Mr. and Mrs. Boast...

I am very glad that we don't live in the Little House on the Prairie time.  If we did, we wouldn't have Daughter.

We're reading those books to Daughter and last night, in The First Four Years

(the last book which covers the first four years of Laura's marriage) the Boasts still hadn't had any children.  Laura and Almanzo brought Rose over to visit and, at the end of the visit, Mr. Boast stood by their wagon and asked (in a strange voice, presumably fighting back tears) if they'd be willing to leave the baby and take the Boasts best horse.  The Boasts couldn't have children and they reasoned (incorrectly, as Rose was the Wilder's only child) that Laura and Almanzo could have more.

My heart broke.  I was washing dishes while Mat read and Daughter played.  I teared up.

We are so lucky to live in a time when adoption (and even Embryo Adoption!) is an option.

There weren't adoption agencies in the Dakotas back then.  I'm so glad that now there are :)