What should I be learning through this?

Today is Sunday and I'm at home with Hannah. This obviously is rare for us. She is coughing and sounds as though she's coughing up a lung. Now it's funny to me because just a month ago she was doing the same thing and I took her to a walk in clinic. The doctor said it was allergies and put her on a medication. She did great with that medicine. Then all of a sudden, it's happening again. I've been chalking it up to teething...but now I'm starting to wonder.



Even more interesting to me is that she was never ever sick until we moved to Florida. (The doctor told me, "welcome to Florida.")



So as I sit at home on a Sunday morning with a cranky baby, I'm wondering, "what should I be learning through this process?" Is God trying to teach me something and I'm just not getting it. Or is it simply what happens with children....they get sick sometimes. It is so difficult to "not know." Should I take her to the doctor, is it teething, will it just pass?



Somehow in my mind this parrallels with our faith walk. There are those times when we just don't know. There's the popular saying, "when bad things happen to good people." And they do just happen sometimes. There are those times when it is simply life. However, I'm learning more every day that there are those times when it is a "spiritual thing." God is calling us (me in particular) to a deeper walk. There are issues in my life that I have previously labeled as "just the way it is." Now I'm sensing God saying, "No, Keena - it is a spiritual thing." All of a sudden, I find God helping me through my daily walk like never before. Does that mean it is now easier. No way, in fact probably that much more difficult. But I sense that it's all going to be ok - because God is with me.



That doesn't necessarily answer my question about what to do with Hannah. But when the dust (or snot in our case) settles...there is still a God who cares for us on a daily basis!



Just my simple thoughts on this Sunday morning.

Getting Started

I attempted a blog a while back but quickly gave up. I'm attempting the blog this time to help family and friends keep up with our life. So allow me to catch you up. Hannah is now 19 months old. I can not believe it. It seems like yesterday we were walking into the hospital on that cold January day and trying to figure out which one of those cries were from our baby. I remember it like yesterday. David looked to me and said, "Do you think that's her?" Yes, he already knew the cry of his child. Soon we would hold her and life would change instantly. So, 19 months later here we are. We just recently celebrated our 1st Adoption Day - which is August 10. It was a fun night with our friends - the Waddell family and my parents who were in town! It was emotional for me remembering that one year ago we nervously stood before the judge praying everything would be ok. I remember hearing our Bishop (Bishop Tim Brown) and our pastor (Pastor Jimmy and Sheila Dickens) sniffling (sp?) their tears along with us. What a special time in our lives that was. How we miss those families.

Why do we miss those families - in case we've not talked to you in a while? We moved to Florida. It was a hard transition, but we know God directed our paths. I still grieve over our move, but know that we're in the midst of God's will. We have a great youth group that have accepted us and opened their arms and hearts to us.

I was reminded of that very though last night at our first youth lock-in. Yes, I know I've publicly stated my disdain for lock-ins and I still do not like them.... But I went. And Hannah went!!! I took my 19 month old child to her first of probably MANY youth lock-ins. I put her to bed at 8 like normal and then got her up at 10 to go to our lockin. She was awesome!!! She thought it was the greatest thing ever. I was reminded how good God is to us when I saw different kids on their knees rolling a ball to my little girl. I saw them playing with her while she pushed her doll stroller around that gym like she was 15 or 16. I just stood back and watched at how good God is to us. These youth have not only embraced David and myself - but have embraced our daughter. That is the most important thing to me. When I made her leave with me at 2:30am - she was very frustrated at me!! She was going strong and not fussy at all!!! (The next day has been a challenge thus far - but we're making it!!)

So that's where we are - enjoying life and all that God has blessed us with!! Stay tuned for my updates on this crazy life of ours!!!

This is our neighbor Bree. She used to go to Hannah's pre-school and then we found out we're neighbors!!

Hannah and Bree pushing their strollers down our sidewalk!!