A Good Day

I don't know if you know this about me, but I am a huge fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines and their show on HGTV called Fixer Upper.  I love watching them transform old, dated homes into beautiful new spaces.  There are lots of metaphors for life within the show.  One of Joanna's favorite sayings is, "Today is a Good Day for a Good Day" and that's how I feel about today.

This morning, Josh was voted onto the Junior Prom Court.  I had to keep it a secret for two whole days and it was not easy.  Isn't he cute?

Sadly, I could not attend the assembly because of a mandatory state meeting in Vancouver.  I have been really heartbroken about having to miss out, but nothing will keep me away from the actual coronation on Prom Night.  I promise not to be too embarrassing.

After my meeting, I stopped at the Vancouver Target to pick up a few things for our trip to the Pizza Show in Vegas next week.  Yes, there is a convention for EVERYTHING, even pizza.  Now, you know it is true.   And in Vegas, no less.  As I entered the checkout line, a woman tapped on my shoulder from behind.  "I know you," she said.  I wracked my brain but came up empty.  Nothing.  "Do you have a foster daughter?" she asked.  Then, "Or....did you?".  I said, " I used to be a foster parent."  I truly had no idea where she was going......She smiled and said, "You were with Angie".  Oh, YES!!!!!!  I told her about Angie's recent adoption and that she was no longer in foster care.

We started talking and she said that she worked at Randall Children's Hospital in the PICU and she remembered us.  "How COULD you?"  I asked.  It has been years since Angie has been in the PICU (Thank God) and thousands of children have come through since.  And yet, she remembered Angie by name and somehow remembered me too.  She had two very busy young children shopping with her so I did not question her about how or why Angie stayed in her memory but I would really love to know.

I know enough though.  I was reminded today that Angie's journey with Sturge-Weber Syndrome and Hemispherectomy surgery has not been for nothing.  God does not waste any opportunity to show His power and grace and I believe that He is using Angie to touch lives that we don't even know about.  I have shared other similar encounters before and I don't think today will be the last.  I am grateful for the reminders that Angie's pain and hard seasons are being used for good.  She is a conduit for hope and joy and we have no idea how many lives she has touched.  We will never know.  I will never get tired of hearing stories of her impact on others and I do not think today's encounter was a coincidence.  It was a Good Day for a Good Day.

Life After Adoption

Miss Angela Hope Harris has now been adopted for 40 days.  Most things about our lives have remained the same as before but a few have changed.  One important benefit of Angie's adoption is that we are able to add her to our private health insurance and hopefully increase her access to vital medical services.  In foster care, Angie's state insurance stopped authorizing laser treatments for her port-wine birthmark  over a year ago, which are very clearly medically indicated and not cosmetic, unless you ask the Oregon Health Plan.  We could not wait for her to be eligible for private insurance.

One small detail......we are losing our access to our current insurance and must change providers this month.  Not such a big deal, except that Angie's adoption paperwork was submitted with the WRONG NAME on it and we have to wait for new documents.  Add to that the stress caused by the requirement that she be added within 60 days of her adoption and you can imagine our distress.  Why is it so complicated???  I truly cannot stand health insurance companies.  And don't even get me started on the uncertainty about healthcare created by the current national leadership.

Despite these concerns, we are experiencing unimaginable joy to know that Angela Hope is our daughter, now and forever.  Despite the hard mornings, and sometimes evenings too, the physical exhaustion of caring for a child with extensive needs, and the unknowns about her future, we could not be happier.  This child captured our hearts from Day One.  She is such a special gift.

I suspect that we will continue to experience this mix of frustration and joy throughout Angie's life.  Most parents do, right?  We have had some pretty unique circumstances, but all parents have their own challenges and experience similar emotions.  Parenting is hard, no matter how you slice it, and we are just grateful for the privilege of guiding this special girl along the way.  Thank you for hanging in there with us during the easy and the hard days......it is what keeps us going day after day.