Dear Nathan

Dear Nathan, 

Today is such an amazing day for you!  Your adoption day!

I am going to let you in on a little secret…I don’t really like to hold babies!  But you kiddo, were special. From the time you were a squeaky little guy, I loved to hold you.  You are just the sweetest little one.

As I held you, I would pray for you something like this: “Lord, please protect this precious little one. Father, I know you love him more than any of us can even imagine and that You desire the best for him. I take comfort in knowing you are already working out your plans to give him a future and a hope. I just want to ask Lord that, if you think it best, he be able to stay with this family you have given to care for him.  Lord they love you and they love him. I feel like this is his best opportunity for him to be nurtured, loved, and to learn about you. Lord if you see fit to have him return to his biological parents please be with him as he grows, nurture his heart, keep him safe from the traumas of this world. Lord, bless this boy, help him to grow into a man with a tender heart towards you and others. Amen” 

Nathan, when I heard the news that your parents were going to be able to adopt you I cried BIG and HAPPY tears. I got on my knees and thanked the Lord!  He knew, Nathan!  He knew your needs even as a tiny infant and He continues to know your needs now as your grow and He want the best for you.  We may not always understand his ways, but He is a good God, He can be trusted, and He loves you so much Nathan! 

May you always know how loved you are, you were chosen.

Continued prayers, Ms Hannah

Thoughts about church being closed on Christmas

I've spent many holidays and "family times" in the hospital caring for patients and their families. I always counted it an honor as I know so do many of my colleagues!  I am surrounded by people who give up time their families every holiday" nurses, social workers, EMS, doctors, ES folks, those who deliver food trays, with a smile...!

LOTS of people work holidays, it is part of life. It is only once every seven years or so that Christmas falls on a Sunday, adding pastors, deacons, musicians etc. to the list of those who work. This infrequency is why what I heard/read was so upsetting to me. Church staff complaining about having to "work" on Christmas as it takes them away from their family!

Wait...what? Really?

Is it too controversial that I want to say, "I've worked to save lives many a holiday...now it's your turn!”? Geesh – for you it is half a day, plan around it and Get. Over. It. You have a job that provides great flexibility and more family time than most. Isn’t it a ministry of service to others? Christmas on a Sunday!  It feels like this should be viewed as a beautiful opportunity to show God's love, and what better day to serve than the day we recognize as the Birth of Our Savior?!


So, when Christmas doesn’t fall on a Sunday do you work?  I don’t see many pastors/church staff visiting the sick in the hospital and certainly none of them have visited my father in the nursing home…not once!

And you know what…I am too annoyed to come down from my soapbox right now – so I am going to stand up here with my hands on my hips for a few more minutes and just SMH!

Addendum: Obviously, this does not refer to all church staff. Some folks actually found it a blessing to be there.

Pay-It-Forward Gone Wrong

We had to run to Aldi. As we walked in we asked A to get a cart and noted how cool it was that someone had put quarters in the carts and left them for people.

A half a minute later here comes A, flushed with excitement, showing us the quarters he got from locking the carts!

Haha! When I explained why they were unlocked he, with only a hint of reluctance, ran back out and put the quarters back in to unlock them.

I let him choose a treat for being so willing to do the right thing and B and I got a good chuckle!

Good day, busy day!

Good day! Snuggly puppies, court for D, Merry  Christmas Beaver - Star Wars: Rogue One, Some shopping, FaceTime with Dad & Mom, pick up A, rush make a dessert and pack a box for NY, Post Office on time - delivery date 12/24/2016 - High Five, Christmas Party at D's (it was over when we got there because the kids were so excited that they started it at 3 instead...okay!) Boys playing monkey in the middle football, laughter, family picture!

High Five!

I

Great visit with D!! Best we've had together in a very long time.

We thanked him for such a good visit and he said, "yeah, and I didn't even lie this time!" #FistBump

Woot woot, baby steps!!

As we walked to the car we just chuckled and recalled Christmas Eve 2014. We were visiting a church because we were too embarrassed to go to the one we'd been going to...

As we were getting ready to leave we complimented the boys on their behavior and how they were able to take cues and really work on being calm etc...

We were about to leave the lobby when D spoke, in his loud excited tone, "Yeah, and I didn't even steal anything!" We rejoiced with him and gave him a high five despite the odd expressions around us!

Am I Confucius?!

While someone was in time out, they decided to help us redecorate by picking at the paint! Who knew you we had so many cool and colorful layers?

Every time I walk by the new design I see Confucius!

(Our mounding on the left, Confucius on right!)

What do you think?