Two years ago today my daughter was born.  That was a beautiful and yet traumatic day.  Crystal’s pregnancy was completely healthy, but during the delivery, the umbelical cord wrapped tightly around Calla’s neck…strangling her.  When our midwife attempted to remove the cord, it broke so close to her body that there was no room to clamp off the bleeding.  You could sense the urgency in the room.  I’ll never forget the look on the midwife’s face…the silence of that moment.

It was a moment when things could go an entirely different direction.

Within seconds the room was filled with all kinds of medical people there to do whatever it is they do to stop the bleeding and help Calla begin to breathe.  It was incredibly intense and frightening to not know what was going on.  It was like standing helplessly still while 15 people are moving in fast-forward all around you.

And today we get to celebrate her life…to me she’s a miracle.

I look at my baby girl and its hard to not watch her life in fast-forward.  I think about someday walking her down an aisle, answering “her mother and I” and giving her hand to another man.

But for now…she runs to me.  When she’s excited, when she’s sad, when she’s hurt…she runs to me.

If you ask her, she says she’s “Daddy’s”  baby girl.  I get to rock her to sleep at night.  I get to swing her in circles.  I get to hold her hand…sing her songs…dance with her.  I get kisses and hugs and squeals and giggles.  I’m completely content just looking at her…just being with her.  I pray every day that she sees Jesus in her daddy…that she will fall in love with that Jesus and that someday, people will choose to follow Him because of her life.

My daughter is precious…and I’m sooooooooo thankful for her.

Happy Birthday sweet Calla…your daddy loves you.