It is coming up on one year (February 6th) since Kiersten was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This year has sure been a year of surprises, changes and adapting! But as I look back, there is one thing that overshadows everything else....God's blessings. We are going to be singing a song this Sunday called "Desert Song." It is one of my favorite, because it is a great reminder to us that in everything we go through...through every season of our life...God is still God!

God's blessings started the day Kiersten got taken to the emergency room. We were blessed by great doctors at Port Orange Halifax Emergency, who diagnosed her quickly and suggested we take her to Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital for her continued care. We took their advice, and were blessed again by having another set of great doctors and nurses who were a great support system for us as we sat and watched our daughter as she was incoherent for three days. Then as she got better and better, they taught us all how to take care of Kiersten and helped prepare us for all we had in store. We were then able to keep the same doctor who saw Kiersten at AP as her Doctor that we go to for all of her check-ups. The staff he has working with him is the best, and have been so great to us. They have encouraged us, helped us to get supplies and insulin we need, and have treated Kiersten so well. They have not just been diabetic educators for Kiersten, but her friends.

The blessings continued as we came home. We had a check in the mail, that we did not expect, that helped us to cover the purchase of her insulin and supplies that we needed to get things rolling. We then found a company that has blessed us this past year by taking what the insurance company pays, as full payment for her supplies. Kiersten was able to get on the pump a few months ago, and this same company covered the extra cost on her pump. We were able to send Kiersten to diabetes camp this year, where she was able to learn more about taking care of herself, meet new friends (who are also diabetic), and be a normal teen again for the week.

And probably the biggest blessing of all...we have a daughter who has taken all of these changes better than I could have probably taken them myself. She has made the transitions so much easier on her mom and dad. She has never asked "Why me?" The only question she asked was, "Is this something I will have for the rest of my life?" In which I replied, "yes, honey, it is." And she said, "ok."

Desert Song:
"All of my life, in every season, You are still God, and I have a reason to sing...I have a reason to worship.
I will bring praise, I will bring praise! No weapon formed against me shall remain. I will rejoice, I will declare! God is my victory and He is here!"