Songbird.

I woke to disbelief.

I asked to know it wasn't true.

What I had heard could not be real.

There's no way it could be you.

The life of every party.

The cheer along the way.

It seems so unbelievable,

The world lost you today.

I see people smiling

and I want to scream and shout

'Don't you know there is a friend

I have to live without?!'

The laugh. The smile. The lipstick.

The jewelry and the hair.

I close my eyes and open

hoping to see you standing there.

As beautiful a person

as one could ever be.

I'm honored of all people

you shared your love with me.

Diamond rings, the circus

that big ole' awesome van.

Singing 'Wind Beneath My Wings'

as only Marley can.

Nap time trouble makers,

dreams of your name in lights

Talent shows and tugboats,

crazy sleepless nights.

Laughing during spelling tests

and getting reprimands

Crab costumes and sickness

Only you will understand

The day the world stopped turning

you sang the anthem proud

trust in God would heal our hearts

fear was not allowed.

Graduation day, we did it!

Friends for 14 years

Kept in touch through college

happiness or tears

Busy lives and emails

catch ups over dinner

deciding which guys we should dump

and which ones were a winner.

We've been there for it all.

we've searched in life for place

now Songbird you have found yours

in the presence of His face.

Loving, trusting Jesus

your Savior and your Love.

Getting now to meet Him

and sing with Him above.

My Marley, yes you've left us

but we all know the deal

You've found out what you knew was true

Heaven is for real.

Our friendship has not ended,

the memories replay.

We'll laugh the same as we always have

when I meet you there one day.

25 years of friendship...I'll keep counting. :)  Love you so much and hope I make you proud.

You're gonna hear me....

ROAR...

That is what Brennan has learned recently and this is exactly what prompted our first trip to the zoo.

I had urges to take him ever since he was born but I knew that there was no way that he could really enjoy it. With his aunty Em coming from Australia, I thought it was the perfect time to see what he would think.

Jared, myself, Emma, Brennan and our dear friend Abby headed down to Wellington last weekend.

Brennan became a champ at standing on his tippy toes to see animals!

This was an Australian pelican...like in Nemo. This animal was huge!

Nothing like a fatalistic sign to make you keep an eye on your kid!

Me and my boy. :)

 What do you do to a meerkat? Poke it of course.

When we went to see the chimpanzees, we got a real treat! This was the cutest chimpanzee family I had ever seen!

Then there was this guy...

who was creepy. I am sure he comes by it honest.

Towards the end, Brennan was getting a little tired. He had been all wrapped up because it was so windy. (In Wellington? Shocker!)
He looked like a little Russian babushka when he gave me this face. I expected him to bust out with a Robin Williams "oy!...it was such a shander!"

Maybe it is me but the scariest part of the zoo was the Neighbours Exhibit. It is where you find all sorts of animals from Australia. The kangaroos roamed ABSOLUTELY FREE. No fences. As we were headed up the path to leave, this dude was giving us the evil eye.

I had to pass him quickly and was told not to make eye contact. (thanks em!)

As we exited, there was a family coming in the other way. I told this big burly man to watch out for the emu right by the door on the other side. When he saw it, he looked like he might cry!

We had such a good time.

There is a way to spend the night at the zoo close to the lion enclosure.

Not sure if that is for me but watch this space...it might happen soon!