The Family Business

Last night, Dawn and I sat down at the table after tucking Will in bed for a game of Quiddler. A week or two ago, Dawn and Will had made a chain of paper rings, one for each day until the 27th, which was the appointed day for our little Tater Tot to be born. We’d been talking of late about how close we were getting to that day, and Dawn was looking forward to the time she had between now and then to work on getting the house ready for the little one, especially now that she was officially done with work.Around 10:30 or so, we went to bed, and I prayed once again that everything would go smoothly for baby as we waited for it to arrive; that there would be no complications or unexpected problems that would pop up, and that Dawn and baby would both be healthy and safe when all was said and done. With lights out, we snuggled under the covers, my arm draped over her and my hand resting on her belly, as I often do. As we drifted to sleep, I felt Tater Tot kick - a lot, as usual - and I’m pretty sure that I fell asleep with a little grin on my face.Sometime around 4 AM, I awoke to Dawn yelling up the stairs for me to get down there with her. Thinking it was something with Will (and admittedly a bit annoyed), I yelled “what?” to which she responded “I think my water just broke!” That’ll get you out of bed pretty quick. For those who haven’t experienced that, I can at least verify that it’s a messy experience.After a call to the doctor, we threw together some clothes for Will, dropped him off with Auntie Kim, and headed off to St. Marys. Unfortunately, Dawn didn’t get her wish of avoiding labor entirely this time, but it certainly wasn’t as bad as the last time. And a few hours later, Adriana Dawn was born!

Amazing, isn’t it, how such a mess can be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your life.

So now, earlier than expected, we’re a family of four - with two of the cutest little kids you’ve ever seen as part of the mix. Mr. Will is already such a delight, and now we have our perfect little sweetheart to add to our little troop. What a blessing! What a great God we serve, who creates new life!

And not only that: He creates new life and entrusts it to such a weak, sad little man as me, and then in His mercy sees fit to give me the grace I need to be a father to these little ones! How can it be? How can I, so undeserving, have received such great gifts - such a wonderful wife, and now two beautiful children? All I can do is shut my mouth and bow down in awe before the King of the Universe.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee: How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee: How great Thou art, How great Thou art!