Happy Birthday To Leenie

   Aaahhhhh (that is a happy sigh) it is Sunday. I am sitting in a pocket of sunshine in my dining room with my foot 'elevated.' Since I have given myself permission to stop attending church and to attempt to rest on Sundays the sunny days are soothing and the quiet as everyone else is at church is perfect for my nerves. My foot has this random infection which landed me in the ER last night to make sure I was not going to have to have it cut off at some point in life. I am being super dramatic by the way because it is not really badly infected.  Now I have my antibiotics prescription and the orders to ice and elevate and rest so my bases are covered.
    This week is a big one for my family of origin in that my parent's wedding anniversary is tomorrow and they are going to be thirty five. We got them a special gift this year and they are going away for a couple nights. However one year on their anniversary they received the most precious and special gift any parent could ever ask for and that was a baby girl they named Collena Kathryn. Tomorrow my sister turns another year older. She is the definition of a lot of words ~ creativity, perseverance, survival, sweetness, compassion, strength and much more.
   Recently our family received some rather shocking news but it helped put together pieces of the puzzle that we have always been missing for us. My siblings all suffer from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. It is a genetic disease that affects collagen formation in your body. It is characterized by many things but the doctors generally start by looking for double jointedness and stretchy skin. Every child in an affected family has a fifty fifty chance of getting it and everyone can get it to different degrees. I dont seem to have it but all my four siblings do. My April 11th sister has it the most seriously. It has affected so many areas of her life.She has had to fight from her beginning to live.  She has had to endure so much physical and emotional pain. She has had to decide every day to keep going and to not give up. She is an incredibly creative and talented girly. She sings amazingly, plays any instrument she puts her mind to, can dance like no one else in our family can, and writes songs that most could only dream of, and really is someone that could do anything she put her mind to. Her sickness has often tried to shackle her but every single time she has overcome. As humans we often try to down play or think we can comprehend what someone else is going through, but as we get older hopefully we realize that we can't. We offer words of advice tritely or in empathy but often they are empty to the one we are giving it to. She has had to endure this more than most of us and from people that should have known better. She has been so mistreated professionals that she should have been able to trust. She has had to try to hurtle mountains higher than are imaginable and go through valleys that none should ever have to.
   Every person has their own journey, their way of seeing life, their way of coping, and I would have to say that my sister is one of the best. She rises with the sun and she shines with the stars. She loves with her soul and she gives from her heart. I think each year that the world is gifted with her presence is a year that the world is especially blessed.  Leenie ~ you are a treasure ~ Have a Happy Birthday tomorrow ~ all my love~ xo