Early this morning, the sweetest purest heart I've known stopped beating. Our constant cat companion, Ishtar, has joined her sister Chloe among the stars, just days after we brought our daughter Isabel home to meet her. Ishtar saw us through so many rough times, giving us unconditional affection when we needed it most. She saw us through to Isabel's arrival, then left with uncommon timing. What a good, good kitty. A rare soul....

I'm amazed now thinking I've been back from Florida three weeks. Amazed at both how long and how short it seems, which usually means some life's been lived, which couldn't be truer for me these last weeks. Someday I'll write about our trials down in Florida with adoption and bureaucrats. I'll write when I've had more reflection and walkaway time. It's an amazing story. I'll also write about little Isabel and I finally driving into Bethlehem during Moravian Vespers, which my wife conducts, and Isabel spending her first hour in town listening to Paula's choir and watching handmade Christmas candles...