Hannah

Today we celebrate the arrival of our sweet Hannah four years ago. She came into the world as a "little petunia" (as Dr. B commented just after she was born) and has grown into a beautiful, dainty, sassy, helpful girl. This morning the first thing she said to me was, "Mommy! I'm four, now I can go to school." Oh boy. Hannah has been such a wonderful, feminine addition to our family. Since she was born it has been all about pink, purple and all things princess (I have had nothing to do with this, of course).

This is how she beams when we sing Happy Birthday to her.

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A long, long time ago, before we had kids (was it really that long ago or does it just seem like it?), I knew that we would someday have a daughter named Hannah. I didn't know when, but I knew it would happen. I was praying one day, feeling left behind as my two best friends from college were getting pregnant and Shad and I were not even to a place where we knew if we wanted kids. God showed me a story in the Bible (I Samuel chapters one and two) about a woman, named Hannah, who was praying a similar prayer to me. She had gone to the temple to pray, to pour her soul out to God. She was barren. She was praying so hard that her lips were moving but no words could be heard. The priest thought she was drunk. But when she told him she was praying to God for a child, the priest told her to "go in peace and may the God of Isreal grant you what you have asked for." Later she conceived and gave birth to a son.

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When I read that passage, I knew that God was telling me that I would have a child. Not necessarily when I thought I should, but by His timing. It gave me such peace that I didn't worry about when and if it would happen. I was pregnant within the year. Of course I did not have a girl, I had Josh.

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We had to wait awhile for our little girlie to come along and when she did, we didn't have a name picked out yet. We had it narrowed down to Hannah and Alyssa. I don't know why I couldn't decide when I already knew what it should be. So the morning after she was born I told Shad that we should just name her Alyssa. You know how you make a decision but you know it's the wrong one from the very get go? This was one of those times. I filled out all the paper work for her hospital pictures, all except the first name. I could. not. write the name Alyssa. I never called her by that name either. I called Shad at home with Josh and told him her name needs to be Hannah, not Alyssa. He said he didn't care he just wanted me to pick one already. So Hannah it was. It was so easy to write that name on the picture form. And I looked into her eyes and knew she was my sweet Hannah Elizabeth.

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One of my favorite bible verses is a quote that Elizabeth said to Mary when she went to visit her just after Mary was visited by the angel that told her that she was going to be the mother of Jesus. Elizabeth said,

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"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." Luke 1:45

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It is a wonderful reminder to trust God even when you allow yourself to doubt whether or not you were hearing something from God. He talks to us, if we listen we will hear what He is saying. And what a blessing it is when we believe it. I know that it was just a name, but sometimes you have to start with the smaller things to be able to trust Him with the larger ones.

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Shad and I are so thankful for our Hannah Liz. Four years ago she came into our lives all pink and pretty and she has not stopped amazing us with her big personality stuffed into such a dainty body. We love you Hannah and are so proud that God has trusted you to us.

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Happy 4th Birthday!