David Alexander born 3-17-11
Photos: Taken April 7, 2011 at three weeks old. Well here it is, the first of June, and I am just now finishing up this blog post that I began in mid March about our third bambino's arrival! He was born almost eleven weeks ago on St. Patricks Day 2011, which makes him our third winter baby! Gonna have to buy this little guy a snowmobile one day - for him, his siblings, and his pops! That and plenty of green attire, given his Irish "roots"! As with the other two, we did not find out the baby's gender ahead of time. Much to my frustration and to my wife's amusement!! In the closing weeks though, and on the delivery day itself, I had a growing sense that God was giving another son to us. In the last few hours of the delivery, I remember having a very clear, lucid feeling where I sensed STRONGLY that it was a boy. It was perhaps the closest thing to a premonition(?) that I've ever had. Just a deep strong knowledge of something that was going to come, and being confident that it was something more than just a fleeting guess on my part. He is a cheerful, happy little babe most of the time. He seems to be the most contented (at this young age) of our three children. He definitely likes to be held a lot, but is also happy to be placed for periods of time on a blanket or in an infant carrier.The older two argue about "wanting to love it" and have to often be compelled to take turns gently hugging, kissing and holding him. It is a special delight to see them with him, enjoying him and loving him. Three definitely feels like a handful though! Something always seems to be going on with at least one of the three, and often with two! And yet, in the midst of busy and full days, we are continually grateful for this most blessed season of life. Three little and wonderful children, growing, thriving, chattering, laughing, crying, and helping to bring a truly unique and profound contentedness into this stage of our life's journey. A theme that has been on my mind since a few weeks before David's birth is that he would find his dwelling place in God. He shares the same name as the author of most of the Psalms in the Old Testament, a couple of which have been coming to mind. Here are those verses, and a related stanza from a favorite hymn.Psalm 90:1
"Lord you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations."Psalm 91:1,2,9-12
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
No harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Isaac Watts, 1719 A.D.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
"Lord you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations."Psalm 91:1,2,9-12
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
No harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Isaac Watts, 1719 A.D.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
