NTM

James 1:2-5 (NKJV)

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Since we arrived in Florida in July 2007 we have been able to take advantage of the Florida Healthy Kids and Medicaid programs for our children’s health insurance.  Having these programs available has saved us hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars even though our children have been healthy.  But, each year when it is time to re-apply for the program we question if the benefits are worth the hassle.  You would think that the process would get easier each year, as it should be simple process of re-submitting income information. Well, it never is.  First you fill out the original application and return everything that it asks for, then you receive a letter stating that you did not submit enough information (even though you included everything asked for).  Normally Alice handles all of this, for the following reasons:

1. She worked with HICEAS in New Hampshire so she has experience dealing with Medicare, health insurance, and government agencies.
2. She is home and “has more time” to fill out the forms and compile the information.
3. She has more patience dealing with the process and people than Jack does.

So this year as usual in late July/early August Alice began the process, again assuming that it would be easier this time since it is our third year in the program and our income has not gone up.  Little did we know that it would take until almost October to get through process.  Combined we have spent at least 40 hours filling out forms, waiting on hold, and being passed from person to person and, sometimes, agency to agency trying to make sure our children have some form of health insurance.  To be honest, we really thought it was never going to happen.  Finally, we were told today that our children are covered, of course, we will really believe it when we actually have insurance cards and paperwork in hand since this is the second time we were told we were covered and the first time the person was wrong.

We can relate to Solomon when he says many times in Ecclesiastes that is all “vexation and grasping for wind”.  Thus the title of the post.

Seriously, thanks for praying.  And yes, there should be a prayer letter upcoming in October.