Saturday, March 20, 2010

Seasons

Yesterday my children were outside playing in t-shirts.  The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the smell of spring was in the air.  The earth had that smell of coming alive.  It was calling to me to start turning the soil. 

Today I awoke to a totally different scene.  As I looked out my window, large white flakes greeted me. Snow in mid-March doesn't phase me usually, but after having a wonderfully warm and sunny week... I could do without the white stuff!  Of course our younger dog and my youngest child had a blast playing in the snow.  I joked earlier that the five year old doesn't know she's supposed to be upset about snow on the first day of spring.  She had a blast playing outside with both dogs. 

I'm not sure what's more unpredictable, the weather or my blood sugar.  I think I'm going to have to go with the weather, at least for this week.  I've been doing good at predicting my highs and lows, though I should be testing more than I am.  As I look forward to next week when it will warm up again, I am reminded that everything in live has a season (reason). 

There's a reason that I have diabetes.  I'm not positive what it is yet, but for now I feel that it's education and advocacy.  Today I received some fliers that I had requested from the local ADA office (unfortunately about 3 hrs away).  I plan to pass these out at craft fairs.  I will have my own items plus I will have items separate to raise money for the ADA.  I love talking to others and educating them.  I also really enjoy talking to children with Type 1.  Even though we each have a different condition, there are many similarities. 

Last year what participating in the Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes, I met a 13 yr old boy with Type 1.  During out conversation he said, "It's so nice to hear someone else talk about carbs.  Everyone talks about calories."  I replied, "I know.  I don't care how many calories are in something.  I need to know how many carbs."  We hit it off and spent the rest of the walk talking about diabetes, carbs, and life.  He shared with me a glimpse of his life.  A few times I thought I saw his mom smiling at us as we talked. 

As a parent we try to reach out to our children and let them know we understand what they are going through, but it isn't always easy.  I remember as a child my mom telling me she understood and had been in my shoes, too.  I remember yelling at her that she had no idea what I was going through.  Looking back now as a mother with two of my girls in their teens and three more following oh too quickly, I suspect my mom wasn't as far off base as I thought she was then. 

As I was talking to this boy, the age gap became smaller.  I wasn't an adult telling him that I understood even though I wasn't in his shoes.  Even though I'm not insulin-dependent, we had enough of the same issues where he knew I really did understand. 

In honor of the changing seasons, even though weather-wise it went from spring to winter even though according the the almanac it went from winter to spring, I was thinking of this song and though I'd share the lyrics.  We all have a purpose in this world that God has given us.  We might not know what it is, but He does.  Trust God to show you your path!

The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!

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