Vaccines: Life Sentence?

There is so much hooplah in the news lately in regards to the big vaccine debate. People, including myself, are very passionate in regards to their stance on vaccines. Heated discussions are found quite often. What I haven't found much of is respect for personal choice, and that is the part that saddens me and down right angers me.

Whether or not to vaccinate your child has always been something I've thought of as a personal choice. One of the parenting choices where no one can tell a parent what to do, what is best. A choice that parents should each make from their own gut instinct, their own experiences and education. I do feel passionate about spotlighting the dangers of vaccines but it has never crossed my mind to be judgemental of parents who do choose to vaccinate. I've never even entertained the thought that parents should be "forced" to NOT vaccinate their children. I've always been an advocate for informed choice but in the end, it's the parents who have to live with the decision either way and it is no one's business but their own what they choose.

Lately, there are rumblings of possible "forced" or "mandated" vaccinations. Alot of pro-vaccine people have no problem with that. Well, I do.

Just because some or most children handle vaccines just fine does not mean that all children will. My son, for example, did not handle vaccines well. And, because of this one-size-fits-all approach our medical experts have taken to vaccinations, a forced or mandated vaccine program will sentence countless children to death or at the very least, a life full of repercussions.

I wish parents and experts on the other end of the debate would have some some compassion for the children who will not tolerate vaccines well. Compassion for parents who may end up being forced to inject their children with toxins that can rob their child of their life potential.

Our country seems to have such a devalued respect for human life and quality of life. Look at Taiwan for example... ONE woman suffered a miscarriage following her swine flu injection and the government took immediate action! Life is valued in Taiwan, quality of life is valued. The government susupended ALL vaccines on pregnant women pending further investigation as to whether or not the vaccine played any roll in this loss of life.

America, on the other hand, turns a blind eye. There are over 250 (and likely more) women who believe they suffered a miscarriage due to the swine flu vaccine and the "experts" have turned a blind eye, giving absolutely NO creedence to their suffering. Where is the value of life? Where is the care and compassion for these women who lost their babies? Where is the protective nature of our trusted health officials, our political officials whom we have entrusted with protecting and advocating for our well-being?

It is this out-of-touch, compassionless leadership who obviously sees not a whole lot of value in human life that has led to so much mistrust of the medical experts and politicians who play a roll in our nation's health care options.

Once upon a time, there was a group of parents, advocates who believed that cigarettes were dangerous, believed that they caused cancer. Guess what? They were ridiculed. They were called "extremists", "mis-informed", "paranoid", much like the people today who are screaming out about the dangers of vaccines. Health officials and politicians were wrong then and they may vey well be wrong now. Today, it is a completely accepted fact that cigarettes are harmful and cause cancer. If it wasn't for those voices calling out for research, demanding attention, would cigarettes still be "safe" today?

The moral of my story: Compassion can go along way. Valuing life over the perceived "greater good", can go along way. Respect for personal choice, can go along way.

- Elisabeth

Just Putting It Out There For You, God.

Heavenly Father, if we can offer a better life for one or more children from Haiti, our hearts are open. We are willing to do our part. But, God, this is a feat only You can accomplish in our lives.

We have fallen in love with their soulful eyes, their faith, their strength, their plight. Our family doesn't feel quite complete. We have a little bit of room and a whole lot of love to give.

Dave Ramsey says, "Work as though it relies only on you, and pray as though it relies only on God". We are ready to do the work, whatever it takes, but we know that is not enough. We are praying, Lord, because we know it relies solely on You, Lord. If it is Your will, I have faith You will work out the details.

You hear the pleas of my children at night asking for a brother and sister. You know the desires of my heart, Lord. You know what we can handle. Thy Will Be Done.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

~ Psalm 139:23-24

So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore

by: Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman

This book isn't for everyone, I'd like to say up front! But, it truly spoke to the experiences we have had in church and to the path we feel God has us on at this time. It's a great read. Eye-opening. Profound.

Salsa! What More To Say/

I LOVE fresh salsa! I could drink it, I love it so much!
So, for the past few months I have been on a mission to perfect my salsa recipe... and I think I finally have it! It's simple and zangy and perfect!

Now, salsa is a very personal preference. Salsa can take on many looks and smells and flavors... it's all a matter of personal taste! But, this is a good basic recipe that can easily be modified to become perfection according to your own tastebuds! So, play around with it and make it your own... or enjoy it just the way I do!

8 Tomatoes (medium to large)
1 Jalepeno (seeds and all)
1/2 Red Onion (largish or 1 whole smallish onion)
1 Lime
4-5 Cloves of Garlic
Cilantro
1/2-1 tsp. White Vinegar
1/2-1 tsp. Tomato Paste
1/2 tsp. Ground Cumin

I start off by washing then chopping all my veggies. Just a rough chop is fine. I don't even bother peelng the tomatoes. Chop the ends off the jalepeno and discard. Pick a good handful of leaves off the cilantro discarding the thick stems.

Throw all the chopped veggies into a pan and heat on medium heat on the stove top. Take the lime, roll it around on the countertop applying a bit of pressure with your palm. This helps release some of the juices. Then, slice in half and squeeze juice right into the pan w/ the other veggies.

Cook and stir well for about 20 minutes or until the veggies are soft. Then toss into the blender and just blend for about 1 minute to get it to a nice consistency.

Pour the salsa back into the pan. I add between 1/2 tsp and 1 tsp of tomato paste just to give it that lush red color. Start out with just a small amount and you can add a bit more if you think it needs it. Then, add a splash of white vinegar. I never measure it, but I'd guess it was about 1/2-1 tsp. You can also add salt and pepper if you like. Add ground cumin. Stir it all together.

Pour into a dish, then cover and refrigerate. Well, set it out on the counter until it cools off so you aren't putting a hot dish into the cold refrigerator. It's better the next day, once all the flavors have mingled and marinated together. Serve cold and enjoy!!

~ Elisabeth

A Little Bit of the Why!

I'm still feeling a little defensive of our deciding to study and embrace our Hebrew Roots. No real reason as to why, just something I am working through. But, what is so warming, is that God isn't offended by my hesitations or defensiveness. Rather, He places little bits of affirmation along the way for us, to encourage us.

For instance, Michael received this random email this week:

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this.....

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

Then Simon Peter, who was behind him,arrivedand wentinto the tomb. He sawthe strips of linen lying there, as wellas teh burialcloth that had been around Jesus'head. The cloth wasfolded up by itself, seperate from the linen. John 20:6-7 NIV

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the

tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely!

Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it..

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........

The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

He is Coming Back!

This is just an example of why Michael and feel called to embrace our heritage. There seems to be so much lost in the scriptures without such knowledge. We feel that identifying with our Hebraic roots can bring a level of clarity and understanding of God's Word that have been missing out on.

~Elisabeth

Sometimes God Says, No. Sometimes He says, Not Right Now.

I'm not sure which God is saying to me but I do know that we have been trying to have more babies for almost 2 years now.
I know that God has put a yearning in my heart for more babies.

I know that He knows that my heart leaps everytime I see a new baby or hear a sweet little cry.

I know that He is in control of it all.

I know that I have enough love to give to more babies.

I know that I don't care whether the baby is black, white, blue, purple, brown or yellow... I'd love that baby all the same.

God knows that my heart broke when I saw this sad little face. He knows that I cried for this little boy. He knows that I have a yearning to just scoop him up and make his world all better again.

I know I have two beautiful blessings playing school in the other room and I am very thankful.

I have hope. I will be patient. And I have faith that in some form or fashion God will fill this void in my heart.

... I just need to work on the patient part a little more!

Dear Oroweat, Please Don't Disappoint!

One of my first victories in the High Fructose Corn Syrup battle was the discovery of Oroweat brand bread! Every loaf I came across was maked across the front, in red letters, "NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP"! I even gave them a shout out on one of my first HFCS blog posts! I found comfort in knowing, I didn't have to read labels every single grocery visit, I could just grab one of the many varieties of Oroweat bread and trust that it did not contain HFCS.

Well, my past two shopping trips, I have noticed a daunting trend... their packages no longer don those trustful red letters! I had to read the label to be sure they had not started using HFCS again! Thankfully, the ingredient list proved loyal but it started me wondering why on earth would they take that healthful proclamation off their packaging?

My cynical side assumes the are weaning us back into HFCS. I pray I'm wrong! I pray I find those comforting green letters back on my bread soon!

I plan to send Oroweat an email with my concerns and will hopefully hear back that the printer had just run out of red ink and that my favorite green letters will find their way back to the bread that I have come to trust and love!

I'll come back and update with their response!

Elisabeth