic reflex to what I happened to be doing at the moment. We are thick into sap season, and every year is different, depending on the weather. It is akin to farming in that respect. This past winter, my husband diligently thought through easier, more effective and more productive ways to collect sap.

With an emotionally-charged voice, the home-team announcer enthusiastically described the play: “Brett drops back. Scrambles. Throws a bomb to Sharp in the end zone. Touchdown, Packers.” Moments before the play unfolded my husband had leaned over, his quiet whisper tickling my ear, “Favre’s gonna throw a bomb to Sterling Sharp.” (Just a side-note.

Late summer of 2022, I connected with Sarah Magee, a tenderhearted woman who is in the business of rehoming cats. We were in need of a couple of natural mouse hunters and knew of her reputation of finding homes for healthy, neutered cats. She has since established a nonprofit called Joy’s Place Animal Rescue. For a couple of years, it was just the two cats we received from Sarah.