CELEBRATION

Who would have even thunk I would have my own blog?  Certainly not me.  But, alas, here I am feeling very compelled to write my thoughts and share. 

The dictionary says that “celebrate” means “To observe a day or event with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing”. 

So this day, June 21, 2012, I feel compelled to observe with respect and rejoicing.

Rewind to June 21, 1991. It’s a day in the life of my family that changed the way we lived….one of those days where one remembers the "little" details.  It’s a Friday morning at ll a.m.   The Girl, age 10, was wearing her navy tshirt and navy and white checked shorts.  We sit in the examining room of our family doctor because The Girl just hasn’t been looking or feeling good lately.  The first order of business after the doctor comes in and hears symptoms is to stick The Girl's finger and test her blood sugar.  Yep.  258….little things you remember.   Juvenile Diabetes.  Two words that would become household words for us.   Shock.  It was as if time stood still.  That doctor took care of details and after a trip home to pack, our family headed to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital for the week.  There we all learned how to give injections, how to balance insulin and food, how “life” affects blood sugars, and how to live with diabetes.   We also learned that there are worse things than diabetes.

In the years since, “life” has not always been carefree and perfect but things could have turned out a lot worse.

Today on this day, June 21, it seems fitting to celebrate 21 years of The Girl’s living with diabetes.  So….

I celebrate The Girl for recognizing that it’s HER diabetes and SHE is the one to ultimately control it.  I celebrate her two healthy feet that can run l/2 marathons.  I celebrate her eyes that see…or at least with her contacts.  ;-)  I celebrate kidneys that work correctly.  Mostly, I celebrate a beautiful woman who is respected and loved.

I celebrate a daddy who loves his girl and who learned how to give shots and keep a clear head in an emergency, especially when the mother forgets all she learned about emergencies. 

I celebrate The Son-In-Law and the love he has brought to The Girl’s life and the joy they share.  God does provide in His time.  Perfectly.

I celebrate family members who are supportive but not nagging.  Okay, so I readily admit it took me a while to learn the “not nagging” thing.  What can I say?  I’m a slow learner.  ;-)

I celebrate a church family who lifted us up as a family during the trying times and are forever there for us in all things.  They know the experience of seeing a young lady pass out in the choir right in the middle of “The King is Coming”.  In the Sunday morning service.  (Surely the singing wasn’t THAT bad?)


I celebrate friends who always are supportive.

I celebrate friends’ mothers who made the extra effort to learn what was needed to keep the diabetes on track and learned what to do should there be a diabetes emergency.  These same mothers were not afraid of diabetes….or if they were, they never let that fear show. 

I celebrate teachers who care and take care of their students.

I celebrate doctors and medical folks who care.  Really care.  I am thankful for the endocrinologists, diabetes educators, family doctors, and eye doctors who are on the “team” and become your friends.

I celebrate medical advancements of insulin, insulin pumps, blood sugar sensors, and blood sugar monitors that only take a small bit of blood.   Oh, the advancements in 21 years!  And I could not forget Splenda, and sugar free ice cream and cakes….a far cry from that first homemade birthday cake of 1992 that made ME cry….tasted so bad and was SO very ugly.

Most of all, I celebrate a Heavenly Father who has brought us all, diabetes or no diabetes, to this day.  He has been and is always going to be a Comforter, a Strength, our Shepherd, and our Savior.  I celebrate that while we can’t see the future, He can and He holds us in His grip and will never let us go.  He promised. 

Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose”.

So, on this day, and every day to come, let’s celebrate!!!!