Who's Reagan Anyway?

Before I answer that I have to comment on something significant that happened to Edward yesterday. He is currently doing an internship at Ford in Michigan. He is excited about it and is a fan of the current CEO. He thinks that he has a great vision for the huge corporation. So, that excitement is what spawned a note written to him saying just that. Ed read an article about Mr. Mulally that said he encourages the executives to bring subordinates to meetings. Ed requested that he be one of those subordinates. Or, if that wasn't possible, could he have a moment of his time. Ed really didn't know if he could expect a response. However, yesterday in the mail, Ed received a handwritten note from Mr. Alan Mulally himself, agreeing to meet with him. How crazy is that!!! I was excited but I didn't know if I was overreacting. Well, Edward assured me that I wasn't. He's only the most talked about CEO over the last 6 months. Edward, you're so cool! (Paige, I know you'll make fun of us for being huge nerds. Go ahead-- we're totally aware of how nerdy we are.)

Now, who is Reagan. Reagan is the second child of our dear friends, Kristin and Josh. The W.'s are friends of ours from the military. Josh and Ed both graduated in Mechanical Engineering from West Point and went into Army Aviation. They weren't great friends, but knew and respected each other. When the guys were sent back to Ft. Rucker, AL for their Captain's Career Course, we crossed paths again. This was the first time I met Kristin and Josh. Kristin wasn't too sure of me at first, but we later discovered that God had placed us in each others' lives. After this initial hurdle we became fast confidantes. Six months later, we moved to Germany together. We lived .75 miles from each other in a tiny German village. Kristin and I have been through it all together. Deployments, infertility, adoption of her first child (Ryker), living overseas, are just a few of the big things we've shared. She was my stability (along with Shannon and Sandy). In that time, we became family. As a matter of fact, when people asked us in Guatemala if we knew each other, we often said yes, we're sisters. It's an easier explanation.

Both of the guys are out of the military now, pursuing other things. They live in Georgia, we're in Illinois, and our relationship is no worse for the wear. We just love each other. We love Ryker (big brother) and Reagan. And they love Gabriella. We still need each other and now, instead of sharing the military and its trials, we're sharing the trials and triumphs of adoption. And after this, it will be something else. Because just like my Liza and I belong together, so do the Austins and W.s. And that's why we are so thrilled to get Reagan home. Just because that's where she belongs.