JDRF WALK FOR A CURE!

April 19, 2013, I wake up and start getting ready for my day, just as I do every morning.  I quickly checked my email and nearly passed out.  My youngest nephew Cameron, was fighting the battle for his life, his parents and grandparents by his side, thanking God for every breath he took.  I knew he had been home from school sick all week, I never dreamed he would look so frail, so lifeless, lying there in that hospital bed.  But this story isn't about me, its about Cameron.  Let me introduce you again to Cameron.

A year ago, Cameron was an eight year old little boy.   Looking at him, he didn't stand out in a crowd.   A good student that enjoyed spending time in the woods with grandpa, riding bikes with his friends and that lived for soccer.   Just an average ordinary eight year old.   April 2013 though, that all changed.   Cameron got sick.   At first, it was just a stomach bug, but instead of getting better, the days passed and Cameron grew sicker, until one night that full of life little boy was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.   The diagnosis was quickly made, Cameron had Type 1 diabetes.   His blood sugar was at 1039...blood sugar ranges in the 90s is where it should have been.   Throughout the night, the numbers miraculously went down.  That morning brought new challenges to this little boy so full of life.   He began to learn about insulin, blood sugar, and was forced to become a math whiz, whether he wanted to or not.   He learned a new vocabulary of lantus shots and carb counts.   The doctors said he would be in the hospital for a week, but Cameron was not to be kept down that long.   He recovered enough and was sent home within a couple days.   He returned to the soccer field having not had to miss a single game.   But the normal life he had previously known was no longer his. Meals couldn't be skipped or delayed.   Snacks had to be timed, no longer consuming anything just because he was hungry.   He couldn't attend the after school program that he had gone to for years.   Birthday parties, or even just a night at a friends house involved a parent tagging along or extensive education of the friends parents that would care for him.    To make things even more complicated, in June Cameron was also diagnosed with Celiac disease, a disease where his body does not tolerate gluten.   So the breads, cakes, cookies and pasta that kids love became on a forbidden foods list.   There are alternatives, but it isn't easy.   And through it all, Cameron has continued to love soccer, do well in school (probably could do better than most high schoolers at math in their heads!) and just try to be as average of a kid as he can.   And he never complains, even when he can't have seconds, as everyone around him pigs out.   As he goes from feeling great to incredibly low blood sugar in a matter of minutes.   We all think it, but never hear Cameron say it, but it isn't fair.

This May, the juvenile Diabetes Research foundation of the ozarks is holding a fundraising walk for a cure, to raise money to find a cure, not just management, for this cruel disease.   Will you support kids like Cameron by making a donation?  Because it's not just an inconvenience when you have diabetes, it's a roller coaster ride with the illness in charge.   It still takes lives of children.   

A year has passed since the diagnosis.  JDRF is no longer just four letters of the alphabet, those four letters hold the hope that a cure for type 1 diabetes will be found.  Hope that what could be a minor stomach bug would once again just be a minor stomach bug, not something that messes up blood sugar levels and becomes a life or death issue. 

JDRF is the only organization with a strategic plan to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.  Through their efforts, the disease is somewhat manageable now and families dealing with the disease have a support system and researchers working diligently on their behalf.    Type 1 diabetes can strike anyone, anywhere, anytime, not just children, and obesity plays no part.

This week marks the one year anniversary of Cameron's diagnosis and three weeks until the JDRF of the Ozarks holds their annual Walk for a Cure.

In an effort to support research for a cure for T1D, I have three options for you to assist with fundraising.  First, there are almost 20 listings on ebay this week.  Just search "hikingpj" and all the listings should appear.  Or to make it simple, follow this link.  http://www.ebay.com/sch/hikingpj/m.html?_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Second, you can purchase from my LillaRose fundraiser.  20% of purchase price will go directly to JDRF.  if you are unfamiliar with LillaRose, they are beautiful hair accessories.  Purchase through this link to support JDRF. https://www.lillarose.biz/parties/4467

Third, since Frozen has become HUGE and you can't find an Elsa dress anywhere, go to http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/dress-inspired-by-disneys-frozen-elsa/83810 and purchase the pattern.  $5 of each sale until April 21 will go to JDRF.

Finally, you can make a monetary donation of any amount.  If you do not wish to do the online donation, contact me and I can get it in another form from you.   For an online donation, simply go to http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/emilychristine

Together with your support and prayers, a cure can be found.

A HUGE thank you to the many contributors of the ebay auction. 

Wild Animal Safari, Strafford, MO www.missouri.animalsafari.com

Desiree Marvin

Soccer.com  www.soccer.com

Price Cutter grocery stores www.pricecutteronline.com

Tinyprints.com a division of Shutterfly  www.tinyprints.com

Fundraisingrides.com www.fundraisingrides.com

Perrie Hudson, Country Living Representative 

Amber Wilson, Arbonne Representative

Lamberts Café, Ozark, MO  www.throwedrolls.com

Stained Glass Theater, Ozark, MO www.sgtheatre.com

Nikki Flynn, Thirty-One Representative 

Real Wellness, Nixa, MO

imaginegnats.com www.imaginegnats.com

Glutino Gluten Free Food  www.glutino.com

Anchor Inn on the Lake, Branson West, MO  www.anchorinnonthelake.com

B & B Movie Theaters www.bbtheatres.com

Lori's Playtime Pieces www.etsy.com/shop/lorisplaytimepieces

Once upon a time

Once upon a time, in a land not so very far away, I decided to open my own daycare.   Now I cant honestly say I had spent my life dreaming of this, or that I really even wanted to, but when my little angel was placed in my arms for the first time, I knew I would never be able to leave that little baby every day and miss out on her growing up.   Well, that tiny thing has grown into an active five year old and daycare has become my life.   She refers to work days as friends days.   My very first child to sign up for daycare is now her best friend in the whole world.   We have had many kids come and go through our doors.   We have seen the carpet go from beige to more of an array of rainbow colors.   And I can now change diapers quickly, efficiently and have changed diapers almosr every single day since my child was born, even though she was potty trained before her second birthday.   And there are moments I am not sure how I was going to survive the week.   Then are those moments when they just curl up on my lap for another story, or to sing songs, run in the door in the mornings excited to give me a hug, show me their new shirt, that I love.   They get excited over acorns, walnuts and bugs found in the yard and i realize that I am not missing out on living, that God has placed me here for such a time as this.   And now as we are preparing for the next phase of life.,.the school years, questions and concerns and if homeschooling will really work questions are prevalent.   But through it all, we just have to ask for Gods guiding hand to lead us, and to believe that it will. 

Unexpected places

Last summer, my daughter got all into Sofia the first, loving every aspect of the new Disney Junior show.   She wanted a dress like Sofia.   And well, the dresses I had seen in the store just weren't of a quality that I was content with.   At least not for the price.   So I got on pinterest and found the perfect dress on a blog.    Hmmm...the pattern hadnt been released yet but the designer was looking for pattern testers.   I loved the dress and really wanted to make it, so after rolling it around it my head a few days I decided to email her and see if she would like me to test the pattern, admitting I had never done any pattern testing before.   She said yes, and so my pattern testing journey began!   In the fall she asked me to test out another pattern, Anna or Arendale from the soon to be released Disney movie Frozen.   My little princess wasnt sure if she wanted the dress, but the twins birthday was coming up soon and they love dresses.   Somewhere along the way, I got an idea....an Elsa dress to accompany the Anna dress, after all I had heard they were sisters in the movie.     So late at night, I stared at the movie poster and drew and elsa dress pattern.   Then I made the dress.   A couple months passed with this idea bubbling around in my head and with mich encouragement fro the designer of the other dresses I had recently made, I decided I would sell the pattern on etsy.   We could use a little extra cash (Really, who couldnt?)   So i thought maybe i would be able to make $30 a month, at least enough to help out.   I posted the pattern and wouldnt you know it, people actually liked my pattern...it started selling.   Then the questions started coming, "would you make this dress to sell?"   Hmmm...I hadnt really thought of that.   I had extra fabric.   I had the means and ability to make it look nice.   Maybe i would sell the dress.  I had enough fabric for 2  more dresses and they sold very quickly.   The requests continued to roll in.   So I bought more fabric.   And now I am behind.   I dont like being behind....Im that person in college who did the papers on the day they were assigned, not the day they were due, because being behind is stressful.   It makes me question things.   So my plans for tomorrow eveing include  sewing.   Lots and lots of sewing.   And I have a friend to thank for the newfound money making hobby....a friend that I have neevr met, but yet she has encouraged me so much.   Drop on over to www.joy2sew.blogspot.com and check out her site.   She also has some great patterns on her etsy store, well worth taking the time to check out!   Unexpected friends, found in unexpected places, giving the courage to do things we had never thought possible.    Yes friendds, God is leaving his fingerprints all over this one!

Daniel

I am currently in the midst of Beth Moore's study on the book of Daniel.    Last week, we discussed fire.    In the sense of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, it was literal fire, they could feel the heat, they had seen people die in the fire, and the way things were headed, they were going to be next.   But yet, they never wavered, when wavering would have assured survival, they still praised the Almighty God.   In this study, Beth Moore pointed out something I had never really thought about.   What do we do when we are faced with the fiery furnace?   Most people that claim to be Christians will pray.     And God will either deliver us from the fire, through the fire, or deliver us into His arms by the fire.   Our faith may grow, it may be refined by fire.    What god wants us to remember is that in the midst of the fire, no matter how hot it is, He is right there beside us.   In Isaiah 43 God said, when you pass through the fire, I will be with you.   He never promised there wouldn't be fire, or that we would only get close to the fire.   He doesn't say IF you pass through a fire.   He says WHEN you pass through the fire.  

He is the everlasting Father, the prince of peace, the one and only God, and He loves each one of us enough to step into the fire with us.  Isn't that just amazing?

Meet Cameron

A year ago, Cameron was an eight year old little boy.   Looking at him, he didn't stand out in a crowd.   A good student that enjoyed spending time in the woods with grandpa, riding bikes with his friends and that lived for soccer.   Just an average ordinary eight year old.   April 2013 though, that all changed.   Cameron got sick.   At first, it was just a stomach bug, but instead of getting better, the days passed and Cameron grew sicker, until one night that full of life little boy was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.   The diagnosis was quickly made, Cameron had Type 1 diabetes.   His blood sugar was at 1039...blood sugar ranges in the 90s is where it should have been.   Throughout the night, the numbers miraculously went down.  That morning brought new challenges to this little boy so full of life.   He began to learn about insulin, blood sugar, and was forced to become a math whiz, whether he wanted to or not.   He learned a new vocabulary of lantus shots and carb counts.   The doctors said he would be in the hospital for a week, but Cameron was not to be kept down that long.   He recovered enough and was sent home within a couple days.   He returned to the soccer field having not had to miss a single game.   But the normal life he had previously known was no longer his. Meals couldn't be skipped or delayed.   Snacks had to be timed, no longer consuming anything just because he was hungry.   He couldn't attend the after school program that he had gone to for years.   Birthday parties, or even just a night at a friends house involved a parent tagging along or extensive education of the friends parents that would care for him.    To make things even more complicated, in June Cameron was also diagnosed with Celiac disease, a disease where his body does not tolerate gluten.   So the breads, cakes, cookies and pasta that kids love became on a forbidden foods list.   There are alternatives, but it isn't easy.   And through it all, Cameron has continued to love soccer, do well in school (probably could do better than most high schoolers at math in their heads!) and just try to be as average of a kid as he can.   And he never complains, even when he can't have seconds, as everyone around him pigs out.   As he goes from feeling great to incredibly low blood sugar in a matter of minutes.   We all think it, but never hear Cameron say it, but it isn't fair.   

This May, the juvenile Diabetes Research foundation of the ozarks is holding a fundraising walk for a cure, to raise money to find a cure, not just management, for this cruel disease.   Will you support kids like Cameron by making a donation?  Because it's not just an inconvenience when you have diabetes, it's a roller coaster ride with the illness in charge.   It still takes lives of children.   

To make a donation, please go to walk.jdrf.org and search for team Cameron in missouri.   Cameron thanks you!

A million ideas, a million plans

I decided a few weeks back that it was time to put my sewing addiction into good use.   I decided to open an etsy shop, Lori's playtime pieces.   Since opening it, it has more or less sat dormant as I tried to decide what to make yet and dream of getting my house clean, a weekend with nothing to do, and a day to sew.   Patterns are drawn up, ideas as vivid as real pictures in my head.   Fabric strewn about, awaiting that first cut to be transformed into more than just fabric.   Tonight, I clean.   This weekend, I sew.   Projects include doll clothes, Barbie swimsuits (as per request of a special little lady that received a Barbie cruise ship on Christmas), dress up dresses, I could go on and on.   There will be no shortage of projects.   

I have also spent the week researching various homeschool curriculums.  The decision has been made, we will homeschool!   Exciting, a bit scary, and so much more.   I do worry about the social aspects, but have vowed to get her involved in a few activities so that she has friends...and she is already showing that friendships are made during church activities.   If finances permit, we will also be signing her up for gymnastics this fall...she wants so badly to tumble across the floor....although if she takes after her mother, the term tumbling may not be the graceful maneuvers of a talented gymnast, but the feet flailing, crashing to the ground at unpredictable intervals, tumbles of a person filed with the grace of God, but no other type of grace.    Maybe, just maybe though, she will be a successful gymnast.

So, shall I do American girl, baby alive, build a bear, Barbie, or cabbage patch clothes first?   If only work didn't interfere!

New year, new life to the blog

2014.... The year I am really going to do it, the year I return to blogging.   I started this blog 6 years ago, when blogs were new, unheard of almost, and I wanted to document some very important changes in my life.    Six years later, that important change is 5 years old, and has definitely changed my life.    I gave up a good paying 40 hour per week job to start operating a daycare.   I have dusted off my sewing machine and have begun making dresses, backpacks to carry dolls, doll clothes, teddy bears and almost anything else I can think of.   I have discovered the sacred moments of time to myself.   This is short, somewhat of a test, to see if t it will work on this device or if I am going to have to blog elsewhere.   Maybe without two snoring children on my arms.   :-)   the photo is a recent project for my daughter and her doll.