Caleb - Our 3 y.o. grandson at the Easter Egg hunt at the Library.

Caleb looking at the Easter card he made at storytime at the library. It has a pop up bunny inside!

Caleb sitting on the Easter Bunny's lap. If I were a kid I'd be terrified of this bunny!

Today as we do every Wednesday for the past 2 years Caleb and I went to Storytime at the library. Today though was a special storytime as they had a visit by the Easter Bunny and a egg hunt. Caleb was so excited. He was just starving for Easter eggs! He had a fun time and found lots of eggs. He had quite a few more than some of the other kids so I asked him to share - he went and re-hid several of his eggs for them to find. What a sweet kid!

After lunch we had to take my Mom and her two dogs to the vet for the dogs to get their rabies vaccinations. Caleb was a big help holding them by their leashes and escorting them in and out of the exam room. My mom uses a walker to get around and she can't control them easily so he was really proud to be able to help. After that was done we went up to the church to do my weekly billpaying session with Fr. Robert. Caleb fell asleep in the car on the way, so I carried him in to the rectory when we arrived and he took a nice nap on Father's sofa while we worked and talked.

We received good news and bad news from Fr. Robert today. Before I share either news I'll give you a bit of Fr. Robert's background. He is a Priest from the order of the Missionaries of St. Paul. It is based in Nigeria, Fr. Robert is Nigerian and is in the USA on a work VISA. He has been our Parish Priest for about 18-19 months. For Alan and I though he is a very close friend. He has supported us since we first told him of our plans to adopt. He is really looking forward to being active in Abate and Fantu's lives. Alan and I know he will be a fantastic role model and mentor for them, plus being able to help them with their adjustment to living in Texas. He has really helped us with questions we have had about life and the environment of growing up in Africa. An example is I shared with him how Fantu's fear is of snakes. A very realistic fear - Alan and I both have this fear to some extent ( and yes we have them around our place). Fr. Robert explained how that fear among Africans is more intense due to the fact that if you are bitten by a poisonous snake there then it most likely will be fatal as there isn't access to anti-venoms. It is a very common and realistic fear. It is his knowledge that has opened Alan and mine eyes to the differences in just daily occurrences that will shape and define our children's future. So now the news.... bad news first? Fr. Robert told me today that with much sadness he is being transferred to a parish in Houston. He will be leaving Gatesville the end of June. He is very unhappy that he will not be here to be a daily part of Abate and Fantu's lives as he was really looking forward to it. He is also saddened by the distance that will separate our friendship. Alan and I feel a deep loss that he will not be here to be the mentor to Abate and Fantu, and the friend and Priest we feel so much for will not be close at hand. Now for the good news! He has agreed to be Godfather to Abate and Fantu! We have been planning to ask him for months and today was the right time. It assures he will be the mentor we wish for the kids, and will remain a close friend no matter the distance to our family. It really reassured him that we have and want to retain close ties with him. Houston, well it's about a 3-4 hour drive (depends if it's east side or west). That's not too bad. Is it?