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Childbirth is a horrible thing. It hurts. It is long. It is pain I could only imagine. I looked into my wife's eyes yesterday during her labor and I saw her pain. I learned last night how strong of a woman I married. Thank you Lord for Christa Lynn Payne. She gave birth to a son early this morning at 1:44am. Christa endured through it and I saw and heard her hurt. I would have taken the epidural last night had they offered it to me. It is a horrible thing to watch your bride suffer. It is a beautiful thing to watch your bride seek strength, determination, mercy and energy from the Lord and to push a 7 lb 5 oz baby out of her body. She did amazing things. God be glorified. We prayed to be one in Christ last night and He answered us, He delivered us.
Pipsqueak is Elliot Pierce.
We prayed and sang and cried and yelled and ate popsicles through yesterday afternoon, evening and into Friday morning. Praise God for His faithfulness, encouragement and deliverance, for sinners, to children He loves. His steadfast love endures forever. Last night, we pleaded for Him to be present in our room and He was beside my laboring wife and me. He will never leave us or forsake us.
I grabbed my dad at 2:30 this morning in the hospital hall and weeped. I realized more than ever, through God's delivery of Christa's delivery of our little one, my cup is overflowing from the love of my two Fathers. God the Father, who delights in His children and my dad, who has given his life to family. I am overwhelmed by Dad's love for Mom and us kids as I realized last night, my rich love for my beautiful bride, and son.
I love my pops.

Baby Eli is good. Mom is great. Dad is simply overloaded with good things in this life. We are abundantly blessed.