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?!

Continue Praying

I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers for my family over the last week. Please, please continue to pray for my sister and her kids Nathan, Lily and Logan. Specifically, that Misty will feel God's strength and peace and as she continues to mourn the loss of her husband. And for myself, that I wouldn't speak out of emotion to her, but that I would only speak God's truth.

Black and White (and color)

I have a new old past time that I can't believe I forgot about. I've recently discovered that all my old favorite movies live together on a wonderful channel called Turner Classic Movies.


Here's a new one that I just discovered:

Roman Holiday, which introduced Audrey Hepburn in 1953. It was so cute and cleverly done. I love that they kissed only twice, but didn't even need that to show that they were in love.



An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I have loved this movie for a long time. They fall in love on a cruise from Europe to New York and agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in 6 months if they still want to be with each other. Quirky and touching all at the same time.


Then there is this type of movie:

The Gidget movies started in 1959. I mean who doesn't like a good surfing and teenage romance movie? They were just so much fun.

I'm also ashamed to say that my mom and I watched most of the Elvis Presley movies. Each year they would have a marathon on TV and we'd tune in!

Then there are these:


Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961) was just beautiful. And although I didn't understand everything about South Pacific (1958) at the time, the music was lovely.

I sang chorus at our high school's production of both of those musicals and still to this day can remember the lyrics to most of the songs. Betcha didn't know that about me!

Sidenote: I just tried "Gonna wash that man right outta my hair" on jack and he smiled at me weirdly. I think I'm going to keep that hidden talent all to myself.

Each day, every moment

Addy started 1st grade today! . I had to put an exclamation point and a period after that sentence. The exclamation point because she was beyond excited and that makes me happy for her. The period because I have a little Addy sized hole in my house during the day now.


Pray for me!!



Addy begged to ride the bus to and from school this year, so we're trying it out this week to see how it goes. She looks so small getting on that bus.



Jack portrayed how I felt when Addy left on the bus. He let it out for both of us!


Then, to further help me, he ate toothpaste and started complaining that he didn't "felt better." After a quick call to poison control, we waited for him to throw up while snuggled on the couch together. Nothing like a good poison scare to take your mind off the sadness. He's completely fine, by the way.

Each step of her getting older seems so much harder than I thought it could be. I am reminded anew to treasure each day, every moment that I have with her. And poor Jack and Joe...hope they like quality time with their mom! I'll be like that creepy little mom from the children's book, I'll love you forever, who sneaks in her grown son's room to rock him while he's asleep.