Happy First Birthday!!! Hailey Breanne Charles

A year ago today, Crystal, H.B., Natalie, and I headed to an important family appointment at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

It was the day after Easter. But that Monday was the day we had been anticipating - our new baby was to be born.

Crystal craved pancakes from The Griddle, Rosco's Chicken and waffles, and KFC hot wings the whole pregnancy. Being the devoted hustband that I am, I joined her. "We" (H.B., in the Greek) are still working off the baby weight.

Unlike our first two children, we did not determine a name until days before she was born. Our niece suggested, "Why don't you just name her H.B."? We laughed. But the more we thought about it, it grew on us. We decided we liked the name, "Hailey." And over the weekend, we finally landed on "Breanne."

For some reason, my niece who helped name Hailey, insists on calling her, "Hamburger."

H.B. and Natalie could not understand why they could not be in the room with us for the surgery.

As much as I keep warning her about those two "meddlesome kids" in the house, Hailey refuses to listen and insists on loving her big brother and sister. She thinks she is one of them. They love her back.

Her first words were, "Da Da." Don't hate. Unfortunately, everything is now "Ma Ma." She has been brainwashed like the other two.

Crystal had a sleep schedule down before we left Los Angeles. Hailey has not really gotten into a sleep rhythm since we moved to Jacksonville. I have suffered the most.

H.B. broke at least five pair of my glasses as a baby. Natalie took my pens and highlighters and wrote in my books. Hailey, the new generation baby, is determined to get to my MacBook and Blackberry.

Unlike her big sister, who has only befriended our dog Lido over the past year, Hailey has no fear of the "doggy person." Their stare downs are classic. I think Lido is more scared of her than she is of him.

Haily is a little people's person, much like her big sister - so unlike her big brother.

Hailey gets confused in church. When I am preaching, she thinks I am either talking or playing with her. So she tries to talk back.  Hailey TKO'd her mother during the 8 AM service again this past Sunday. I had to work hard to keep my concentration as Crystal angrily marched down the aisle with Hailey in tow.

When I look at Hailey, I see Crystal.

On this, her first birthday, Hailey has four teeth that have emerged. And she almost has this walking thing figured out.

May the Lord grant that Hailey will grow as Jesus grew: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." - Luke 2:52 (ESV)

Happy Birthday Natalie!!!

Today is my daughter's - Natalie Marie Charles - 7th birthday.

I woke up this morning thinking about the moment Natalie was born. And the first time I got to hold her, seeing for the first time the baby I had been singing to for the past six months. If I only knew what I was starting. Now, she is daddy's living "Juke Box" that makes up a song for everything.

I am grateful for the privilege of watching Natalie growing up. She is very bright, full of personality, very talented, and extremely beautiful. Crystal and I are very proud of her and thankful for the gift she is to us and our family.

May the Lord bless her to grow as Jesus grew: ""And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52, ESV).

Happy birthday, Lee! Daddy loves you.

Happy Birthday Crystal!!!

Today is my wife Crystal's 34th birthday. In the gracious and sovereign providence of God, I have had the privilege of knowing Crystal more than half of her, at this point. And I have had a front-row seat to see her development as a woman, Christian, wife, mother, sister, and friend. Yet she is just as... No. She is even more beautiful now than she was on that first day we met at Los Angeles High School almost twenty years ago.

H.B., Natalie, Hailey, and I love you very much.

Happy birthday Sunshine!

Happy Birthday, Doc! (HBC3 - 10/08/99)

Crystal and I finally told Trey and Natalie that Shiloh Church would be voting on a new pastor. We also told them that we needed to pray hard for Shiloh, because I was one of two names that would be submitted to the church for consideration. They were both speechless. So I encouraged them to say something. H.B. spoke up, asking, "Daddy, you said we have to pray. But can we pray what we want to pray?" "Sure," I replied, not really knowing where this was going. He leaped into the air cheering and instructing his little sister to vote for "the other guy."

We were on our way to dinner. And Crystal and I were both on the phone, discussing the fact that Shiloh had just elected me to be its new pastor. When I finished my call, H.B. asked me about the vote. I answered him. He ordered me to tell them no. Then he cried for several hours. Literally. And for the next several weeks, whenever he heard the words "Jacksonville" or "Shiloh" he would cry.

I was truly worried about him and how this potential transition would impact him. I wasn't really worried about Natalie. She only only wanted to know how many people we would be able to take with us and whether Pastor Letson would still be here when we arrived. In contrast, H.B. is very shy and nervous around people. And he just began to start opening up. We didn't want a possible move to be too hard on him.

Once it was settled that we were moving, Trey began to slowly adjust. We first noticed it when he started going to be every night wearing the "All-Male Round-Up" t-shirt Deacon Bobby gave him. Later, we started noticing that he would begin his questions or statements with the words, "When we move to Jacksonville..."

Today, my family has been here for two weeks. And today is Trey's ninth birthday. He is at school, where he tells me that the whole class is his new friends. And this evening we will all attend Midweek Worship Service. But our plan is to make a weekend of it. He wants to go bowling, because we went bowling last year on his  birthday and he beat me the last game (I blame it on the bumpers he had). He has invited two new friends he has made at the church. And he even invited one of the associate pastors to come. I praise God for how my little boy is adjusting to our new reality. And I hope that he will remember his first birthday in Jacksonville as a special one.

I praise God to see over these days how my little boy is growing up. I love him and am so very proud of him. He knows that I pray that God would call him to preach the word. He's not sure about that, but he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. You see, he wants to be a profession wrestler. Don't ask. And he keeps telling me he can do both, promising that he will only wrestle on Saturdays so that he can preach on Sundays. I don't argue with him. I just continue to pray that he would grow as Jesus grew - in wisdom, and stature, and favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). And I pray that God would be glorified in his life.

Happy Birthday, Doc! Daddy loves you.

Go Natalie, It's Your Birthday!!!

Today is my daughter's - Natalie Marie Charles -sixth birthday. Soon, Crystal will give birth to our second daughter. And my household will then official be overrun by women. But I suspect that Natalie will have no "middle child" issues to deal with. She will always be my first daughter... and first diva! Our new baby will have to establish her own identify, because Natalie is in a class by herself and is an impossible act to follow.

It is with great joy that I have the privilege, along with my wife, of shaping this little "image bearer." And I also have a front row seat to watch her ongoing and rapid development. I am very proud of Natalie. And I pray that she will continue to grow as Jesus grew - in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Happy Birthday, Natalie.

Your daddy loves you little girl!