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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Guest Blogger: My sister

Im so excited! I've never had a guest blogger before.  For those of you who haven't "met" my sister, she is an amazing person.  She is a newlywed and has a blog that followed her entire wedding planning and is moving in to their life now.  She is married to a 2nd year resident studying pediatrics.  He has this year done rotations in Endocrine which of course is near and dear to our hearts. She is my better half. My best friend. While I am the "older" sister by 4 years she is my inspiration and who I want to be when I grow up. She is an amazing cook, baker (yea I didn't know there was a difference till last year) and friend.  She is an aunt to 5 nephews (2 of mine, 3 of my brothers), She lives in Rochester, NY where she is a sign language interpreter.  We haven't always been best friends but my life is better since we have found out how to be.  We are as different as night and day and yet more alike then anyone I can think of.  She was there when we didn't think Joshua's pregnancy would last, there when he was born and there when he came home a year later with Diabetes.  She is the reason I found you the DOC. She is the reason I started blogging. She wrote a powerful post last year to Joshua and this year she agreed to do a follow up post and give it to my blog,in honor of his Dx anniversary.  If you havent read the first letter I hope you will click on the link above.  I hope you will enjoy it and take a moment and check out her blog while you are there.  

I'm supposed to teach you.

That's the expectation.

They asked me to be your mother before God...but it is you who has taught me about Faith.

I still don't believe that everything happens for a reason. I think sometimes bad things...even really bad things...happen for no reason at all.

I believe It is what we do 
after that bad thing that learning comes from. The growth. Growth that is a decision and a choice. A hard one but one we must make and commit to. Like Love.

However, it is Faith, as you have taught me, that gets you through 
during the bad times. It holds your hand and rubs your temples. It finds ways to help 2 hours of sleep feel like "enough". You've taught us all that before the Learning even has a chance to sink in, when Growth seems impossible to master and Love feels like it's... not enough it is Faith that tells us that we will stand again after the rug has been pulled out.  Faith helps us to stop seeking Reasons & Faith holds us over until we've met an equal friend Acceptance.

I'm supposed to teach you.

That's the expectation.

They asked me to look after you during those first nights when you came home from the hospital as a baby. And then when you came home again...a baby still.

It was you who taught me about Strength. Strength sometimes comes in the smallest packages.

You still touch and teach more people than you will ever know. Every doctor and nurse who had never "seen a diagnosis on someone this young"....every mother who had never "heard of sugars so high". You are special. Special in a way that years to come you might resent and recoil from. Special in a way that makes you curse and say "Why Me?" And when that day comes... when it all seems too much...I'll be there.. trying... to teach you about Faith.

One day, I hope I can teach you. But for now, and on this day, it's me that is learning every single step of the way.

Thank you Sara, for your loving words marking this special week.

10 comments:

  1. Absolutely beautiful! You can't see it on your side of the computer screen but I am bawling like a baby.

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  2. Beautiful Shannon. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  3. What an awesome tribute to you and your son! Your sister is a beautiful writer. I am also crying.

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  4. I love your sister... she has a wonderful way with words!

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  5. Amen to every word! Absolutely beautiful!

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  6. You are blessed to have such a gifted writer who obviously loves you as your sister. Wow. Tell her thank you!!!!

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  7. I remember that first letter to sweet little Joshua... its how I found your blog, Shannon. I remember thinking then what a wonderful gift you have in your sister.

    This letter is no different. Her words brought tears to my eyes.

    Thank you so much for sharing.

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  8. i love you. I love that my thoughts.. my words... touch you and touch others. I truly feel that the written word sustains us and I hope that Joshua's grandchildren will be able to read this blog and so many others to know how much, how well, and how strongly he is loved.

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  9. I love her quote: "I believe It is what we do after that bad thing that learning comes from." That's so true.

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  10. A beautiful post, a beautiful letter and 2 beautiful daughters. I love you both from the bottom of my heart. I am so blessed to have such wonderful children and grandchildren.

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