On being a dad (x4), luck, life, 12 grandkids!

I am the luckiest man alive and I reflect on that a lot. Life. Is. Good.

Driving home with the girls tonight, we saw the lake at a distance and I said, "Girls, what's that through the trees?" Lucy quickly replied "Our lake! It's huge! Like huger [yes, as in um, 'more huge'] than the whole world" I smiled and said, "It's certainly large and there is a lot of water in it but our lake isn't as big as the world. What are those big big bodies of water called? You know the blue ones your world maps?" Lucy replied "Bodies of Christ".

Laura is doing something right but maybe I'll recommend she add a 5min break between geography and religion to her syllabus. :-)

I share that story and announce tonight with great joy and excitement that God has chosen us to raise and care for yet another one of His creations. Yes all P&B blog readers, Andrew-and-Laura-Baby #4 is about 4-5 weeks along and will be 5-6 weeks along as we prepare for the birthday celebrations of next week Claire (1) and Lucy (5)!

Our baby #4 makes A FULL DOZEN grandkids for the Cookes [wow. when did THAT happen!?] and the FIFTH for the Merkel household!! I apologize to all extended family in advance for this Christmas 2012 but we will not be traveling for the holidays!

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we keep blooming in our young marriage, family and faith!

God bless,

Andrew for Andrew, Laura, Lucy, Molly, Claire, Stone & ???

ps. let the 2012 Cooke Gender & Name Games officially begin.

pps. Laura, stop posting memories on that dumb Fb website and get back to this family blog. Starting with those adorable wedding dress pictures! xoxo.