5 Reasons Why Having Diabetes Is Cool...

In attempts to try to focus on gratitude today... I've decided to list 5 reasons why having diabetes is cool. I had to really rack my brain for this one.

5. Because I wear an awesome Animas pump with a wicked cool back light... I always have a flashlight to guide me down dark
hallways at night. See? Diabetes prevents me from tripping over toys, clothes, and Jack Russell Terriers.

4. When strangers ask me if I have the time, I can ALWAYS say yes and reach down for my CGM or my pump. Diabetes lets
me help strangers....

3. If a child is crying... I always have Smarties around to cheer them up. Diabetes helps me make children smile.

2. If a friend is on a diet and isn't sure if they should order that fattening sandwich, I can instantly rattle off the carb and fat
count for them. Diabetes allows me to help dieters.

1. If I say something stupid and regret saying it the moment it comes out of my mouth, I can always blame it on low blood
sugar. Diabetes makes me look more intelligent (or like a stuttering drunk, it's all relative).

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and laugh at a chronic illness.

Living in the Moment...

Living in the moment was once something I did REALLY REALLY well as a kid. I never really worried about stuff. I lived my life trying to find the next adventure. Somewhere along the path of mortgages and having children I lost the carefree spirit that I *used* to be. It seems like I spend about half my time now worrying about my kids and my family's future... and it's really not fun. Finances, Doctor appointments, blood sugars, health, marriage... there's so many things now that I'm a wife and a mom.
A friend of our family passed away last week from a sudden diving accident in the Florida Keys which I guess has me worrying more about this than usual. He was only 18 years old. Here's a link to a great article our local paper wrote about him. While I didn't really know him (I grew up with his older sister and brother) It sure sounds like this kid knew how to live life in the moment and love everyone around him at the same time. As I hugged Josh's sobbing father on Saturday afternoon, I was overcome with compassion and gratitude for the family God's blessed me with.
I woke up this morning, after a somewhat restless night's sleeping feeling tired of living my life with this burden of worry. And TODAY I'm making a conscious effort to try to live life in the moment. Not worrying about what I have to get done next, where I'll be next year, but truly focusing on the fact that RIGHT NOW I am blessed to have THIS PERFECT MOMENT with my kids, my husband, and my family and friends. Knowing that God has given me TODAY to show others His love.
We spent the whole morning in the back yard playing in the sunshine and as I laid sprawled out in my big pink lawn chair, I smiled and thanked God for today.