Can anyone ever be too prepared?

My dad is a master packer. He can fit more things into a suitcase or trunk than anyone I have ever met. I can not remember a time when I have been on a trip with him that he wasn’t prepared for anything: wind, rain, snow, or sun, you name the circumstance my dad was prepared.

I have done my best through life to adapt my dad’s skills of preparation to my everyday life. Although I probably spend way to much time calculating the outcome of life rather than letting life happen, I still try to be prepared for all that life throws my way.

“My wife is pregnant” I tell people excitedly. They usually respond with one of the following comments:

• Be prepared, it will change your life.
• Get some sleep now, because you won’t get any soon.
• Get ready because everything is going to change.

I know that I have no idea how much my life is going to change in the next few months. Something tells me that the hints that various people have been dropping will fail in comparison to the reality of what will take place when Alexis is born.

How do you prepare for a life change this drastic?

Over the last few days my wife has been very sick with all the symptoms of a common cold: sore throat, head ache, body pains, stuffed up, etc. I have done my best to wait on her and take care of her. But lets be honest: it hasn’t been easy. I wanted to do my own thing: read, watch sports, etc. Being up all night or waking up from a deep sleep to get more water is not my idea of fun.

Wait a minute, did I just type all that? Having a sick wife for a few days is nothing compared to having a child to take care of for a lifetime. Being prepared for a baby seems like somewhat of an oxymoron but today I am grateful for the small reminder of the the things to come.