Archive for February, 2008

It’s a Hard Days Night

{ February 29, 2008 @ 11:10 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Having twin boys is more blessing than one can imagine.  It is way more than I ever expected, dreamed, or could have asked for.  First some stats and info, then a funny story, then a picture or two.

We went to the doctor with the boys yesterday to get their post birth weight.  Dylan when born was 5lbs and 10oz., Brody was 4lbs and 15oz.  When we left the hospital, Dylan was 5lbs 31/2oz and Brody was 4lbs and 11oz.  Yesterday Dylan was 5lbs and 1/2oz and Brody was 4lbs and 13oz.  There is no worry about them both losing birth weight, but it is excellent that Brody has gained since leaving the hospital.  They have absolutely no signs of jaundice and are doing excellent.  We praise God for good

health!

I am not sure that I have shared this story before, but late in the evening when the boys are awake and hungry and I am tired and cranky this story makes me smile and laugh at myself.  When I was at a church camp in 7th grade one of my counselors was a man who had just had twin boys.  He told us how he had brothers that were twins and wanted twin boys so he prayed most of his life to have twin boys and he did.  At the time I thought that was cool and hogwash all at the same time.  However, inspired by his story every time I thought about my future that year I prayed for twin boys.  I forgotten about that story until August 8, 2007.  That was the day of our first appointment after realizing we were pregnant.  Our Dr. told us that day that we had twins.  All of the sudden after the shock of the news I remembered that story and those prayers.  It just came out of my mouth without really thinking about it that I had prayed for twins when I was in seventh grade (13 years old).  17 years later the prayer was answered.  So when Dylan was really fussy last night around 3am I remembered this prayer again and chuckled thinking, be careful what you pray for and smiled thinking, I am blessed with the two greatest boys on earth!

Now hopefully some pictures!

Dylan with Grammy

 Grammy with Dylan

Grumpy with Brody

“Grumpy” with Brody

Brody with Great Grammy

Great Grammy with Brody

Kristina holding Dylan

Cousin Kristina with Dylan

Wishing Auntie Sarah a Happy Birthday Yesterday!

Dylan (left) and Brody (right) saying Happy Birthday to “Auntie” Sarah yesterday!

Dylan weighed at the Doctor

Dylan (not so happy here) being weighed at Doctor’s Office

Brody weighed at the Doctor

Brody weighing in at the Doctor’s Office

-Mercer

The Boys are Here!

{ February 24, 2008 @ 6:36 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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 Well, I’ve tried more times  than I can count to post pictures on this blog of the boys, but I can’t figure it out.  Here is another try.  If no pictures at least their stats.

Dylan Matthew

5lbs 10oz

18 3/4″

Born at 8:23am

Brody Daniel

4lbs 15oz   18 1/4″  Born at 8:24 amMinutes after birth!

p1010124.jpg

Am I Ready?

{ February 15, 2008 @ 10:02 am } · { Uncategorized }
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There is a checklist somewhere around here, if I could just find it.

Clothes packed…check

Car filled with gas…check

Registered at Hospital…check

Pediatrician in Place…check

Babies Room Ready…check

Books about Being a dad read…check

Baby’s clothes washed…check

Diaper station prepared…check

Gray Hair…check

Glazed over look…check

Bases covered at Work…check

Boys ready and willing…not yet!

People ask if I’m ready to be a dad.   I’ve wanted to be a dad as long as I can remember.  It just seems like one of the greatest honors on earth.  Of course when the question is asked I say yes.  Then the automatic reply is “Oh just you wait your life will change forever”.  I smile politely and say yeah I’m ready and being in the dark is okay.  No one can really be ready for the next step of their life, because they have never walked that path. 

However, I have an excellent wife who is already a fantastic mother.  In order to keep her boys safe and sound she has laid in bed or sat in the chair or sat on the couch for four weeks and never complains.   Watching her talk to the boys, laugh at the fact their limbs are poking out her belly, and parenting them to stay inside has been fascinating.  She is an excellent mom and will only get better.

Yes, there is no way to truly be prepared to handle two infant boys at one time with no previous parenting experience.  But you know I don’t want to be perfectly prepared or experienced, because I want to enjoy the journey!

-Mercer

The Lone White Cloud: A Parable for my Rule of Life

{ February 1, 2008 @ 3:05 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I wrote a “rule of life” for my spiritual formation class in January.  However it has proved to change my world every day.  The writing below is an articulation of my rule in the form or metaphor or parable.  A rule of life is a spiritual discipline that articulates how we approach life as we follow Christ.

            There is a lone white cloud that has withdrawn from the tremendous thunderclap.  The lone white cloud takes a season of time hovering over the waters befriending no other clouds.  As it hovers over these waters it strengthens in dimension, shape, and color.  The wind moves the lone white cloud over the land.  As the cloud grows with moisture and energy it stalls over a parched land.  It rejoins the cumulous community, and at just the right time it releases its bolts of light, shouts of thunder, and pelts of rain.  As the overflow of rain reaches the parched land, the ground is replenished and renewed.  After the land has soaked in the goodness of overflow in the distance you see once again a withdrawn, lone, white cloud. 

            This little parable of a cloud is actually my rule of life.   My rule of life is to allow the Holy Spirit to work in my time of solitude to be an untiring servant in the Kingdom of God with the humility of Christ.  Solitude has become an important piece of who I am emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  However, I have not always used my time of solitude to be a time that would benefit me spiritually for the Kingdom.  It is my rule to make that a reality.

-Mercer