Being Diabetic Makes Me Different

You know it has occurred to me that I am constantly reminded that I am different than everyone around me because I am a Diabetic. It seems that sometimes we can spend our whole lives trying to fit in and be what the world defines as "normal". As I mature I am very comfortable in my own skin and I really love who I am and what I stand for. This being said, there is not an hour that goes by when I am not reminded that I am a Diabetic!
I am writing about this because when I was at a party on the college campus this weekend with my daughter, I needed to test my blood sugar. I asked one of the kids if I could sneak some privacy in their room to test myself. No one was in the room but the door was open. As I was pricking my finger and placing my drop of blood on the testing machine, 4 people walked in and looked slightly shocked at what I was doing. I then put the number's into my insulin pump, smiled big and told them that I have Diabetes. They politely smiled back and quickly left the room. Once again, it reminded me that as I go about my day trying to be "normal", I am still different. It's okay, though, and I have so much peace about this disease. Wearing the pump is not so bad and it sure has changed my life for the better! The most important thing for all of us is to take care of our health no matter the cost. Enjoy your day and be grateful for everything!

What a "girlie" weekend !

Sometimes I miss my college days back in the early 80's when I was a sorority girl. I just got back from spending the weekend in Boulder with Lauren and her sorority. It was a Mother/Daughter weekend full of fun events to help the mom's and daughter's get to know each other better. Every night we had dinner together and we even hung out with one of the fraternities. They invited us to come play "beer pong"! Okay, yes I am a Christian, but I gotta tell you people watching at a frat house is really fun!
Lauren and I LOVED spending the weekend together and I left her at her dorm with feelings of complete peace. Her sorority sister's are all very classy, wholesome girls. We met alot of people and spent time in conversations with others trying to find things we have in common. This comes very easy for my daughter and I but I noticed a mom/daughter pair at breakfast this morning sitting by themselves. I should have made an attempt to invite them to our table and help them connect. Instead, I felt a little selfish and did not. I smiled politely and went on enjoying my meal with the other women that were as outgoing as me. That was selfish of me. Today I've learned that sometimes we all need to make the attempt to include other's in our "circle" even when it is so much easier not to.

Feels like Spring

Good morning everyone! I am posting early today because very soon I am off to college to join my daughter for a Mother/Daughter weekend. Her sorority has all sorts of fun gatherings planned for all of us. When I woke up this morning to a BEAUTIFUL Colorado day my heart felt so full of gratefulness!
Sometimes I need to remember to stop what I am busy with and take a look around to notice the sights and sounds of the day. Try this today.........take a walk, sit in your backyard very still or just open a window and notice that Spring is on it's way....YEAH :)
Here in Colorado the sky is clear and blue, the Rockies have snow on them and best of all there are Red Robin birds everywhere! My college daughter, Lauren said she can hear birds chirping outside her dorm room. I would like to encourage you all as I will be doing today to talk to God and list everything you are grateful for. Big things and little things like the sound of chirping birds! Happy almost spring my friends.....Robin

Milk, blood sugar and blogging?

Today is my first day to blog! I have never even been on someone else's blog let alone create my own, so how did I get here? Well, it all started in May of 2006 when I entered a weight loss challenge sponsored by Got Milk? I've been a yo-yo dieter most of my life,but with 2 teenage daughter's I had refused to ever diet again. My prayer to God was, "please Lord help me to lose this weight permanantly and to be a healthy example to my girl's". The answer came in the form of this Got Milk? challenge to eat healthy, exercise regularly and to drink 24 ounces in 24 hours!
The results were fabulous and I lost the weight, got healthy and was chosen as the first non-celebrity Got Milk? spokesperson! For a year I was treated like a celebrity, doing interviews both in Colorado and Hollywood. My picture was in magazines, on TV and on a truck that traveled across the country! Things changed, however, when I developed a unbelievable thirst for water, lost too much weight and my vision went blurry.
Sure enough my doctor diagnosed me with Type 1 Diabetes and I started taking insulin shots (always hated needles). I am a 4th generation diabetic and grew up watching my lovely Mom deal with her Diabetes. It was at this time that I realized that I will never be the same again and that my life is a precious gift everyday!
I decided to start blogging about 3 areas of my life that impact my day. They are Faith, Relationships and Being a Diabetic. I really hope to be an ENCOURAGER to anyone out there that wants to share their daily blessings and challenges. We are on this journey of life together so let's start blogging!!

Until next time,
Robin