July 4th

It’s official; I’m a grandpa! I am very thankful to have been on the scene. I was able to hold my daughter’s hand while she was having contractions at least for a little while. I am very proud of my daughter (Jessica) and her courageous 22-hour battle with those contractions. I am proud of her husband (Chris) because he was so gentle, loving and patient with her the whole time. He was a rock. Deb was there for 10 hours and was a much needed help. I was mostly a bystander but very grateful for the opportunity to be close by.

After all that work, the doctor made the decision to do a C-section because of some complications. Everyone was extremely disappointed but mother and baby Noah are doing great. Noah James Ocker was born on 7/04 at 7:04 PM. For the rest of his life Noah James will have fireworks to help celebrate his birthday.

I am thankful to have been there twenty minutes after Noah James was born to see him look at me with alert eyes, which followed me when I moved. He is 6Lbs. 14 oz. He seemed very happy to be set free on Independence Day. He was very active and alert. He often stretched his arms out wide not comprehending his newfound freedom. Jessica’s quote of the day after this was all over was precious. She said in a surprised voice, “I don’t have a lot of good things to say about this labor thing.”

With all that I am thankful for, the following is the thing for which I am most thankful. I walked through the day praying and enjoying fellowship with the Lord. I believe he was telling me he had a plan for our Noah’s life just as he had a plan for the life of Noah in the Old Testament. I wondered what kind of plan he had for Noah so I asked the Lord to show me how to pray for Noah. I wanted to agree with God’s plan and pray it over Noah. The Lord seemed to be telling me that as the old Noah saved the lives of others because he was obedient, so our Noah would save lives through his obedience. That is something I can get behind and pray through. I believe this by faith. I am not sure how all this will work out but I don’t have to have all the details. I will just claim it by faith for our Noah. Praise be to God!