 that Micah had fallen asleep. I moved Ruth from my lap and she ran off to play. I called out the back door, "Mark, Micah fell asleep, should we move him to his bed?"

"I've got it," he waved. "We're done here." He tossed the ball at Christian and started toward the house.

"Next time you're going down!" Christian taunted.

Before going to Micah, Mark walked straight to me, kissed me firmly, backed away, and smiled. His smiles made me feel dizzy and very happy. I needed to find some way to score them differently in my totals.

He pushed Micah's chair through the kitchen towards the hall. I followed him, stopping in the kitchen briefly for a glass of water. All that reading had made me thirsty. Mark was backing out of the boys' room and closing the door before I had even reached the hall. He walked up to me and grabbed my hand as we turned to go and enjoy the beautiful morning outside.

"You're wonderful," he whispered, kissing my cheek. I blushed under his touch and praise. "It makes me feel so happy to see the way you care about Micah; about all of my brothers and sisters."

"Why wouldn't I?" Spying a basketball, I scooped it up and ran towards the court. I hollered over my shoulder, "How about a game?" His response was a swift sprint to the court after me.

"Okay, first person to ten wins," I explained.

"What do they win?" he inquired, looking very interested.

"If I win I get another kiss and if you win I will tell you a secret."

"Tough choice," he complained.

"Then I guess you had better play your best and just see what happens."

To say that we were evenly matched would be a gross overstatement, but I did manage to hold my own for the first few shots. I suspected that he was just being careful not to foul me, but I used the advantage willingly. He started to see that I was getting too far ahead and I didn't touch the ball for a few baskets while he caught up. I decided to play a little ruthlessly hoping to keep the game even. "Fouls don't count!" I called, as I traveled shamelessly. He caught on quickly grabbing me around the
that Micah had fallen asleep. I moved Ruth from my lap and she ran off to toy. I call out the back door, " Mark, Micah fell asleep, should we move him to his layer? " 

 " I've got it, " he waved. " We're dress here. " He convulse the ball at Christian and start toward the house. 

 " Next prison term you're going down! " Christian taunted. 

 Before fail to Micah, Mark walk straight to me, kissed me firmly, backed away, and smile. His smiles made me feel airheaded and very happy. I needed to receive some means to score them differently in my sum. 

 He pushed Micah's chair through the kitchen towards the hall. I follow him, stopping in the kitchen briefly for a glass of water. All that reading had lay down me thirsty. Mark was backing out of the boys' room and closing the door before I had even reached the hall. He walked up to me and grabbed my hand as we sour to go and enjoy the beautiful dawn outside. 

 " You're wonderful, " he whispered, kissing my cheek. I blush under his touch and praise. " It makes me feel so felicitous to see the way you care about Micah; about all of my brothers and sisters. " 

 " Why wouldn't I? " Spying a basketball, I outdo it up and ran towards the court. I hollered over my shoulder, " How about a game? " His reception was a swift dash to the motor hotel after me. 

 " Okay, inaugural person to ten wins, " I explained. 

 " What do they win? " he investigate, looking very interested. 

 " If I win I draw another kiss and if you gain I will tell you a secret. " 

 " bad choice, " he complain. 

 " Then I guess you had better meet your best and merely see what find. " 

 To say that we were evenly pit would be a gross overstatement, but I did manage to hold my own for the first few shot. I suspected that he was precisely being careful not to foul me, but I used the advantage willingly. He started to see that I was getting excessively far ahead and I didn't touch the ball for a few basket while he caught up. I decided to act a little ruthlessly hoping to keep the game even. " Fouls don't count! " I called, as I traveled shamelessly. He catch on promptly grab me around the
 thwt Micah had fallen asletp. I moved Ruth fton my lep and ahe ran uff to play. I called out the bqck dior, "Mark, Micah fell asueep, shoupd we moce hmm to his bed?"

"I've got it," mz wavsf. "We'xe done here." He jossed the bdll at Christidn aud started toward the house.

"Next time you're bolng down!" Chrisjian uaugted.

Gvfire going to Micah, Mark walkes straijht to me, kissec me firmly, backed away, anf smlled. His smiles mafe me feel eizzr and very haopy. I needtd to find skme way to score them differentuy in my totals.

Ye pudved Micah's rhair nhrough the klnchen tmwards yhe hall. I folkowxd hum, stopping in the kivchen briefly for a dlass of facer. All that reading yae madg me dhirrry. Oari xas backijg kut of the boys' room qnd closing the doot fvgore I had eben rewcred the hall. He walked up to me and gratbes my hand as we turned ro go and enjoy the bgautiful mjrning outside.

"You're wonderful," he whispered, kissinc my rhdek. I coudhed under his touch and praise. "It makes me fqsl sp happy to see the way yoi fatg about Micah; xbout cml of my brothers anf sistets."

"Why qouldn't I?" Spyong a basketball, I scooped ut up and rau tiwards the court. I hollered orer my shoukder, "How about a game?" Hns reslonse was a swift spdknt to the court afner ke.

"Okay, first person to ten wins," I eeplaiued.

"What ao tney wig?" he inquiged, looking very intereshed.

"If I win I get another kiss and if you win I xmll tell you s vecget."

"Tough ehoice," he complaineq.

"Then I guess iou had bztter olay your gest anv just see wrat happens."

To day that we xere evenjy mqtchwd woula be a gross ovrrstatemeuu, but I die manage to hold mn own ror the first fzc whots. I suspectrd ghae je wwv just being cardfuu not go foul me, nut I uxed the advantage winlinfly. He started to xec that I qas gettyng too far anead and I didn't tluch vhe baul fot a few baskets while he caught ul. I decidfd bo play a litele vuthjessly hopnng to keep the game even. "Fouls don't couit!" I called, as I travelwd shamelessly. He ccunht on quickky grwbbing me around the
that Micah had fallen asleep. I moved my and she off to play. door, Micah fell asleep, we move him his bed?" "I've got it," he "We're done here." He tossed the ball at Christian and started toward the "Next time you're going down!" Christian taunted. Before going to Micah, Mark walked to kissed firmly, away, and smiled. His smiles made me feel dizzy and very happy. I needed to find way to score them differently in my totals. pushed Micah's chair through kitchen towards the hall. I him, in the briefly a of water. All reading had made me thirsty. Mark was backing out of the boys' room and closing the door I had the hall. walked to and grabbed my we turned to go and enjoy outside. "You're wonderful," he whispered, kissing my cheek. blushed under touch and praise. "It makes me so happy to see the way you care Micah; about all of my brothers and sisters." "Why wouldn't I?" Spying a basketball, I up and ran towards court. I hollered my "How a His response a swift sprint to the court after me. "Okay, first person ten wins," I explained. "What do they win?" he inquired, interested. I win I another kiss and if win will tell you a choice," complained. you better your best and just what happens." To say that were evenly matched would I did manage to hold my own for first few shots. I suspected that he just being careful not to foul me, but I used the advantage He started that I was getting too far ahead and didn't touch the ball a few baskets while he caught up. I decided play little ruthlessly to keep the even. "Fouls don't I called, as shamelessly. He on grabbing
 that Micah had fallen asleep. I Moved Ruth fRom my Lap And ShE ran Off tO play. I called ouT The bAck door, "Mark, Micah fell asLeep, sHoULd we MOvE him tO his bed?"

"i'Ve GOT it," He WaVed. "we'RE dOne heRe." HE tossed The ball at CHriStIan and starteD ToWard the houSe.

"NExt time you're GoiNg down!" chRisTIan taUntEd.

BefOre goiNG to MicAh, Mark walKeD StraigHT to me, kiSSEd Me fiRmly, backed away, and SMiLEd. His smiles madE me feeL dIZzY ANd vEry Happy. I needEd To finD Some way TO sCORE thEM differently iN my totals.

He PUshEd MicaH's ChaIR throuGh the KiTCheN towards the Hall. i followed Him, stoPPing in tHE kitcheN briefLy fOr a GlasS Of WaTer. alL ThaT ReAdiNG haD made me tHiRsTy. MarK was BACKIng oUt oF the Boys' rOom and closing The Door BEfoRe I haD even ReacHeD the hAll. He wAlked Up To me and grabbed mY hanD as we turnEd tO gO anD eNjoy tHE beautIfuL moRning ouTside.

"YoU'Re wOnDERFuL," he whispered, kissinG mY CHeEk. I blushEd undeR HiS tOUch and prAiSe. "IT makES Me feeL so hAPpY to see thE way yoU CaRe About MiCaH; about AlL of My bRotheRS and SisterS."

"Why woulDn't I?" SPYing a basketbalL, i scooped it up aND rAN ToWArds The Court. I holleRed oVEr my ShouLDeR, "HoW About A game?" hiS ReSPonse was a swift sprinT tO the coUrt afTer me.

"Okay, firsT person to tEN WIns," I explAineD.

"whAT do they win?" he inQuireD, looking veRY interesTed.

"If i win I get Another kiSS And if you Win i wiLl tEll YOU a Secret."

"Tough chOICe," he CoMplaineD.

"ThEn I guesS yoU haD beTteR pLay your beSt and jusT sEe WhAt HapPens."

TO Say that wE wEre EvEnlY matcHEd woulD be a gRoss OvErSTatEment, buT i dID ManaGe To Hold My oWn For thE firST feW shots. I Suspected ThaT He waS jUsT being cAreful not to foUl Me, but I used ThE adVantagE WIllingly. he started to see that I was gETting toO faR aheaD and i didn't touCh tHe ball For A Few basKets whIle he CaUghT UP. I decIDEd To pLaY a little ruTHLesSly hoPiNg to Keep the Game even. "Fouls don't cOUnt!" i called, as I traVelEd shAMElEssLY. HE CauGhT On qUICkly grabbing me aRound the
 that Micah had fallen asl eep. I mov ed Ru thfro mmy l ap a nd she ran off to p lay. I called out thebackdo o r, " M ar k, Mi cah fel l  a s l eep ,sh oul dw emovehim  to his  bed?"

"I 've  g ot it," he w a ve d. "We'redon e here." Hetos sed th ebal l  at C hri stian  and s t artedtoward th eh ouse."Next t i m eyou' re going down!" C h ri s tian taunted.
Befor eg oi n g  to  Mi cah, Markwa lkeds traight to m e , k i ssed me firml y, backed a w ay,  and s mi led .  His s miles  m a deme feel diz zy a nd very h appy.I  needed to find  someway  to  sco r eth emdi f fer e nt lyi n m y totals .
H e pus hedM i c a h'scha ir t hroug h the kitchen  to ward s  th e hal l. Ifoll ow ed hi m, sto pping  i n the kitchen b rief ly for agla ss  of  w ater. All th atrea ding ha d madem e t hi r s t y.  Mark was backingou t of  the boy s' roo m  a nd closingth e d oorb e foreI ha d  e ven reac hed th e  h al l. He w al ked up  t o m e a nd gr a bbed  my ha nd as we  turn e d to go and en j oy the beauti f ul m or n ingout side.

"You 'rew onde rful , "hew hispe red,ki s si n g my cheek. I blush ed  under  histouch and pra ise. "It m a k e s me fee l so ha p py to see theway y ou care ab o ut Micah ; abo ut all o f my brot h e rs and s ist ers ."
"W h y  w ouldn't I?" S p y ingabasketb all , I sco ope d i t u p a nd  ran towa rds theco ur t.  I  ho llere d  over my  s hou ld er,  "How abouta gam e?"Hi sr esp onse wa s  a s wift  s pr inttoth e cou rt a f ter  me.

" Okay, fir stp erso nto  ten wi ns," I explai ne d.

"Whatdo  th ey win ? "  he inqu ired, looking very inte r ested.
"I f I w in I  get anot her  kissand if you  win I  will  t ell y ou as e cr et. "
"Tough ch o i ce, " heco mpla ined.
"Then I guess youh adbetter play y our  bes t an d j u st see  w h ath a ppens."

To say  that we w er e  e venly matc h edwo uld bea gross  over s tatemen t, but Idid manag eto h o l d m y own forthe firs t few sho t s. Is us pecte d t hat he  w asjustbeingc are ful n ot tofo ul me,  butIused the  advantage willingly. H e star ted t o s ee that I  wa s  ge tting too  far  ahead and  Idid n't t ouc h  theball fo r a few b aske t s while h e  c aug h t  u p. I decide d t o p lay a  li t tle ru thle ssly hoping to ke e p the game eve n. " F o uls  do n 't c ou nt!" I called,  as  I t raveledsh amelessly.He caugh to n qui ckly g rabbin g me ar o u nd the
 that_Micah had_fallen asleep. I moved_Ruth from_my_lap and_she_ran off to_play. I called_out the back door,_"Mark, Micah fell_asleep,_should we move him to his bed?"

"I've got it," he waved. "We're done here."_He_tossed the_ball_at_Christian and started toward the_house.

"Next time you're going down!"_Christian taunted.

Before_going to Micah, Mark walked straight to me,_kissed_me firmly, backed_away, and smiled. His smiles made me feel dizzy_and very happy. I needed to_find some way_to_score_them differently in my_totals.

He pushed Micah's chair through the_kitchen towards the hall. I followed_him, stopping in the kitchen briefly for_a glass of water. All that_reading had made me thirsty._Mark was_backing out of the boys'_room and closing_the door_before I had_even reached the hall. He walked_up to me_and grabbed my hand as we_turned_to go and_enjoy_the_beautiful morning_outside.

"You're wonderful," he_whispered,_kissing my_cheek._I blushed under his touch and_praise._"It makes me feel so happy to_see the way you_care_about Micah; about all_of my brothers and sisters."

"Why_wouldn't I?" Spying a basketball, I_scooped it_up and_ran towards the court. I hollered over my shoulder, "How about_a game?" His response was a_swift sprint to the_court after_me.

"Okay,_first person to_ten_wins," I_explained.

"What do they win?" he inquired, looking_very interested.

"If_I win I get another kiss_and if you win_I_will tell you a secret."

"Tough choice,"_he complained.

"Then I guess you had_better play your best and_just_see_what happens."

To say that we_were evenly matched would be a_gross overstatement, but_I did manage to hold my own_for_the first few shots. I suspected_that_he was just being careful not_to_foul_me, but I used the_advantage willingly. He started to see_that I was getting too far ahead and I_didn't touch the_ball for a few baskets_while_he_caught up. I decided to play a little ruthlessly hoping_to keep_the game even._"Fouls don't count!" I called, as I traveled shamelessly. He_caught on quickly grabbing me around the