Glasses

Yesterday, I started my work day doing what I always do. I take my glasses out their case, clean them and put them on. This is a ritual out of necessity. For without my glasses, I can't see. I can't see my keyboard or my office phone even enough to get my voice mail. I dumped everthing out of my bag staring at the contents in disbelief. Where were my glasses? Loosing my glasses is not a small thing. My eyes are so bad that the lens alone cost $600.00. Add the frames and you are looking at almost $750.00. Not exactly chump change. Thank goodness I had an old pair in my desk. At least I could make it through the work day. With difficulty, but I could make it.

I must reiterate. I treat my glasses like gold. Not only are they kept in the best case that can be bought, but I also keep them inside a very special protective bag. I never use them outside of work. I always use old glasses at home. I am so fearful that they will get lost or they will break. So, you can imagine my panic when I realized they were gone. I didn't have time to look for them as my clients were already lining up outside my office door. I had no choice but to put on my old glasses and make do for the day. At the end of the work day, I tore my office apart. Not only did I tear up my office, but also those of my co workers. My glasses were no where to be found. I left work last night very downhearted. The thought of the extra expense to replace them was not pleasant. With much anxiety, I petitioned Jesus for his help. I simply said, "Jesus please help me find my glasses."

This morning, I woke my Mom at 5AM. I told her to get up as we were going to be the first at the polls. The polls don't open in MD until 7 AM. This may be the last election for my Mom as she is 87. I wanted to be there by 6:30 AM. Well, to my surprise, we were not the first to get there. We had to wait in line and it was raining. I kept Mama in the car until it was time to vote. She looked beautiful as ever and I looked like a drowned rat!

We voted with difficulty. I couldn't see the electronic ballot with my old glasses and Mama was unable to push the ballot hard enough for it to register. Imagin that picture, two "mature" women requesting help to vote. Of course, the voting people were very accomodating.

After this embarrassing incident, I took my Mom back to my office for one more look for my glasses. My office shares a building with Head Start and a Day Care Center. As I walked into the foyer, I met a lady from Head Start. I asked where I might find the Lost and Found. She asked what I had lost and I told her. Much to my surprise, she said, "I have your glasses, I found them Friday night on that table." Then I remembered, I had taken my glasses off to look for my car keys. She told me that she would bring them to me tomorrow. On election day everyone is off because every public building in this small town is used as a polling place.

Now, some would say that running into the person who had found my glasses was just luck. This is not so. What are the chances that I would just happen to run into the person who had found my glasses just at the moment she was leaving the building and I was just arriving? Especially on a day that was not a regular work day for either of us.

I was humbled. My plea placed last evening had been heard. Today, I had another lesson delivered to me. It was, Jesus also worries about the little stuff in our lives. Stuff, like lost glasses. We are taught in the bible, "Ask and it shall be given to you" Matthew. 7-7. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Another Day

Today is another day. Today, I am missing my Wendy. I remember when I could give magic kisses and make tears disappear. Where did time go? Seems like yesterday I was polishing white high top shoes and putting little pink curlers in hair the color of flax. Time flies.

One day you look around the room and realize that you are no longer the youngest girl in the room. Suddenly, you are the oldest. Not only that, you find yourself saying, "golly my daughter is older than I was when I moved East." That's really something when one considers herself a California Girl and she hasn't eve lived there since 1977. Yes, time flies.

Now, she is in the West and 2500 miles away from me. How I would love to enjoy her "restaurant food" for dinner. Or, maybe we could take the girls and go out for a fruit smoothie. Right now, right this minute, I can't stand it. I am lonely for her. I miss her beautiful smile, and I miss her voice. Anything, right this minute, I would do anything just for her touch.

And, thou shalt in your daughter see,
This picture, once, resembled thee.
~Ambrose Philips~

Purple Shirts

I woke up yesterday morning, November 1, 2008 with my fingers crossed. Yesterday was the 2008 Walk to Cure Diabetes in Tempe, AZ. I was hoping for so many walkers that our team, Adalyne's Heal-A-Walker's would set a record. I was hoping in essence for "The Surge."

Well, I guess "The Surge" did not arrive. I was counting on "The Surge" and for a moment I was disappointed they did not show. Then it hit me. Instead of focusing on who didn't show up for the walk, I needed to focus on the many people who did support Adalyne's team with attendance and financial support.

I want to to thank everyone who gave Adalyne one positive thought even if it was only for one moment. One positive thought can go a long way. One positive thought gives out positive energy. According to the law of physics energy can never be lost. Therefore, one positive thought can never be lost in the fight to cure diabetes and in our struggle to keep Adalyne alive. The reality is that many children loose their battle with diabetes. Many families fall apart under the struggle with diabetes. Through the Grace of God, Addy's family has not and will not!

It's times like this that remind me of Footprints in the Sand, or on Eagles Wings. It is these times that I need to recognise Who really is in charge. It is times like this I must acknowledge Who is all Powerful. When there are Purple Shirts Left Over I must accept that as a human I don't have much power. When there are Purple Shirts Left Over it is hard not to be discouraged for my daughter and Addy's mother, Wendy. But, because there were Purple Shirts Left Over I am given the opportunity to Soar with Eagles along side of Wendy. For it is at this time, I am able to recognize how grateful I am that there are any Purple Shirts at all. For if there were NO Purple Shirts, it would mean that we only had Blue Shirts and Yellow Shirts. For if there were NO Purple Shirts, it would only mean two things.

A cure to Diabetes had been found or, Adalyne had lost her fight with Diabetes.

So, today I will celebrate Purple Shirts Left Over. I will praise Jesus for another wonderful year with my Sweet Adalyne. I will give thanks to all who have helped in our struggle against diabetes and in our fight to keep Adalyne healthy. I will give thanks for Eagles and Footprints. I will wear my Purple Shirt Left Over with pride. For I am priviledged to know that in all things there is a reason. There is a lesson in all things. This time for me, it is in Purple Shirts Left Over.

I am grateful that Wendy has Purple Shirts Left Over to fold and use for the 2009 Walk to Cure Diabetes in Tempe, AZ. For with every walk that she has too many Shirts, it means that we have been blessed with another day, another week, another year with our sweet and lovely, Adalyne Erin Rose.

Thank you Jesus for PURPLE SHIRTS LEFT OVER!