A Family Portrait

Why is it that the only family picture we have includes wings, suspenders and a big orange hat??


Actually, I think it speaks Rush pretty well!


Thanks Blair for the picture!

Clowns, Butterflies and Gnomes....oh my!

We had such a fun Halloween this year! We took the kids to Josh's for the annual Halloweenie Roast, which somehow gets better each and every year. We went trick or treating around his neighborhood and my sweet kids have shared their candy with me all week. The only bummer was that we did not get a single picture of them. Every picture that we took came out blurry! So, I borrowed these from my friend Meg, who took great shots!



Joe was a cute little clown. Very simple since he's so precious all on his own!



Jack was a garden gnome. Every time I looked at him, I cracked up laughing.
Just look at those eyebrows!



Addy was a sassy butterfly, as Jake liked to call her. She looked so beautiful, but she also still looked 6. Whew!

Overall, a wonderful night!

Joe's Walking!!

Joe started walking yesterday! He's up to about 10 steps right now, but I think he could do a lot more. He gets so tickled with himself and so excited that he basically throws himself onto the ground.




Can you believe my boy is going to be one in less than a month!?

6 years and counting

For those of you who got to be with Jake and I at the birth of Addy, the fact that she turns 6 years old today is extremely crazy. I wanted to share something that I find very funny about her. I went to take pictures of the kids yesterday and this is what I found...




Addy's new favorite thing to do is build massive Lincoln Log towers and play with Lego's. I guess that day she decided her masterpieces were photo worthy!







Then, thanks to her dad's rigorous training, she realized her lighting was not quite right and moved her creation into more natural lighting. Way to push her to be better, Jake.



Genius, pure genius.

2nd (to us) annual JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

Here's the letter that we are sending to friends and family to inform them of the JDRF Walk to cure diabetes. It should provide all the information you need.

Dear Friends and Family-

On January 21, 2008 our daughter Addy was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. It’s hard to believe that it has already been over a year and a half and that it’s once again time for the annual JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. Addy has continued to be amazingly courageous and we know that it is only through God’s strength that it is possible. Each day she has her finger pricked six or more times, and receives four insulin shots. She rarely complains, and besides actually sticking the needle in, she can do everything associated with the day-to-day details of her diabetes. At school, she leaves her class to check her sugar before recess, lunch and her bus ride home. She sometimes can’t participate in PE if her levels are too high or too low, and has to come home from school if her sugar levels get above 400. Addy is known and loved by everyone in the front office at her school. They can tell she is not feeling well because she doesn’t come skipping into the office like she normally does. All of them have art work she has colored for them hanging on their doors. She is this amazing little light that shines brightly, and we are so incredibly proud of her.

In all of this, Jake and I have chosen to look at her diagnosis as a blessing. We choose to take life one day at a time and not worry about the future. We trust God with Addy today. I have been reminded over and over that God knew she would have this disease and that her body is perfectly formed. Psalm 139:13,14 says, For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

While, Addy does have diabetes right now, I truly believe that one day there will be a cure…and that is where you come in. On October 17^th we will be participating in the JDRF Walk to cure diabetes. The walk will take place on the LSU campus and there will be food and games afterward. Anyone is welcome to walk with us in support of Addy and the other 3 million Americans who have Type 1 diabetes. We do have a new name this year. Although we love the creativity that brought about Team Addy we are very excited to announce our new team name is The A Team. Doesn’t Addy remind you so much of Mr. T? We also have team t-shirts this year. Jake and I are asking that you prayerfully consider donating financially to the JDRF, but you in no way have to donate in order to walk. T-shirts will be $10 and you can order one regardless if you are able or unable to walk with us on the 17th. Please let us know by October 1^st if you would like a T-shirt. You can register for the walk, donate online (which is tax-deductible), and learn more about the JDRF and diabetes at www.jdrf.org. Follow the Walk for a cure link in the center of the page. The simplest way to find our team is to click on Donate to a Walker (even if you aren’t donating), fill in “Cristy Rush” and “Louisiana” and then search. Please note also that when you sign up to walk it will ask you how much money you want to raise. Again, we are not pressuring anyone to give. Enter “0” if you choose not to donate. Please call me if you have any questions or concerns at 225-603-6943. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, for praying for our daughter and for being a part of our lives.

The Rush Family

Jacob, Cristy, Addy, Jack and Joe

And the winner is.....

ME!!!

After carefully considering all 3 names that were suggested as our new team name for the annual JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, I went out on a limb and came up with my own. Although I loved the suggestions of Team Kick-Diabetes-in-the-Face (Drew), Curb-stomp Diabetes (Jake) and Addy's Team (Ernie), they either seemed a little too drastic for kid's t-shirts or eerily familiar.
So, without further ado, our new team name is.....

the A team!

Simple and to the point, but still conveys a strong image. Mohawks and gold chains anyone??

Ashely Hawthorne designed our t-shirts for us and I believe she did an amazing job of making them exemplify Addy's personality.



Psalm 139:13,14 (which is on the bottom of the shirt) has really been on my heart for Addy this year. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. It is a reminder that God knew Addy would have this disease and that every part of her was perfectly put together. Perfectly! And it is also a reminder that in all the high's and low's of diabetes, we will praise Him.

Tomorrow I'll post the details for the walk.

Joe's got Talent

I'm not sure when it happened, but sometime within the last week, Joe's hair started getting curly!



...and he started standing on his own!





....and climbing on everything that I have deemed "un-safe!"






This one is for all of you who only know the serious Joe. See, he does smile!




Isn't he cute?!