Open up your hearts and let your souls be free,
I can feel the timebox turning on me,
Austin's finally turning ...... thirteen,
So, let's get this party started!
OK. Lily Grace has had a birthday. Connie Jo has had a birthday. Now, we can begin looking forward to that magical day in Austin's life when he becomes ........ a TEEN!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, Connie, get my geritol, I'm really feeling old. Can we slow this thing down a little?
Matthew Austin Green will turn thir"teen" (13, 10+3, 2+11, 16-3, etc...) on November 15th, 2006. It seems like only yesterday that Connie and I were sitting around in the hospital room waiting to become parents. Completely unaware and unsuspecting of what God had in store for us. Praise You God, for You Are Wonderful in Everything! BTW, the opener is from Toby MAC and we are looking forward to another Winter Wonder Slam at the VBC this December. Check out the link to Austin's site for the full play of this relaxing, easy-going song.
Here's how it happened (not that!!). Connie and her two best friends from high school were all expecting within a few weeks of each other in November of 1993 (there was a major winter storm in February 1993 and .... uh, never mind). This would be the first child for Connie and Amy. Kelley had already tested the waters with Olivia, so she and Travis knew a little about what to expect. Amy would go first of the threesome, with Mary Allison arriving on schedule October 29th. Connie and Kelley began getting excited. The anticipated dates of arrival for for them were somewhere between the 13th and the 17th of November. 
Oh, that's a long time off thought Travis, we still have time for several fishing trips [remind me to tell you the story sometime of the live fish Travis and I left flopping around in Kelley's refrigerator freezer - it seemed like a good idea at the time].
As it turns out, Kelley was next. Drake Evan Lewter made his triumphant arrival on November 13th right on schedule. Drake was Kelley's family name and so the family was extremely proud of their newest "Drake." As a footnote, Drake University and 'Evan'sville University played each other in football on that same day - don't know why I remember that?
Well, Connie, that's it. Your (er, I mean our) turn. When's this thing gonna happen? Sunday? Monday? Next year? At least we know what to expect now - Doctor, go ahead and get that epidural ready, one for each of us! It happened suddenly for me, but I think Connie was much more relaxed. She told me around 9:00 pm Sunday night (November 14th) that her water had broken and that it was time. I think she waited an hour or so to tell me. OK. Let's go. Put the phone down. Connie, we gotta go. Beep, beep, c'mon honey, I'm waiting in the car! You bring the suitcase. We didn't leave home til around 10:00 heading for Huntsville Hospital. I thought I was driving really fast. In fact, I already had my story planned for the police when (not if) they stopped me. Then it happened. Connie's mother and father passed us on the highway, blowing their horn as if to say hurry up, we'll meet you there. Good, someone else to flush out the highway patrol! We should get through undetected.
Finally, we got to Huntsville Hospital and went straight to the emergency room. Funny, to this day, I don't remember what we did with our car. Maybe it got towed out of the emergency room driveup, I don't know. Of course, by this time Connie was ever so gently requesting politely('demanding') her epidural (some of you, mostly the ladies, know what I'm talking about). After getting us into a delivery room and administering the 'gently requested' epidural, the doctors told us to just stay there and wait. What, after all this rushing to get here, now we wait? I thought things were happening here! Doctor, Doctor ...
As it turns out, Kelley was still in the hospital, not having completed her alloted 48 hours before they send you home with this new little human which us first time parents haven't a clue what to do with (as a footnote, it is at this point in life that most of us realize we can't do everything and God then begins flowing through us to ensure that His love is poured out into the child's life). So, Kelley wanders down to the delivery room to be with us when this happens. Not only that, but Amy came over as well. What a wonderful time that was, just sitting and talking with Kelley and Amy. By this time Connie was fully epiduralized and enjoying life. Labor, ha! This stuff's easy. It seemed like one of the most relaxed times in our lives (maybe we should ask Connie what she was thinking and feeling that night?).
Then the nurse (after several trips into the room to check the progress) announced "OK, it's time. Let me go get the doctor." Oh my gosh, Connie. Here we go. No turning back. The roller coaster has reached the peak and now comes the fast part! Kelley and Amy had decided to stay and we said that'd be OK. Maybe they could help out if I became incapacitated in any manner. Maybe they could take pictures or something. Kelley was still in her hospital jammies when the doctor arrived, causing a moment of confusion on the part of Dr. Kakani (who are you and why are you in here in your hospital jammies?). It must have been about 2:00 or 2:30 am, November 15th by now.
After an hour or so, the doctor finally said here he comes (she knew the sex, but we didn't and probably didn't catch on - Dr. Kakani wanted to tell us so bad. She once even told me while we were looking at an ultrasound "If it had glasses, it would look like you." Still, I didn't catch on!). And in a few more minutes, Matthew Austin Green was born into this world. Awesome! Wow! Connie, are you getting this? It's a boy!! 3:23 am, November 15th, 1993. I called Mom and told her it's a boy and he weighs 19 lbs and is 7 in long (no, really that's what I told her). Long silence .... Uh, Jerry are you sure (that's a bowling ball you're describing to me!). Of course, I corrected the metrics and Mom breathed a sigh of relief.
That night, God showed His power, His grace, His mercy, His Everything to us. We were completely speechless, simply staring in awe at what God had brought suddenly into this world and laid into our laps. And now, 13 years later, we celebrate a life that God sent our way with a son who is an awesome, Christian boy that loves the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and all his mind and helped to lead his parents back into a fellowship with our most awesome friend, Jesus Christ. Thank you God, You are Awesome! And Happy Birthday Austin (or as Lily Grace says Au 'tin). We love you very much!
Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin (Birthday Boy), and Lily Grace
G
reen, Party of Four
I can feel the timebox turning on me,
Austin's finally turning ...... thirteen,
So, let's get this party started!
OK. Lily Grace has had a birthday. Connie Jo has had a birthday. Now, we can begin looking forward to that magical day in Austin's life when he becomes ........ a TEEN!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, Connie, get my geritol, I'm really feeling old. Can we slow this thing down a little?
Matthew Austin Green will turn thir"teen" (13, 10+3, 2+11, 16-3, etc...) on November 15th, 2006. It seems like only yesterday that Connie and I were sitting around in the hospital room waiting to become parents. Completely unaware and unsuspecting of what God had in store for us. Praise You God, for You Are Wonderful in Everything! BTW, the opener is from Toby MAC and we are looking forward to another Winter Wonder Slam at the VBC this December. Check out the link to Austin's site for the full play of this relaxing, easy-going song.
Here's how it happened (not that!!). Connie and her two best friends from high school were all expecting within a few weeks of each other in November of 1993 (there was a major winter storm in February 1993 and .... uh, never mind). This would be the first child for Connie and Amy. Kelley had already tested the waters with Olivia, so she and Travis knew a little about what to expect. Amy would go first of the threesome, with Mary Allison arriving on schedule October 29th. Connie and Kelley began getting excited. The anticipated dates of arrival for for them were somewhere between the 13th and the 17th of November. 
Oh, that's a long time off thought Travis, we still have time for several fishing trips [remind me to tell you the story sometime of the live fish Travis and I left flopping around in Kelley's refrigerator freezer - it seemed like a good idea at the time].
As it turns out, Kelley was next. Drake Evan Lewter made his triumphant arrival on November 13th right on schedule. Drake was Kelley's family name and so the family was extremely proud of their newest "Drake." As a footnote, Drake University and 'Evan'sville University played each other in football on that same day - don't know why I remember that?Well, Connie, that's it. Your (er, I mean our) turn. When's this thing gonna happen? Sunday? Monday? Next year? At least we know what to expect now - Doctor, go ahead and get that epidural ready, one for each of us! It happened suddenly for me, but I think Connie was much more relaxed. She told me around 9:00 pm Sunday night (November 14th) that her water had broken and that it was time. I think she waited an hour or so to tell me. OK. Let's go. Put the phone down. Connie, we gotta go. Beep, beep, c'mon honey, I'm waiting in the car! You bring the suitcase. We didn't leave home til around 10:00 heading for Huntsville Hospital. I thought I was driving really fast. In fact, I already had my story planned for the police when (not if) they stopped me. Then it happened. Connie's mother and father passed us on the highway, blowing their horn as if to say hurry up, we'll meet you there. Good, someone else to flush out the highway patrol! We should get through undetected.
Finally, we got to Huntsville Hospital and went straight to the emergency room. Funny, to this day, I don't remember what we did with our car. Maybe it got towed out of the emergency room driveup, I don't know. Of course, by this time Connie was ever so gently requesting politely('demanding') her epidural (some of you, mostly the ladies, know what I'm talking about). After getting us into a delivery room and administering the 'gently requested' epidural, the doctors told us to just stay there and wait. What, after all this rushing to get here, now we wait? I thought things were happening here! Doctor, Doctor ...
As it turns out, Kelley was still in the hospital, not having completed her alloted 48 hours before they send you home with this new little human which us first time parents haven't a clue what to do with (as a footnote, it is at this point in life that most of us realize we can't do everything and God then begins flowing through us to ensure that His love is poured out into the child's life). So, Kelley wanders down to the delivery room to be with us when this happens. Not only that, but Amy came over as well. What a wonderful time that was, just sitting and talking with Kelley and Amy. By this time Connie was fully epiduralized and enjoying life. Labor, ha! This stuff's easy. It seemed like one of the most relaxed times in our lives (maybe we should ask Connie what she was thinking and feeling that night?).
Then the nurse (after several trips into the room to check the progress) announced "OK, it's time. Let me go get the doctor." Oh my gosh, Connie. Here we go. No turning back. The roller coaster has reached the peak and now comes the fast part! Kelley and Amy had decided to stay and we said that'd be OK. Maybe they could help out if I became incapacitated in any manner. Maybe they could take pictures or something. Kelley was still in her hospital jammies when the doctor arrived, causing a moment of confusion on the part of Dr. Kakani (who are you and why are you in here in your hospital jammies?). It must have been about 2:00 or 2:30 am, November 15th by now.After an hour or so, the doctor finally said here he comes (she knew the sex, but we didn't and probably didn't catch on - Dr. Kakani wanted to tell us so bad. She once even told me while we were looking at an ultrasound "If it had glasses, it would look like you." Still, I didn't catch on!). And in a few more minutes, Matthew Austin Green was born into this world. Awesome! Wow! Connie, are you getting this? It's a boy!! 3:23 am, November 15th, 1993. I called Mom and told her it's a boy and he weighs 19 lbs and is 7 in long (no, really that's what I told her). Long silence .... Uh, Jerry are you sure (that's a bowling ball you're describing to me!). Of course, I corrected the metrics and Mom breathed a sigh of relief.
That night, God showed His power, His grace, His mercy, His Everything to us. We were completely speechless, simply staring in awe at what God had brought suddenly into this world and laid into our laps. And now, 13 years later, we celebrate a life that God sent our way with a son who is an awesome, Christian boy that loves the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and all his mind and helped to lead his parents back into a fellowship with our most awesome friend, Jesus Christ. Thank you God, You are Awesome! And Happy Birthday Austin (or as Lily Grace says Au 'tin). We love you very much!
Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin (Birthday Boy), and Lily Grace
G
reen, Party of Four
3 comments:
What a Nice story!!
Happy Birthday Austin!!
Love Russ & Lisa
Oh Austin- what a gift you have been given in this post- what a treasure to have this written by your daddy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! We hope you have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday! What a wonderful blessing. What a great post. Isn't God just Grand! We could never be the author that He is. His stories are so much better than anything we can dream.
The Morgans
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