Widows and Orphans

We are abundantly blessed! Our kids have never had to worry that their power would get shut off, or where they were going to sleep, or where their next meal was coming from. They have not been exposed to drug abuse, alcoholism, or domestic violence. They are secure in our ability to care for them. They enjoy a stability that millions of children in this country have never known.

As a family, we have prayed about and talked about how to help children who do not have the things that our kids have. We have decided to begin the process of becoming a "safe family".

Safe Families is a step before the foster care system. We will open our home to children who are voluntarily surrendered by their parents for a temporary time. These families are in a crisis situation and need someone to care for their children while they get back on their feet. They may be homeless due to job loss or extended illness. One or both parents may be serving short sentences in jail. It may be that Mom needs surgery and there is no one to care for her child while she is hospitalized. We want to be the safety net for families who have nowhere else to turn. 

We have begun the process by submitting an "interest form". We will have a home inspection and background checks before we are qualified to care for any children. We will have the right to say yes or no to any child/situation. We are looking at caring for children under the age of 4, but we are flexible.

Please join us in praying over this. Pray for the children and the parents that we will be meeting. Pray for patience and understanding as we care for children who have come from crisis situations. Pray that we stay in God's will at all times (I tend to do what I want and pray about it later).

You can learn more about Safe Families at

www.safe-families.org

You can also submit your own "interest form" there :-)

Why Diabetes Camp?

We have been living and breathing Diabetes for over 2 years now. It is 24/7/365. There is no such thing as a break from Diabetes. Every day, we work to keep Brenna's blood sugar under control. Some days are better than others, but we are managing. We have adjusted to this new life, but I will never call it "normal". This year, we have decided to send her to Diabetes Camp! Why? Lots of reasons--the biggest being that she will learn ways to take care of herself for the rest of her life.

Since the day of diagnosis, James and I have agreed to let Brenna be a kid first and a diabetic second. We try to never let Diabetes stop her from doing what she wants to do. We want her to be just like the other kids. But, guess what? She's not. That thought really hit me the day that I sent in her camp application. I put it in the mailbox and I just sat for a minute. I was struck by the thought that this camp is necessary. That there are enough kids living with this disease to make it necessary for camps all across the country to fill up with kids every summer. That for one week, these kids really do get to be like all the other kids. I wish I could be there to see Brenna "fit in" again after 2 years of being different from all her peers.

I also realized that I have had a change of heart. Two years ago, I would have said that Brenna didn't need camp because the cure is right around the corner. I believed that she would be cured before Diabetes could do irreparable damage to her body. I still hope and pray for that every day! But...what if the cure is further away than I would like? What if we never get a cure, just better management? My job is to prepare my children to be successful adults. That includes teaching Brenna to live the healthiest life possible in spite of this disease.

That's where Diabetes Camp comes in. These camps are staffed with medical professionals and volunteers (many who are Type Ones themselves) who really understand Diabetes. They can teach Brenna from a perspective that James and I just don't have. They will encourage her to be independent. She will most likely do her own site changes. She will learn about managing diabetes and nutrition. She will be given an opportunity to talk about her feelings and the emotional stresses that come with having a life altering, incurable disease. She will meet new friends who really understand what she goes through every day. She will also enjoy camp fires, swimming, rock walls, ropes courses, archery, crafts, and more!!

The camp that Brenna will be going to is called "Triangle D" and it is held at the YMCA camp in Ingleside, IL. It is a 6 night camp starting on July 26th. You can read more about it at:

 http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/diabetes-camp/camps/triangle-d.html

Our family is really excited that Brenna has this opportunity! (Mama is a bit terrified, though!!) We want to see her grow from this experience. We know that she will gain knowledge, confidence, and friends at camp that she can't get anywhere else. So, we stepped out in faith and signed her up without knowing how we would pay for this. It is very expensive because of the type of camp it is. There is at least one medical professional for every 10 campers. That's quite a staff!

Here is a comment I found from a previous camper:

"Six days to be just like everyone else. I’ve had diabetes for 13 years now and sometimes it's hard to find people that I can relate to. It's tough to feel like you’re the only person in the world who has to deal with this, but then you go to camp. Camp to me, is a place where I feel safe and people understand what I'm going through. When I'm there everyone gets it, no one stares, and there's no explanation necessary. Camp has really impacted me and motivated me to take care of my disease. Every year, with the thought of camp, I strive to stay in better control and take care of myself."

We have had some family and friends offer to help us pay for Brenna's camp :-) What an amazing blessing!! We believe that if someone wants to bless you, you should let them. So...Please, let us know if you would like to donate to our camp fund (we are not too proud to accept help!) :-) And, please, join us in praying for the campers and staff who will be taking part in Diabetes Camps all across the country this summer. Thank You :-)

James and Debbi