Is the FDA taking control?

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2010

   Is the American Government taking control of our lives, as far as what we can eat and have access to for good nutrition?
 I still haven't read through this whole bill yet, but here it is for viewing.
Food Safety Modernization Act
  Here it is in summary-and it's long, so....

12/19/2010--Passed Senate amended. (This summary will be expanded.) FDA Food Safety Modernization Act -

Title I - Improving Capacity to Prevent Food Safety Problems

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to expand the food safety activities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), including to authorize the Secretary to inspect records related to food. Exempts certain establishments that sell food directly to consumers, such as roadside stands, farmers markets or participants in a community supported agriculture program, from specified requirements of this Act. Requires each owner, operator, or agent in charge of a food facility to identify and implement preventive controls to significantly minimize or prevent hazards that could affect food manufactured, processed, packed, or held by such facility. Sets forth provisions governing exemptions from such requirements for certain facilities. Requires the Secretary to: (1) issue guidance documents to reduce the risk from the most significant foodborne contaminants; and (2) establish minimum standards for the safe production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables based on known safety risks. Authorizes the Secretary to issue exemptions and variances from such standards. Directs the Secretary to assess and collect fees related to: (1) food facility reinspection; (2) food recalls; (3) the voluntary qualified importer program; and (4) importer reinspection. Directs the Secretary to develop voluntary food allergy and anaphylaxis management guidelines for schools and early childhood education programs.

Title II - Improving Capacity to Detect and Respond to Food Safety Problems

Requires the Secretary to: (1) allocate resources to inspect facilities and imported food according to the known safety risks of the facilities or food; and (2) establish a product tracing system to track and trace food that is in the United States or offered for import into the United States. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance foodborne illness surveillance systems to improve the collection, analysis, reporting, and usefulness of data on foodborne illnesses. Gives the Secretary the authority to order a recall of an article of food.

Title III - Improving the Safety of Imported Food

Requires U.S. importers to perform risk-based foreign supplier verification activities to verify that imported food is produced in compliance with applicable requirements related to hazard analysis and standards for produce safety and is not adulterated or misbranded. Requires the Secretary to establish a program to expedite review and importation of food offered for importation by U.S. importers who have voluntarily agreed to participate in such program. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) require a certification that an article of food imported or offered for import complies with applicable requirements of this Act; and (2) enter into arrangements and agreements with foreign governments to facilitate the inspection of registered foreign facilities. Requires food to be refused admission into the United States if permission to inspect the food facility is denied by the facility owner, operator, or agent or the foreign country. Sets forth provisions governing the establishment of a system to recognize bodies that accredit third-party auditors and audit agents to certify that foreign entities meet applicable FFDCA requirements for importation of food into the United States.

Title IV - Miscellaneous Provisions

Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2015 for the activities of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the Center for Veterinary Medicine, and related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Directs the Secretary to increase the field staff of such Centers and Office. Establishes whistleblower's protections for employees of entities involved in the manufacturing, processing, packing, transporting, distribution, reception, holding, or importation of food who provide information relating to any FFDCA violation. " 

(end summary)

Here are a few more information links to read over-

Alliance for Natural Health

Health Freedom USA

Farm to consumer

Info wars

Natura lnews.

   Well, I haven't read the whole proposed bill yet, so probably shouldn't comment, but if it's going to effect what I can grow in my back yard, or my local farmers, and the natural and nutritious foods out there, then, well, that's just wrong.
  In a nutshell, it appears we want our cake and we want to eat it too, without consequences.  We want some type of regulation to keep harmful additives, pesticides, and GMO's out of our food and products.  But, the same people setting those safety regulations, appear to be ignorant to what is harmful or not.  We already are battling to keep our homeopathic products.  We are already fighting to have foods labeled and additives that the FDA claims as  "safe", to be removed from our foods.  The list goes on, and it appears to be a losing battle.  That's my opinion on the FDA in general.  It leads around to some other things-like healthcare for everyone, for example.

Joy for Friends

   My friend gave me good news today.  They are expecting!  I am beyond happy for them.
 They lost their twins while pregnant and it was devastating.  Not sure if they would add to their already wonderful family, the past few months they decided to try, and were not having luck.
 All month I prayed for them.
 I prayed for a Christmas miracle.
 I asked GOD daily to give them the gift they so much hoped for.
 I lent my silent support, over the long distance between us.
 And tears flowed from my eyes as I saw her news.
 My heart sings and I am full of thankfulness.

A European look at Americans

   Here's an interesting tidbit my other half found.
America in Decline

America in Decline: Why Germans Think We're Insane

By Democrats Ramshield, AlterNet
Posted on December 26, 2010, Printed on December 30, 2010
http://www.alternet.org/story/149324/

As an American expat living in the European Union, I’ve started to see America from a different perspective.

The European Union has a larger economy and more people than America does. Though it spends less -- right around 9 percent of GNP on medical, whereas we in the U.S. spend close to between 15 to 16 percent of GNP on medical -- the EU pretty much insures 100 percent of its population.

The U.S. has 59 million people medically uninsured; 132 million without dental insurance;60 million without paid sick leave; 40 million on food stamps. Everybody in the European Union has cradle-to-grave access to universal medical and a dental plan by law. The law also requires paid sick leave; paid annual leave; paid maternity leave. When you realize all of that, it becomes easy to understand why many Europeans think America has gone insane."

 Click link for whole story.

Bits and pieces after Christmas

 Well, I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday.  I did.  But of course, it's back to the grind.  So many things have caught my eye the past few days.

   Our paper reports on 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2010

an article from the Atlantic, on how terrible the US school system is. Here it is, " Your Child Left Behind ".  I have yet to dig into it, but just from the reading I have done over the past year or so, and my observation of both children and young adults, I do have to wonder what is going on in public school.  I'm going to go on a limb and say that private has it's own set of problems as well.

   The news, had a few eye catching tidbits.  Apparently, milk based infant formula, contributes to obesity.  Formula's that increase weight gain, I did a little searching around on the type of substitute formula's that are recommended for those infants who can not tolerate milk.  I'll probably have a whole blog article on it, with the information I found.  How about this?  Let's just educate women and families about the benefits of Breastfeeding, the effects of formula, and help women accomplish breastfeeding and overcome any problems that arise.

    Here was another new bit-SIDs and New Years Day.  Well, who exactly is researching SIDS, what causes it, the contributing factors etc?  Every so many years, there is something new to do, to try to avoid SIDS.  That would bring us back around to the above mentioned formula, and a slew of other things.

    Lastly,  as you know, mom is here for a visit.  And as usual, she got a cold within a day of getting here, and insisting on taking some Alka Seltzer cold and flu.  I had to go and ask her why she took it, when the ingredients are horrible, and will do nothing but depress her immune system.  Oddly enough, my other half, mentioned to her later, the same thing, and that she's always sick for the whole time she visits, and she takes the medicine that is supposed to work.  We're trying to convince her to try our Borions homeopathic medicine.  But it led to a conversation about how she got a flue shot-hmm, okay.  I didn't think she ever got one.  Apparently so, because she had the Flue a few years back, pretty bad.  I told her the vaccine was not 100% effective, and what would she do if she got the flue anyhow?  So what you haven't had the flue in five years-it could be the vaccine, or it could be you just didn't catch it!  And that led to her comment that what we eat and surround ourselves with, doesn't really change our genes.  If we have bad genes, we have bad genes, regardless what the researches are saying.  Oddly enough, there was no reply when I said a vaccine contains cancer cells, and how are people contacting this cancer, who do not have direct contact with the specimen, but only via the vaccine?

  It's just interesting that some of the older generation completely lives by those, "Wives tales", and how their parents lived and are healthy, yet others, just could care less.  Why-because they are old and don't care any more.  Sigh.  Noting something-every time we have certain family members visit us for extended periods-even if they d not stay with us, they get a cold.  They take over the counter, regular cold medicine, because they say it works, and they have the cold for pretty much the duration they are here. This could be weeks, too. Maybe we cause allergies and colds?

Bits and Pieces after Christmas

  Well, I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday.  I did.  But of course, it's back to the grind.  So many things have caught my eye the past few days.
   Our paper reports on an article from the Atlantic, on how terrible the US school system is. Here it is, " Your Child Left Behind ".  I have yet to dig into it, but just from the reading I have done over the past year or so, and my observation of both children and young adults, I do have to wonder what is going on in public school.  I'm going to go on a limb and say that private has it's own set of problems as well.
   The news, had a few eye catching tidbits.  Apparently, milk based infant formula, contributes to obesity.  Formula's that increase weight gain, I did a little searching around on the type of substitute formula's that are recommended for those infants who can not tolerate milk.  I'll probably have a whole blog article on it, with the information I found.  How about this?  Let's just educate women and families about the benefits of Breastfeeding, the effects of formula, and help women accomplish breastfeeding and overcome any problems that arise.
    Here was another new bit-SIDs and New Years Day.  Well, who exactly is researching SIDS, what causes it, the contributing factors etc?  Every so many years, there is something new to do, to try to avoid SIDS.  That would bring us back around to the above mentioned formula, and a slew of other things.

Christmas Eve

  Mom is here.  Well, she's my mother in law.  I don't have much of a relationship with my mother.
Anyhow, she's here and was a great surprise to the kids.  They are thrilled, and I admit, I am happy as well.  It's been too long.
  So.....
Christmas Eve

   The stockings are not hung, by the mantel, as we don't have one, but shall be laid out with the gifts, under the tree in the morning.  There are a few gifts to wrap yet, and to be honest, the kids had only asked for a few, so I think they will be surprised, at the few extra they find.  Not that gifts make Christmas, but if I'm not able to find the two things they want the most, then...I remember, as a child, some Christmas', wishing I could have traded the few gifts I received, for just that one I had really wanted.

  But, that is then, and this is now.  I do feel melancholy, as I do each Christmas.  Just a bit, mind you.  I don't know, it just creeps up, when I start thinking about certain things.  Today, the song, "O Holy Night", came on and brought me to tears.  I could not stop thinking of both my grandfather, whom I feel truly accepted me for who I was, and our lost baby.

  So....
  Christmas Eve is here.
 I'm enjoying watching, "A Christmas Story", which I think is pretty funny.
And I'm wishing all my friends and family,
 a wonderful Christmas.

Life, Death and Rebirth

   Sigh, I admit, I do still fall into bouts of sadness here and there.  Our family recently lost a great man.  He was eighty years old, sixty of those years married.  He has children and grandchildren.  He was involved with the community.  Now, just days before Christmas, with his passing, I'm sure the family is thinking of another loss.  The loss of a great woman, who was a great-grandmother, grandmother and mother, on Christmas day, ten years ago.  See, holidays and death.
  Selfishly, today, as I was looking at our Christmas tree, I was overcome with sadness.  Partly, because this is a funeral we will not be able to attend, and say goodbye.  And because it reminds me that we didn't have any type of memorial for our unborn infant, that we lost last year.
 I feel robbed of a proper goodbye.
 I feel robbed, of not having a first ornament on our tree, or a new one this year.
 I feel robbed of not having a newborn picture on the wall, next to the other boys.

Pickles, Polysorbate 80 and vaccines as birth control

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2010

  What?  Most pickles have the following ingredients-High fructose corn syrup, polysorbate 80 and food coloring.  Why, do pickles need this?  HFCS is linked to mercury poisoning, weight gain, and various other problems.  I was shocked to see Polysorbate 80, also known as Tween 80 as an ingredient.  Polysorbate has many studies done, and connections to infertility, and anaphylactic shock.  Gee, I had no idea.  I knew Polysorbate 80 was connected to infertility, and there is a lot of discussion about it, because it is in various vaccines, but it's also in our food.  I just didn't realize it was in pickles.   I'm glad I recheck labels every so often.  Just think of all the people with fertility problems, and then the fact a lot of food, has P80 in it-and not just processed foods any longer.


    Now, as for vaccines and birth control.  Polysorbate 80 is in the following vaccines-all but 1 of the DTap, HPV (Gardasil), 2 Flue vaccines, Japanese Encephalitis, Prevnar 13, Rotateq, and Tdap.  Amazing isn't it?  Just on the anaphylactic shock alone-it makes me wonder at least, the connection of infants going into anaphylactic shock after a vaccine as well as the young women receiving the HPV vaccine.  But, since vaccines are untouchable, the connection is not acknowledged freely by the medical community. Yet, if you read the inserts, some of them state that if your child has had a breathing reaction, to go to the hospital to receive the vaccines, so doctors can be on standby, just in case the child stops breathing.  I suppose that's as close as they'll come in admitting a vaccine will do that.  
  Getting off track here.  Here is an interesting tidbit I uncovered, while reading about P80. 
HcG found in vaccines!
" 

However, when introduced into the body coupled with a tetanus toxoid carrier, antibodies will be formed not only against tetanus but also against hCG. In this case the body fails to recognize hCG as a friend and will produce anti-hCG antibodies. The antibodies will attack subsequent pregnancies by killing the hCG which naturally sustains a pregnancy; when a woman has sufficient anti-hCG antibodies in her system, she is rendered incapable of maintaining a pregnancy."

  It simply amazes me, and it shouldn't.  So, we not only are battling Polysorbate 80, in both our food and vaccines, but how many Tetnus vaccines contained or still may contain Hcg?  How many people are being effected by fertility problems due to these few things?  Of course, I feel other things may contribute, but when we are bombarded by commercial after commercial of the "One Less", for Gardasil, and all these young women receiving the vaccine-how many will face fertility problems?  And now, of course it's slated for our boys to get as well.  How many infants received the Dtap?  Millions.
  I'm not looking for a reason not to vaccinate-the studies are right there-we just aren't told about them.

Who Santa Isn't

  Well, my Santa lie came back to bite me.  A little.  One of my kids asked me today, that if Rudolph wasn't real, why was Santa?  The answer came about as we read stories before bed.  We read,
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Little Drummer Boy
Charlie Brown's Christmas

 Now, I do have issues with the Grinch.  Mainly, that he Steals everything from the Who's, and there is no reprecution.  So, it's okay to steal, and not get into trouble?  Even after he brings everything back?  That's sure some forgiveness on the Who's part.  But, in the end, he gets it right.  Christmas, is not about Santa and gifts, ribbons and trappings.  It's about something greater.  Something the Who's rejoice in, despite the fact they wake up to empty houses.
   In the Drummer Boy-he is poor.  Leading the song are the Magi, which led to a side discussion of their story and Jesus' birth.  When we got to the part where he had no gift to bring, my kids pointed out that he played a song, that was a gift of Love.
  That story led to the Charlie Brown Christmas, because we had spoken of the angles appearing to the Magi.   Charlie Brown hates Christmas.  He hates the commercialism that has become it.  It's how I feel.  Christmas feel ruined, a lot the time.  Frankly, I didn't know why we decorated trees or hung garland.  Growing up,  I was told we gave gifts to celebrate Christ's birth, and to replicate the Magi giving gifts.  They stand by it to this day, and would never consider that Christmas was placed on a Pagan holiday.  No way. Anyhow, Linus goes on to explain that Christmas should be about Christ our Lord, peace and good tidings.  Charlie Brown eventually feels better, when his friends come around, as they help him.
   So, did the Santa question get answered?  Not exactly.  I never came out and said there was no guy in a red suit.  But we talked about what Christmas is about-Family and Love and celebrating Christ's birth, even though he was not born on Dec 25th.  About how people become sucked into buying things they do not need, and that it's better to give and help others, who do not have.
   I hope that my kids will have a stronger and better understanding of Christmas as they grow up, instead of being entrapped into the commercialism of it all.

Midwives and birth choices

 So, in reading the story of the drummer boy tonight, it made me realize that Mary was not surrounded by nurses and and an Obgyn there to catch the baby.  More likely, if she was not alone with her husband, then she was surrounded by other women of the village, in helping her deliver her baby.  There are various versions of  the birth out there.
  But the whole birthing thought brought to my attention the benefits of midwives.  Here is the video that I viewed the other day.  "Why Chose a Midwife"  When I think back to the care I received from a hospital birth with Obgyn care, versus midwife care, there is no comparison.  And I didn't have a cesarean, but was almost given an emergency one.  When I think of the cost alone of one vs the other, it's also amazing.  It would have cost me $7-10,000 for a hospital birth (possibly counting a cesarean), and it was under $4,000 for a midwife birth.  I'm not saying that cost should be a deciding factor, but just showing a comparison of the cost I would have faced.

Cesarean rates are also climbing in the US.  This article here, on cesarean sections seems to cover it spot on.  I speak to many women who are induced and end up having a cesarean.  Most of these are first time moms.  There is only a small percent of women who will not go into labor.  Once 40 weeks comes, doctors seem to get impatient.  They start talking of cesareans, or induction.  Some midwives will speak of natural induction as well.  For me, anything that messes with the hormones, would have to be greatly weighed, especially for impending birth.  One reason is because the 40 week due date, is done by a standard, 28 day cycle calculation.  Many women have cycles either shorter or longer, and so their due date, is not going to be when the chart says.  I know some women who were told in their first prenatal visits that they would have a cesarean-from the Obgyn.  Reasons-hips too small, mother had a cesarean because she didn't go into labor, or early bleeding in the first trimester.  These women never had a choice, really, at what type of birth they wanted, because immediately, the doctor put in their mind, to have a cesarean.

  Another reason- because the baby might be too big.  Well, if you don't let a woman go into labor, so the pelvic bones can move, how do we know if the baby is too big?  But, doctors don't mention that.  I feel that doctors DO, have a very casual attitude about cesareans.  Two good things are that Vbacs are being done, though the rates are not as high as they used to be, and that the National Institute of Health had a conference about cesareans this year. This is their  Vbac statement.   I still talk to women who have had a cesarean, and still are decided to have another one, should they have another child.  These women have their doctor, once again, reminding them of why they had a cesarean the first time, and will probably have one again.

Now, for my experiences, which I would like to share.  Cesarean was never brought up by my obgyn.  Not until the birth of our first child.  Looking back, I can honestly say we were bullied, being first time parents.  We basically did what the doctor suggested.  Even though, I had questions about some of the things-repeated ultrasounds and stress tests being two of the main things.  My child apparently wasn't big enough for them, and put the fear into us, that he was not developing correctly.  Hmm, possibly my date of conception was off?  Possibly, all the stress they were placing on me was having an effect?  Possibly, the fact that both my husband and I are small people, might have had an impact? I didn't like all this extra stress, and by my seventh month, was having preterm contractions, and placed on partial bed rest.  I believe both the stress and what I now know to not be the best nutrition, were factors.  I also did not like, that I hardly ever saw my obgyn.  I saw him for perhaps 10-15 minutes a visit.  By my 37th week, my blood pressure started to rise.  Once again, I believe it was stress and nutrition.  I'm not saying I ate horribly, but from what I know of nutrition now, it wasn't the best.

   Speaking with my obgyn, I made it clear that I did not want induced.  I did not want an episiotomy.  I did not want any pain medication.  I wanted to be able to walk around. I was going to breastfeed.  No one was to touch my child.

Well, on my due date, we were sent to the hospital yet again, for yet another ultrasound, because I failed the stress test.  Instead, we promptly checked in after arriving and I was hooked up to an iv, and told to stay in bed.  And induction was to be started-Pitocin, and my water was broken.  At this point, I had no idea we could refuse this, and by now, things were moving too fast, and pretty much out of my control.  I couldn't walk around, and the Pitocin

  Now, you'd think that finally being allowed to push, or rather, my body that was taken over by the Pitocin and doing it's own pushing, would deliver the baby quite promptly.  Not so.  The epidural set in, the baby's heart rate plummeted, and my legs went numb at the same time.  I felt useless.  I was told an episiotomy had to be done (which I partly felt), or we would have an emergency cesarean.  In seconds the baby was out.  Was fine.  I was not happy with the pushing on my uterus after to deliver the placenta.  But, I finally got my baby, and he latched right on to nurse.  Immediately after that though, and by this time the obgyn was gone, the staff took him to the nursery.  Also not in my birth plan.  This was supposed to be a baby friendly hospital, too.

   The after effects of being induced and given an epidural-an awful migraine, feeling and looking drugged up.  My blood pressure sky rocketed.  I was not allowed to nurse my child, and didn't see him until about six hours after he was born.  By this time he'd been given formula without my consent, because his sugar was low.  Well, so is mine, and the nurses promptly apologized when they found that out, and that I was nursing.  That led to a whole other set of breastfeeding and gut problems for the first few weeks. My obgyn-he got points for saying I could go home the next day.  I didn't see him until my six week check up.

   Now, lets fast forward a few years to our second child.  Because of the birth experience the first time, I had immediately searched for breastfeeding support and an attached parent group when I got home.  So I knew my birth options the second time.  I did call my ob, but I interviewed two midwives, on the recommendations of some friends and other moms.  My concern was my husband would not go along with this.  But he realized how pissed I was about the first time, and he must have done his own research.  He went with me to meet the final choice, and was very happy with them.  There were two midwives and an assistant.  My visits with them-at least 30 minutes.  We talked about prior births, family history, my nutrition (which was so much better, since I had started researching epigenetics not long after the first birth), my birth plan, my fears about the pregnancy etc.  I was worried my blood pressure would go up again-instead it dropped.  I had to monitor it a few times, but all I had to do was check it myself.  There were no stress tests.  There was 1 ultrasound, which  I think could have been opted out of.  The glucose test was done via meal, which is more accurate.  I did not have preterm labor.  I had 2 due dates-one for the silly calculator, and one by when I knew to be the more accurate date.  We had back up plans in place, if we went to 42 weeks. I was told the obgyn they used would want to do a cesarean after 42 weeks, if labor didn't start via induction of either breaking the water, or trying other "natural" things. I was able to call or visit my midwives any time I needed.  On my 39th wk check up, my midwife said she'd see me the next week, because even though the baby was low, and had been, there was no real dilation or effacement, though in my first pregnancy, I did have quite a bit near the end.  Ironically, we called her the next morning, as I was in full labor.  That goes to show, that even if not dilated or effaced, baby can come.  We had our second birth at the birth center.  This time, my body was able to adjust to the increasing contractions and strength of them, naturally.  I was able to breathe and focus.  I was able to control the pain, because my body naturally made room, on it's own.  If I had been able to function as far as walking, like the early stages of labor, I would have.  And I would have made use of the birthing tub.  But my body went quickly through the stages, and I was still able to adjust.  There was no episiotomy.  There was warm massage with oil to help stretch and make room, so there would be no tearing.  Baby was born pretty quickly-same time frame as the first induced birth actually, but it was so much better.  My midwives endorsed breastfeeding, and since I was, they asked after a few minutes if I would try nursing, to help birth the placenta.  How nice that was-I barely felt it compared to the first time.

  An interesting thing about this birth-my child was facing Occiput Posterior, and was still delivered quickly, with no birthing problems.  He just felt, "lodged" at one point.  I felt like I couldn't push him out, and now I know why.  That position is supposed to be a hard labor, with back pain.  I believe, if we had been in a hospital, I would have been pushed into a cesarean.  Especially, if I had the same obgyn, and no support.  My midwife never mentioned this about the baby's position, because she didn't want to stress me out.  I honestly didn't grasp the significance of the "easy" birth, with this position, until I spoke with some other moms.

  So, other than a wonderful birth experience and support system-I got to keep my baby next to me from the start.  I was able to breastfeed at any time.  I had no real vaginal pain, because there was no tearing or cutting.  I was able to get up, walk and take a shower, and not be drugged up, needing assistance.  I went home the same day, and felt so great, my family had to keep telling me to sit down and relax!  I got to see my midwife the next day.  Also for my six week check up, and I was able to call them at any time, prior to that, if needed.  How fantastic is that?  When does an obgyn do that?

   Lastly, I have to say, that when we became pregnant the third time, resulting in a loss, from being in a car accident, those midwives were there for me-for us.  I have since lost track of the number of times I called them for something.  They had me come in for a check up-free of charge.  I went in for some counselling-also free of charge.  I cried on their shoulders.  I felt peace in their arms.  I was able to just talk, talk, and more talk, about everything that happened, and why.  I got calls from them to see how I was.  We received a sympathy card.  I do not know a regular obgyn who would do that.  Perhaps if they are a family friend, or had been your ob for years, but not a regular obgyn.

  I recommend the midwives we had to everyone, and if they don't live here, at least inform them of the birth choices out there.  Where to find information.  I tell them my story if they want to listen.  Because we are women, and we are strong.  We are powerful.  We have been giving birth for years without medical intrusion. If we Know our Choices, and have support, we can have wonderful births.  This does apply to cesareans and vbacs as well.  We can make our experiences better, and pass it on to our children.  Let them see that birth is a natural thing, and not to be feared.

Time

  Well, I'm actually finding it hard, to find time, to blog daily.  I do so much research, that by the end of the day, I haven't composed what I would like to say, if it's about something I'm working on.  So, by this time, I have fragments dancing around, for the most part.  Or, we've just been busy, and I'm tired by the end of the day, and do not want to turn on my pc.
  Take today. I'm wondering why if people do something, they seem to automatically assume, that I will too.  It can be a little annoying.  I'm not of the herd, mindset.  I'm trying to change the world we live in.  No matter how small a step we create, perhaps it will cause waves.
  Or, take the whole Christmas season.  Why are we telling our children that there is a Santa?  And yes, again, I do believe in Santa, just not the guy in the red suit, but as a Christmas Spirit. It's something that even as my kids color pictures of Santa, and watch a holiday cartoon, I try to instill why we as a family celebrate Christmas. But, aren't we still  lying by telling them there is a guy flying around with reindeer? Is it a harmless lie?
  So what do I do?  I mainly just brush off the comments on what people do, unless it's going to pertain directly to me, or I feel a bit strongly about something, and then will proceed to comment. For Christmas, I'm going to enjoy my family, like every year.
  
 

Life and Love

    It's interesting the things that make people come together.  The holidays are supposed to.
Weddings.  Births. Sickness.  Funerals.  When more than one of those coincide with each other, you have either joy, sadness or both.
  As a family, we have been through all of those, most of them joyous, but there is always the remembrance of the sad ones.  This year, our family comes together, not only for the holidays, but to gather around a loved one.  Plans get put on hold and changed.
 It makes me wonder why people wait for the last minute to gather around.  When, each day, anything can happen.
We should celebrate life daily, embrace it to the fullest.
We should love our family and our friends.
Above all, we should let them know that, and often.

Crashing before Christmas

  Well, I did get the page break to work.  I ended up having a double post due to messing around with everything.
   So, my mother in law will be here in just four days.  I am looking forward to this visit-a lot.  We haven't seen her in a year, and that's the longest we've ever gone without seeing her. The kids are super excited.  I'm looking forward to finally relaxing, as I've been on burn out the past few weeks.
More aptly put-
Crashing down before Christmas.
  It's my hope that while she's here, I can get back on track to setting time for myself in our day.
Time to run
 Time to relax
To take a look at this past year and see what we have accomplished and what we need to work on.
Time to just enjoy our family, with no constraints.

Editing

  I have a post, really, I do.  And it's a long one.  Since it is, and I have a few others, I went searching for how to shorten them.  But, as it's late, and I'm having to read through all these html codes, my eyes are crossing.  I also have holiday cards I've yet to address, and would like to mail them tomorrow.  I'm realizing Christmas is the end of next week.  Yikes!
 

Belief in Santa

  I believe in Santa.  Yes, that's right, I do.  To my defense, I've met the guy once.  No, he doesn't leave me gifts under the tree.  He leaves the Christmas Spirit.  That amazing gift of hope and peace.  Yes, I'm still talking of Santa.   I was Christmas shopping a few years ago, and out of the crowd there was this one man.  Looked like Santa to me, minus the red coat and hat.  Had this glow about him, this knowledge.  He told me that everything was going to be okay.
  Now, I suppose he could have been an angel.  He could have been a messenger of God, who looked like Santa.  When you look at the history of St Nicholas, perhaps the bishop had some of God's grace, and it was passed on?  Perhaps I had the flue and was hallucinating?  Or overtired from working two jobs.  Either way, I tell my kids Santa is real.  We read, "The Polar Express", tonight.  While I don't recommend children hopping on a train that stops in front of their house, the book ends with the child stating that as he got older, his friends and family stopped hearing the ringing of the bell, that he asked Santa for.  But he could always here it, and those that truly believed, still could.
  I don't so much believe that it is Santa he is referring, though that's a pretty magical thing for kids I think.  But I feel it's about the Christmas Spirit.  Because if you stop believing in hope, forgiveness, love and life, what is there?

Hot cocoa and bread

   Nothing like a good cup of hot cocoa.  Since we are primarily dairy free in our house, my cocoa tonight is made from half Dark Chocolate Almond milk and half regular Almond milk.  I had no cream, but it's good just the way it is.  The boys love it.  They have never liked hot cocoa before.  I would chalk it up to age, but even the youngest loves it, and he doesn't even like cold chocolate milk.  I have a recipe to make hot cocoa from scratch, that is pretty good.  But for a quick, easy cup, the Almond milk seems to hit the spot.
   I enjoy fresh bread too.  It warms the house up as you bake it, and it tastes good.  I'm on the search for a good bread recipe, and can not find one.  I'm determined to find a recipe, so I no longer have to purchase bread.  Even the bread from the bakery has what seems to be a ton of ingredients.  Perhaps I'm not cut out to be a bread baker?  We shall see.  Though, succeeding, come summer, having a hot house isn't at the top of my list :)

Family Christmas

      A friend mentioned that she loves the holiday season, because it's about family, and that's what makes it so special.  I couldn't agree more, and why I usually love Christmas as well. 

 There are a few that really stand out. 

 There are some I'd like to forget. 

   Last year we traveled across the US to be with our family and friends for the holiday.  It was pretty cool.  We got to play in the snow, and the kids had a blast.  This year, my mother in law will be visiting us.  Which is wonderful, as I miss her, and otherwise we'd be alone for the holiday.  It should be a nice, relaxing holiday.  I'm counting on it, after the year it's been.  We are an almost whole family this year.  I don't feel as broken, and last year, we almost were.  It makes me think of one of my favorite Christmas songs, "O Holy Night", and the lines, "A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."  How true it is.  How true it is.

What Children Learn

  I just wanted to share this poem today.  I'm having one of those burned out mom days, where my brain feels fried.  I read about Tetnus over coffee this morning, but the day was pretty much all kid stuff.  School, library, play, lunch, then co op.  By dinner I think we were all burned out.  And it seems everyone I know has either had a baby last month, or having one this month.  While I am happy, it also hurts. I'm having a tough time keeping things sorted out, in a way, as the holiday approaches.  But since my day was mainly about the kids, it made me think of this poem.

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

Tis the season for colds

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010

     It's cold season.  We've had a cold already.  Most people I know, treat colds in a homeopathic way, with herbs and teas.  But in the past few weeks, I've spoken to a few moms who told me they use Triaminic for their kids. One mom (and she knows better), even used it just to get her kid to sleep.  And, of course it had the opposite reaction, and caused the child to go stir crazy (one of the side effects).  What stands out about these situations, is that the children are all under 4yrs of age. Let's look at something on the Triaminic Warning. It states clearly, not to use in children under four years old, or to intentionally use to, "make the child sleepy".  Does no one read the warning labels? And how about the- side effects.  Seriously, just reading down the list of warning and side effects is enough to make me NOT want to purchase it.  One of the main ingredients, dextromethorphan,   was under investigation for the FDA to mandate a script for it.  Triaminic, seems to put the blame on teens.  Yet, parents are very much at fault. How many are giving this to children under the recommended age limit, or giving, "just because"?  Another dangerous ingredient in most cough syrups, Triaminic included, is Acetaminophen Tylenol.  And how many parents are using infant and child Tylenol for mild fevers, ear aches, teething etc?  At one time I had infant Tylenol in my house, but only used it a few times.  I did not know the dangers of it.  But it felt wrong giving it to my child, especially for a fever of all things. Fevers are needed to heal the body.  I think I only used it twice before throwing it away and learning to treat ailments naturally, so I didn't have to worry about the damage caused by these other medicines. 



  So who is to blame? The parents?  In my opinion, the parents who dish this stuff out like candy are at fault. I feel there need to be stronger warning labels on the products, if they aren't going to be mandated to need a prescription.  But, then if it comes down to needing a prescription for cough medicine, what would people do who can't afford medical care?  How many people know about homeopathic cold care?  How many pediatricians actually go over the warnings of cough medicines?  
  These are two of the things we turn to when a cold or illness hits our house.  Even my husband, who has in the past been stuck on traditional medicines and antibiotics, has come around for the most part. 
   Borion  is a fantastic homeopathic medicine. For those concerned parents who care what the FDA thinks, Borion is FDA approved.  They carry both a child and adult line.  Though, I did discover that one store had doubled the cost of the flue medicine for the adult box, even though it was the same as the child's version.  So make sure to check the boxes/doses before purchasing.   One other fantastic homeopathic remedy are the Traditional Medicinals Tea.  The cold care and kids line products are fantastic.  
    Homeopathic medicine has been around for a long time.  Herbs have been around far longer than pharmaceutical companies. There are many doctors who use homeopathic medicine in their practice, specialize in it, or use both traditional and homeopathic medicines.  Sort of combining both worlds, which is a good place for those not sure about giving up the "traditional" pain meds we are used to.  

To Declutter

   My thought tonight is cleaning out the clutter. Only because I have a bit on my mind, that's not quite composed yet. Some bits would be the benefits of breastfeeding, as it applies to proper nutrition and diseases it can help prevent, like Type 1 Diabetes.  Also how the Rotoshield vaccine is connected to it.
  So, that's one thing on my mind this week. That and the pure craziness of media that is geared toward children. I feel like all I can do is shake my head. I've realized that if kids don't watch tv, or sit in front of a computer or video game, they find other things to do,  don't buy into commercialism, and neither do the parents.  They are more relaxed, more creative, and more family oriented as well. Christmas seems to triple the amount of craziness in people.  Our culture seems to become obsessed about things. Things they probably don't even need or want.  But it's right there in your face, starting around Halloween.

This and That

 Okay, so what am I writing about? What am I sharing?
   It's only the beginning of December, yet I am asking myself that already.  I have a bit of pain and loss I am yet dealing with, and have friends dealing with the same, with whom I can share in understanding.
   As a home school  mom, finding my way, I find that I have things I want to share about our days. Just as a stay at home mom in general, I find that there is a lot to talk about.
   But I also find myself immersed in epigenetics, vaccines and medicines.
 All of those are me. I thought about trying to separate them, into different blogs, and I do have separate topic pages, but for daily thoughts, I can't really separate them. You see, everything is connected, and is our family.  Dealing with the loss of an infant, brings about our emotional health.  Not only as a family, but how it effects a marriage directly.  What we eat and what we surround ourselves with-epigenetics-can have a direct impact on our physical health, as well as our emotional health. Which leads to choices we make as a family, like vaccines, medicine and home schooling. What do we want our children surrounded by? What can we give them, or not give them? What is safe and healthy for all of us? And can we help others in the process?
  So, I suppose at this point, my blog is a mixture of things. I imagine a week will be filled with both journalism, as well as general thoughts about our family life, unless there is nothing particularly newsworthy.

Star Light, Star Bright

    I don't have much to talk about today. I usually make a point of not turning on the news or pc on Sunday's. Though, Sunday is a day where my thoughts tend to compose themselves for the week. Sort of find slots in my mind until they are needed.  Anyhow,

    I find myself once again, standing outside, in the night, staring at the starry night. It's bright around us, so it takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, to fully see the night sky.
The beauty of it
The vastness of it
In the summer, I can see Venus on the horizon, but tonight I can't find it
I imagine the winter sky above my sister's house tonight to be almost black
  the starts shining brightly; the country sky
It's a reminder of what the sky was like in the desert, or over the vast ocean
I'm drawn to the stars and what I find there

  

Rudolph..a child's first look into conforming?

   Hmmm, Rudolph may be a nice deer, but the holiday cartoon sure isn't. And at one time in my life I believed it to be okay. I looked forward to watching it as a child. As I grew up, I got it that you are supposed to be nice. And hey, everything works out in the end, right?  But what damage is done?

Tree Traditions?

     We don't have a tree decorating tradition. Growing up, our house didn't have one. I would like to have one.
  My best friend did have a tree tradition, at least I'm pretty sure she did, growing up. And oddly enough, I can't recall the details. I remember getting the tree, placing it in front of the French doors, and that evening we decorated it, as a family. We all had ornaments, and being my first year, I had a few of my own as well. I distinctly remember a moose, of all things. It was the first ornament that was ever mine. That was the year I lived with them, my other family. Though, by that time, things had changed between us already, and there was a growing distance and conflict. Looking back, I feel like it was that line, of being young and stupid. I'm not positive how much of that was reality, but I do know I pushed them away, which was stupid. That her and I let people and things come between us. Now, over a decade later, we are acquaintances at best. We have miles between us, and not just mountains and streams. At Christmas, I sometimes wonder if they decorate the tree with that moose, or do they keep it packed away, and the memories with it.

Oh Christmas Tree

    Well, we have our tree. It's a rather large tree, but our boys proclaimed in to be, "The Perfect Christmas Tree", and we couldn't refuse. Even though I had my doubts about the size, I was outnumbered three to one. The third being my husband, who was saying that the seven/eight foot trees looked a better size, than the five/six foot ones.
   So, now there is a huge, in my opinion, tree in our living room. It touches the ceiling.  And, it's a very full tree. Unadorned, it looks misplaced. A little lonely.  I know, that once we add on the colorful lights and ornaments, it will look better.  Have a bit of that Christmas magic. Bring those glorious smiles to the faces of our little guys.
   I wish there were three, I really do. If I let myself dwell on it, my chest starts to feel heavy, and my heart seems to crumble. I blink back the tears.  I hope in some of that Christmas magic, that things will be right this upcoming year. That perhaps this emptiness I feel, will be filled with new life.
   Looking at this large tree makes me realize we made a good choice. Because how many years before the amazement of what is, "The biggest tree ever", wears off? Only until they grow so tall, right? It's something I hope they never forget, and will tell their children about one day.

Christmas Begins

       For our family, the Christmas holiday has now begun. The boys are excited about everything this year. They couldn't wait to unwrap all the decorations and put them out. They are impatiently awaiting the day we go pick out a tree. I hear them humming Christmas songs as they color and play. I hear their unrestrained laughter, as they play with garland and snow globes, so free and alive, so innocent.  I don't think there is any sound like the laughter of a child.  Or the look of pure love and happiness that radiates from their faces.  I hope the world never gives them reason to hide who they truly are. An unrealistic idea, perhaps, but not impossible.

    

  

The Not Thanksgiving

   I would have to say that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Christmas, coming a close second.
With Christmas, I usually feel an unsettled energy moving around.
But with Thanksgiving, you get the family and friends, and not have all the commercialism.
You just get a table laden with good food and company-usually. We haven't spent too many Thanksgivings alone, since moving. One or two.

   Last year I didn't want to have Thanksgiving, but did, and it was exactly what I needed.  It was great having family around. It was the therapy I needed.
   This year, we are alone for the holiday. It was a little strange. We had all caught a virus last week, so in a way, it turned out we wouldn't have had company anyhow. And despite us not feeling well, I still bought a turkey, and made dinner. And home made pumpkin pie-which was requested by my son. We all sat down.

And didn't eat.

   Didn't eat! I think my son and I ate a few bites, which was more than the other two people at the table. I told my husband it was the saddest Thanksgiving yet, that we've had. All this food-which granted, I shouldn't have made-and no one was hungry. We all are feeling crappy.

  In the back of my mind, I thought that might happen. But I wanted to bring at least part of Thanksgiving into our home. It's like Thanksgiving didn't happen. Except that I spent most of the day in the kitchen.  Only because I kept trying various baking recipes to try, so it wasn't a complete waste. I watched the parade with my boys this morning.

  Today was just the Thanksgiving that wasn't.

One Month

    I'm challenging myself.
Can I post daily for one month?
What would I talk about?
Usually thoughts I want to share only strike every few days. Since I'm starting this blog for a reason,
I feel I need to challenge myself.
But...

 I'm not starting until December.

At the end of December, I might have to take a break.

Maybe I'll find a writing nitch.

Perhaps something exciting will happen-hey, it might snow!

Either way, I believe at the end of the month, I'll have found something within myself.

A Tangled thought on marriage

  We celebrated our eight year anniversary recently.
  It has caused me to reflect on our years together, events that have happened.

I keep thinking about those couples you meet, or see in a movie. Ones from old times of Italy,
 or Greece, where marriages were arranged. Strangers living together in a house, having a family, and eventually, become a home. Becoming a couple who not only respects each other, but loves each other.

  I feel like we are the start of that couple. How is that possible after knowing each other for a decade?  What have we been leading up to this point?  We have a family now, and own a house. We moved in search of better careers.
  Yet along the way, we've become different people. All people change. How do you not change in two years, let alone ten?  Would we date if we were to meet each other, being the people we are today? Would we have anything in common? Or is it the differences that keep people together?

  We both said the same thing though, on our anniversary. We were happy to be here, because we almost were not. The past year was filled with enough trials, harsh words, tears, anger and mistrust, that I'm not sure how we got through it. We are slowly healing. We are learning to trust again. We know we love each other.

  But I think love is always changing. And I know if I chose not to analyze it, it becomes something else. It becomes a life force of it's own.

On cord blood, flying and the flue

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010

  This week a few headlines caught my eye, and at first I sort of stewed over a few, but have since collected my thoughts and started sweeping out the dust.


On Cord Clamping

    First I saw a headline about newborn cord clamping, and I brushed past that, until I saw it again. Now really, it's not rocket science, to wait to clamp the cord until it is finished pulsing. (this actually comes up every few months, so not new at all)  Midwives have been doing this delayed clamping for years. Some Obgyns actually do too. If you don't know what cord clamping is, Empowered Childbirth has a nice write up on it- http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/articles/birth/noclamp.html . WHO, supposedly has been recommending it. But, when I think back, I was never told about this-from any of the Obgyns  I met. Why not?  I blindly trusted my dr, being a first time parent and all. I didn't find out about the different birth choices, until I searched for a breastfeeding support group, the day we brought our son home. With the approach of our second son, I was better prepared, and we let the cord go until it was done pulsing. Though, he was born in a birth center, so the whole scene was very different, than that of a hospital. Delayed cord clamping can also be done with Cesareans, though I doubt that info comes up in the dr's office much. Also, if I wanted to collect cord blood, and delay clamping, that is possible as well.

 Road Trips

  Awhile ago I saw about the body scanners at the airport. You can of course opt out of this and  get a pat down. Now, yesterday and today, I see that TSA has a new pat down policy. I wonder how long it will stay in place. Apparently, if you opt out of the scan, you will now be patted down quite "personally", as a nice way to put it. Front of hand pat down.  At the moment, children under 12 are excluded. Yet, there is no exact description of the new policy. I think if there were, more people would be in an outrage than there already is. What exactly is okay about any of this? Nothing!  The body scan bothered me from the start, and  there is already a leak of images out there. http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=139918  Well, are the images stored or aren't they? What are they going to do with them? I'm not okay with these new rules of flying. So, I won't fly. How many airlines will start to suffer with the new regulations? Or will people just go along? I guess it's back to road trips for us. 

   Remember road trips? I went on one yearly as a child. We didn't fly, it was too expensive. And we usually weren't driving that far anyhow. Road trips could be boring, but they were sometimes fun too.  With the expense of flying with a family being high anyhow, we've been discussing driving in any future trips, so not flying is not a big deal to me. But it is to those who don't want to take road trips, or can't. What about them? What choice are they left with? The train I guess, if one's available. 

A Flu Rant-Yes, it is a rant about the vaccine(s), so, just, you know, brush past if you don't care
  Yes or no? Compared to last year and the hoopla surrounding H1N1, there doesn't seem much about the flu vax. This year it is a combo of seasonal and the H1N1.  What about those who do not want H1N1? Out of curiosity, I called a local pediatrician. Well, they do have just the seasonal vaccine-without both Mercury and H1N1. It's called Fluzone, and made by Sanori Pasteur. But, you have to make sure to request that one.
   One interesting thing about the flue vaccines, is, in all the inserts, under Pregnant and Nursing Women-there are no safety studies to the fetus, or the breastfeeding infants. And none of them are approved in infants under 6m old. So, why now are pregnant women supposed to get the vaccine? How many women will get the combo vaccine not knowing this? It's not like the insert information is readily handed out. We just ask if it's safe.  http://www.fda.gov/downloads/biologicsbloodvaccines/.../ucm195479.pdf   Another option would of course be the Flumist, which is a Live vaccine, and includes H1N1. The percent is to be minimal for transmission, but really, think about that.  Back to that call to the pediatrician-I was told no Flumist if my child has asthma, or breathing problems. But, they didn't inform me not to give it to my infant under 2yrs old. Can't doctors and nurses read? And to throw just one more wrench to the flu vaccine, there is Afluria. http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20100812afluria.html
Somewhere at the bottom of the page, it mentions to give Afluria, only if there is no other vaccine available. And how many times do we hear that there is a flu vaccine shortage. Enough, that I'm sure we'll hear about Afluria in US circulation at some point. Either by intention or mistake.

An End?
   Wait, there was also a thing about labeling cigarette packages with horrible photos and captions about health dangers. So, in today's paper, a cartoonist drew a picture of a cow. The cow was smoking and had a photo of a man's head-that said, "meat eater" on it. A chicken sat on the cow. The cow was saying, "I better go take my hormones", and the chicken replies, "Me too". I thought it pretty funny, until you think about the seriousness of GMO's, what we eat and the implications of it all.

I believe the cobwebs are gone...for now.

A Week of Adventures

  How adventurous can we make our days? 
  I have five days. Five days that include schoolwork, housework, wife, mom, errands, phone calls, dogs, cooking meals (most from scratch), and in there somewhere, I have to find time for me, and for Play. 


 What is play? 

 Well, it's making dough and getting flour everywhere. It's sitting on the floor and playing a game, coloring with the boys, or even playing cars. It's throwing ball with dad after dinner. It's learning to let some things slide, so the boys grow up knowing, that regardless of what needed to be done, mom and dad still had time for the fun stuff.


 We had a great week. Besides the busted lip incident and the 2 some what large holes in the back yard-courtesy of the malamutes.

Going Up Top

 
  "Going Up Top!"
   I hear two little boys yelling this, and a pounding of feet down the hall.


 Crash


  "We're just playing football, mom!"


 More little pattering down the hall. Back down again, and this time through the kitchen.

  "Going up top!"


  Wham!

  I see, a little body go flying backwards onto the floor.  Silence. Then crying.
 In the split second I wonder if he slammed off the wall, but no, he fell the wrong way. I'm almost afraid to look at his face...the one now hiding behind his hand.

  "I ran into the corner of the couch. There's blood!"


 Ok, not so bad. Split lip. But not enough to get stitches. The mention of a dr sends more of a hysteria through this little body, than the sight of the blood on my arm, or his face. Get some ice, some hugs and all is ok.

  Going up top. Some how, I don't think two little boys will be running through the kitchen, and around the corner, quite so quickly. Two little boys, that could have had a brother or sister running right behind them. One, Three and Five. It's starting to settle in that we would have had three children running around. When I tuck the boys in, I wonder where I would have placed the other bed.

When I bought a booster seat a week ago...a passing thought that I would have been switching a different seat as well.

 When I realized that we would have had a birthday party, I just stared at the calendar. The day was my own. I enveloped it. Breathed it in. Cried. And after I tucked my boys in that night, I said a Happy Birthday, to that child. I felt it was one thing I could do, for how many a first birthday do you get to have?

"Going up top!"


 Maybe I heard a third chuckle as the boys were running around. Maybe it was just my imagination. Either way, I can smile now at the thought without crying,  and yes the sound, that I think was only for my ears alone to hear.....

Kindness and Beauty

   How is neighbor defined? Is it the person next door? Is it the family down the street? A stranger who does a kind deed? Or all of those?


 We were at the farmer market-they have a section of produce where you can fill a bag for $1.00-that's a lot of produce! There was a woman there choosing what she wanted, and after greeting her, told her that she was very pretty. I felt obligated (what today's world has done to us), to quickly clarify that I meant it as a compliment, nothing more. She replies to me, "You tell me I am pretty, that is how I take it. You are being honest, it is from the heart." We struck up a conversation about cooking, and I figured I was finished, so turned to go away. She tells me, "No, no, fill the bag to the top, look at mine. Learn from your neighbor.", and she proceeded to toss me 2 more peppers, some limes and lemons-ones she had chosen for herself. I realized how beautiful this woman was-from the inside. Too often we see people of greed, selfishness and the ugliness of their soul just shows clean through. 
  
  Now, I home school our kids. At least this year we are. I've met some wonderful families near us. Some of those moms have offered me text and materials, until I was able to purchase my own. As most of these moms have been home schooling for many years now.  For anyone who home schools, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say looking at curriculum can be quite overwhelming. The cost alone on some of the programs is daunting enough some times,  (though still cheaper than a private school). It's kind of frustrating when you miss the home school convention and miss out at looking at all the very cool stuff! The kindness of these families is just awesome. How many people hand over a curriculum that may cost a pretty penny, or took some time finding at a decent cost, for you to view? Trust that you will return it, and in the same condition? I have to say, I have never met a network like home school families. Everyone I have met, has been welcoming and I feel very fortunate to both learn from those who have been on the road awhile, and also finding my way with other new families.


  Now, we try to give back. There's some saying about if you give away things in a selfless act, the good deed returns to you. I believe that. Yes, we sell what we can, to help our own finances, but we donate as well. Our boys are learning to be selfless and donate. That, is clutter off my soul.