I’m in Charlotte right now; sitting in my brother’s house, all alone. He and his wife aren’t here because they’re at the hospital enjoying day 2 of their beautiful new born baby boy! Davis Paul Carlton was born yesterday (6.24.11), 8lbs. 8oz. at 4:22 in the afternoon, perfectly healthy. I just spent some time in their untouched, ready for a newborn baby, nursery room… praying for him, the room and the house his Mom and Dad will raise him in. I prayed God would bless his life and keep him happy and healthy in his new home.
Yesterday was probably the first day of realizing what I’m going to miss over this coming year. And even though most of my family was there for the delivery, it wasn’t until leaving the hospital that it really hit me what I was leaving behind.
It’s sad to think I’m going to be missing the first year of my first nephew’s life. I always believed that leaving would give Ben and Lindsey a chance to “settle in,” establish and develop their new life with a kid(s!) without Uncle Wade’s random visits to Charlotte. And then… when I got back… spoil him and BLITZ him with good times from his Uncle Wade. But man, after holding him just a couple of times, I realized how much I’m going to miss my family and watching Davis grow over the year.
But, as a friend told me recently, it’s not about what I’m going to miss over the year… but what I’m going to experience over the year! So, as hard as it is to think about leaving what’s here, I know that my trip itself is something to look forward to. And I know that I have to keep in mind the reason why I’m going and keep the mission at heart. I trust that God will not only bless my year, but my family’s too.
