A full life

I took Rachel and Robert to Walmart for a quick errand. There were free pony rides for kids to help promote their business and Relay for Life. I have always loved horses and have had a few opportunities to ride one. 

I was reflecting on how happy Rachel was to ride a pony and how all my kids have had that chance (except for Rebekah, of course).

 At first I couldn't remember when Hannah got to ride a horse, but then remembered that she did at the Iowa State Fair Summer 2012. Hannah loved animals. Shortly after Hannah died when went to the Phoenix Zoo for my birthday. I struggled at that time wondering how can heaven be better for Hannah then going to the zoo with her family. It's hard to imagine how wonderful heaven is.

So I continued to reflect on Hannah's life and all the things she got to do in her short time.  She got to be the baby of the family, adored by her two older siblings. She also got to be a big sister who loved Rachel. I think about Rebekah and how Hannah must of meet her in heaven and probably knows her better then we know Rebekah now.  I did preschool activities with her and we went to the petting zoo at the pet shop a lot. She played at playgrounds, snuck in Hailey's dance class and danced a little bit (she also run up on stage during rehearsal and had a few seconds in the lime light). She sang songs to me like Ole' McDonald and I am a Child of God. She had favorite books that she learned to repeat. She had a lot of preferences and favorites. She was friendly and learned independence too. She didn't sit with us at church very often after we had Rebekah because she wandered around and find someone else to hold her. She knew how to overcome challenges like her speech limitations. She got to spend a lot of time with both sets of grandparents too especially the summer of 2012. She was loved greatly which is the best thing to be.

Sometimes I think about what she won't be able to experience and lost opportunities and it makes me sad. But then I remember that she had a very full life and most of all she was happy. She found joy and love here and I want to be like her.