Eight years ago today, Mandy and I were checking into the North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. Our hearts were racing with excitement and anticipation for the arrival of our first child.

We had known for 20 weeks leading up to the big day that God would bless us with a little girl. Despite the anticipation, neither Mandy nor I knew just how much Trae Alexandria would bless our lives.

We had decided to name her "Trae" based on the wedding vows we took when we were married. Our vows were based on Ecclesiastes 4.9-12 which speak of two being better than one and a cord of three strands would never be broken. Throughout our marriage, our mutual union with God has been the third strand that unites in love. And so it was only natural for us to name our little girl Trae. She is a living, breathing testimony of the faith of her parents in God.

At 3:15 p.m. eight years ago today, Trae entered this world. We still have the video of that special moment capturing the tears that flowed in that room. I have never felt so loved and blessed by God.

Throughout Mandy's pregnancy, I would sing and talk to Trae while she was still inside mommy's tummy. When she was born, the nurses cleaned her and checked all her vital signs. Then a moment emblazoned on my memory occured. As the nurses moved away from her crib, I approached my newborn baby daughter. She was crying her little eyes out, no doubt wishing she was back inside the safety and warmth of mommy's tummy. I leaned over into her crib and whispered, "Hey baby girl. I love you so much!" And with that, Trae immediately ceased her crying, opened her eyes and looked straight into my eyes.

It was at that moment, not 15 minutes after her birth, that my heart was knit with her's for life.

Since that time, we've shared so many wonderful memories together. We've laughed and cried. We've played and wrestled. We've taken a Disney Cruise together. Last summer, we went to California together, just me and Trae.

And now, in the blink of an eye, she's 8 years old. Where has the time gone?

The Bible says, "Children are a gift from God; a reward from the LORD." I don't know how God could have blessed Mandy and me with a greater gift and a more precious reward that sharing with us Trae Alexandria.

After we brought Trae home, the words to this song bounced around in my head for what seemed like the first two years of her life. The innocence captured by Kenny Loggins still warms my heart as I reminisce today on the blessing of Trae.

Christopher Robin and I walked along
Under branches lit up by the moon
Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore
As our days disappeared all too soon
But I've wandered much further today than I should
And I can't seem to find my way back to the Wood

So help me if you can
I've got to get back
To the House at Pooh Corner by one
You'd be surprised
There's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh

Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do
Got a honey jar stuck on his nose
He came to me asking help and advice
And from here no one knows where he goes
So I sent him to ask of the Owl if he's there
How to loosen a jar from the nose of a bear

It's hard to explain how a few precious things
Seem to follow throughout all our lives
After all's said and done I was watching my son
Sleeping there with my bear by his side
So I tucked him in, I kissed him and as I was going
I swear that the old bear whispered
"Boy welcome home"

Believe me if you can
I've finally come back
To the House at Pooh Corner by one
What do you know
There's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin
Back to the ways of Christopher Robin
Back to the days of Pooh


Happy Eighth Birthday today, Trae girl! You are as special to me as ever. If a star fell from the sky everytime I thought about you during the day, the nighttime sky would be empty!