One of my favorite scriptures is found in James 1:17. It reads, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” God has blessed my husband and me over and over again with many perfect gifts for the past 31 years. One of these gifts is the births of our three children.
Today our youngest daughter, Hannah, turns eighteen. Wow! Eighteen years! Where has all the time gone? The events of her life are like a blur on a fast moving rolling coaster. Treasured memories of her first steps, her first hit in T ball, her first cartwheel and back walk over in gymnastics, first time to ride a bike without help, reading words, laughing, her first kitten, first date, driving a car, leading 4-H campers, graduation, and much more.
On the afternoon of July 27th my husband and I walked into Cox South Labor and Delivery per orders from Dr. McCorcle. Hannah, soon to be born, was nearly two weeks past the expected delivery date. Like her older brother and sister, she just did not want to come out. Regardless, the condition of the pregnancy had progressed to the point that Hannah had to join us. The doctor decided it was time to induce labor.
We were taken to a room. The nurses set up intravenous tubes, monitors, and such. While waiting for the doctor, Steve was a bit stressed. He made a few phone calls. He paced the floor. When the nurses came into the room, he teased them unmercifully. He laughed and talked. He was so funny! He was nearly a basket case!
When Steve was quiet, we could hear our baby’s calm steady rhythm of her heart beat. It was amazing and a miracle. When the amniotic fluid (water) was broken, Hannah’s heart beat raced. “Listen to the increase in heart rate! She knows something happened!” Steve said to Dr. McCorcle. He replied, “Yes the babies do know. We will have to wait awhile, but it should not be long now.”
At 11:37 pm Hannah arrived. The nurse brought Hannah to me and put her in my arms. As I observed the contours of her beautiful face, I realized, again, God had entrusted us with another beautiful gift of a child to nurture. At this time, Hannah was placed in Steve’s arms and Dr. McCorcle stood beside Steve and me. As Dr. McCorcle took my hand he said, “You have a beautiful daughter and two other children. You are blessed with a beautiful family. Take good care of them and yourselves.” We were so grateful to him: He had taken good care of us through three pregnancies.
During the short hospital stay several people came to see the new arrival. Big brother, Chris, and big sister, Stephanie showed up wearing huge smiles. They had waited along time for the arrival of their little sister.
Papa and Meme (my parents) as well as Papa and Grams (Steve’s parents) showered the baby with hugs and kisses.
It says in Psalms 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” It was a great time of rejoicing.
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