


The delicate balance of raising twins (one with type 1 diabetes and one without)
This picture was taken a week before he was diagnosed. |
Well, it's been eleven years and she hasn't shown up yet. Nope! The Queen has been very busy in England. She has not come by wanting to see my fabulous like-new kitchen table!
Eleven years ago, I bought a new table from the store called House of Denmark. I immediately ran out and had a table pad made for it. I was so scared to scratch, dent or ruin this pretty cherry wood table that so perfectly matched my kitchen. The table topper had a faux leather finish. Supposedly, you could put a hot pot from the stove on the pad without a hot mitt. Of course, I’ve never tried it for fear of ruining the table topper!
The other day, our family was playing Yahtzee and I noticed that the table topper smelled like eleven years of Mr. Clean! It was overpowering. So I took the table topper off after we finished the game.
Wow! Looking at the table was like opening a present! It was super shiny and, truth be told, I smiled. Weird to be happy about something like that, but it was like looking at it for the first time when the delivery guys delivered it eleven years ago. Then, I thought, what the heck am I saving it for?
I wish I could say that we entertain a lot and wanted to keep it nice for company. Generally, the only people who visit are my mom, Michael's parents, his two bachelor friends and a handful of my good friends. If I were to remove the table topper when these people come over for dinner, not one of them would care if my table was scratched or dented. They wouldn't even care if we didn't have a table. Why was I not enjoying it for myself? My 1980's upbringing taught me to keep things nice. Back then you might get only one table in a lifetime. Sort of like our depression-era grandparents. Michael's grandma still religiously saves rubber bands and used wrapping paper!
So here I have been saving it for one day when I would really need to impress someone. I guess. Now it is actually a little out of style. It still looks good in the space but it's kind of "mission-like". I have been saving it so long that it is out of date and the House of Denmark chain has been out of business for at least six years!
So I made decision. I took off the chemically smelling table pad and bought some placemats (I am making progress, but I still can't totally go rogue). I put the table pad in the closet for the days we need to play with clay and decided to use my table au natural! It was a little liberating.
Then, I started looking around my house. What else was I saving for the Queen?
The next morning at 7 a.m., I served English muffins and scrambled eggs to two little crazy-haired, sleepy boys on a shiny "new" table, and I used my Waterford dishes, crystal glasses and golden silverware! The queen may never show up but I could at least impress two little princes with Legos!
And I smiled. Again.
What are you saving? Better yet, what are you saving it for?
This is Meri.
For all intents and purposes, Meri is a stranger to me. We have emailed twice, but I have never met her. I have never seen her face to face. I have never hugged her or even shaken her hand.
However, because of her blog, Meri also feels like a close friend. I know her personal thoughts, I know her struggles and I feel her pain everyday. Just maybe not on the same scale. Probably like you out there, across borders and time zones, reading this right now, may feel close to my family and I.
Meri writes a blog called Our Diabetic Life. She has four children, three of whom have Type 1 diabetes. Meri has a very full plate. But, God must really trust Meri because Meri's husband, Ryan, has cancer. Again.
Metastasized melanoma, to be exact. He had it a couple of years back and they did surgery and chemotherapy. It was a long haul and they thought it was over. But a few days ago they found out it is back in the form of six brain tumors and multiple tumors in his lungs and abdomen. He began whole brain radiation yesterday.
I can't even imagine. My heart breaks for Ryan, Meri and their four perfect children! I wanted to help Meri but didn't quite know how. So, I am forwarding Meri's prayer request onto you. She has asked that everyone prays for him over the next couple of months. They have set aside this Sunday for fasting and prayer in their family. I will attach the link to her posting here so you can read the whole story.
Having just watched my sister power through breast cancer over the last nine months, I can only pray that Ryan will come out of this as strongly as she has!
Thanks to each and every one of you for helping my "friend" Meri and her family.
God Bless You Meri, the boys and especially, Ryan.
If you or someone you love have a mole "that bugs you", please go have it checked out. You are too important in your life.
Thanks to Ryan, I made my appt yesterday.
Www.melanoma.org