Warrior Girl...

If you have Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease, this is what you eat when you attend your best friends birthday party. A gluten-free doughnut. Another reminder of the fortitude of my strong little warrior, Addy. No crying, no complaining, just "OK."

She is stronger than 99% of adults who can't loose 10 pounds to lower their blood pressure. Could you give up eating everything you love for the rest of your life IF your life depended on it? I'm sure I would fall off the wagon within 24 hours. I am a wimp! Not Addy.

I have watched drug addicts, alcoholics, and people addicted to food loose everything they have because they couldn't give up their addictions. If you want to watch a strong little girl, watch Addy. She would rather go to a Daddy Daughter Dance and eat salad and cheese sticks instead of taking insulin shots. This is what happened when her Cosmo Insulin Pump went on the fritz the afternoon of the dance. While the rest of the party was eating a fried chicken banquet with all the timmings, Addy ate salad. Five years old and not one "poor little me." Did that stop her from having fun. Absolutely not, she had a ball.

Remember Wonder Woman? Well, Adalyne Erin Rose is Warrior Girl! She fights everyday just to live. And, she is winning. You go, Warrior Girl! Grandma is proud of you!!

Like Mother Like Daughter...

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.
-- Author Unknown

One Word That Grips My Heart, Tornado!

Last Sunday I was preparing for a snow storm. It was 14 degrees and the weather reports were ominous. Indeed, the reports proved to be correct. We had 14 inches of snow in 12 hours. Sleet and ice followed for the next 24. It never got above 22 degrees in 4 days.

This Sunday, it has been 80 degrees and humid. Rain is predicted. In this part of MD this type of bouncy weather brings people to their porches to keep a lookout on the sky. This type of weather spawns the dreaded word, TORNADO. In Maryland? Beautiful Maryland suffers an average of four tornado's every year during the Spring and early Summer. April 28, 2002 was a quiet Sunday evening. In a matter of minutes the delightful historic town in in which my children were raised, was gone.

My youngest son Todd, his wife Colleen, and 18 month twins, Kelsey and Owen lives were changed in an instant. Through the grace of God, they have recovered. The home which was a total loss is rebuilt. But for me, I have had difficulty removing these horrible pictures from my mind. When I think what could have been the outcome of this experience, I shudder.

Then I remember what did not happen. My family did not die. My family survived. I believe in my heart it was only through the mercy of Jesus Christ that my dear ones did survive. Todd was able to get Kelsey along with 2 other members of his family to the basement. Colleen's younger sister was headed for the basement. Then Todd ran upstairs to sleeping Owen.He was followed by Colleen. Todd made it to Owens crib and remembers looking back and seeing the house walls moving towards him. He put his arms around his son and his wife. All three were blown from the second story of their home.

As I am writing this, I am listening to the weather report. Every time I hear "it is ripe for a tornado," I feel my breath shorten. Please dear God, take care of the people who just happen to fall into the unpredictable path of TORNADO.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/Historic_Events/apr28-2002/laplata.htm

If the link does not work, please cut and paste it to your browser. This is the NOAA report of the LaPlata F4 Tornado. It includes a report on Todd's house.