Twenty-three years ago today my life
changed forever! Arriving in all her
delightful glory, Courtney Debra MacLellan came into our lives. We were in the relatively obscure town of
Vermilion under the care of one of the most experienced gynecologists in the
area; and complications arose. Debra was
rushed into surgery and I was left wondering what was going to happen. And then it happened!
The nurse came out of the OR holding a
bundle of blankets. She said, "You
have a baby girl. Do you want to bathe
her?" Well bathing this little girl
took on a whole new meaning a few years down the road, but right then I felt
like I was holding the most precious article in the world. Bundled tighter than a bug in a rug and
holding her close to my cheek, this little girl took to my nose like a leaky
nipple.
A few hours later we were able to introduce
Courtney Debra to her Mom. She arrived
looking perfect with an identifiable birthmark that mirrored one that I
have. This was my baby girl. And so the journey began – the incredible
journey.
The first real diaper change was an
event. I did not know that human waste
looked like that. Fortunately her mother
was able to calm my racing heart. It is
the strangest thing, but some of the greatest laughter in those days happened
on the change table. With her head back
laughing and her feet extended in the air, Courtney learned a new praise and
worship song entitled: Clap Your Feet All Ye People. And oh, those bath times. What a joy!
Every Saturday night I got to bathe the
girls. Afterward, which proved to be
prophetic, I'd get to do their hair.
Sitting on the vanity, wrapped in a warm fuzzy towel, I'd ask Courtney,
"So, ma'am, what color do you want your hair today?" Green or purple was standard fare. Then we’d blow dry that hair – something that
has happened a myriad of times since – flipped under, not over!
And then almost every night just as she was
tucked into bed, she heard this hope and prayer, "Courtney with God's help
you're going to be a godly woman."
How God has blessed me that I would see the day when that prayer has and
is being answered. From the time
Courtney would sit on our couch during family worship time, pretending to read
(Saying, "Va, va, va, va, over and over again) to today, as she drenches
her mind in the riches of God's Word, she
has had a capacity for Truth that is truly a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Courtney is beautiful. We all see that. But she's beautiful on the inside. Courtney would give her most precious
possession away, in a second, to someone who needed it. She loves children. Children cling to her like magnets. I think one reason that she loves the movie,
The Sound of Music. She is the mirror image of Maria. This sober, quiet little girl comes alive
with children. Actually she comes alive
with anyone she knows well – especially around 9:00 p.m. Courtney
can bring laughter into a room, in minutes.
And when she launches into her unique dialect (called Court-an-ese) and
starts reciting her made-up stories, like penguins
going to Africa, she morphs into an amazing character.
From her youngest days, she reflected order
and beauty. That was obvious. But one more thing that it obvious about
Courtney, if you know her, is her love for dogs. Her favorite puzzle? Dog.
Her favorite move: The Incredible Journey! (That video nearly got wore out!) Courtney's a dog girl. Her sharp photographer's eyes don't miss very
much. She can spot deer that most people
will drive by. She can shoot a .22 like
a marksman. She can hit two gophers with
one shot; and she can shoot a wedding that will bring years of memories to the
surface.
Well Courtney, twenty-three years of
memories can't sit on one page, but girl, it's 10:10 (inside joke)! I just got one more thing to say, "With
God's help, you have become a godly lady." It doesn't get better than that! Happy Birthday! I love you.
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