It took several days to get the basic facts together with a photograph, but we can pass along the happy news that the Divine Ms. M.Z. Hemingway (and hubby) are the proud parents of a baby Lutheran.
We have gone back and forth on whether their daughter's name needs to jump straight into the world of Google and I, as the taskmaster at this blog, have decided to simply stay consistent with female Hemingway style and use the initials.
Thus, let's say that E.P. "Eve" Hemingway was born last Thursday at 11:02 p.m. The vital statistics -- 8 lbs., 8.5 oz., 20 inches.
The baptism rites are planned, if you know the Hemingways, at the logical place at the logical time this weekend.
The proud parents sent this lovely quotation out with the digital birth announcement (meaning that the announcement was digital, not the birth):
"You showed Your mercy before I could perceive it. You came to me with Your Kindness before I could long for it. Your generosity encompassed me before I could offer thanks for it. You not only marvelously formed me in my mother's womb, but also drew me out from the womb. You have been my hope since I was at my mother's breast. I was cast on you from birth. From my mother's womb you have been my God."
-- Johann Gerhard, "Thanksgiving for Life and Birth," Meditations on Divine Mercy
And don't forget that this would be a great opportunity to check out the baby-related GetReligion.org swag at our CafePress store. Wink, wink.
M.Z. is trying to get lots of sleep. Please be patient with the other GetReligionistas as we carry on without her and, for those of you who do such things, keep this happy family in your prayers.
Feel free to use the comments pages to send your best wishes.