What blessings they are
October 20, 2010 (Wednesday)
Yesterday was the 55th birthday of my son, Dan. I remember the night he was born. I was at work and I asked my boss for permission to leave the job, and I drove home and then to the hospital. They took Wanda into a separate area and I was told, “Have a seat, and we’ll let you know when you can go in and be with your wife.” So I took a seat, picked up a Life magazine, and scanned the pictures. I was about halfway through the magazine when the nurse came in and gave me her congratulations and told me we had a healthy baby boy. That was really quick!
When David was born the previous year, we made several trips to the hospital and were sent back home when false alarms were declared. When he was finally on the way, the experience for his mother was long and difficult. When he was finally here and I held him, I was absolutely amazed at the miracle of a new life that was now part of our family. Wow, what a feeling.
When Debbie was about to be born, the doctor was telling me it would be a while, when suddenly the nurse cried out, “Doctor!” Debbie was ready to be born. After her birth, the doctor said, “Boy, that was fast!” It wasn’t long until the nurse brought her to me so I could hold her. Debbie began talking before she was a year old, so I always told her that when she was brought to me, she said, ‘Hi, Pops, let’s go home.”
Dianna and Dwight were born more normally, I guess you would say. When Dianna was on the way, the nurse came to me in the waiting room and said, “Please come with me.” I thought we were on the way to see Wanda, but all of a sudden, the nurse stopped, gestured toward a bassinet, and said, “Here she is!” I repeated, “She?” “It’s a girl?” “Yes,” the nurse smiled. “Beautiful, isn’t she?” Indeed, she was the prettiest baby in Dallas that day.
Dwight was born at Spohn Hospital and was our bonus baby. We thought that two boys and two girls was a permanent arrangement, but God had one more blessing for us. I remember when Wanda and I were sitting in the hospital room, looking at him, and trying to determine for sure that he had red hair like his oldest brother, David. He did. I feel very fortunate that Dwight has chosen to live with me and work from our home via the computer.
Today, with four grown children and one in Heaven, I treasure them all, including their mates. Nine precious grandchildren have become part of the family. God has blessed, and I thank Him. Wanda is in Heaven, too, and I look forward to that “Sweet bye and bye, when we shall meet on that beautiful shore.”