Your H1N1 Thoughts.

We are in a process of collecting information to make the best informed choice for our family. If you are willing to share your thoughts on why you have chosen to take the vaccine or not, I'd would appreciate it. No judgements either way on my part. It is a personal choice that we all have the right to make for ourselves and our own families. I am finding it difficult.

1. Are you taking the H1N1 vaccine? If you have kids in your care, are they?
2. Do you keep up with other regular vaccinations for you and your family? (pro vax?)
3. What are the major factors influencing your decision?
4. If you have chosen not to take the vaccine, what (if any) other precautions are you taking?

Thanks for sharing your answers to these questions at http://mama2josh.blogspot.com or through my blog feed on facebook. Praying for you all as you make these decisions for your own families as well!

April

Heavy Halloween Heart

The history and focus of this widely celebrated holiday has actually bothered me for a while. This week, and today especially - I find myself re-thinking the whole thing and whether or not it is a holiday I want to continue to partake in with my own little family. I grew up celebrating along with the rest of the world, dressing up, carving pumpkins, running around town collecting candy, the whole works. I have many happy memories of fun times with friends and family on Halloween. It didn't hurt me did it? Well, no...not from what I can tell.

However...I find myself this year really questioning if it is something I want to be doing or not. I guess in the past I have chosen to ignore the roots of Halloween and just enjoy the dressing up and candy. So far with Josh I have purposely avoided scary costumes as I just haven't thought it would be appropriate (especially for a little boy)... I feel that this year God is asking me to evaluate whether it really seems like a good fit for our family. No, actually I feel like I already know the answer... I am not content to ignore the roots this year.

It then occured to me...why (with J's night terrors and bad dreams) would I be choosing to purposefully expose him to anything scary right now?! Christianity aside for a moment...it still doesn't seem like a wise thing to do.

So what does it all mean? Well...I am still figuring it out. I'm thinking some kind of alternative would be fun. Dress up is fun and candy is yummy...I think we can work with that! So what am I leaving out? I guess minimal exposure to scary faces, sounds and activities? I am still unsure...more prayer and thought required.

Update: Is a Halloween alternative going in the wrong direction? Some people who choose not to celebrate it feel that doing anything that day is saying that your kids are missing out on something. Hmm.

A little jingle about Gro Baby Diapers..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9navHC7Qo

Check it out!

Antibacterial Life

So tired of all the hype! We are human...it isn't possible to be 100% free of bacteria. I caught myself laughing at my own actions today as I 'sanitized' my hands multiple times while driving here and there during the day. Of course I want what is best for my family, and to avoid unnecessary illness whenever possible. Does it have to be so crazy? Do people seriously think they can somehow teach a preschooler not to touch their face during the day when they're at preschool or daycare, etc? Hm, doubtful. I'm not downplaying the seriousness of the most recent flu outbreak...but just not buying the "we need to freak out" hype. We will be ok people! Crazy world.

Stonewall is much closer than Ottawa.

We just got home from a great visit with my dear friend Larissa (and family) who I don't get to see nearly enough of. I am so thankful for the time we do get together when it happens...but it usually leaves me a little sad and reminded that it just isn't enough. Our little ones are almost both exactly the same age within a couple of months each, so that makes it extra fun too!

Larissa's parents hosted us this weekend and treated us like royalty. Thank you so much Ralph and Pat for having a house full of crazy people this weekend! We also got to sneak in a visit with Jenn and kids and Aunty Kelsey too! (they came out to Stonewall). Lucky us!!!

Larissa, you really ARE so special to me and we have something that isn't easy to find. I'm not giving up hope that you will be posted to Shilo someday...and stop telling me it isn't possible. ;-)

Why does Ottawa have to be so far away?

"A Rat Always Leaves a Sinking Ship First..."

I wish I could erase this conversation from my head! It was "the" conversation I had with my grandparents when we let them know we were attending a new church a couple years ago. It wasn't easy to make the change, and I wish my grandma could have heard (really listened to) that part of the story. The part where she could hear all the wonderful things we have experienced by being a part of the Anglican church, and how God has met us and lead us to where we are now. The part that would make it clear to her that we weren't disowning our Anglican faith, or making it somehow obsolete by going somewhere different...

The Anglican church remains a huge part of my life story and my walk with God, and I will always feel connected to it. I am thankful for all the friends and family that we encountered both at home and here in Brandon through Anglican connections. I miss some of them dearly. I have this feeling that we are labelled as "rats" because of our departure...but perhaps I am only thinking that way because of my grandma's comment?

No matter. If I am a rat, I am a happy rat who feels I am where I am meant to be right now...hopefully heading in the direction and plan of where God wants me to be headed. Everyone's paths are different. I am thankful that God challenges us and calls us to break out of our comfort zones!

(writing this and missing some of my friends and past connections in this moment)

Thank you God for sweet little Abby!