Let Us Be Kind...

It's that time of the year again.  The time of year when everyone feels things a bit sharper than they may normally feel them; both good and bad.  Take the time to filter your thoughts, opinions, and most certainly your tongue.  None of us truly know what others have been or are going through.  We only see what they allow us to see; and, human nature is to cover up our struggles and shortfalls.  We have no way of knowing what someone is going through in their life, but we can all take the extra step to be kind.

The golden rule is still a good rule to live by..."Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I would add to it..."and remember, you can not build yourself up by tearing others down."  This time of year, I see where we all, myself included, need a reminder about this.  Take for example, what you or others post in social media.  I see a lot of judgment being posted.  Things about Black Friday shopping, clean homes, gifts, etc.  Why does anyone feel it necessary to post something about how they keep a spotless home and don't understand how others can't?  Or, posts about people needing to get their priorities in order if they look forward to Black Friday shopping more than they do Thanksgiving itself.  My personal favorites are the posts about how sinful it is to "over-indulge" those you love with Christmas gifts, especially store bought ones; or the reverse of that, how you have it all together because you don't buy into the materialistic side of the holiday season.  There are plenty more examples I could list off, but you get my drift.  My point is: you have no idea of what others are dealing with, be it at that moment or throughout their lives, therefore, you have no business making such black and white assumptions about things and thinking you're way is the right way.

We all filter things through our own lens and that can cause problems for everyone involved.   How about we all make the choice to give others the benefit of the doubt before we become offended and strike back at them?  Take our blinders off and try to see things from a panoramic view rather than tunnel vision.  You don't like Black Friday shopping because you see it as the picture of greed and over-indulgence.  That may not be the case for others though.  They may love it because it's an annual family tradition, and it's a way that they can stretch their budget a long way on things they need or gifts they want to give.  They, as a family, may save a little bit of money back from each paycheck over the year so they can enjoy a crazy night and day of shopping and eating in the food court at 2AM.... and have fun memories to share over the next year.  You manage to keep a spotless home even though you're busy and have kids still living at home, while juggling all your work and family responsibilities on a daily basis?  That's AWESOME and we all applaud you for that.  But don't post about it in the light of "there's no reason everyone can't as well" because you have no way of knowing if that's the case or not; and by doing so you most likely just added more weight on an already over-burdened spirit, who's flame is about to go out.  Instead, why not find ways to extend help to others, whether you know they are struggling or not.  You don't want to buy a bunch of "plastic junk from China" to clog up our landfills?  Totally fine and understandable, but don't belittle someone who chooses to shop for the gift they want to bless you or someone else with because you feel you're more enlightened than they are.

GRATITUDE.  GRACE.  RESPECT.  HUMILITY.  LOVE.  Where have these traits gone as social media has taken over our society?  We all post things, and now actually say things, that we never would have 10 years ago, because we have become use to the protection of a computer/phone screen. We all need to remember though, there are very real people with very real hearts on the other side of our screens.  They feel the sting of your words, and they filter them through their own lens; and, sadly, many times it's filtered through as "you've failed yet again".  I challenge us all to actively choose kindness.  Gentle our spirits and attitudes.  Quiet our words.  Find JOY and share it with others.  Stop looking for ways we are offended and start looking for ways we can be a blessing in the lives of those we touch on a daily basis.... be it online or in person.  #KindnessChallenge

Warriors....

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and every year I ponder our family's journey.  Over the past 12+ years we've seen changes, transformations, growth, frustration, amazing advances in technology and management.... things have come a loooooooong way since my own dad was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic when I was in Junior High School (back in the day when you sharpened your metal needle before injections and a finger poke seemed to take a chunk of your finger with it each time).  The BIG thing we've learned along the way is that there is no guarantees: you can do everything precisely right and something can (and usually will) go downhill.... much like in the video up there of Gracie's AMAZING ride yesterday.  It was nearly picture perfect, right up through her last jump... the landing, however, was monumental, just not in the way you'd like it to be.  We've watched over and over to see if we could see what caused her tumble, all to no avail.  It was a near perfect jump; maybe she looked down for a split second, causing everything to adjust mid-air and her to land back in her saddle a bit too far forward causing both her and her horse to end up unbalanced and ultimately for her to end up "diving" to the ground.  But you know what?  Just like with Type 1 Diabetes, she collected herself, hopped back up, dusted herself off, and climbed right back on to her horse to finish her ride.  That is what Warriors do.... they finish well and strong, no matter the struggles they face along the way.

Most all of you know our story: Gracie was 14 months old when she was Diagnosed with T1D; a mere baby.  She'd gotten the chicken pox vaccination 6 or so weeks earlier, then ended up with chicken pox the same night her baby sister was born.  She never bounced back from that, matter of fact, she seemed to get weaker over the following 3 weeks.  She had NO stamina, and I'd find her sound asleep in the middle of the floor after playing for half an hour.  She was drinking water like crazy, eating non-stop, going thru diapers like nothing I'd ever experienced (even requiring middle of the night baths and bed changes because of it)...then one night, after finding her soaked yet again, she was so weak she couldn't even hold her little head up on her own.  Bathed and swaddled in fresh PJs, she laid on my chest for the rest of the night, sleeping, while I was afraid to lay her down not knowing what was wrong.  There were no typical signs of sickness... no fever, no cold symptoms, no sore throat or tugging at ears, nothing you look for in a baby.  Early the next morning, the doctor sent her for lab work trying to figure it all out as well.  As I sat in the exam room for what seemed like hours (but was actually only about 40 minutes) holding my limp, lethargic baby, I feared the absolute worst.  So many things went through my mind, everything horrible, but never once did I think "diabetes".  The doctor walked in, knelt down in front of me and said two little words that turned our world upside down...."She's diabetic".  The tears flowed hot, burning tracks down my cheeks.  Relief washed over me.... she wasn't dying (Well, at that very moment, that was a very real possibility had we not caught this right then, but I didn't realize that).  A week in the pediatric ICU, lots of education for Craig and I, too much to actually wrap our minds around, and she was sent home.  A new "normal" had begun.  A new life full of testing, injections, counting and monitoring everything she ate, monitoring all her toddler activities, no longer able to sleep through the night again due to multiple night time testing, poking her tiny baby fingers to get drops of blood numerous times a day... all just to keep her alive and healthy.  Within a few months we'd fallen into a new "normal" without really realizing.  A normal that entailed learning to roll with the punches on a daily basis, learning to finally understand that change is to be expected moment to moment, and that once you think you've figured it all out, you'll be thrown for a loop again because maybe it's a full moon and that's going to cause blood sugar issues (yes, believe it or not, it actually does.  Just ask any T1 parent).  Over the next decade however, we rode the ups and downs and adjusted with every rolling change and tweak that needed to be made.  We made it through the toddler years, the pre-school age, all of early childhood and just about into the teen years.  Ebbs and Flows of T1 can be rough and each phase of life has it's own challenges.  We were preparing for the challenge of T1D in the teen years, when we once again heard those same two little words that would cause our world to upend itself yet again....

Last fall Sarah (16 years old) hadn't been feeling all that great since recovering from walking pneumonia earlier that spring.  We'd treated each symptom as they appeared, not really giving it much thought, but she just wasn't fully recovering... matter of fact, she seemed to be getting worse.  Off to the doctor again.  The doctor agreed that something was up, so she ran some lab work.  Like me, she was expecting to see results showing inflammation issues; she was blindsided when she saw that Sarah was actually T1D.  That was not a phone call she wanted to make, but make it she did...."Dawn, I don't really know how to say this; I'm completely shocked myself.  Sarah has T1 Diabetes".  WOW!  How is this happening?????  I could almost feel a physical slap across my face as those words hit me.  My mind started spinning; only this time it wasn't with unknowns, it was with all that we actually know about life with T1D and how on earth was I going to tell our sweet 16 year old daughter, that with just 2 little words her life was forever changed.  I texted Craig who was a footage with Sarah at that particular moment.  We let her blissfully enjoy the game.... no reason to ruin a sweet father/daughter date.  But when she asked me at dinner if the doctor had called, I knew there was no putting it off.  I had to tell her the truth, "yes, she called.  I'm sorry sweetie, but you have T1D."  NO NO NO NO NO NO.... that was all she could say as the tears flowed freely.

Here we are, over 12 years down the road from Gracie's diagnosis as a baby and over a year on this same journey with Sarah as a teenager heading into life as an independent young lady.  I'd be lying if I told y'all that it was pretty easy to deal with all this, that we just keep chugging along as normal.  Our normal is not what most others would say is a normal life.... but it's a beautiful life.  We choose to keep our sense of humor in all of this, to not drown in self-pity (which can be a challenge some days), to stay very real, and to support and encourage others through their own challenges.  Our life is about numbers, and trust me that can be a challenge in and of itself.  Craig nor I have truly slept thru the night in over a dozen years, as we are up checking on the girls every couple of hours.  If you think that is overboard, think again.... T1D kids can easily slip away during night from low blood sugar that goes un-noticed till morning.  Packing for a day trip (let alone a vacation) is no small task with all the extra things you must bring along "Just in case".  Not to mention all the extra stops along the way for much needed bathroom and snack breaks (T1D kids drink more water than "normal").  A simple cold or virus can easily land them in the hospital.  iPhones are not indulgences, they are medical devices and lifelines.  Sleeping in isn't laziness, it's necessary at times due to being up for hours in the middle of the night managing blood sugar (which one reason I'm so thankful we homeschool and have the flexibility to adjust our school day schedule easily).  Normal?  It truly is only a setting on my clothes dryer.  But I LOVE my life and my role as a T1 Mom to two amazing Warrior Princesses.  They battle to stay alive and healthy every single day.  They face every challenge head on with the confidence and knowledge that God is 1- in control, they aren't and 2- God knows what's going on because He is the Master Architect of our lives and has a perfect plan according to His perfect Design.

That video up at the top is the perfect example of life with Type 1 Diabetes.... smooth sailing, everything going as planned...then BAM!  You get thrown for a loop.  What you choose to do at that moment sets the course for the rest of your journey.  I hope we all do what Gracie did; Get back up, dust ourselves off, and finish the ride with grace and courage.

 My two Warrior Princesses with their two four-legged encouragers ;)

 Even after a rough ride... it's best to get back in the saddle and finish your ride strong :)

Sisters... readings like this are a beautiful site to behold.  Too bad they don't always look this perfect ;)  Funny sidetone: you know you're a T1D parent when the words "are you high?" come out of your mouth, directed at your teenagers, on a regular basis.... and you're talking about their blood sugar, but people around you truly give you the strangest looks when they hear you ask that so point blank.  Seriously funny EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.