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"It’s so at " I really can’t handle the silence "It’s crazy, I know Just say it’s a bad idea" I feel like a balloon deflating

My wife slowly moves to where I pace in front of the couch "Ethan, after fifteen years together, you still have the ability to surpriseto let me down easy That’s just Emily She never says no, never yells, and neverso I realize how fundamentally bad the idea is; and trust me, there have been some terrible ideas over the years

"You are the most virile, yet sensitive, man I know"

Here it comes, the compliment followed by the let-down "Let’s make the appointment"

I know I look like, as Mark would say, "a total douche" right now My son hasNevertheless, I find that he’s rarely wrong

"Um, what?" I need clarification, because it sounds like she just agreed to this

"I said, set up the appointh so much, and we knohat it’s like, Ethan If we can provide someone else with the opportunity to live in a safe environrow, and be part of a family, then let’s do it"

E, and no explanation, she agrees to this life-changing idea I knoife is an extraordinary person, and today she proves there are no exceptions

"Should we talk to Mark first?" I want this to be a family decision, and this affects our son as well as Emily and me

"Your son takes after you in the compassion depart to worry about As a matter of fact, I think you’ll find him to be a little excited about the news" As usual, it seeed to information I a worth doing is ever easy, Ethan"

"Welcome to Cornerstones Ministries, Mr Parker"

"Thanks, Erin, I’m excited to do this"

"We are exceptionally pleased that you have returned to us as a mentor As you know, sos So, to have one of our own be a success and want to come back and mentor" I almost think she’ll cry "It’s special to us to have you here, Ethan"

After Mark was out of the toddler stage, I decided to volunteer for ongoing ith kids placed in "the system" They were there for a variety of reasons, not just those abandoned by their parents or abuse/neglect cases I was supposed to do tutoring, , or classroom/school assistance, but honestly, I just wanted to take the kids to a ball ga nor a little different this time, Ethan - if you’re up for it" My previous Buddies had been kids froroup homes where there was no family involvement

"Tanner is seven He lives at hoins to redden a bit "She has a teriven her about six in working with us for possible foster placement or adoption" Erin sets down her pen and looks at her hands I can tell this one has gotten to her

"We need someone to fill the void Jan is so sick, and she can’t doyou think you could handle?" The way she’s looking up at ive her a look that suggests I expect asfor whatever it is

"He’s also autistic"

I went to the library and read every journal article I could getto mentor this kid, I wanted to knohat I was in for Eies for working with hiiven his limited communication capabilities and responsiveness Erin also reco with behavior as Tanner had frequent meltdowns While a typical child has tantru or pleading would make a difference Tanner would harm himself and others in the process, but it never detoured our decision to keep him