A Max Observation and Reflection

Saturday, we went to a Zoo birthday party for our little friend Norah, who turned two years old. Todd had parked by the Muny because it was insanely gorgeous out and the entire city of St. Louis made Forest Park the day's destination. On our way to the car, we passed one of my favorite spots in all of Forest Park, the World's Fair Pavilion. The fountain below, drained of water, made for a great climbing spot. As the boys jumped and leaped and "snow skied" from rock platform to rock platform, Todd and I made our way to the bricks in front.

After Brian passed away, I purchased a brick through Forest Park Forever to honor him and his love for making things more beautiful.  Brian had the gift of envisioning brokenness into beauty and was filled with the grace to embrace that process. On his brick is engraved:

Brian Maynor

Lived and Loved

By His Grace

After the boys had leaped and jumped to their heart's desire, they made their way down to see Daddy Brian's brick. I loved watching their smiles and and their sweetness as they leaned down and ran their fingers over the engraving.

As we made our way to the car, all hand in hand, Max said quietly,

"God chose Daddy Brian to be my birth dad, but He chose Daddy Todd to be my life dad."