Tayta's Birth Day~ Christmas Eve, 1996

I'm afraid that I'm not remembering too many details about Tayta's birth: like, how we got to the hospital, what the weather was, or what I was making for dinner. It's not that Tayta's birth wasn't anticipated with great joy, but more likely that I was distracted by preparing for the holidays with three small children. With Tayta's due date just around Christmas, I determined to have all my holiday preparations finished a couple of days before the 25th--a first (and last) for me.

A few notable memories: we were expecting a girl and I was very happy about that. Labor was, once again, short and intense. Tayta was born in the then new Arab Heart and Specialty Hospital; Dear Husband and the doctor were admiring and discussing the fine design of the new Danish (or Swedish?) hospital beds as I was preparing to deliver Tayta!

Dear Husband was at my side, as he was for the delivery of all our children, waiting, watching, and trying his best to encourage me. Alas, birth is not always easy for spectator dads. At one point my OB noticed that the blood was draining from Dear Husband's face and he asked him to step out of the delivery room for a few minutes. Dear Husband tried to assure him that he would be okay, but the doctor insisted. Dear Husband left, took a few minutes to gather himself, and returned just in time to welcome Tayta into the world.

All the children came to welcome their baby sister, and of course, Tayta was proclaimed the best Christmas present that year.

Tayta and I came home for the hospital on Christmas Day and our family enjoyed the day together, opening gifts and eating a meal that I managed to prepare ahead of time. (The forced photo shoot was obviously not much fun for Artist Son. When he saw this picture he apologized for ruining it, but I'm glad we have a picture of his bottom-lip-out look.)

And now the baby of the family is all grown up into a beautiful young lady. Tayta's blog name means "grandmother" in Arabic and she was dubbed with this title by a dear Arab friend as a child because of her loving and caring nature. Tayta, you are a blessing to your family, friends, and even strangers, as you anticipate the needs of others and do what you can to help meet them. We love and we thank God for giving you to our family.

Chapped Ground

Teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy arise

from several degrees of prayer,

that when faith is begun it is imperfect and must grow,

as chapped ground opens wider and wider until rain comes.

from "The Divine Will", The Valley of Vision

Flowering Jordan Calendar~December 2013

Posting this picture reminds me that a new wildflower season is about to begin, with the earliest "spring" wildflowers beginning to make there appearances later this month. I took this picture at the end of December in Um Qais. Anticipation.