Hanna Turns Six and I Think

Hanna's birthday was a few weeks ago and in the days since then I have been thinking a lot about her, and about life, and have generally been overcome with all kinds of emotions.  There is exactly a week between Hallie's birthday and Hanna's and in that gap I went down to Texas to be with my family there and help out any way I could.  The juxtaposition of going from a birthday for an eight year old, to spending a week with my dad, aunt, and uncle who are all now grandparents, and my grandmother who is 95, and then rushing back home for the birthday of a six year old made quite an impression on me. 

This is what I do, 

and so I do it. 

not sure if I am good at it,

I know surely I'm not bad. 

and this is what I do and so I do it. 

Those in my care can be noisy,

unpredictable,

and at times might even

appear

to be broken. 

But what I have is mine 

and I will always claim them.

When all of it comes crashing down

and there is more than I can hold

I tell myself once more,

this is what I do

and so I do it.

I do it not for glory

or acclaim,

and for this job

few will praise my name.

But this is what I do

and so I do it. 

I love you Hanna, thank you for giving me a job to do every day. Sometimes I think it is too much of a job for me, but then you are always there with open arms, and open heart.