Yep. After only two weeks notice, Donn and Susan are parents of a little girl. Well, not that little: 7 pounds 9 ounces, 19 1/4 inches long, born at 4:42 pm Kansas City (Central) time. They went in for a routine sonogram. The doctor decided induce time was at hand. But as the contractions began, the baby’s heart rate dropped a bunch. So the made the decision to go C-section. 30 minutes later she was out and off to special care to assist her breathing. She’s doing well but will be in the hospital for a few days. Susan was bummed that she didn’t get to have time with her baby. That will happen soon, of course.

Donn called me just after he got the word that the C-Section was going to happen. They were prepping Susan and asked him to step out for a bit. The phone call was one of the outstanding times for a father and a son. Those sorts of moments are literally once in a lifetime things. Our emotions were intense and then when I prayed in response to his request, they really went over the top. There may be other times as intense and vulnerable, but sharing the moment of a firstborn in real time can only happen once. It’s something to share only with the closest friend, of course.

David (brother) and Cyndee (sister) and Joy (our 5 year old granddaughter) will join Sherry and me going to Kansas City on Friday, Nov. 30, returning Sunday evening. That will be a very special family time as we share time with our as yet unnamed granddaughter. David will join Donn at the football game, a first for them.

I’m pressing really hard, even for me. I just got the penultimate draft of Death by Love, the second the books with Mark Driscoll, for my review. I need to read the 200 pages or so, do any revisions and get it back to Crystal tomorrow. I have 46 theology exams and doctrinal statements plus meditations to do since my grad fellow had to go get a real job. I have three encyclopedia articles to write, the normal daily stuff and then class from 6 to 9. Sherry will head off to the coast, spend the night before she brings Nicole and Joy back Saturday. I’m in class from 8 to 1:30 and then down to the Rose Garden with them for Disney’s Princess on Ice. We’ll spend the evening with the girls. Then I preach twice on Sunday before we take the girls back to the beach.

And there’s picture of a new grandgirl to enjoy and post here!