Sunday in the toddler room, there were only two kids! Wooh, it was so rough! The three of us in there could barely handle it! Anyways, during the story, I asked them if they knew how much Jesus loved them. Joshua said, "I love baby Jesus this much!" and he opened up his arms as far as he could. Then Savanna said, "I love baby Jesus this much!" and then she opened her arms up as far as she could. They continued to repeat this taking turns. It was almost as if they were fighting over who loves baby Jesus more! It was so precious. It's so awesome to see how kids show their love to God.

That was a completely different situation than when I watched 15 1-4 year olds on the 12th. Cela watched 13 5-12 year olds, and she had it just as bad. We were essentially on our own because we divided up the kids. I truly could barely handle it! Yet, I don't know how I would have been able to without the older kids that love to help - Katelyn, Jennah, Isaiah, Adi, and Katarina. They wet paper towels and toilet paper to make wipes. They did all they could to help. Once again, they each wanted a turn to make a wipes for me - I could never say I had enough - until each of them made me one. Poor babies (Annah, Melissa, and Eliana) that had to suffer through so many cold wipes everytime their diaper was changed!

Praise You Lord for giving gifts to Your children and using people of such young ages to bless me and help me. They are awesome and it is so evident that each of them are wonderfully and perfectly made!

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted last. . . . . .

Well, a lot has been happening. Probably too much to talk about all at once, but I'll try. On Christmas Eve my sister was saying that she had been having contractions for the past two days. Chris and I took her to the hospital (because they were SO bad)! We found out that she was almost 3 cm dialated, but because she didn't change during the four hours that we were there, they sent her home.

She wasn't able to sleep all night because they were progressively getting worse and they were coming every five minutes. At 7:30 Christmas morning, she insisted we go back to the hospital. She said, "Either this baby is coming out or they are giving me some strong medicine because they are 10x worse than they were last night. I had no idea that it could hurt this bad." Well, she was then dialated to 4 cm so they called her doctor and had him come in. (Her doctor was out so guess what his replacement doctor's name was - Dr. Seymann - pronounced semen). :) Well, I guess he's in the right field! Anyways, they soon gave her an epideral, I guess it's about 9:30 about. Then they broke her water at about 10:30. I went home about eleven because she was just going to sleep for a little bit so she would have energy later. At about 1:00 Chris called me and said, you better hurry, she's going to be here in 10 minutes! Well, I got there and there wasn't a doctor or even a nurse in the room. But she was dialated to a negative 2. The RN had thought that she was just going to come out without any pushing. Sarah was pretty well off, but she did have to push - for a whole 25 minutes! She lucked out but she was still in pain. I must say, it was a beautiful thing to experience, and the miracle of birth is truly that - a MIRACLE!

After little Lilia came out at 2:12 p.m. Christmas day, she started crying and then all of a sudden she stopped. When she came out she started crying so fast that some of the amniotic fluid went into her mouth, and she swallowed a lot of it! She started turning blue and I think 7 nurses came in all surrounding her and taking the fluid out of her. It was pretty intense and scary, but I don't think we really understood it at the time. I just kept taking pictures. So, they took her up to the Neonatal ICU and watched her there for about and hour, hour and a half. We found out she was 5 pounds 14 1/4 ounces and 18 3/4 inches long. She is so tiny, but perfect and complete.

Ever since then it has been bonding time with everyone! She has already starting to show off and showing some expressions. She loves having her arms straight up and stretching. She is such a good baby so far. She hardly cries, and yet it is still kind of hard to claim as a cry - it's so quiet. She is so tiny that the shirt the hospital gave her fell off of her shoulder and her arm came out of the sleeve. Anyways, she is a huge blessing, and my whole family is so happy that she's healthy, sweet, and SO cute! Well, I better get more rest so I can spend more time with her tomorrow!

\Fa"vor*ite\, n. [OF. favorit favored, F. favori, fem. favorite, p. p. of OF. favorir, cf. It. favorito, frm. favorita, fr. favorire to favor. See Favor.] 1. A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor; one treated with partiality; one preferred above others; especially, one unduly loved, trusted, and enriched with favors by a person of high rank or authority.

Thank you Ben for the link on your blog.

So, is it really bad to have favorites? Hmmm. . . I have a lot of favorites, and really, the more I start to get to know a particular 'youth', they become one of my favorites. It's really not that hard. Yet, I do have favorites of my favorites. (sshhhh) Yet, each of us are God's favorites. We can each say He favors us with partiality (it's called mercy). So my philisophical argument is:

God has favorites.
We are God's favorite.
Other's are God's favorite.
Therefore, We can have favorites because they are God's favorites too.

We are each the apple of His, He keeps us in the palm of His hand, He knows the number of hairs on our head, He loves us. He really loves us.

My (daughter), pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:20-27 NIV

Sometimes I think it would be really nice for God to say, "Hey, pay attention Hannah to what I am saying." I would probably obey Him a little more, I would definitely have less questions on what His will would be. Yet, it might seem a little harsh if He did it too often. It's just for those faith building moments . . . . when you have to take a risk. . . . and really trust that you heard His voice. . . . and that it's time to be obedient. Yet, this is why I need to keep my eyes looking straight ahead, gazing them at the Lord. I don't want to stumble or fall. So, sometimes I'll take the easy road, sometimes I'll take the hard road, but hopefully it's the road that I will be able to look to Jesus for His help, strength, perserverance, and endurance to help me through it all.

At times I have wondered: am I dedicated more to the toddlers than the youth? I have realized that I talk about the toddlers with the youth and I hope they don't think I love the younger kids more than I love all of them. But then I realized, it's not like I can talk to the toddlers about the youth. They wouldn't be able to follow or understand the concepts of the different ways in which the youth bless me. I have realized that I enjoy both ministries so much and that they both bless me immensely. I enjoy seeing the toddlers grow into their little persons and personalities and the different things they learn about God. I love hearing 5 or 6 kids pray over the snack. I loved when they remembered that Jonah went to Ninevah (that's a hard word to say). I love when they all participate and listen to my 15 - 20 minute story / lesson. As for the youth, I love seeing them worship, and I love seeing the way that some of the S.A.L.T. youth really do step up - like Jake Roessler when it comes to Darian, Zach, and so many others, and Joanna with all she does with her letters and planning of events, and Liz, Lindsey, and Kristen with the way they are so dedicated and always willing to step up and serve, and Jake Mullins with how diligent is is to clean the church, no matter if he feels like it, and James with his heart of worship.

I have realized how much I love my Alpha group. It's awesome to see some of the girls open up. Each week, there are a few things that are constant:

Kristen - prayer requests for her Mormon friends and for a puppy.
Sarah G. - prayer requests for her friends (there's always a spiritual battle)
Danielle - always ready to read God's word, usually the first to pray of the youth
Emily - always has a laugh attack, and then makes Kristen join in.

There are some gifts that I have seen in them and that became obvious to me last week when we were talking about the Holy Spirit:

Emily - intercessory prayer
Kristen - children
Sarah - compassion
Danielle - definitely has one, but can't think of it right now (might edit later)

Some of the other ways that the "sparatic" girls have blessed me:

Melissa - all of her questions of truly wanting to understand the Bible; her concern for the lost in other religions
Kelly - her curiousity and spunk
Megan - her love for people and animals (Lord please be with Megan's and keep Kelly's ferrets from running away)

Lord, thank You for my Alpha group and the girls you had Ben place in it. I ask you Lord to continue to be with me and Kerri as we lead and show us the things You would desire for us to teach and discuss with the girls. I ask You Lord to open us all up to share our trials and failures as well as the way you use us and help us overcome. I love You Lord.

Damian and Darian - they are cool kids. I needed help to bring in groceries yesterday. They were talking to their friends, but I let them know that I needed their help. Without finishing their conversation, they stopped and came outside and then brought all of the eggs in. They have also helped me out in the toddler room. It's great when the different ministries you are in can mix together like that. They serve - and I love that they help with Super Church and it's kept on the down low.

I have also served with both Kristen and Lindsey in the toddler room as well. They both have the gift of children - if that makes sense. They totally bless me. I love being able to see the kids serve - and wholeheartedly!

Last night at the Renaissance, there was only 3 kids. At snack, I asked them if anyone wanted to pray. Addi said she did, then Kyndahl volunteered, and then her older sister, Bailie, said she wanted to pray too. So, they all prayed. It was awesome because the two sisters prayed for all of the children in Phoenix Children's Hospital and everyone that's sore. That's awesome! I think I am going to pick an organization like that to start praying for.

Hmmm. . . why did Jesus tell us we need to have the faith of a child?