Monday, August 25, 2008

The moments that make a lifetime



When our daughter Kelsey was 9 or 10 she insisted she wanted to be baptized. I wasn't convinced she fully understood the significance, so we kept putting her off. After the month-long mission trip to Asia she came home knowing she needed to follow the command of Christ to be baptized.

She and 59 other people, along with 1000 people from our church family, gathered on the east lawn of the church following the morning services for and hour of cheers and applause as people bowed in prayer and took the symbolic plunge into the water. I was touched at her devotion to Christ and her intense desire to be obedient.

I pray that she will never forget the day, I know I never will.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Olympic Gold!

A few Olympics ago I was under the misguided notion that the U.S.A. totally cleaned up. Every medal ceremony I saw featured the Star Spangled Banner and the red white and blue. Little did I know, through the magic of television we only get to see a tiny fraction of all the events and ceremonies that take place throughout the almost three weeks of competition. Silly, silly me.

Friday, June 27, 2008

729 Songs

There are 729 songs on my iTunes at work. Leaving this job, leaving the computer and the music library behind. Not that I don't own the CD's and couldn't recreate the library, but it won't be the same. About a week ago I decided to listen to every one of them again before I leave. It's 34.9 days worth of music, so I won't get them all listened to, but I'm giving it a good try. But how to go at this task? I put the entire library in order by length of song, from shortest to longest. 3:31 is the most frequent. All the really good stuff starts at about 5 minutes. Wonder if I'll get through the list that far before the next week ends...

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

It just can't be



Jeff's relationship with Easton nearly defies description. Their bond is something to behold and impossible to deny. More than once Easton has toddled into our house, and run past me yelling, "Where Grmpah?"

Look at the picture. Can you see it already happening with Emory? She's not left the hospital and Jeff is making that connection that will someday break my heart. I can feel it coming.

I begged him not to make eye contact. I pleaded with him to stop talking to her like that, but he can't help it. Grandchildren are like giant magnets to his heart. I'm hoping maybe some of his technique will rub off on me. Maybe, just maybe, Emory will like me best.

A girl can dream, can't she?

Friday, June 20, 2008

Emory Estella Tharp



Announcing the safe an uneventful arrival of our new granddaughter, Emory Estella Tharp. She was several weeks early, but that didn't seem to be a problem. She was 5'13oz. She looks just like her brother only she has dark, curly hair. Both Miranda and Emory are doing great!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The green dress -- an update

Jeff just sent me an email to say he wants to get me the green dress for my birthday. Should he order it or did I want to take care of that? How cute is my husband???

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Be Still

Miranda called yesterday morning to say she was on her way to the hospital. The NST (non-stress test) done at the office showed evidence for concern. Baby Emory's heart rate was fluctuating wildly and dropping to dangerous lows. At the same time there were some contractions, but nothing regular enough to be called labor.

On arriving at the hospital the nurse said Miranda would probably be out in about 20 minutes. We looked at each other knowingly and waited for her tune to change. After she saw the strip coming off the monitor and got the orders which had been faxed by the doctor's office the nurse had to acknowledge that Miranda would be there a while. They drew blood and encouraged Miranda to get as comfortable as possible.

We prayed together and began to flip through the magazines I had taken from the hospital lobby. An amazing thing started to happen. After about an hour Emory's heart rate leveled out and the contractions stopped. All that was really needed was for Miranda to be quiet and resting, and Emory was no longer distressed.

Miranda was released from the hospital with strict admonition that she is to be laying down whenever possible. She can shower, use the bathroom, and that's about it. That's a tall order for anyone, but having a toddler makes that extremely difficult. She and Easton have relocated to our house, for the time being. Adam goes to work at 4 a.m. so getting Easton to daycare becomes a challenge. That's where we come in. We will get him to daycare in the morning so Miranda can spend the day resting, taking her blood pressure, and counting baby kicks.

Thank you for praying for Miranda and Emory. She'll be here soon enough, just not yet. At 36 weeks, praying for 38.