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Yesterday was a difficult day for me. I got word that my friends Charlie and Ali lost their infant daughter Cate because of complications after heart surgery. This was very hard news for me and Candyce to take. We both cried together in the kitchen.

Compassion is a mysterious gift that ties people together. Last week, Charlie wrote in his blog that when he woke up in the hospital room and looked out over the city and watched cars scurrying through the streets as people move on with their lives, unaware of the pain and uncertainty that consumed his life.

It seemed like I would be a bad friend to Charlie by writing about something as trivial as cars, music, or stuff about remodeling a house. Whenever I got the urge to write, I instead clicked over their blog to get updates. What started out as a sign of solidarity became something I never would’ve predicted. My heart became heavier each day, and I continued to check for updates on their blog I needed them to comfort me through all of this. Its seems ridiculous and backwards, I know.

This morning was the first update since Baby Cate passed way. You should read the whole thing yourself, but here are some thoughts that Charlie shared that meant a lot to me:

About priorities…

You know, we always have enjoyed our children, we make it a priority of our family, but with Cate’s passing, there is even a more renewed sense of the day to day. To literally slow down, to listen when they talk, to play paper dolls, and to shoot spider man webs all over the room. And so that is what we did, we enjoyed the beautiful gift that God has given to us, what we call our family.

About hope…

We have learned that hope is not based on a certain outcome. That hope is what gets us through everything. Just because the prayers of many were not answer in the particular way, that we thought they should be, doesn’t mean that WE, all of us, should give up HOPE.

About solidarity…

We love you all so much and thank you for journeying with us, and running this marathon. The race is over, and Cate was victorious. We all win that way. We do ask that you remain, Hope Filled, with us as we stand together, plus many, minus one.

I got word from my friend Darla Hickman that young Cate Cantrell died yesterday in the hospital. Thank you all for the prayers and support that you’ve offered to her family.

Today is my first Father’s Day. Although our baby girl isn’t born yet, I absolutely know I am a dad. It’s a complicated emotion to explain in something as crude as a blog, but those of you who are fathers know exactly what I am talking about. I love it.

I am writing this from lovely San Diego, California. In years past, this weekend has marked the beginning of two months of fun at the beach. But this year Candyce and I decided to stay in Phoenix to get our lives ready for the baby. It’s our first child, and we want to be sure to get this right.

I am infinitely grateful for my father’s help in remodeling my home. He drove across the country in September of last year with my brother to kick off the whole project. Then he came back again around Christmas and helped me make more progress. Then during his visit last week, Dad helped me get very close to finishing the project. There is still some minor touches to complete with lighting, the bead board ceiling, and some drywall repair, but the major work is complete. Dad’s the man. He’s such a good father.

Dad flew back to Georgia on Thursday the same time as Candyce and I came out here to San Diego. I am actually really excited to go back to Phoenix so I can admire the finished product. I actually live in a nice house now. I doubt a newborn baby will appreciate it in September, but at least there will be no dust or scary-as-hell power tool noises haunting her first months on earth. Instead, she’ll listen to Coldplay, Matt Maher, Postal Service, and maybe the PG version of Lil Wayne’s new album.

I am writing this while I watch the final day of the U.S. Open in Torry Pines. We went to Open yesterday. I imagine I’ll write more about it later this week.

My multi-part series on The Real World was interrupted by real life:

1. My wife and I found out that we are going to have a daughter. This will add even more sweetness to my house.
2. The family is in town and it was shallow to hide upstairs and write about television.
3. The Suns are in the final games of the season in a very tight Western Conference. I have to watch each game because this is what fans live for. By the way, the Suns spanked the Spurs in San Antonio earlier this week.
4. It’s tax time. I’ve spent several unexciting nights this week organizing my home office trying to get my paperwork in order.

In an comical collision of items 3 and 4, I read this article on The Onion this morning:

Tim Duncan Offers To Do Taxes For Entire Spurs Team

SAN ANTONIO—As the playoffs grow nearer, Spurs center Tim Duncan has taken it on himself to ensure his team is focused, relaxed, and utterly prepared for tax day by offering to complete their state and federal forms himself. “C’mon, guys, just a couple days left in the regular season, and you know what that means—get your W-2s to me as soon as you can, plus records of any memorabilia sales or shoe endorsements you’ve done, and just as important, tell me about any deductible expenses you’ve incurred,” Duncan told him teammates during a time-out with 3:40 left to play in the Spurs’ 72-65 win over the Trailblazers Sunday. “Tony, I bet you put all your receipts in a shoebox again, didn’t you? Manu, tell me if you’ve been sending more than 37 percent of your income overseas, because that’s a whole different set of declaration forms I have to print out. Okay, got it? Break!” Duncan later disclosed to reporters that he paid over $865,000 in late-filing fees for the 2007 Spurs.

Wow. Today I got to hear my baby’s heartbeat.