Life Stages.....Do or Die!

We had a lovely party Saturday for Drennon Platt and Will McMurray who will be married in June. Drennon has been like part of our family for many years and we are thrilled she has found someone worthy of her. Will seems to be a wonderful, caring young man and we really like him. Drennon and Will seem a perfect match. They are in the blissful stage of love and are ready for the wedding to be over so they can get on with the rest of their lives. This is what I call Life Stage of Bliss and it can last for a year or more depending on the couple. Beth and Ben have passed that stage and Life Stage of Comfort. They are now in Life Stage of Expectant Parents, getting ready to have a baby and learning everything they can to help them in the process. Beth has read all the pregnancy books and being an RN gives her an advantage. And Ben has read "the book" for expectant fathers and being an EMT also has advantages. Beth is starting her 3rd trimester which, in my opinion, is the most exhausting until labor and delivery. Ben is being so thoughtful of Beth and making sure she's not doing anything she shouldn't and has everything she needs. He's read "the book" that tells him to be kind and loving to your pregnant wife or she could bite your head off in a second!! Hormones is the key word at the moment and it can make a pregnant woman do or say anything that is not normally in her nature. Ben has done well so far in handling Beth's mood swings, although I'm sure he has had moments where he would really like to say something he shouldn't! Most men do have those moments in dealing with HORMONES raging. They are coming into the next phase of this stage in which they will take the classes at the hospital to learn what to expect of the labor and delivery. Beth and Ben both could deliver a baby if they had to because of their training. But when it's YOU, all knowledge and rationality go out the window. I know for a fact Beth has told Ben if she asks for her mother during labor or delivery, that means he is to get me to the labor room pronto, no questions asked. Even though it could be awkward for Ben and myself to both be in the delivery room with Beth, if she asks for it, he better deliver!! :) Then again, Beth may make it just fine without me. Either way is fine with me. Ben will be given expert advice in the classes at the hospital so hopefully he will be prepared for what his wife could turn into during labor and delivery. Please God let the epidurial work, for Beth's sake as well as Ben's!!
Now back to the Life Stages...........Clay and Leslie are supposed to still be in the Life Stage of Bliss, but God decided it's time to leave that stage and pass the Life Stage of Comfort and go directly to Life Stage of Expectant Parents. Unfortunately for Clay (and Leslie), he has not read "the book" for expectant fathers yet because I just gave it to him yesterday. Now is the time for him to learn to SPEED READ if he wants to be alive when his child is born. I found out that Clay does not understand pregnancy hormones yet. In his normal kidding manner he made a comment to Leslie about her body the other day. This is the part of his DNA he gets from his Dad and Leslie is usually a very good sport about Clay's kidding. But when you're pregnant, the last thing you want to hear is a comment about your body that does not include the words beautiful, lovely or glowing in it. And to add insult to injury, Clay added the words "just kidding" to the end of his MISTAKE. I'm not exactly sure what Leslie said to him but I'm sure she got her message across. I told her if Clay says anything like that again, she should punch him in the face! That would get his attention. John has tried to explain a few things to Clay about how he should act and react while Leslie is pregnant. I'm not sure it's worked yet. So, I had a small talk with Clay when he came by the house today. I told him he better read the expectant father book I gave him sooner than later. And that he should be loving and kind to Leslie no matter what mood she's in. If Clay has not gotten the meaning of the words PREGNANCY HORMONES yet, he will and it could come in the form of a fist to the face, emotional crying or a night on the couch! I think Ben is going to "tutor" Clay in the fine art of keeping his mouth shut unless he has something to say with the words beautiful, lovely or glowing in it. Clay will learn, as well as Ben, that you don't mess with a pregnant woman. And for heaven sakes, don't ever tell her you feel her pain. Or you may actually experience it when she pulls your lip over your head or kicks you between the legs! I'm sure Kyle is standing back laughing his head off at what Clay and Ben are going through right now. But his day will come (hopefully) and Kyle will join the club of men who will have to read "the book" of what to expect when you are expecting. And Ben and Clay will be able to give first hand advice to Kyle.
Until next time, enjoy God's beautiful world and give Him praise.