It's Not Forever

Jada was helping me in the kitchen the other day- unloading the silverware from the dishwasher and sorting it for me.  This is pretty much "her job" and she talks my leg off while she's doing it.  As we were chatting about little girl stuff- she changed the subject very quickly.  She looked at me and said, "Will I have diabetes when I die?"  Totally took me off guard.  She'll be 4 in two weeks-  where do they come up with this?  However- I was so glad she asked because I knew that I could give her the best answer possible.  "No Jada, because when we know Jesus and go to heaven, He takes all of our sickness and pain away and makes us new.  No- you will not have diabetes forever!"

It usually takes a child to remind us that we are on this earth temporarily and that the sorrows and sufferings of this life are temporary.  I've asked Him over and over to heal Jada, but if it's not His will, then I don't want it to happen.  I do believe that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord" and that He will use this for good in her life- just as He does all things.  When Jeff and I were first married, I would never have thought that Jeff struggling with alcoholism could work together for good- but it has. After 4 1/2 years of recovery for both of us, God has done amazing things and our marriage is turning into something more beautiful and better than I EVER thought possible.  So-  I don't know what Jada's life will look like, but it will be beautiful.  Her struggles will be used to encourage someone else in their life with this disease and someday, she just may look back and say, "Thank you Lord, for this journey, because I wouldn't be who I am without it!"

REVELATION 21:4    He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  (English Standard Version)

We Rocked Our World

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that we were going to be "rocking our world" when we announced to our family and friends about some upcoming changes to our life.  Well- we did it and now I feel free to share with you about our life change coming.

We are moving back to Alaska.  We are so excited yet a little nervous.  We began to pray intently about going back after Christmas and  much to our surprise (really- we shouldn't have been surprised)- God began to swing the doors wide open.  Jeff has taken a job with a restaurant in Fairbanks and we will be back in Fairbanks by the end of March!!  Winter won't even really be over when we arrive!

Some have been very supportive, but this decision has also brought on some criticism from some of our family and friends.  Some are calling us "irresponsible" with Jada- moving to a place where healthcare isn't as top notch as it is in the lower 48.  My greatest fear about this move- was Jada.  I was concerned about healthcare for her and called the Diabetes Clinic in Fairbanks.  I talked to the inpatient educator who informed me- that in a town of 35,000 people, they have at least 1 new diagnosis a month of Type 1 diabetes.  To me- that's a lot.  There is a good support group that meets once a month and even though there are no endocrinologists in Fairbanks, there are a number of pediatricians that specialize in diabetes AND we can go to Anchorage if we feel the care is not adequate.  So- that's where we are with moving and diabetes.  Jeff and I are confident that we can take care of her and we will get the support that we need in order to do so and to do so well.

We are moving back to the place that we love and the people that we have a heart for.  Jeff is a recovering alcoholic and I- a recovering codependent. Those two just go hand in hand so well! :)  Alcoholism is rampant in the far north.  Actually, any addiction that you can think of is rampant and families are torn apart on a daily basis because of this.  God has given us a heart for the families of the far north.  He changed our life and because of His grace- we are still married and in love with each other.  I look at what we went through and I'm amazed that our family is still intact.  It's not because of us- but because of Him.  Our passion is to come alongside others who are where we have been and give them encouragement and hope.  Why Alaska?  Because people there are hurting, lonely and ready for their life to change- unlike anywhere we've lived.  Also- we believe that God has led us there and He it's obvious that He is once again making a clear path for us to go back.  When we committed going back to prayer, He immediately opened a door and continues to make that path straight.

So- go ahead and call us crazy! :)  Living for ourselves is empty but living for Him has filled our lives with peace and joy- even when it doesn't seem right to others.