A Memorial and Raising Awareness...

Our family will be attending the annual memorial service for patients of Doernbecher Children's Hospital on Saturday. We are able to take a few items and pictures to display. I've heard that the service is nice. I know a lot of people weren't able to attend Hadley's service because of the crazy weather so, if any of you would like to join us I'll post the information for you. Please keep our family and all those who are attending in your prayers as we grieve for our sweet children together.

Doernbecher Annual Memorial Service
Honoring and celebrating the lives of Doernbecher patients who died from March 1, 2008-March 1, 2009.

OHSU Auditorium (Old Library Building)
Saturday April 4th, 2009
2:00-3:00

Parking adjacent to the Old Library Building
refreshments will follow in the Great Hall.



April is going to be a difficult month. A lot of anniversaries. Stevie's diagnosis and death. Hadley's diagnosis and surgery. I suppose that it will just be hard for a while. I don't need an anniversary to remember what has happened...what my girl endured...how broken my heart is. She is everywhere and that is both comforting and heartbreaking at the same time.

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month!!! You can order the gear you need (HADLEY is pictured in GROUP 1) here: http://www.cafepress.com/btwallofcourage . All the gear was made and the store is maintained by a fellow Brain Tumor Angel Mom. Please help us raise awareness!



I long to hold my girl, smell her hair, hear her laughter, experience her magic and just live this crazy life by her side again. It's weird the things I miss. It's been SO long since someone has called me "Hadley's mom". For years I was introduced and referred to as "Hadley's Mom". Her spirit was so big that she didn't belong to us. We belonged to her. It was obvious. The boys were HER brothers, Brandon HER dad. Everywhere we went people knew her and smiled and laughed with her. We were her entourage. I miss being "Hadley's mom". I guess I forgot that I actually do have a name. I like "Hadley's Mom" better.

Please be kind to each other. Find joy. Make magic. Find reasons to laugh and smile. Hope...always HOPE.

Angela

MySpace Comments

Make Cool Breeze Comments at colorarmy.com

Re-Opening Sale!

http://www.marykay.com/angelafox

I've re-opened my Mary Kay website. I'd love to get back into the swing of things and thank my past and current customers for hanging in there with me over the past several months by offering 25% off EVERYTHING! And, as always, FREE SHIPPING and a few other exciting FREE offers to choose from as well. http://www.marykay.com/angelafox/whatsnew/freeoffers/default.aspx

If you haven't checked out Mary Kay lately you're missing out. They have completely updated and freshened up their look. Check out all the Beauty Editor's picks MK is currently boasting!!! http://www.marykay.com/angelafox/content/company/pr_beautyeditorspicks.aspx

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Thanks!!! =)

I will subtract the 25% before proccesing your credit card payment. If you prefer, you can also mail a check. Either way I'll send you an email with your total final total. =)

Keegan on Woodrow Wilson.

Keegan's Woodrow Wilson Research Project.

Beating Odds...

Nine years ago today I married my first true love. He is my rock, my soft place to fall, my shoulder to cry on and my friend responsible for reminding me when it's time to pull myself up by my bootstraps. He has trusted me to be his wife, the mother of his children and the manager of our family. He has been an amazing father and provider. I am so proud of him.

When I married this boy of mine he was just that, a boy. We were young. I was 21 he was almost 21. We had no idea the storms that were waiting for us. No idea. Oddly enough the 'sermon' in our wedding was about those who choose love and are willing to sacrifice for it. Not all love stories are a fairy tale. This boy of mine became a man that I adore even more than the day I married him. He has chosen love so many times. I am so grateful.

On a side note, I refuse to believe that this love of ours isn't a fairy tale kind of love. Every fairy tale has a tragic element. I refuse to give up hope for our happily ever after.

I love you Brandon. Thank you for sharing this crazy, wonderful, awful, beautiful life with me.

Angela

Time Lapse...

Keegan (2 1/2), Liam (11 mos.) and Hadley (4) in October, 2004.




Liam (almost 5), Hadley (8) and Keegan (6 1/2) October, 2008.



I love these kids so much. SO much. Hadley has taught me so much about life and love, strength and gentleness, perseverance and peace. She lived her life with so much beauty, grace and love. She never stopped amazing me. She amazed me up until her last breath. No, she continues to amaze me. She always will. My boys keep me going. I get out of bed and face a nearly unbearable amount of pain every day because I love them so much. There is no way I could ever contribute to their heartache. I have committed to living my life well in honor of my girl but, I am reminded every day that my boys are the ones who need me. They need to see me living and enjoying life to it's fullest. I am afraid. I am terrified. I am heartbroken. I cry. I am sad. BUT, I WILL live. I WILL love. I WILL enjoy the life I've been blessed with. I can't let this grief overwhelm me.

Brandon and I will celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary on the 17th. I loved him so much when we got married. I had no idea how much we would face. How much we would grow. How much our love would grow. He works so hard and then is expected to give so much of himself at home. We have literally spent hours a week with him for the past few months. His work schedule is such that he stays overnight at work several days a week. On top of his 48-72 hour shifts he's been there on his 'days off' as well trying to get caught up from all his time off with Hadley. Then he has a basket case for a wife and two boys who need more from him now than they ever have before. I have leaned on him for help with things that I have done on my own for our entire marriage. He has been so strong and so amazing. I don't know how he balances everything but, he has and I am so thankful and proud. He loves me so much more than I deserve.

Tooting my own horn...

kind of. Pretty sad that I've lost 21 lbs and still have SO far to go. But, I'll take the progress. =)




And...before anyone asks I've been sticking pretty closely to Tosca Reno's "Eat Clean" and have been working out/running several times a week. =) I hope to be a thinner version of my former self by summer. =)

Shamrock Run

Hello friends,

I just wanted to check in with everyone. Just 13 days until the run. Are you ready? I'll be 'training' till the very last second. *oy*

If you haven't done so already remember to register. You can do that here (scroll down for the registration form):

Don't forget!!!

Team Name: Hadley's Gift
Team Leader: Angela Fox

https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=NM2V8K7


Also, if you are planning on attending please send me a message here: HadleysGift@yahoo.com

and let me know:

if you have more than one family member participating (how many?).

Which event you're participating in.

if you'd like to meet for lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery afterward.



Thank you so much for helping our family remember and honor our girl and raise money for Doernbecher. Keep pushing yourselves. =)

With Faith, Hope and Love,
Angela Fox

www.HadleyFox.com