Good fences make good neighbors? Finding the best way over them makes best friends.

Today is Jaelyn's moving day.

When Avery and Jaelyn started playing together we would lift one or the other over the fence. Soon this became hard on our backs and Jaelyn's dad built a "ladder bridge" over the fence. For the last 3 years a phone call would be made between the two, some begging to parents to please let them play, and always hearing Avery end the call with " I'll meet you at the fence".

Snow shoes, umbrellas, swimsuits - whatever was necessary and they were set to go.

She isn't even moving out of town. They have it timed to a 4 minute drive, but it's nothing like being able to pop over the fence.

I had to get a few pictures...

My new running partner is an angel

I was running today, a horrible 6 miles. I haven't run much the last month and I'm doing a half marathon with Quade and his friend Theron in 2 weeks. Time to get going.
I've been thinking about how my life has changed since Shelly had Ruth. Starting at 2am on August 4th, I was sure some things would change for me. I wanted them to because I wanted there to always to be a way she touched my life. How could my life not change. I didn't want it to just be the 3 weeks of depression or my new questions about the effectiveness of praying. Something positive would be marked by this.
As I'm running this morning Neutral Milk Hotel is starting to sing...

What a beautiful face I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me...

I've heard this song so many times over the years, it's a running favorite. This is the first time it had any meaning.
I run for many reasons and I've succeeded in it thanks to the support of friends and family. From now on I run every race for Ruth. I will qualify and run Boston for her. For every step she'll never get to take and for every Mom and Dad that never get to bring their babies home with them.
Who could ask for a better reason than that.

What a beautiful face I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone I see
Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH3CRVVBL9o