Growing

My two-and-a-half-year-old is on a bingeing spree.

This morning he had oatmeal for breakfast. I always thought of oatmeal as a food that really fills you up. 10 minutes later he was hungry again. I gave him a large banana. A little while later I heard the "mom, I hungry" from the basement, and up he rushed to find his next meal. I gave him a piece of bread with jam, followed by another piece of bread with no jam. A little while later he had a few pieces of cheese and some grapes. It's not even lunch time yet.

This has been going on for several days now, and my "snack food" reserves are being depleted. I may have to start feeding him a second bowl of oatmeal around 9:30.

For a boy who hasn't been above the 10th percentile in height since he was born, he sure better be having a growth spurt. I don't know what else to feed him!

Another Reason to Eat Locally...

There's a website called the 100 Mile Diet. The goal, obviously is to support local agriculture and avoid the waste that occurs when food has to be shipped all over the country. According to the website, When the average North American sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically travelled at least 1,500 miles.

The article linked in my title is found at kidshealth.org and talks about the recent problems with spinach and E Coli. Scientists were able to track the outbreak to "somewhere in california". Since california produces a huge percent of our food, that's not a real shocker, nor is it really much help in controlling future outbreaks. The question is asked, why is such a huge spinach crop grown in california when spinach is such an easy crop to grow in most any climate? We can grow spinach in Utah, but instead we ship it all the way from california. If crops were grown and consumed locally, any E coli outbreak would be easily contained, because we would know where the outbreak came from.

I also found in interesting in the kidshealth article that we know that raising cows in such large quantities can lead to a dangerous spread of E Coli. We also know that eating high amounts of beef leads to health problems. Obesity in children is an epidemic. Despite what we "know", we can't stand the thought of paying more for our hamburgers, or the idea of cutting back on how much we eat.

Moderation in all things is good and well, just don't mess with my triple cheeseburger. It's the American Way!

"Illegals"

It seems like a lot of people get defensive when it comes to "illegal" immigrants taking "their" jobs (as if they themselves were trying to get hired at mcdonalds or as field workers). All sense of charity that so many in the country felt toward those in asia after the tsunami, or toward victims of hurricane katrina seem to go out the window. Where have we been told that acts of charity should exclude any particular group of people?

If we show a little kindness to people who are not in the US legally, are we doing something so very bad? It's so easy to group people so that we don't have to remember that they are human. If we can just call them all "illegals" it justifies our treating them poorly.

Have you ever stopped to think about an individual? There but the grace of God go I. How did I get so blessed to live the life I do? How would you hope other people might treat you if you had been born into a slum in south america somewhere? What if you were so desperate for a way to support your family, that you sneaked across the border? Would you want to be treated as less-than-human?

My dad posted this letter on his blog. It's from a young friend who was here in the US illegally, and got into some trouble (speeding tickets I believe) and was arrested and deported. My dad saw something in him beyond what most other people saw. He showed love and compassion, and look at the result...

I believe there is a reason for everything, there is a purpose for me being here in Peru and there is a purpose for everything that had happened to me in the course of my life.

I cannot understand why since I have being a little boy had a sense of belonging to something bigger and the presense of the spirit was always around me for diferent reasons I guess the lord want me to take care of a lot of things so he put me in the family I belong. for some reason it is my call to help my brothers my mom and my dad. is not something I decided to do it is just natural to me to do because the lord decide it was my call and for some reason I know it is.
I cannot say why but that is how it is I cannot complain because of that the lord always blessed me more than all my brothers and my family. I was always happy even in the bad times and always was able to help them even with money to go to the US. I can say that the lord always give the tools to do wath he wants me todo till the point I was not worry about money or food, because even when I used all my resourses to help others the lord somehow returned to me ten times more what I give to others over and over so I can say I always did good here in Peru even when things where so hard and jobs were so low and all it was because of the lord and his miracle ways to acomplish his purposes.

I feel very blessed George I love you and respect you a lot even more than my natural father. we are so a like that I know you understand my feelings, how I think my goals, dreams and plans. and that is why I feel very happy and atached to you. I can say that I see my self in you only that you are thousends better than me but I hope some day be as you are. and put others first than my self, just be focus on the gospel and the kingdom of the lord. so far this life is just temporary and a tiny piece of sand compared to the eternity of the kingdom of our heavenly father.

In my short 30's I can say I have being through a lot but at the same time I can say that my life had being full of privileges compared to others I have a lot. I'm rich as you said. in fact I feel I'm wealthy. I'm so happy because of the knowledge I have about the gospel. I'm priviledge to be a member of this wonderful church while other people are lost in the darkness of this world, I have the light and the guidance of the spirit the Malchisedec priesthood. I'm married to a wonderful woman will be soon sealed in the temple and will give the priesthod to my brother Renzo, as you can see and rich and blessed.

I know some people think they are not priviledge because they have being born in south america in a third world country where things are so hard and there is too much poverty, but I feel blessed because I know the road to the kingdom of my heavenly father it is not easy so i do not pretend to live in a fantasy world where everything is easy and you have everything that way you cannot apreciate what you have.

I'm looking forward to be there with you and my kids when they called you grandpa. I will let them know about you and let them know what I learned from you and how you helped others. I will show George Jr. how to be as his grandpa. and I will always set the example talking about you. they will go to missions and will bring souls to the lord. and all that will be possible because you helped this lost soul and rescue it from the darkness when others saw just another ilegal in trouble you extended your lovely hand to me helping me not expecting anything in return just showing the pure love of jesuschrist you have in your heart.

I will see you soon in the temple when I'll be sealed with Vanezza and you will be in my heart and toughs when i'll be giving the priesthood to Renzo. remember that all that is going to be posible because you decided to help just another ilegal in trouble who will never deserve all that you are doing for him. you have changed my life forever you are the biggest miracle in my life.

How dare I ever take my life for granted. I have so much. Everyone has struggles, but mine in comparison to so many people around the world, are miniscule. I don't worry about having food to eat. I even get to eat in nice restaurants sometimes. I don't worry about shelter, and I have the luxury of sitting on a leather couch. When it is cold, the heater comes on automatically. When it is hot, the air conditioner kicks on. When I am sick, I can see a competent doctor without much hassle. On and on I go, living my life concerned with my own concerns, when they are nothing.

I feel blessed because I know the road to the kingdom of my heavenly father it is not easy so i do not pretend to live in a fantasy world where everything is easy and you have everything that way you cannot apreciate what you have.

Amen Miguel. May the Lord bless your life. May I be an instrument in blessing the life of another.

The Great Diaper Debate...

I thought about using cloth diapers when my 5-year-old was born. I thought about it when my 2-year-old was born. Now, here I am again, thinking about it.

My problem with cloth diapers is the cleaning them part. I could use a diaper service, but then I still have to have a diaper pail full of poopy diapers (and I think they still like you to rinse the worst of the poop off).

My other concern with cloth diapers is that they just don't absorb like disposables...

What to do...what to do...


Well, I stumbled across gdiapers.
I'm really interested. The Mister has complained about the horrible smell coming from our outside garbage can (although now that I think about it, he may be blaming that on the dog poop, not the baby poop...hmmm) and this would certainly keep the baby poop out of the garbage.

The worst part of the whole diaper clean-up would be cleaning the snap-in liners, but that could be done with wipes...

They're slightly more expensive than disposables, and I'm not sure what the shipping charges are, but I can get the liners shipped automatically every few weeks or once a month...

If anyone feels the desire to get me a baby gift at the appropriate time, I'd like some of these (unless I have a girl, because I wouldn't want to deprive anyone of buying adorable little girl clothes if they so desired (not that anyone has to buy baby gifts for a THIRD child....no pressure...)).

If the liners are just wet, they're even compostable. Pretty cool.

I may just buy a starter set to try on my two year old...

The Official Announcement

For those who haven't heard the rumors yet, or for those who have but would like to hear it from me....

The Mister and I are expecting baby #3 early april sometime. Check back because I might get a picture from the ultrasound (my dr. has a machine in her office) posted.

It was really neat, on the ultrasound you could see the little hands and legs moving around. I've never seen so much movement at that first ultrasound before.

It appears that we are having a gummy bear. Stay tuned for the gender update in two months (maybe).

A Picture's Worth 1000 Words...

A new website I found

It looks kind of interesting...

Mormons for Equality and Social Justice

Here's a copy of their mission statement:
Mormons for Equality and Social Justice (MESJ) is a grassroots organization of Latter-day Saint individuals who are “anxiously engaged” (D&C 58:27) in working for the gospel values of peace, equality, justice, and wise stewardship of the earth in a spirit of Christ-like charity and concern. We do this (1) by raising awareness in Latter-day Saint communities of the inequalities and injustices that exist in the world today, (2) by actively participating in political processes to resolve these issues, and (3) by promoting and engaging in humanitarian service.

As Latter-day Saints, we come from a heritage of people who had “a vision of a different world, a world where injustice and oppression, poverty and ignorance would be dispelled and a world where men and women would be brothers and sisters” (Alexander B. Morrison, in Church News [14 Oct. 1995]: 4). We have been urged by Church leaders to work towards making that vision a reality in today’s world by being “full participants in political, governmental, and community affairs,” “using gospel principles as a guide and...cooperating with other like-minded individuals” (First Presidency letter, 15 Jan. 1998, in Ensign [Apr. 1998]: 77).

LDS scripture and prophetic teaching speak out strongly for social justice: for peace, equality, democracy, human rights, and wise stewardship of the earth’s resources. Latter-day Saints are enjoined to “plead the cause of the poor and the needy” (D&C 124:75) and to work towards a society in which “there [are] no poor among [us]” (Moses 7:18). We are challenged to “renounce war and proclaim peace” (D&C 98:16). The Book of Mormon teaches that “there should be an equality among all” (Mosiah 27:3) and calls us to stand against racism, gender inequity, and injustice on the principle that “black and white, bond and free, male and female;...all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33). The scriptures commend democracy, constitutional law, and human rights (Mosiah 29:26; D&C 98:5; D&C 101:77), while speaking harshly against inequity, exploitation, oppression, and violence (2 Nephi 20:1-2; 3 Nephi 24:5; D&C 38:26; Moses 8:28). Scripture teaches us that we are stewards of the earth and its resources, which should be used “with judgment, not to excess” (D&C 59:20).

As Latter-day Saints, we seek the guidance of the Spirit and look to the teachings of Church leaders in our efforts to achieve equality and social justice in our communities and the world at large.

MESJ is an independent organization, unaffiliated with any particular political party. MESJ does not speak officially for the LDS Church, but neither does MESJ adopt positions on social or political issues that contradict official positions of the Church.

Do you?

Do you yearn for the simple life?

The Mr. and I went camping over the weekend, and on the way home, I saw a farm house with a clothesline full of clothes drying in the breeze. The scene made me feel peaceful. Kind of like the memories of my great grandparent's ranch. Life seemed to move at a slower pace there. Dinners were always home made. People actually interacted with each other instead of plugging into their electronic devices. Life was peaceful.

Back to the clothesline. Someone had to take the time to hang those clothes. Did they have a "regular" washing machine? I know my great grandma used to wash clothes by hand. I've decided that part of me longs for a simpler life. I love that my 5-year-old looks forward to going out and gathering eggs (two chickens are laying now, and one is even using the nesting box!). I love being able to walk him to school. I love days when we are not rushing around trying to be everywhere we are supposed to be. I like simplicity.

I also am grateful for my washer and dryer. I have a drying rack that I use for some things, and I would like to get some retractable clotheslines to hang in the laundry room, it would be nice if I could avoid using the dryer in the summer (except for towels...line dried towels are too crunchy) but the washer and the dryer are both conveniences that I am grateful for.

I'm grateful for air conditioning and forced air heating that keep me at a reasonable temperature without any effort on my part.

The simple life would be a lot more work. Even taking care of the chickens is extra work. We have to keep them fed and watered and cleaned up after. Just think of what a cow and some goats would add. If we really had to work for every little comfort, we'd be working all day long. As it is, here I am sitting in a comfortable chair playing on the internet.

The Mr. and I talked about how with so many conveniences available with so little work, we get in the mindset of feeling like we never really have to work hard. That mind set causes me to waste time instead of getting the work I do actually need to do done.

What I have decided, is that it takes a balance. There's nothing wrong with sitting and typing a post for my blog, or emailing my friends, but if I sit at the computer all day long it leads to an unpleasant cycle where nothing gets done, the house gets messy, and I feel bad about myself for being a lazy slob.

You (or I) can't let all the conveniences we have living in the age that we do keep us from working hard.

Nothing feels better than sitting down to waste some time knowing that the house is clean and there really isn't anything else that you SHOULD be doing just then.

I read a quote somewhere that said "an immaculate house is a sign of a wasted life". I think that's just silly. A house doesn't need to be immaculate, but I think people use that quote as an excuse for their pig sty decor. The quote should be "a clean home is a sign of good time management" or something like that.

Now that school has started and we are back on a regular schedule and vacations are over, my goal is to manage my time better, so that the simple life that I am trying to create for myself can be a happy one. I can feel good about myself because I know that I can really enjoy what I am doing at any given time rather than worry about what I ought to be doing.