{A Family Session in Livermore, Iowa}

My sister and her beautiful family! <3

Amber and I constantly fought when we were little. I’m not sure why…maybe it was the age difference? I am 4 years older than her and we were on different maturity levels. But now…we are as close as ever! We talk almost daily. Our kids are sooo close in age and this summer we have been spending a TON of time together, something that is a little hard to do when we live 2 hours apart. I wish we lived closer…we’d probably be inseparable. She’s been through a lot this year with my little niece Evey who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the beginning of the year and now, a special education teacher starting at new school during coronavirus times. I’m so impressed with how she and her husband, Brian, have adapted to the new changes with Evey. Testing, monitoring and administering insulin shots was such a huge learning curve, but through it all they have learned grace and to take each day by day knowing Evey’s insulin levels will hardly ever be perfect all of the time. Evey is such a strong little 4 year old! She’s been going through different treatments like a champ…much better then some adults I know! She’s so dang brave! Probably the best part of it all is that Evey is so young, her life will know no different when she gets older. She will have very few memories of life without diabetes that it’s almost a blessing because she won’t have anything to compare to. Type 1 is apart of her but it doesn’t define her and I know it WON’T slow her down!

Amber — I hope you take the grace and patience you have learned with Evey’s journey and apply it to the new school year during these crazy times. You are strong and so dang smart and you always succeed and I know this year you will come out even stronger and smarter than before! I just know there’s something waiting for you at the end of the school year and I cannot wait to see how you will prevail!!!! <3 <3