(More than) Fourinarow.net

My good friend Troy called me last night.  I was a little surprised to hear from her.  The baby isn’t due to be born until December 22nd, and Kyle is home on his mid-tour break from Afghanistan.  No way should she be taking time away from her family right now to talk to me!

Anyway, she assured me that the baby isn’t here yet and that Kyle had made it safely home.  We talked about Kyle’s homecoming, her plans for the baby’s arrival, and which grandparents would be arriving when.

Then she sprung it on me -  the absolute best Christmas gift a friend could give:  an invitation for Dan and me to be her new baby girl’s Godparents.  I was stunned.  And excited!

Of course, the kids are excited too.  When I told Maria this morning that Miss Troy had called and asked Dan and me to be baby Zoë’s Godparents, she was thrilled.  “That means we get to be the Godkids!” she announced.  I guess it does.

Of course Troy and her baby have been in our nightly prayers since we found out she was expecting.  When we first started praying for them we didn’t have any idea if the baby was a boy or girl.  So, we had lots of fun each night guessing which it would be.  Some of the boys wavered, but not Maria.  She steadfastly wanted Miss Troy to have a girl so that she wouldn’t have to be the only girl in her family.

We started saying some extra prayers once Kyle deployed, leaving his three boys and pregnant wife behind.  I know Troy has had lots of help from family and friends, but I was sorely disappointed when she announced her pregnancy to me right around the time we found out about our move.  I really wanted to be there for her and the kids, especially while Kyle was away.  Maybe our prayers have helped, though, ’cause she sounds just wonderful, and has already made it through 6 months without her husband.

So, back to my Goddaughter, Zoë.  I’ve thought about her every time I see the color pink (which is quite often, having Maria around).  I also think about Troy and her new daughter when I see curly, girly things.  Or, when Maria and I have a few minutes to ourselves.  Boys are wonderful – don’t get me wrong.  And, I’m sure Troy would have been just as happy having another boy, as I would have five years ago.  But, having a girl adds a new dynamic and is a different experience.  It’s wonderful – for a mom, a dad and the brothers.

We were all sad to leave Troy and her family behind in Tennessee.  Everyone of us mentions them at least every other day.  They are wonderful people and have been great friends.  Friends, though, that I have feared we’d eventually lose touch with, as our travels usually only take us to one or two places each year, neither of which is near Tennessee.

Well, no matter.  We may go for periods without talking on the phone.  It might be years between visits, but we will never lose touch.  If we weren’t before, we are family now.  I just wish I could be there to help welcome my Goddaughter into the world.  I can’t wait for the day that I can hold her close and snuggle her and smell her sweet head.  I don’t know when that’s going to be, but I sure hope it’s soon.

Thanks, Troy and Kyle, for your wonderful Christmas gift this year.  Dan and I will certainly cherish it.