Three...

Kevin began the 14 hour drive to Corpus Christ at 4am this morning. While he made his way west, I was sleeping in. This is something I rarely do anymore. I finally awoke around 9:30. Of course, I didn't actually go to bed until 3:30 am. So, if I had gone to bed at 10pm like Kev, I would have been up at 4am...theoretically. Needless to say, housekeeping knocked at the door twice before I ever vacated the suite. I digress...

As Kevin continued his long, straight, boring trip on I-10, I decided to head to the mall. As I wandered from shop to shop, from one end of the mall to the other; I noticed just how many Latino people live in the area. I mean, I knew it already, but I really looked at the faces of the passersby. I noticed their skin colors, all different shades, their hair, their personalities. I was looking for Jack. I tried to guess what he would be like. Which little boy might resemble him?

As I strolled along, I realized that there were so many families out and about, teens with parents, mothers with several young children, a few pregnant teens with boyfriends/husbands, old couples. What I really saw were families. Families are such an important part of the culture here...More than at home. Everyone was so happy, smiling, chatting in English and Spanish, truly enjoying the company they were in. They were also polite. They acknowledged me, really greeted me, not just because they felt obligated, but because it's what they do, a part of their lives. There was such spirit in that mall today. You could see it in the bounce in their step. These people truly appreciate the simple things in life. They are happy. These people the Hispanic community of Corpus Christi, TX, are visual symbols of Jack's heritage. He'll have two heritages, one from his adopted parents, and one from his biological parents. I was so proud, today, to see where our son is coming from. Jack's birthmother is a hero to me. She's very special, but she's also like so many other people in her world. I hope some of this will live on in my son.

In case you're wondering, we didn't see Jack's birthmother today. Yes, she was spending time with her family.