Happy Birthday, David!

Today is August 18, 2007, exactly 37 years since a fine young man named David William Russell was born in Tulsa Oklahoma!

That was still in the days when Dads were not allowed anywhere close to where the babies were born (now they let everyone and their cameras into the birthing room). But in that time Dads were routed off to the Father's Waiting Room where men paced and wondered what was going down there in "never-enter-land". Finally the telephone would ring and all the men would come to attention.

Twice before when the call was for me, the person calling would say,
"Come see your sweet new little baby girl".

This time was different -- they just said,
"Come see your new little baby".

*************

DAVID
Beloved
Usage: English, Jewish, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Slovene, German, Biblical
Other Scripts: דָוִד (Hebrew), Давид (Russian)
Pronounced: DAY-vid (English), dah-VEED (Hebrew), da-VEED (French), dah-VEET (Russian), DAH-fit (German)
Derived from Hebrew דוד (dvd) meaning "beloved". David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Much is written about him in the Old Testament, including his defeat of Goliath, a giant Philistine.
Famous bearers of this name include the 5th-century patron saint of Wales, two kings of Scotland, empiricist philosopher David Hume, explorer David Livingstone, and David William Russell. This is also the name of the hero of Charles Dickens' semiautobiographical novel 'David Copperfield.

WILLIAM
Determined Protector
Usage: English
Pronounced: WIL-ee-am, WIL-yam
From the Germanic name Wilhelm, which was composed of the elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans. It has belonged to several rulers of England, Prussia, and Germany, including William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England. Other famous bearers were Willian Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish hero, William Tell, a legendary 14th-century Swiss hero, William Russell, father of David, and the greatest to date, David William Russell.

In the literary world it has been borne by dramatist William Shakespeare and poet William Blake, as well as contemporary authors William Faulkner and William S. Burroughs

**************

When we were in Atlanta with David a couple of weeks ago, we caught him in a good picture with a young friend named Emmanuel, doing what David does so well -- having a good time with some young kids.

Happy Birthday, David! I have a feeling this could be the best year ever to date.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9