What a journey...

We get to go home today!!!  It has been a long few days in the hospital but our boy has captured our hearts.  He exited the womb at 10lbs 11oz; and will be going home at 9lbs 12oz.  Typical baby stuff to lose some weight straight out of the womb which truly is unfair, Levi has been out of the womb for 3 days and dropped 10% of his body weight!  Best diet plan ever!!!  His cheeks look less puffy, his legs are long and skinny, his fingers are long and already like trying to go up my nose or tangled in my beard, but what an amazing little boy he is!

On our first day in the hospital, I was driving back from an errand to pick up a fan to help my hormonal wife keep her temperature down as she came off of the drugs from surgery, when I had a crazy flashback....

This is not our first time here at St. Joe's Women's hospital together.  Probably close to 10 years ago, when Katie and I were on one of our first "dates" (she was still figuring out if she would tolerate the chunky monkey named Nathan and I was still delirious that someone as amazing as her would consider riding in a car with me, let alone date me!!); we came to St. Joe's Women's to visit a friend in the mommy area of the hospital after she had just had a brand new baby.

I remember looking at the mommy, the baby, and how natural it looked for Katie to hold the baby, interact with the mom and be a part of that world.  I, on the other hand, sat awkwardly in the corner and longed for the time when Katie and I could leave and go eat dinner somewhere (surprise, surprise, I wanted food).  I walked away from the experience scared. Scared because I remember thinking that Katie was born to be a mommy; and I wasn't comfortable around babies.  I remember thinking that if our relationship progressed, one day it would be her in that bed, and what would I be doing?  It is no longer socially acceptable for the dad to sit in the waiting room smoking cigars; so what's a guy to do?  I can remember being scared for the first time about our relationship; not because of what it wasn't, but because of what it was...REAL.

Fast forward God's story about a decade and here we are, at St. Joe's Women's Hospital and this time it is my wife in the hospital bed, having just given birth to our 2nd child.  This time, I do not sit in the corner awkwardly waiting for food.  This time, I wrap my arms around our little baby and snuggle with him.  There is no hesitancy in me about picking him up, loving on him and caring for him.

It has been almost 10 years since that night at the hospital where I internally panicked for the future, and now I can say that 10 years ago I was correct.  My wife was born to be a mommy.  And it took me a while, and while it was not as natural for me as it was for her, I am meant to be a daddy. 10 years ago, God allowed a glimpse into my future.  He began softening my heart and showing me where He would lead me if I would simply follow Him.  And now, today, I get to go home with my amazing wife, my 2 sons and begin life with my crazy blessed family of 4.

I am so excited for what God is teaching me, and more aware of how life is one long story, that God is weaving and speaking into existence.  I am not the main character, I am a supporting role, and my job here is to reflect the glory of God back to him, while I enjoy all that He is and does for me.  Today, a few days before Christmas, probably just like Joseph would have felt, I am a proud daddy of a very cool baby boy.  I swaddle him, I help try and feed him, I soothe his cries, I change his dirty diapers, and the whole time I look at him my heart swells with love.  Joseph's little boy was the God-man, who would set me free from the slavery of sin.  My son, well he's a boy who won't be God, won't die for mankind, and has NO ability to free anyone from sin - he will be raised to know, love and trust that little baby who would grow like he will and is now ascended to the right hand of God our Father.

Today, I am thankful that this is God's story, and ecstatic for my role in His narrative.  And just like I want to shout from the rooftops and tell people about my sons, that is what His story is about - telling people about His Son.