Welcome back!

Tom-

About four years ago, on our way back from California, Tom informed me that he felt the Lord leading him into medicine. Shortly there after he enrolled back into central to complete some undergrad. Today,   he is in his 2 year at PNWU studying to be a doctor. He is the President of CMDA (Christian club) on campus as well as the student body treasure. Needless to say, he is doing fantastic!

Stephanie-

Our amazing teen daughter, Steph, attends running start as well as beauty school. She is 17,drives, and is my social butterfly. No boyfriend yet...Thank the Lord!

Sunshine-

She is our beautiful three and a half foster daughter. We picked her up the day she was born and have had her ever since. The case has been awful, but she is worth it! We have a fundraiser going to raise money for the lawyers that represent her. Afterthree years of up and downs, she needs permanent and we intend to fight for that.

The "core four"

Nick, Nate, Marchek and Hailey are doing great. Because of our new location and the numerous moves ahead of us, we decided to homeschool. Not only am I enjoying this, the children are bonding more and more. Each morning we open the Bible and read together Gods word as well as discuss it. This is the most precious hour of the day. 

Prestley-

She may have been a "whoops" to us, but not our Lord. This little one year old was quite a surprise but has brought so much joy to our family. Nick refers to her as his birthday baby because they share the same birthday; of course she belongs to him (: super cute.

Jess-

As for me, I am getting used to my new life in a new city. No more farm, animals or close family. I am trying to be the best mother and wife I can be. I think I am doing ok. Last year Tom and I lived apart during the week and that was hard. Having him everyday has been worth the move! Even if it is just weekends and nightly dinner, I am thrilled to have that man next to me every night while I sleep. Life is good.

Summer 2011

i am making a new commitment to keep this blog spot fresh. ( = life at the Hanna house is very good and very busy. Tom is now on his second year as a youth director and attending Western seminary. The salon is in a new location and flourishing! the kids are growing like crazy and we now have two new kids. one, Stephanie, is a forever child. On her 13th birthday, Tom and I signed adoption papers to officially take steph into our Hanna clan. The cute little baby in the pic is baby mason. we have almost had him for a year and soon he should be moving into his forever family's home. yay for adoptions!!

The month of June we moved out of our house to have it gutted and completely redone. the clan moved into my parents garage... eeek! it wasn't as bad as we expected. in July, Tom was a speaker at a camp, where we lived in a pull trailer. I loved it! the kids loved connecting with the campers and I read a ton of book! the camp was in Mazama, Wa and in the middle of NOW WHERE! it was so peaceful!

Nick and steph both had birthdays. Nick is now 5!! I cant believe that. steph is 13... we are now the proud parents of a teenager!! scary. She is an amazing young women. keep our family in your prayers because everyday we need God more and more.

13 Days till Christmas!

Happy Holidays! I hope all of you received a Christmas card, if you didn't....I am sorry. This season just snuck up on me. Usually, I am very good about Christmas; the shopping, newsletter, decorating, etc. Not this year. Here it is, 13 days 'till Christmas and I just got the tree up! I feel so behind.

For all of you who are wondering who that cute little baby is I am holding in the Christmas card, that is baby Mason. We are fostering him. He came to live with us when he was two weeks old. He is so precious and growing way to fast. All the children love him. Everyone gets to feel "big" and helpful with him around. The kids take turns putting his binky in his mouth, kissing his head, taking his diapers to the garbage as well as dirty clothes to the wash. The boys are learning to be gentle, while the girls feed their desires to be little mommas. I sneak peeks at the girls pretending to feed, burp and bath their baby dolls just like I do with baby Mason. My heart is so full of happiness just seeing what I have not taught them but what they have "caught" from watching Tom and me.

A lot has happened since last years Christmas letter. I will give a brief update since I was unable to write one this year.
In June, Tom graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelors in Business Administration. It was not the best time in the economy to be graduating college, but our God being very good, blessed us with Tom's ideal job! He knew that God was calling him into ministry and a local job opened! Not to mention at a church with the most amazing people and Godly leaders. We could not have asked for anything better!

I should back up a bit... In late March, we brought home two wonderful boys. Tyrell and Da'Sean. Having them so close in age to our babies, the mix was a little much. We did feel very overwhelmed but God taught us a lot in the patience department as well as stretching our parenting skills. The boys stayed through the summer into August until they moved to their forever families in Seattle. I am so thankful they were placed in our home so that through people knowing us, were brought to an amazing family that will adopt them!

Tom did a summer internship at a church in Yakima. He enjoyed the experienced, as I just survived it (= He was gone majority of the summer, as where I was home with 6 kids going a little nutty. heheheh! I was sent a friend that helped me through. Thank Heavens!! My friend introduced me to running and reintroduced me to myself. I think with all the kids I lost "me" somewhere along the way. I realized that I needed moments of recharging to get me through the tough spots.

Thankfully the summer went fast. It took me leading as a camp councilor up at Malibu Younglife, for God to quiet me and work on my heart. He renewed my spirit as well as showed me His heart for people. He helped me understand why I went through experiences in my past, why I have fought with depression and showed me His love story in my life. When we returned home, I was not only a better wife and mother, I was ready to be a "help mate" to my wonderful husband.

October was a blast and ended too soon. Marchel turned 2 right before November hit as well as my 25th birthday. 25... that was a hard one to swallow. I cried most of the day. Thanksgiving was truly a time to reflect and be thankful. Thankful for family. We spent Thanksgiving at Grandfather's and Grandmother's. Grandmother went all out! it reminded me of the first Thanksgiving I spent with them. It was before Tom and I were married. I had never had a thanksgiving like it! It was so special. The only thing different about this years dinner was... well, a lot more kids, but Nick threw up on me! OH, one to go down in the good memory file!

Now it is December. Christmas is approaching as well as a new year. I try to be brave as 2011 is close, but I can't help but be a little sad and scared. Years go by too fast and life is like a roller coaster of change. I lost a Grandpa in June and will shorty be losing another. I can't help but want to freeze time. Freeze in this season of happiness and joy, freeze while all my loved ones are here, freeze my babies just the way they are still small and innocent and thinking Tom and I are the world.

I may not be able to hold off change and pain but I can be very thankful that I have a best friend and partner that God has given me to be married to as well as the promise that one day he will make all things new and there will be no more pain or sorrow. Until then, I WILL SAVOR EVERY MOMENT WITH ALL OF YOU AND CHERISH IT FOREVER!

A Much Needed Update

It is October. My last visit with you was back in March. A lot to be written in the chapters of this blog. At the end of April we welcome two wonderful, yet extremely challenging, boys to live with us for two weeks. Two weeks that turned in to five months! It was the biggest challenge of my life, but we did it. The two boys are now living in Seattle with their forever family.

Tom started his dream job in June at Calvary Baptist Church leading youth. He literally started working the moment he graduated ( = In this economy that is a huge blessing. The job included a mandatory internship, a half an hour south of where we live, and the hours we around the clock everyday. Needless to say, I barely saw him. It was a rough summer. But, I was very productive! I made a new/old friend, assisted in the building of a cool tow structure for the clan, took up running, and painted a chick coop which now is inhabited by 8 laying chickens!

I am very thankful the summer is over and fall is here a long with Tom being home. The kids are growing faster than I can keep up! Nick started Pre-School and can sound out words. He is so smart and full of random facts. He knows a majority of the roads people that are special to him live on. He also knows what road he lives on.
Nathan, is fiesty as ever. total boy! rough, tough and always into something. His thing now is to ask a ton of questions. After dinner Tom will read a Bible story to the kids. Nick has learned the "Christian kid" answer for all the question "God or Jesus...can I watch my movie now?" Nathan on the other hand will act like he is not listening but can give the "real" answer to about everything we ask.
Marchel is very tall, about the size of Nathan, and very assertive. She is a total woman! She loves to carry around a purse, talk on a pertend phone,pain her nails, carry around a baby, change her own cloths, clean her room, put her own shoes on and take care of her little sis Hailey. It is crazy how grown up she is.
Hailey is so quiet and sweet... to people she doesn't know. but at home she is a chatter box and can say just about anything you say... she prides herself on better speech than most. She is very tiny and so cute. Right now she is going through a biting stage that has lasted a few months. I have tried just about everything I have been told to try and she still continues. I am not so worried when it is her siblings as I am about getting reports back from the daycare about who Hailey bite today. ( = she is a really good girl, she will grow out of it.

The other night I was home alone with the kids and everyone was sleeping but Haily. I scooped her up and brought her on the couch with me. after she fell to sleep I started to look at her little chubby toddler hands. they were so small and delicate. I started thinking about my role as a mom and everything I do or lack. one thing I realized is I lack praying for all the kids futures. I sat there on the couch with my little baby and her beautiful hands in mine and started to pray for everything I could think of. I prayed for each of their future soul mate. That they would be so deeply in love with each other and the Lord. I prayed for health and blessings, that God would smile when He looks at them and their families. I prayed that God would bless our family for generations and generations. I claimed promises made to Abraham, Noah, and David. But most of all I begged for their salvation. That my children would come to a point in their lives where the see their great need for their savior. I begged and continue to bag for their lives to be claimed by our creator. Claimed by Him to be used for Him and to spend eternity with Him. That is the only thing I truly, truly desire. That will be the mark of being a successful parent.

She Speaks

Life feels like it is spinning again. We are coming up on a new chapter of our life. Tom is finishing college and has job applications out from Washington to Connecticut! Our adoptions will be finalized in two months and if the need to move comes we will be prepared. Tom has been called to ministry and is ready to go where ever God calls him. He is even praying about military and becoming a chaplain.
Whatever happens and where ever we go I know God is there and God is good. But selfish humanity rises in me as we come closer and closer to graduation. “where do I fit in” and what is my calling?” yes I am a hair stylist and love that profession! I know there is more for me; a greater calling if I just trust God, listen and DO! I haven’t been. I have been scared to try something new. God is gently moving me. I have a disk in my back that has squished my sciatic nerve. Hair is becoming more difficult to do. I am 24, this is not suppose to be happening!
This weekend the family and I were driving home from visiting my grandpa on the west side. I finally broke down and cried out to God. “where do I fit into your plan Lord?” “ what can I do to further your kingdom?’
Proverbs 31 ministries penetrated my thoughts. I have heard the add on K Love many times but never checked into it. I grabbed my phone and checked out the web site. She Speaks Conference info popped up. It talked about writing and speaking. This is exactly what I love doing. Writing and speaking to big groups. I have often dreamt of being a motivational speaker to encourage people to rise up for Christ.
I am putting this in my blog because there is a scholarship available. So, if you are reading this and if you are from the scholarship of She Speaks, I would be a great candidate. I love Jesus and desire to further his kingdom. God is moving me and bringing the desires of my heart to the surface. I would benefit from this immensely! I am a go getter and a do’er . I would love the opportunity to explore and grow God’s gifts He has given me.

Thank you

PS
The Kids are getting huge and doing wonderful!

CHRISTmas Spirit

What is Christmas Nick?

"Christmas is when Santa brings presents to celebrate Jesus birthday!"

We didn't even have to explain that Jesus is the real reason for Christmas and not santa, Nick just put the two together!


Christmas was beautiful! We really felt the true spirit of Christmas this year. If you recall a few blogs ago about when a man with a white beard bought us dinner after our children called him grandpa, well that same man dropped off gifts for the kids at the shop. How nice and an extreme surprise!
Also, the family that bought all those boxes of food for thanksgiving.. Well they also adopted us for Christmas. There were so many presents it was crazy! Our tree was overflowing! It was so fun opening gifts, we had no clue what was in them. We felt like kids again! Our kids opened and opened until they lost interest and just wanted to play with the toys. Tom and I took the liberty and finished opening.
Christmas was really nice. It wasn’t all the gifts. it was just one gift. The reason we celebrate. I look at my children and cannot even fathom giving one of them to a people, that in comparison to God are smaller that ants, which spat on in his face and His creation. I don’t understand, but am very thankful that He did. Thank you Jesus!

The labor of Love

Why does God referrer to his love for us like a parent? “Abba Father” means daddy. And why is it that the moment we first look on our child we understand. We get a glimpse of His goodness and grace… We get a peek at His unconditional Love. We start to understand the meaning of kindness, patients, self control, Joy, and servant hood.
As I watch my four children grow, I realize we are born lazy and selfish. My one year old has discovered the word “first”! As My husband and I unbuckle our boys from the back seat, they start yelling “First…I’m First” Every morning I think, ‘How do I teach them the Love of Christ and His selflessness. When will they understand to be first you must be last and to lead you must serve.’
There is something miraculous that happens when you become a parent. It feels like a leap closer to God and understanding. An “Ah Ha!” You start living your life the opposite way from your past. Every decision is to make your children’s life better; even if it means giving up yourself. The decisions we make sometimes hurt us deeply, but they are decisions we do to keep our children safe, healthy and most of all we do it in hopes they will see Jesus in us! We work harder than we ever thought we could. We physically drain ourselves to ensure their well being. We freeze on that cold winter morning to warm up the car just so our babies don’t shiver. When they hurt, our hearts break and when they fear we will move any mountain, cross any boundary just to comfort them and tell them “momma’s here, everything is ok.”
Middle of the night, like clockwork, one of my children starts crying for us. Our laziness and selfishness is out the window and we leap to the cause. We scare off monster and fight off dragons while losing the last two hours of sleep before the morning rush starts.
God is full of Grace! He allows us to get a glimpse of his love for us through our children and our unconditional love for them. He allows us to break free, if only in spurts, the chains sin has locked us up in; the chains of selfishness and laziness.