Linda and Lindsey in January 1983

We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Last night, while lying in bed, Linda and I began discussing the events of 30 years ago.
It was 1983 and about 2 o’clock in the morning she began to have some abdominal pains. They were intense enough to warrant waking me up.

We both got up and I remember helping her take a shower, after which she lied on the couch and I turned on the TV. Back then there was no Dish or Directv, so the only thing I could get was a station out of Shreveport with all night network news.

She was in the beginning stages of labor.

We had decided not to just rush to the hospital, which was 30 miles away. We did not want to be told it was false labor and be sent back home. Besides, most of the time the first baby takes a while to get here.

Around 630 a.m. we decided to drive to the hospital in Nacogdoches. To make a long story short, she was in labor all day.
She gave birth to our first daughter, Lindsey Erin around 4:15 the afternoon of Januray 21st.
Lindsey weighed in at 9lbs 4-1/2oz.

I was a dad. I had the responsibility to care for this child and raise her; to feed, clothe, and teach her.
And I was to love her.
That was easy to do. I was in love with her before she was born and it only intensified when I saw her.

There were no digital cameras or iPhones, so our first pictures were with a Polaroid instamatic.
There was no Facebook or texting so we had to make old fashioned phone calls to spread the news.

For the first time in my life I understood something that my heavenly Father had said – Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Jer 31:3
My love for both my daughters has grown over the years.
I loved them both and always will.