From Manhattan to Manhattan

people's lives change forever within seconds every day....and so did ours on Saturday, October 8, 2005. We just arrived in New York with our best friends Chuck and Sarah for vacation. Times Square, David Letterman, Broadway, Statue of Liberty....a week packed full of fun and wild adventure. Little did we know that meant in Manhattan, Kansas instead of Manhattan, New York. Chuck and Sarah and David and I went to our rooms to freshen up. And in that small hotel room of the Super 8 the happiest moment of our life occured. I never will forget the cell phone ringing over our laughter and excitment. The words "hi Joy" followed by the look on David's face I knew the moment had come.....God said it was time. Our daughter, Hannah Grace, was born the night before on Fri., Oct. 7th at 11:40 pm. She was born at Mercy Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas weighing in at 6 lbs. 5 oz. and 19 inches long. We couldn't get there fast enough. To say we were speechless is an understatement....just ask Chuck and Sarah.....oh wait, they were too!! We jumped on the next flight which wasn't until the next morning. In the meantime, we hit Times Square with a vengence to get souveniers and outfits for our daughter. The rain came, we were ALL soaked but I know David and I didn't care. We ate at a pizza place and there was a couple with two small children and they wished us well on our new life. Sarah and I ran a marathon up 7, yes 7, flights of stairs to buy an outfit for Hannah from the original Macy's. We were the last ones out of the entire store.....just another fun memory to add to the LONG list for Sarah and I. I still remember laying there in that hotel bed that night, staring at the ceiling watching the hours go by. In those quiet intimate moments, I laid there wondering if I was ready and how in the world would I know what to do for the million and one things Hannah would need me to do. God really does have a delightful sense of humor and uses it at the most perfect times. We had arranged for a driver to take us to the airport and it was a long, white stretch limo. For those of you who were at our wedding, we zipped away in a short, white volkswagon bug.....I had thought my honey knew limo, ha ha. We laughed AND cried all the way to the airport starting the most precious phase of our lives. Sleep still would not come for another two days.......