My Sister Dena

I just wanted to take a few minutes to write about Dena. She amazes me. I picked her and her fiance up at the airport on Tuesday following their 8 day cruise to Belize, Panama and Costa Rica. Now I don't know about you but this just blows me away. I flew for the first time alone in November and was a nervous wreck. She has done these type of things for years without her sight. I was thinking on the way home that I am nervous to fly to New York next week and find my way alone to the hotel. They just flew alone to Florida found their way to their hotel, the next morning to their boat, found their way to the day trips of the different islands, back to the ship, off the ship to the airport to fly home where I picked them up. They also went all over the cruise ship that had 10 floors, I can't imagine. She does all of this without a thought. She went by train New York 20 years ago, I tried to tell her how dangerous it was and not to go, but she didn't listen. She is independent and goes for whatever she wants. She has been 3 times to New Jersey to get seeing eye dogs, all so she could be independent. She has graduated from Ball State and has held the same job for I believe about 13 or 14 years. I am in awe of her. She has never given up, she has been a fighter since her pre-mature birth 42 years ago. She beat the odds and although she lived she lost her sight. She loves God and has never been bitter, she educates adults, she goes to schools to teach children about being blind and she is involved with community groups to provide better conditions for those who are handicapped. She was also woman of the year. What faith she has in God, has always had to move forward and trust Him, truly blind faith. I hope that someday I too can trust Him blindly and go forward in confidence and assurance. I love my sister and I don't tell her enough just how much she inspires me and how much I have always admired her. I am too afraid to do many things, afraid to fail, that has never been an issue for her. I am envious of her in many ways, and one of those is she sings like an angel. It is now just my sister and I, no mom, no dad, just us and today Dena if you read this, know I love you with all my heart, more than words and numbers can say - You are my BIG SIS and I need you.
Although I have mentioned a few of the things she has done and places she has been, there are many more, not to mention she is going to Las Vegas in July for an American Counsel for the Blind meetings, fearless I say, fearless.