Tomorrow (Friday) Carol and I will bundle up our 8 year old Audra Grace well before dawn, load in our trusty Ford Windstar van (the vintage 2001 model) and drive the 32.3 miles to the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Upon arriving, we’ll proceed to the surgical ward on the 3rd floor. After all the pre-op is done, at approximately 8:30am a surgeon will make an incision in Audra’s lower abdomen and remove what is hopefully a benign fatty tumor called a lipoma.

Forgive the drama. I’m a dad. And my precious baby has something in her that must be removed.

When Audra broke her right arm recently, we were of course helping bathe her (as a fully functioning 8 year old adult, this was not necessary nor allowed prior to her accident). It was then that Carol noticed the swelling down below. I didn’t because…well, uh…still not used to having a daughter. Just saying…

Initially our doctor thought it could’ve been a hernia or something caused by her trampoline accident. But our docs are way thorough and way precautious thankfully. Sitting in the room with X-ray techs, we picked up on the body language and what they didn’t say. An MRI was scheduled and performed after what felt like forever. Results were 98% certain the mass they detected was nothing. But…

We were referred to a surgeon, who gave us the news about the 98, and told us what that 2% could mean. That tiny percentage point is not a good one.

Forgive the drama. I’m a dad. And my precious baby has something in her that must be removed.

I fully trust the medical team that will perform this procedure. I trust our doctor and how she cares for our children like her own.

I trust the Father with my baby girl. In all likelihood, the biopsy will come back with the words we want. Audra will have a tiny scar but she will run free like she does, laughing and living and trusting in typical Audra fashion.

Her name is Grace and she is aptly named.

But I’m her father. My precious baby has something in her that must be removed.

We are made in God’s image. Our thoughts and feelings and emotions are reflections of Him. Could He have felt this way when sin invaded his children?

Forgive the drama. I’m your Father. And my precious children have something in them that must be removed.

So pardon the Sunday School ending to this post. You know I hate that crap. But my mind works that way, and I can’t help but think the Father worries over me and you like we do our own children.

And I trust Him.

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Today I went to court. No, it wasn’t for me. I’m not a fugitive or have any outstanding warrants (at least I hope I don’t!). I was there in support of a friend. If you know me, you know that I absolutely love to watch people. So for me, this time in a Nashville courtroom [...]

It’s New Years Eve and I’ve been feeling the strange pressure of a final post for this year. I had thought of not adding to the New Year noise…not that there’s anything wrong with all these final thoughts of the year, and thoughts for the days ahead. I just didn’t feel like I had anything [...]

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            I have an admission to make… I’m addicted. No, if I’m honest I have to admit that I’m a full-fledged addict. At least I’m not in denial… and I’m comforted by the knowledge that many of you share this addiction. Words with Friends. Oh I know… it seems so [...]