5.30 p.m. August 8th, 2003.

Amelia Jasmine was born to our daughter Amanda and her husband John (Southwell) at 1.30 pm today, Friday August 8th! She’s very beautiful! We – Amanda and John, Jan and I – had a little prayer at the hospital (Mitcham Private in Melbourne) asking our Heavenly Father to make sure AJ’s guardian angel continued to do a good job!

You ladies will want to know: a.. How did the labour go? OK, though we haven’t got the full story yet. Waters broke at 2 am this morning – eventually a caesarian. No sleep all night and all today for either Amanda or John b.. Her weight? Dunno, she hadn’t been weighed when we left the hospital an hour ago – probably nearer 8 lbs than 7, lovely black hair, and when Jan and then I cradled her, she sucked her fingers, and was very content! c.. Who’s she like? She has the good looks of both Amanda and John: and (as I said to John) she doesn’t look like a new-born monkey at all! Beautiful skin texture. d.. Is she healthy? Everything seems O.K. She opened her eyes especially when Amanda talked, and her eyes also responded to light and shade… For those of you in Melbourne: visitors are limited to 3-4 pm and 7-8 pm each day – and brief visits please… Thanks!

Thanks for all your prayers.

P.S. Jan’s just home from the local shopping mall to buy a few pink outfits!

Rowland Croucher