Meet Emma Lucia

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and praise your Father in heaven.

This is our blessing for Emma ("universal" Greek) Lucia ("light" Italian). This Lent we have focused on Jesus as the Light of the World, remembering what life is like for those in darkness and how crucial the true Light is for real living.

We are so grateful for all of your prayers for EL's birth. (I'll use EL in this post as Keri and I haven't yet decided on what to call her; thanks for all the many suggestions.) It went beautifully; even the false start Saturday night ended up being for the best as it got two doses of necessary antibiotics into Keri, because when the real labor hit, there was no stopping for anything, even an IV. Keri was strong throughout the whole two hour and twenty-minute process, start to finish, birthing EL on her HANDS and KNEES! Flagstaff's new Amazon woman. EL is doing really well, so well, in fact, they let us bring her home tonight. She was 7 lbs., 3 oz., 19.5" long, born at 3:55 a.m. on 03.30.09. She just passed her meconium, lungs are clear, and she had nursed from both sides within 15 minutes of being born. During tonight's vespers, she was repeating the catechism after Sophie. (Sophie immediately translated.)

Soph first saw her sister on the camera but then got to go to the hospital and see her through a window. By the time we got home with EL, she was ready to hold EL in her lap, help Mommy change the first diaper, and weave complicated tales of her own delivery of quadruplets (2 boys and 2 girls). She is already becoming a wonderful big sister.

We have been very, very grateful to have Essie and Sally here with us. I had prayed for months that Mom would be here for the birth, and so having her drive with us to the hospital and help me encourage, massage, and cheer Keri on as she did her amazing labor feat was the best birthing experience I could imagine. Sally stayed home with the Soph and both of them cleaned the house from top to bottom. We have loved having both ladies in our home the past week or so for nightly vespers, hikes in the woods, and BBC mini-series watching (North and South, an adaptation of an Elizabeth Gaskell novel is highly recommended). Geri and Del got into town about 3 hours post-birth, and we are really looking forward to Big Bill's arrival in a few days.

We love you all and appreciate your prayers. We look forward to introducing EL to you in person.