Stocking up on miracles for Oklahoma quads

THOMAS — Stunned, Rick Payne sat on the couch across from the fireplace mantle that’s decorated with holiday garland and lined with red-bodied, white striped Christmas stockings.

"Jen, there are seven stockings,” he said to his wife, Jennifer Payne. "Wow. There are seven.”

This is the same father who in June 2007 tried to comfort his wife in the doctor’s office. She was fearful of having twins. He said, "Jen, it’s not like you’re having four babies.”

Today’s Christmas celebration of Jesus’ birth marks the sixth birthday celebration in nine days — including four — yes, four — on one day. On Dec. 17, Jen and Rick’s quadruplets — Preston, Griffin, Carson and Claire — celebrated their first birthday. On Monday, son Parker celebrated his fourth birthday. Those just add to today’s birthday celebration for the Paynes.

The blue skirt beneath the Christmas tree decorated with user-friendly ornaments includes the image of Joseph next to Mary who is holding the infant Jesus.

Jen, sitting next to the tree inside their farm home near Thomas, mentioned reading Luke 2:19 last Sunday at church: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

"I thought, ‘Wow, I do that,’” she said. "I’m just amazed with the miracles He chose to bless us with.”

And then she started laughing while thinking about a framed stenciled saying that a friend gave her for Christmas this year that reads: "Lord grant me the patience to deal with all these miracles.

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