Happy Birthday, Jamie!!!

It's January 6th, Jamie's birthday! Our first sweet little baby girl. Sometime during the extreme early morning of that day some xx years ago, that "wake-up moment" came. Back in those olden days, babies always started their entrance in the wee hours of the night.

Sure enough, we called the doctor and he said "see you there" -- and we headed out to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Mom and baby-to-be went to the delivery area -- Dad went to the "Dad's Waiting Room" and waited for the phone to ring.

Remember, we're talking about the old days when Dads were forbidden from the delivery area -- hidden away in the "Father's waiting room". There was one poor guy who had been there since early the day before, pacing the floor, waiting, looking haggard. And another guy who had been there since the evening before. And me. I checked in, then went out to move the car to a regular parking space. I got back, sat down and got comfortable with a magazine, and the phone in the waiting room rang. The guy who had been there since the day before ran to the phone, answered, then with a very digusted expression, said "Are you Russell? It's for you". I answered -- and they said "come see your baby". I left quickly -- I didn't want to get decked by that guy just because Jamie wanted to get there fast.

She was a beautiful little baby girl! Totally feminine from the very beginning! I got to hold her for the first time on the day we took her home from the hospital. What a joy! We've covered a lot of ground since then -- Tulsa, Sand Springs, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Greenville TX, Enid OK -- and now she is a wonderful Mom to Derek and Allison, both blessed by and a blessing to those she works with at Crossings Church.

There have been tough days through which Jamie has learned that she has what she needs to succeed, to be a strong LADY and a strong Follower of Jesus Christ, and to be a strong Mom. And there have been many days of happy blessings even with those tough times! I am convinced that the best is yet to come for Jamie! Who knows -- maybe this is THAT YEAR for the greatest blessings ever! I hope so!

Happy Birthday, Jamie! With all our love from your family in beautiful Elk River MN!