OUR NEW MAGNIFICAT

"...My soul magnifies the Lord...for the Lord has done great things for us. God's mercy is from generation to generation." Luke 1:46ff

On April 24, 2006, our waiting gave way to something new, and at 5:05pm, we saw for the first time our sweet baby girl, Zoe Fiona.

It started on a "routine" Monday morning while at our routine doctor's visit. Upon examination, Kendra's OB said, "It's happening, and you're not going home. You're gonna have your baby today!" After three and a half hours of intense labor/contractions, and after 25 minutes of pushing, Kendra gave birth naturally to Zoe, whose name is derived from the New Testament (Greek) word meaning "life." A new and beautiful life, indeed. And "Fiona" stems from a Scottish name meaning "light," or "fair."

It had been said to me before, and I experienced the truth of such a saying myself in a way unimaginable: "Grace accompanies the birth of a new child." If by "grace" we mean God's rich and unmerited love bestowed on us simply because we belong to God and because God is determined never to be without us, then yes -- such a gift came to us in the work of labor and in the reward of the fruit of our love for one another.

It was grace to be told by our trusted physician that "today", April 24 (and not May 8, as was tentatively expected), would find us encountering our daughter for the first time.

It was grace to watch my beloved bride turn her face toward the darkness of the intensity of labor and smile, hoping against hope that, though it would be excruciating, a life would emerge for us to have and to hold from that day on.

It was grace to hear the sounds of a newborn's cry as she emerged from a loving womb, and to see the image of our daughter in the eyes of my bride.

It was grace to hear that both mommy and baby were not only going to be OK, but were thriving, and would be home soon.

It was grace to watch as this child was for the first brought close to her mother for nourishment and warmth.

It is no mistake and it is no untruth to say that a mother and a father experience the life-giving grace of God in a new and inexpicable way while watching and experiencing the birth of their new baby.

Kendra and Zoe are both doing remarkably well, as is Zoe's little sister, Sonnet, our 2-year-old border collie/lab-mix dog.

We'll keep you updated!

Zoe is a gift from God, and so are you. For your excitement, support, and love, Kendra and I give you our most sincere gratitude.

Thank you. We love you.

Jonathan (for the three of us!)