But there was one among us who was obviously pulling for the Heat.  Since the Heat won game 1 … Tim took a white shirt and put it on over his Heat jersey.  He had written 1-0 with a big marker and then burned parts of the white shirt to indicate that the Heat had burned the Mavericks in game 1.

After last night’s Heat loss I figured Tim would be in need of a shirt this morning … so I made him one.

I convinced him to wear it today by telling him that I would wear a shirt that he brings on Monday … IF … the Heat win game 3 on Sunday. Now I have extra incentive to pull for the Mavs on Sunday night.

We are still pretty new at all this. We’ve only received a few phone calls in our 3 years as foster parents.

Call 1 - We took in a cute little baby girl who was 3 months old. By the time she was 9 months old her mom was ready and able to take her back. They called at 4:00 in the afternoon and by 8:00 pm she was at our house.

Call 2 – We took in a 2-day old baby and 18 months later we adopted little Ashley (pictured on the elephant). They called on a Saturday afternoon and by Sunday they brought Ashley to us straight from the hospital.

Call 3 – Just 2 weeks ago we got a call for a 7 week old baby who was partially in a cast. It seemed like a tragic scenario … but we were heading out-of-town the next day and they couldn’t give us this baby.

Every time the phone rings I wonder if this is it. Most people prepare for about 9 months for the baby … we get 4-24 hours. I can wait!

This week I was marking February 24 on my calendar as Adoption Day and I realized that I entered “Adoption Day – Ashley” as if there might be other adoption days in the future for different kids.  Within the next few weeks we should be active foster parents again and the adventure will start all over.

Here’s a picture that typifies Ashley … always trying to be like the big kids, she’s trying to swing a bat … hair is a little wild because she’s always on the move … face a little dirty after playing hard outside … wearing those boots (she loves those things) … and of course dressed like a bumble bee.

Last year I put together this video to capture Ashley’s life from birth to adoption.

Looking back on this video three years later I am really proud of Abby and of Julie.  I was merely the camera man here … surely …

As I was reading I picked up on a little parenting nugget that was golden. Joshua mentioned that he reads the Jesus Storybook Bible with his kids.  I ordered that book and our family has been reading through it for the past three weeks.

The tagline of the book is “every story whispers His name.” I have been amazed how each story is intentionally tied into the story of Jesus.  I love that my kids are getting this perspective on the Bible and I have also been reminded of how the whole Bible is the story of Jesus.

The theme that is consistent throughout is RESCUE:

• Noah was rescued from God’s wrath
• The people who built the tower of Babel were rescued from their own selfishness
• Abraham was rescued from sacrificing Isaac
• Joseph was rescued from the pit and the prison
• Moses and the Israelites were rescued from slavery
• Naaman was rescued from leprosy
• Daniel was rescued from the lions

I honestly can’t wait to read the next chapter each night to see how it all points to Jesus.

I am thankful for the wife, mother, daughter and friend she is.  She is loved by her family and friends.

Last night we have a fajita dinner and an awesome birthday cake made by one of our friends.  It’s been a long time since the whole family could be together.

We are blessed!

The whole Mosley and Wilson crew.

What fajita dinner isn't complete without a sombrero!

I have been so impressed with Bill and Amy as they have wrestled with these unimaginable circumstances as parents.  Bill has posted a steady stream of Twitter updates that speak to the faith they have in Jesus and to the devastation it is to watch your daughter go through something like this. (Finally, a practical use for Twitter!)

I asked Bill if he wanted to share a quick update via video so that others could get a glimpse into their journey.  Bill does an outstanding job painting the picture of how your perspective shifts when you get the news your daughter has cancer.

I have always admired people who can play the piano. It’s amazing how many different types of music can come out of that thing.

When our piano arrived I had a flash of brilliance … or insanity. I decided that I was going to learn to play the first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

Check out this video I found. You have to hang around at least until about 45 seconds to see his subtle passion.

For some reason this video is incredibly beautiful and inspiring to me (plus I think his facial expressions are classic).

I may be this guy’s age before I can actually play it … But that’s my goal. Over the past 10 days I have learned the first 4 lines of the piece.

That’s my fun challenge for this season.

We learned the term “gotcha day” from a friend of ours who was adopted as a child.  When we heard her tell her story and use that phrase years ago, I never imagined that it would be a phrase that I would someday use in my family.

On September 7, 2008 little Ashley was brought to our home straight from the hospital. We didn’t know if we would be her foster family for 2 weeks, 2 months or what.  Two years later she’s a permanent part of our family.  I told Julie yesterday that I am already starting to forget that she’s even adopted.  Now she’s just part of the family.

God builds families in unique ways.  I am thankful that we have a gotcha day to celebrate each year.