The Long Awaited & Highly Anticipated Events of 9/9/2004

Our friends, Dave & Kasey were expecting their firstborn - oddly enough - on Labor Day. She went past her due date and was more than ready to deliver yesterday when they came over to our house for Bible study. We had a cookout last night and so I was standing out front with some of the other guys when they pulled up. Dave got out of the car, followed slowly by Kasey, who smiled and said Hi, but I could tell she would much rather be at the hospital than at our house. She made her way inside and the guys hung out by the grill. After the burgers, dogs and brats were cooked, we all went in and prepared our food. Before we prayed, I asked Kasey if she wanted to have this baby tonight, because I didn't want to go before God Almighty and ask Him to do something that she didn't really want. See James 5:16b So we prayed for our food, and a smooth delivery, asking that it might happen that night. We started eating and were finishing up around 8pm - getting ready to start the evening's study. Kasey was coming downstairs and says that she needs Dave, - they needed to leave to go to the hospital. They were out the door and into their car so quickly that, some people didn't even know they left. We went on with Bible study, went through a very difficult section of scripture (Hebrews 7 - The Priesthood of Melchizedek and the similarities between him and Christ versus the differences of the Levitical Priesthood. It's a lot to say, let alone understand!) We finished up around 9:30, people got their stuff together and not long after, I went to bed. We got a phone call around 12:20. I had been asleep for probably at least an hour, but the phone is on my side of the bed so I answered it. A little background info on me: If you wake me up after I've been sleeping for a while I won't be fully awake/functional/coherent for at least 30 minutes. So, when I answered the phone last night, I definitely wasn't all there. Here's a replay of what I remember from the conversation:

Me: Hello? Kasey: Hi Josh, It's Kasey. Me: Hi. Kasey: I'm a mommy! Me: That's Awesome! Kasey: Yeah, we had a little boy! Me: That's Awesome! Kasey: We were here for about 2 1/2 hours before we had him. Me: That's Awesome! Kasey: He's 8lbs. 10 oz. Me: Wow, not quite a 10 pounder but still. . . That's Awesome! That's 4 times for those of you who are keeping track. Kasey: mrrrphmp, mrr mrw wa wa. Mentally I had fallen back asleep at this point. Me: Uh huh!. . . That's Awesome! Kasey: Josh? Me: Yeah? Kasey: Just let Kirsten know that she doesn't have to let everybody know tonight, she can wait until the morning. Me: Okay, I will. Kasey: Alright Bye! Me: Bye. Kirsten: Who was that? Me: Who was what?

All that to give a big welcome to Benjamin David Firestine. Born last night, apparently just before midnight! Congratulations Dave & Kasey, we know that God will teach you great things about yourself and Him as you raise this child. We love you guys. Oh yeah - they didn't find out until last night what the baby's sex was. I just want to say for the record - I called it. Many others thought it would be surely be a girl, but I was unwavering in my declaration. Apparently - I've got some connections with the Almighty.