Category: Family

In past 11 years since college graduation, I have had many life changing experiences. However, one of the top five happened this past week. Our fourth child, Adrian Matthew was born on Tuesday morning.

What a gift!

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

– Psalms 139:13-16

This afternoon, after church we took a rest. All the kids need one and then the parents need to just to keep up with the kids. So anyway, Andrea, our second (4 yrs) took a nap with me and soon after I got up she followed me up stairs and we sat with my beautiful (and seven month pregnant) wife, Joyce.

Andrea was on one side and I on the other and Joyce was talking about the baby moving and we were hoping for “him” (“him” is used even though we do not know what the baby is just that “he” is a baby) to kick. I slowly and carefully moved my hand under Joyce’s loose shirt and placed it on the top of her belly. I then started moving my fingers a little and getting all excited that the baby was moving! Andrea then started getting excited and carefully touched the moving shirt with her finger. That touch was soon followed by her hand. A really big grin spreading over her face.

I was now conserned that she would discover that something was amiss so I had to act very quickly. As her hand landed on my fingers and started to “feel” the moving spot, I tried to grab hand through the shirt while at the same time roaring like a lion.

The shocked look was hysterical (9 hours later Joyce is still laughing). If it were any more intense Andrea would have run screaming. It definitly gave her the fright of her four year old life, that baby tried to grab her!

The recovery took about as long as it took her heart to return to normal excitement range and we all had a good laugh especially us adults with tears and everything. I was not sure Joyce was going to stop. It was much funnier in person but still a great story. Now to see if we can do it to Mark, our seven year old. I’ll let you know.

Just wanted all to know that I have the coolest family. I have four brothers, all younger than I, and last night I was able to have a conversation with two of them in a chat room. They are the best!

My Dad and Mom are great! They are always wanting to help Joyce (my wife) and I in any way they can. Even watching our kids for us and helping with the house while I am away. BTW, my mom makes the best lasagna

Joyce’s parents are great too. Helping Joyce as well and taking us out when we are getting tired with the normal things of life.

But to top it off. My wife and kids are better than anyone could imagine. Here I am in Pakistan and I have a whole album of pictures that they put together for me. Then, for each day, there is a special note. Also, I am finding notes all over in my clothes and other things. I will probably not find all of them even before I head home. The neatest thing that I found after a week here in Pakistan is a pillowcase that was under the pillowcase on the pillow. It had the hand-prints of my three children and my wife and some of them glowed in the dark.

I know that I am loved and that is cool and I love them all too!