And now....we wait.

I got up early the morning of Josh's interview and painted this little tiger for him on a 3x5 piece of scrap watercolor paper.

No use sleeping. Much too excited, might as well paint.

I hid it inside the inner breast pocket in the jacket he was wearing for the interview.

The possibility of business school shines brighter and brighter on the horizon. 

Let the quest begin!

We find out December 11, if and where he's been accepted.

A Tribute To My Beloved Uncle Kyle

Courage.

To stand at the edge

And look down

The clear deep water

So far below,

Beckons.

You take a fast breath

And dive.

The bonds of gravity

Falling free

You fly.

Courage.

To stand at the edge

And look up

The clear eternal skies of heaven

So far above,

Beckons.

You take your last breath

And dive.

The bonds of illness

Falling free

You fly.

In honor of the most courageous man I've ever known, my beloved uncle Kyle. Who is at last free from the debilitating bonds of MS. Who never let illness stop him from loving, serving and working. Who continually trusted in the Lord and His goodness, and taught others to trust in Him, even when life is incredibly hard.

My mom always talked about her brother's great athleticism as a college diver, I imagined him diving into the heavens like he would dive into the water, full of courage and grace. I'm sad I never got to see him dive. I'm sad I won't hear his voice again, or his laugh for a long time. I'm sad that his family had to say goodbye to him while he was still so young, while they were still so young. I'm sad that his sweet, beautiful wife had to let him go. Her courage and love inspires me so deeply. 

But I'm grateful that he is my uncle. I'm grateful for his incredible example of courage and faith. And I'm grateful that he has a place in that magnificent heart of his, that loves me, a little niece-who will always, and forever love him too.