diff --git a/DependencyInjection/CatalystMenuExtension.php b/DependencyInjection/CatalystMenuExtension.php
index 31f0736..9cd31ec 100644
--- a/DependencyInjection/CatalystMenuExtension.php
+++ b/DependencyInjection/CatalystMenuExtension.php
@@ -7,8 +7,14 @@ use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Extension\Extension;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\YamlFileLoader;
 use Symfony\Component\Config\FileLocator;
 
+use Catalyst\MenuBundle\Menu\Collection;
+use Catalyst\MenuBundle\Menu\Item;
+
+
 class CatalystMenuExtension extends Extension
 {
+    const ORDER_DEFAULT     = 100;
+
     public function load(array $configs, ContainerBuilder $container)
     {
         $loader = new YamlFileLoader(
@@ -21,10 +27,57 @@ class CatalystMenuExtension extends Extension
         //       will break across multiple configuration files.
         //       Issue can be found here: https://github.com/symfony/symfony/issues/29817
 
-		// $data = $this->processConfigs($configs);
+		$data = $this->processConfigs($configs);
 
         // set acl data for main acl generator
         $def = $container->getDefinition('catalyst_menu.generator');
-        $def->replaceArgument('$menu_data', $configs);
+        // $def->replaceArgument('$menu_data', $configs);
+        $def->replaceArgument('$menu_data', $data);
+    }
+
+    protected function processConfigs($data)
+    {
+        $pdata = [];
+
+        // error_log(print_r($data, true));
+
+        // manual array merge
+        // first layer contains all the instances in config
+        foreach ($data as $instance_data)
+        {
+            // 2nd layer are the groups and the parents
+            foreach ($instance_data as $group => $group_data)
+            {
+				// initialize group data
+                if (!isset($pdata[$group]))
+                    $pdata[$group] = $group_data;
+                else
+                {
+                    // append to group data
+                    foreach ($group_data as $menu_data)
+                        $pdata[$group][] = $menu_data;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // sort group data according to display priority
+        foreach ($pdata as $group => $group_data)
+        {
+            usort($pdata[$group], function($a, $b) {
+                if (isset($a['order']))
+                    $a_order = $a['order'];
+                else
+                    $a_order = self::ORDER_DEFAULT;
+
+                if (isset($b['order']))
+                    $b_order = $b['order'];
+                else
+                    $b_order = self::ORDER_DEFAULT;
+
+                return $a_order - $b_order;
+            });
+        }
+
+        return $pdata;
     }
 }
diff --git a/Service/Generator.php b/Service/Generator.php
index 72a1271..2f098c5 100644
--- a/Service/Generator.php
+++ b/Service/Generator.php
@@ -40,14 +40,21 @@ class Generator
     {
         $pdata = [];
 
-        error_log(print_r($data, true));
+        // TODO: cache this
 
+        // error_log(print_r($data, true));
+
+        /*
         // first layer contains all the instances in config
         foreach ($data as $instance_data)
         {
+        */
             // 2nd layer are the groups and the parents
-            foreach ($instance_data as $group => $group_data)
+            foreach ($data as $group => $group_data)
             {
+                // store orphans here in case their parents have not yet been defined
+                $orphans = [];
+
 				// initialize group data
                 if (!isset($pdata[$group]))
 				{
@@ -73,12 +80,32 @@ class Generator
                     if (isset($mi_data['acl']))
                         $mi->setACLKey($mi_data['acl']);
 
+                    // check for orphans
+                    if (isset($orphans[$mi_data['id']]))
+                    {
+                        error_log('orphan for - ' . $mi_data['id']);
+                        foreach ($orphans[$mi_data['id']] as $orphan)
+                        {
+                            $mi->addChild($orphan);
+                        }
+                    }
+
                     // check parent
                     if (isset($mi_data['parent']) && $mi_data['parent'] != null)
                     {
                         $parent = $index->get($mi_data['parent']);
+
+                        // if parent has not been set, add to orphans
                         if ($parent == null)
+                        {
+                            if (!isset($orphans[$mi_data['parent']]))
+                                $orphans[$mi_data['parent']] = [];
+
+                            error_log('found orphan - ' . $mi_data['parent']);
+
+                            $orphans[$mi_data['parent']][] = $mi;
                             continue;
+                        }
 
                         $parent->addChild($mi);
                     }
@@ -86,9 +113,11 @@ class Generator
                         $menu->add($mi);
                 }
             }
+        /*
         }
+        */
 
-        error_log(print_r($pdata, true));
+        // error_log(print_r($pdata, true));
 
         return $pdata;
     }