Music To My Ears...

Wait... what day is today?  As I was writing my students' assignment on the board today I realized today was the 14th... and then it hit me.  Today was Mia's check up with Dr. Sargent (plastic surgeon).  I really dreaded the appointment today.  Not for normal reasons, but because I knew I would have to wake Mia early from her nap, drive 90 miles an hour to Erlanger, wait a REALLY long time to see Dr. Sargent and then see him for 1 minute or less.  Aaaannnddd... so it happened exactly as I said.  I felt a little guilty about feeling this way, because it sure was a huge improvement from those previous appointments where we heard she had to have surgery, or the one where her scab was ripped off her head.  Yes, it could be worse.  However, entertaining a 1 year old in a waiting room for an hour and 10 minutes and then another 25 minutes inside a 8 x 8 room is certainly not fun and games.  Drew could not go with me to this appointment because he was still in school, but I was able to slip away and take her.  Drew woke her from a very deep sleep and she was not to thrilled about it.  But, the car ride was very quiet as she just laid her head on her carseat as I weaved in and out of traffic to hurry and get us there.
After the long wait, Dr. Sargent and the entourage waltzed in the door.  After the normal exchange of asking about her progress, he squeezed her head and remarked that the contouring was perfect and growing beautifully.  He was pleased with her incision and gave her the medical thumbs up.  Then, he said those words... 5 words I have been waiting to hear for a very long time.  "See you in a year".  I almost felt myself saying, "could you repeat that... I just want to hear it one more time."  But, I held back.  Instead, I just let it dance in my brain.  Music to my ears... music to my soul.  I wanted to break out in a showtune version of "Looks Like We Made It", but I could literally hear Mr. Manilow begging me to let it go.  Instead I settled on a big smile and a sweet kiss on Mia's $60,000 little head.  Worth. Every. Penny. 
When we got home Maddie and Drew celebrated our year long release.  As Maddie prayed her prayers tonight, she remembered to thank God for "Mia's good news".  Such a precious heart. 
As I watched the two of them wrestle each other on the floor tonight I couldn't help but think about this journey we have been on.  When we found out we were having a little girl, I began to think about names.  The name "Mia" had stuck in my mind, so I decided to find out the meaning.  As I pulled up the search result, I knew God had given me her name.  "Mia- means 'wished for child'".  After infertility and a miscarriage, God had decided to bless us with our wish... our hope.  So, Mia Hope was born and she changed our lives forever. 
I titled the blog "Journey of Mia Hope" and my has it taught me a lot about hope.  I have learned to place my hope in Christ and let Him do the rest.  I think 1 Corinthians 15:19 says it best, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."  I am overjoyed that my hope is not just in the world... and I am thankful that this journey taught me that.