99&44 1/100's % SURE

A bonus of sabbatical has been the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Logan and Christy while here in Richmond. Logan is taking Narrative Preaching during the May term at BTSR, where I’m staying while in town.

I’ve enjoyed several meals with them since I got back from the Wilderness Retreat, and I’ve hung out at the apartment, mostly to wash clothes (I’m trying very hard not to wear out my welcome). Tonight I met them at the park and sat with Christy as Logan and others from New Journey Church played softball, and tomorrow, Logie and I are going to finally hit the golf ball.

But the "mother" of all opportunities came yesterday morning when I got to go with the "mother and daddy" to the doctor’s office for the “tell-tale” ultrasound. (This is the one that reveals the gender. And, since they didn’t do this kind of thing routinely when the boys were inside Kay, this was my first time, even if it is as a grandfather.)

Needless to say, I was pretty excited, but I managed to keep my enthusiasm in check (and you know how hard that is for me). I feel sure I was also resented by 2 g-mothers-to-be back in Houston, though they would not let on that there were any hard feelings about my being present.

Since Logie had a class this morning, I drove out to the apartment and picked Christy up, and we made our way to the hospital where Christy’s doctor has offices. Logan came on as soon as he could, and got there just in time. The two of them went back into the ultrasound room, and I sat in the lobby, hoping I’d get the call. (I was only allowed to go with the understanding that one other person is allowed back there, and Logan seemed insistent that he should be the one. But they did agree to ask if a wandering grandfather from Houston might come in for a minute. There were no guarantees.) I sat and waited, and read my book.

After a half hour or so, Logie came out and gave me the nod. They were going to let me in. And so I saw her—yes, she’s a girl. And I saw clear absence of that which, by its absence, lets them know that she’s a girl. And I saw her heart beating fast, and her arms flailing, and her back arching. Christy said she was “popping” her back like Logan pops his back.

I didn’t cry. That was a little later. But I did laugh really loud, if only on the inside, because Logan and Christy were so surprised, and their faces showed it. When the technician said she was 99% sure it was a girl, Logan and Christy had to deal with the fact that they previously, for whatever reason, had been 99% sure it was a boy. And girl, were they wrong!

After Christy consulted with her doctor, and learned that everything is “go” for launch on September 29, we celebrated over lunch, throwing out many useless girl names, and wondering who she will look like, and what she will be like. It was pretty magic for this G-DADDY-to-be. It was a very special day.

Lovingly, for Seed-sie,
rick