On a chairIn a tent
Under a tree
Over an edge
With a blanket
Riding in a boat
Swinging on a seat
Hanging upside down
Jumping on a trampoline
I have already decided the first author who will lead us through his imagination with his written word . . . . J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
Before we begin, a very smart friend (Hi Ceesa!) suggested we read a bio about the author. She had found a children's version of C.S. Lewis at the library and mentioned there was also one for Tolkien
I started reading the bio last night and was swiftly reading along until I came to the first paragraph on page 9 titled: Tragedy strikes
In April 1904 Mabel <Tolkien's mother> developed an illness called diabetes. Today, diabetes is treatable, but in those days the right medicines had not been discovered. She became very sick, and in November, she died. Tolkien was twelve and an orphan.An unexpected pause.
A year ago I would have skimmed right over those words and thought, "Oh, that is sad his mom died."
But, today those words hold a new and impressive meaning.
Ellie has a disease that just 107 years ago would have meant a certain death sentence. Look back at the months listed . . . from April to November Mabel went from healthy to literally starving to death. What an awful and scary way to leave this world.
So today, when I feel cranky about the extra steps it takes to care for Ellie's T1D, I remind myself of the many choices and treatment options she has. I bow my head and fall to my knees to thanks God for the advances in medicine that allow my daughter to not only live, but T-H-R-I-V-E.
An unexpected pause to find joy in the now.
12 comments:
Those words gripped my heart! So true that not long ago they would have triggered an 'awe, that's sad' feeling for me, too...but now, now it's totally different. To think that we are so fortunate to live when and where we do that our kids can still be with us and experience life to the fullest. Chills!
Wow! I am amazed too that it really was not that long ago there was NO insulin. Diabetes was a death sentence...chilling.
I'm a lover of historical fiction. Since Brooke's diagnosis, I haven't been able to read that genre because of that very same realization. So very humbling. That would have been us...
I love this post! I love that you are such a great mom and I can see you finding great spots for reading time. Those words stopped me in my tracks as well, every time I read about someone with T1D before insulin I am so thankful for what we do have!
Praise the Lord for He IS GOOD!!!!!
Wow! That was unexpected. Good thing you rwead it first so that your prepared for questions.
Funny how you start to notice things like that -- thanks for sharing -- I, too, would have skipped over it a year ago...
You kind of had a "green eggs and ham" thing going on there :)
First of all, I'm a big fan of the read alouds! Secondly, wow on the pause. So glad that God spoke to you through this thankful moment!
You are so right. We are so blessed to live NOW. (ps-that's a great book!)
It's weird to learn these things now isn't it?! My mother-in-law said her father's twin died suddenly from an illness that made him waste away, now we all wonder if it was diabetes and why they didn't figure it out. Now there are two grand children in the family with t1d and two great grandchildren...odd, isn't it?
Anyhow, glad you're looking ahead to homeschooling, it'll be a challenge but one that is very worthwhile, exciting and fun, too :)
Me too...woulda skimmed over it pre-Joe-D. Your homeschooling adventure sounds like it is going to be exciting!!!
LOVE to read!
So glad you're homeschooling! You will love it!
I homeschooled for a couple years. Now Matthew goes to a school that's half-way between regular school and homeschool. He's there 2 days a week and home for 3 days.
I really treasure that extra time with him.
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