Date

Kiddo A is now in a support group for other adopted kid's who are struggling. Two hours every Thursday for eight weeks!! Guess what that means??!!!

Weekly Date Night!! 

We've been to the same place all three nights...we sit and eat pizza, relax and chat! Ahhhhh!!

Reach Out!

We are in a book club for adoptive parents and this is one section of the book. It is right on!! So thankful for the friends who've stuck close, even though they don't always "get it!" For a time we kept to ourselves, and even now sometime we find ourselves going there, but the isolation was almost our undoing.

If you are in this, or a similar situation, you have to reach out! Surround yourself with support....it is not easy, but it is vital.

God in Action

God in Action

Sitting in foster/adoption support group. Seeing Foster Parents loving on kiddos that are not biologically theirs...ranging from 3 weeks to teens...kiddos they've just met or have been advocating for weeks, months, or years.

God in action. Loving and shepherding.

I saw kiddo (age 11) walking with her brand new foster sister (age 5) to show her the layout of the church. Walking quietly side by side the younger girl's body seemed to tense almost imperceptibly and instinctively the older girl placed her hand reassuringly on the littles shoulder, just for a moment, as they continued to walk thorough the foyer. It was beautiful!

God in action. Calming and reassuring.

Foster mom counting the time between feedings and preparing a bottle. Foster dad picking up 4lb baby, with great care. Bottle, kisses, cuddles.

God in action. Feeding and protecting.

Foster mom helping bio-mom through the process of getting her life back together. Non-judgmentally talking through choices and actions, advising, caring.

God in action. Forgiveness and discipleship.

Celebrating with a family who just had their final court hearing!!

God in action. Adoption!

Humbled by these folks and so many others there who allow the Lord to work through them; to love as Christ loved us and to be GOD in ACTION!

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!