UMM...I THINK MY WATER BROKE

Picture this; Sembach, Germany, a nice cool night in June of '93, I had just gotten to that comfortable spot in bed.  You know that spot of this feels so good, don't disturb me I am almost asleep.  Then I hear her calling from the bathroom "dear, umm I think my water just broke." Now me being the sensitive guy I am I say "what do you mean you think it broke?  Did it or didn't it?  They said at our classes (Lamaze) you will definitely know."  Now before you judge me too harshly remember where I was ;-). Her response was "I am pretty sure it did." Well that got me out of bed dressed and I had the bag with everything in it pretty quick.  We rushed out the door and we were off to Landstuhl Army Medical Center.  As we are driving I turn to Cristi and say "hey get the video camera out and video tape some of the trip." Now this is how awesome and sweet my wife is.  This guy just asked her to video tape him driving her to the hospital while she is having contractions and getting ready to have his child.  Her response, "ok" with a smile on her face!  She is awesome!  I would say her contractions were not that bad, but I never felt them so I do not know :-).  We get to the hospital and they put us in a room where we are watching I think it was Johnny Carson and the nurses come in and say that Cristi is so many centimeters dilated and that it will be a long night for us.  When they said long night there was a rumbly in my tummy so I asked if I had time to go get something to eat real quick? (I knew I needed energy to help my wife through this). Well there happened to be a vending area on the other side of the hospital and I had more than enough time to grab something, so I was off.  After filling my tummy a little I was off to give my wife all the support she would need.  I got to where I thought I left her and the room was empty! Ok, my memory has never been great, maybe I went to the wrong room.  Well after snooping around for a short time I found out that that was the right room, they moved her to a delivery room!  Things were moving a lot faster than they expected.  Our little baby wanted out!  Well I made it to see this grayish blob come out of my wife with all this gunk on him.  I cut the cord and they took that creature away and a few minutes handed me this tiny boy with a funny shaped head.  I can not see how people say newborns are cute.  He was pretty gross at first.  Then he was awesome.  I was pushing this awesome boy, Christopher, down the hall(they wouldn't let me carry him) to the area where I would give him his first bath and he would get shots and stuff.  As I am pushing him the reality of fatherhood hit.  I am Christophers dad.  I don't know how to be a dad.  God, what where you thinking giving me this gift right now.  What if I mess him up and he becomes a mass murderer or something? I started feeling overwhelmed.  I mean really overwhelmed, ya know that wow I'm getting kinda dizzy and starting to get tunnel vision overwhelmed.  Good thing they don't let you carry that awesome baby and they insist you push that cart with him.  The nurse saw me going a bit pale and said "I think you need to stop and sit down for a moment". So I did, right in the middle of the hall.  After a few minutes I was feeling a bit better and we continued our journey.  That was an incredible night.  That little awesome baby boy turned 21 years old today.  It has been a great journey and I am so proud of the young man he has become.  I learned early that if I try to raise him on my own then things may get a bit rough, but if I put him in Gods hands and teach him His ways then things will be alright.  Christopher, I am very proud of the young man you have become.  I am enjoying watching God work in you.  I can't wait to here your stores from your mission trip to Nairobi.  You will continue being in my prayers.  Too often we look at God and say what are you thinking when we just need to stop and say thank you for trusting me and giving me the strength to....