The Kingdom, The Kids, & The Cowboys

Elliott and Samuel are not identical twins. As they approach their one-week anniversary of life and begin to fill out their faces and features, they do look more alike than they did on their birthday last Tuesday. But there are other differences, more subtle differentiations in personality and behavior, that are marking our twin grandsons as distinctive individuals.

The most obvious thing is the way Elliott prefers to have at least one arm straight up in the air at all times. Sometimes two; always one. It’s the funniest thing, the way his arm shoots up while he’s eating, in the middle of a nap, while he’s getting his diaper changed–all the time. Carrie-Anne says he’s praising God. I say he’s signaling for a fair catch.

Right now, I’m viewing Elliott as emotional and impulsive, while I see Samuel as contemplative and deliberate. Sammy seems serious, while Elliott seems ready to jump into action without counting the cost. Samuel’s little forehead is always wrinkled up and his arms always crossed in deep reflection. Elliott is fidgety and jumpy. They both have the deepest, bluest eyes. Elliott’s are opened more often. But Sammy’s, when they’re opened, are bigger and darker and striking in their depth. At this point, Sammy’s face is more expressive. The way he moves his eyes and mouth in seeming response to his circumstances, I keep expecting him to say something–something clever, something funny, something deep. I’ve been singing to both of them. Elliott prefers Tom Petty’s “All Right For Now,” while Samuel tolerates the Beatles’ “Golden Slumbers.” I’ve been talking to both of them about the things we’re going to be doing together very soon. And I’ve been informing them about our Creator and how loved they are by him and by all of us.

I’m sharing with you here two recently-released photos from the very first moments of our grandsons’ lives. One of the nurses in the delivery room Tuesday asked for David’s phone before the C-section and promised to take pictures. I didn’t see these until late Saturday. The first shot is Valerie seeing her newborn boys for the very first time and the second is their first family portrait. I think these are just incredible pictures.

I’m in Midland today and tomorrow, taking care of some things around the house and the yard, before I head back to Tulsa early Wednesday morning for the rest of the week. This is our summer vacation this year — grandsons in Tulsa! And it’s awesome!

Peace,

Allan

The boys and their parents are scheduled to come home from the hospital later today, and we’re all ready for them!

Little Sammy had to pass a 90-minute car seat test late last night. He’s borderline premie-sized, so they had to verify that he can do the ten minute drive home safely. Valerie’s been cleared this morning by her doctor. There’s also the technical matter of a couple of circumcisions this afternoon. Those of you at GCR in the middle of our sermon series on Galatians know that I only have one circumcision joke, and I’m not going to publish it here. But after the boys recover from that–just one hour? are you sure?–then they’ll load up and come home.

Both little guys are doing great and, it seems, so are the parents. Honestly, we’re not paying much attention to Valerie and David–everything’s directed toward these precious angels straight from heaven. These amazing little gifts. We feel so thankful and blessed by our gracious and loving God. What a joy!

Peace,

Granddad

One of the great things about having twins is that it cuts the wait time for holding a new baby in half!

Elliott Walker and Samuel Heath made their long-awaited arrivals at 7:44 and 7:45 this morning in Tulsa to great acclaim and wild unabashed adoration. The twin grandsons were delivered without a hitch and immediately transformed our family dynamic and our lives for the better. And for a whole lot more fun.

Elliott made it out first at 7 pounds even and 19 inches long. Sammy came a minute later and a whole lot lighter at 5 pounds 3 ounces and 18 inches long. Both sets of grandparents and two aunts and an uncle waited patiently for the boys to get cleaned up and for Valerie to recover a bit before we stormed the gates and started passing those babies around like we’d never seen one before (as always, click on the pictures to get the full size).

Both babies are healthy and good, they’re both eating and doing the other things babies are supposed to do, and they’re both just absolutely perfectly beautiful. We all feel so happy today, so deeply grateful, and so graciously blessed by our God.

We also feel so very well loved and supported by our Lord through his Church. All the texts and phone calls today, all the expressions of love and encouragement, all the well wishes and advice and wisdom — it’s overwhelming. Thank you! And the support Valerie and David have from their friends at the wonderful Jenks Church. The perfect ending to our long day together was hanging out in the hospital with Hailey, Corley, and Amanda, some of Dave and Val’s best friends!

Carrie-Anne is CoCo, and I am Granddad, For now. You’re never really sure how those things are going to stick. Val and Dave might be able to bring the boys home late tomorrow, but it’s more likely they’ll be released Thursday morning.

May our merciful Lord bless these sweet boys with good health, with great courage, and with an abiding faithfulness to him. May he grant David and Valerie everything they need to raise these sons, our beloved grandsons, in the nurture and admonition of our Lord. And may his holy will be done in and through this precious family just as it is in heaven.

What time does the hospital open in the morning?

Peace,

Allan