Barnyard Blessings

Here is Paul's first attempt at a blog. Amy and Nathan are doing great. Here's the details.

Nathan Paul: September 16, 2008

10 lbs, 3 oz., 21 ¾” long

God has blessed us again with a new baby boy. Children truly are a blessing from the Lord. I thank Him for giving us another healthy child to raise to follow and know Him. God knows that we need His help to accomplish such a task.

11:35 pm, September 15, 2008: Amy’s water broke. I was awaken with a start as Amy says her water broke and she runs to the bathroom. She calls the midwife and is told to get some sleep until the contractions start. We called our parents to let them know that labor had started. Betty and Dawn headed to our house to help. My parents were in Missouri and were excited, asking for us to call whenever we knew anything. They made plans to head back in the morning.

12:30 am, September 16, 2008: Contractions Started.

1:00 am, September 16, 2008: Dawn and Betty arrive.

1:30 am, September 16, 2008: Called the midwife as contractions were about 2 minutes apart. Bernice said she would be here in an hour.

2:45 am, September 16, 2008: Midwife and assistant arrived. Amy was in full labor after taking a bath and sitting on her ball, and more.

6:09 am, September 16, 2008: Nathan Paul was delivered by me with Amy laying on her ball. It was awesome to see the head for a while, helping Amy through the pain, and the miracle of new life. The face of Nathan was facing me as I waited for Amy to push him out.

We called Les and Connie and they were already showered and getting ready to drive back. They arrived at about 3:30 pm to see Nathan.

We called Harold, Grandma Marian, various family and friends with the news. It is always fun to share the excitement of a birth.

September 16th is my brother John’s birthday also.

Nathan is alert, looking around to see what is going on.

As we went through labor and the birth, I wondered if this would be the last. It was sad to think that way, and I tried to remember and enjoy the whole process. Having a large family is a blessing with many helpers, play mates, and more.

Another odd thing that happened today was that we had the barn roof repaired by my brother-in-law Mark. We had arranged this before knowing that Nathan would come. I appreciate the help in getting this done as I am not fond of walking on roofs.

Betty has been a huge help today, playing with the kids, doing laundry, and making dinner.

We had difficulty coming up with a name this time, but had settled on names a week or so ago. Nathan was a prophet in the Bible who talked to David about his sin and helped to establish Solomon’s kingship.

As I sat and held him today, I enjoyed the freshness of life, the challenge and reminder to be a good dad, and the joy of hope and a future together.

I would encourage anyone to look at children the way God does – as a blessing, as arrows in the hand of a warrior, and as a blessed responsibility which helps us overcome our selfishness.