I guess it's about time I mentioned the twins. Not mine. Pastor Tim Hallman's. And Tara's. Can't forget Tara's role in this. The twins were born January 5. Tim and Tara already knew they would be boys, and had even announced it in church. They were born healthy, and now bear the names Levi Matthew and Isaac Timothy. One Old Testament name, one New Testament name.

Tim is the oldest of four brothers. The youngest brother, Ben, died over ten years ago from an illness. Then, a couple of years ago on the Sunday after Christmas, Matthew was killed by a drunk driver. He was on leave from the Army at the time. Very, very tragic. Levi Matthew is named after him. Two out of four brothers gone way too early in life. Now here are two new boys--not replacements, by any means, but more than enough joy to go around.

Two years ago, we had a baby explosion at Anchor, with six babies born within about two months. All born healthy, all in two-parents homes with good parents. Tim and Tara, I think, led off with the birth of Emma. In an ice storm, just like her two new brothers.

I remember when my brother Rick was born. I was about 8. He was there when I came home from school one day, and Mom showed him to me. I remember being very happy about it. I went outside and kicked a ball around--kick it in the air, go catch it before it lands. I was very good at that. I did that for a while--I remember that distinctly. But I don't really remember why I was happy about Rick's arrival. Maybe it was because I knew Mom was happy. Whatever. Maybe I was just happy that Mom was home.

Tim was in church yesterday, though he had arranged for somebody else to preach. He said he hadn't been getting much sleep. People chuckled. He said he had been changing a lot of diapers. People chuckled some more. Yes, his life will never be quite the same.

As for me--I'll stick with my cats. They both came potty-trained.