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Our Stolen Future

I'm adding a link to Our Stolen Future. I just recently heard of a neighbor's child being diagnosed with leukemia and I wanted to remind everyone of the risks of pesticides. Quoting a study in 2002 - "present results demonstrating a strong relationship between exposure to indoor pesticides and the risk of childhood leukemia."

The Seventh Generation book Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy, Non-toxic Cleaning also warns against using flea collars for the same reason. I guess a good rule to follow is if it's designed to KILL, we should keep it away from our families and find more natural ways of keeping the critters away.

Did you also know that the wood chips in most playgrounds are treated with arsenic?

Myth:

That arsenic treated wood becomes safe for children as it ages.

Reality:

New research by the Environmental Working Group and the University of North Carolina demonstrates that old arsenic-treated wood structures are as dangerous as new ones. Arsenic continues to leach out of this wood for many years. And what had been thought to be protective—coating it with sealant— only works for 6 months or less. Some of the soil around decks and playgrounds where arsenic treated wood has been used actually is so contaminated that it qualifies for SuperFund.

You can find out about this and other toxins we are being exposed to at Myths vs. Reality.

Stay green and stay safe!

Who do you put your faith in?

We all have someone or something we put our faith in. Maybe it's God (my personal favorite) or maybe it was McCain or Obama, the Republicans or the Democrats, or Nader, etc. Whoever you voted for doesn't really matter at this point, but keeping up with what's coming down still is. I've added a couple of sites to my blog to help you do that. I'll add others as I run across them. I also welcome your suggestions for worthy sites.

Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Roll Call at Congress.org

Healthy Child Toy Lead Test

I have added the Healthy Toys Lead Check Widget to my blog. Just put the name of the toy in the box to check whether it's safe for your child before you buy or to decide whether you keep it.

Wall Street Bailout

Watch Ralph's take on the Wall Street bailout.

Be a "Responsible Shopper"

I've added a couple of sites to my link list - Co-op America: Economic Action for a Just Planet and an offshoot Responsible Shopper which gives you the down and dirty on companies like Coca Cola, WalMart, Shell & Exxon. Check it out and do your part.

"If anything matters...everything matters"

I've just finished reading "The Shack" by William P. Young. It takes you on a journey of emotions that you will recognize and invites you to experience God in ways you may not recognize. I read it in a couple of days between eating, sleeping, and babysitting. I will read it again. So should you if you have unanswered questions about why things are the way they are and what God is all about. I am also adding Willie's Blog - Wind Rumors to my roll. Check it out.

What do Fluoridated Water & Mercury Fillings have in common?

Answer: Neither is good for you.

My eldest daughter's permanent front teeth came in mottled. We didn't know at the time what caused it. In fact, I was told that it was probably the antibiotic tetracycline but since looking at the pictures on Fluoride Alert I recognize that it was indeed the result of fluoride probably from the use of fluoride drops the pediatrician prescribed. Between fluoride and chlorine, what's a parent to do. You can take action by contacting your congressman through the Fluoride Action Network to put a stop to fluoridated water. In the meantime, you may want to find out if your water supply has fluoride in it and find other sources of drinking water or buy a water filter that will also filter our these chemicals.

Also, since children usually swallow some of their toothpaste, look for toothpaste without fluoride and saccharin. See FAQ's for more information.

You can get information about mercury fillings at National Geographic's site The Green Guide - another great resource you may want to bookmark.

Yaaay, Go Green!

I guess I am having some impact. My husband brought home reusable bags from the grocery store yesterday after I asked him to help me put our lifestyle where my mouth is. :)

I have found a few more very interesting websites with links to other interesting websites. The Nature in Us is one of them. I also like Co-op America: Economic Action for a Just Planet.

Let me know what you think. Together perhaps we can improve each other's environmental, health, and spiritual IQ.

The Gods Aren't Angry

I just finished watching Rob Bell's new DVD "The Gods Aren't Angry" for the second time. I don't know how to explain how intriguing it is to listen to him explain things that I have come to experience in my own life. If you know or don't know what animal sacrifices were about in the world of Abraham and the history behind it all, you may find this very interesting. If you are down on religion, you are right up there with Jesus because God is not about religion. And if you want to know what you have to do or don't have to do to be at peace with God, this DVD should be on your list.

Harry Potter - Harmless Fantasy?

I do not like the Harry Potter series for a number of reasons. View Harry Potter Witchcraft and determine for yourself if this is suitable "entertainment" for your child. You may also want to check with your child's school to find out what type of books they are introducing your children to.

Green Living Links

Check out Earth 911 and Bag the Bag for ways you can be a good steward of the earth.

Also go to Green Clean TV for ways to eliminate toxins from your home and useful Green Clean links like Green Seal and where to find Green Seal products.

The Story of Stuff

You really must see The Story of Stuff. It's a 20-minute animation about the consumerist society we live in. I think you'll find it educational. And you will get even more useful information that will help you and your family make informed choices by visiting the links on the site and The Story of Stuff blog. Let me know what your thoughts are on this subject.

PVC - Look for Number 3

This is a very entertaining YouTube about a not so entertaining problem.

Go to PVC FREE for more information on what you can do to protect your family from poisons in your home. You can also get valuable information there about Building Green Without Going in the Red.

If you like good theatre check out Lamplighter's Theatre.

I went to see the last performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Lamplighter's Theatre in Smyrna, Tennessee yesterday. I have rarely missed a performance since it's inception in 2004. Once again the performances transported me into another world. Now I haven't been to theatre in New York but I have seen off Broadway productions in both New Orleans and Nashville over the years. I have to say the quality of the Lamplighter productions are second to none and I continue to be in awe of the local talent. The price of a season ticket at $35.00 for 5 shows is the best bargain in town. Go to their website. I think you will be impressed but not as impressed as you will be once you do theatre at Lamplighter's.

Book Review

I have just finished reading two books by Rob Bell. The first, "Velvet Elvis: The Repainting of the Christian Faith" reaffirms my belief that love is ultimately all there is.

As human beings struggling to understand God, we often try to fit Him into our box, i.e. contain Him in our mind, conform Him to our understanding, or give up in frustration and decide that He doesn't really exist. Rob Bell takes you on a intriguing thought provoking journey exploring what words meant to the people they were originally spoken to and what that means to us, all the while encouraging us to question everything he says. I like it!

The second book, "Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality" did not disappoint. Again he uses the history of the words and traditions to show how God uses sexuality to teach us about spirituality. This thinking is not new but Rob brings scriptures to life in ways I hadn't thought about before and will definitely affect how I read every verse in the future. Hopefully it will always lead me to "What does this really mean?" I thank God that His answer to the question we all ask "Is that all there is?" is "No."

Naturally Clean

I just finished reading "Naturally Clean - The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning." It is definitely a must have in my opinion. The book in the authors' own words is based on the Precautionary Principle that "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically." Wow, I couldn't have said it better myself. While all the vested interests are asking us to prove their products harm people or the environment by being their guinea pigs, we continue to see the smoking gun of rising immune system disorders. I agree with the authors that to err on the side of caution is the wisest choice. This book not only gives us the history of chemicals but shows us how to protect our loved ones and the loved ones of others by being informed consumers and learning how to decipher the labels and make informed choices that reduce our risks. Join the revolution at the checkout counter.

NOOMA

Have you heard of Rob Bell? If not, I think you should check him out. His DVD "Everything is Spiritual" is thought provoking and fascinating in a NOVA sort of way. And then you can go to NOOMA for a little more of things that make you go hmmm. I have ordered his books Velvet Elvis: The Repainting of Christianity and Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality. I'll let you know what I think of them.

More on Going Green on Today's Money on MSNBC

Watch David Bach interview about saving money while going green.

After you watch David Bach, download and/or print The Seventh Generation Guide to a Toxin-Free Home. I think you'll find it very informative and quite useful in many areas you may not have thought about.

Seriously, how can there not be a Creator!

Beautiful pictures from outer space.

Clean Hands, Safe Products

Here's another site with products that won't hurt you or your loved ones - Clean Well Today. With all the concern about alcohol based and antibacterial hand cleaners, it's great to know there are other options besides the old standby soap and water and that you can buy them at Target or Whole Foods. Also check out Dr. Larry Weiss' blog, A Better Way to Clean and Newsweek article The Chemicals Within for more information about questionable products and the common sense of going green. Seventh Generation and Burt's Bees also offer products and information on how to find safe products for your family which we all know can be confusing.

However, help is here in the form of a seal that really means natural from the Natural Products Association and the Household Hazards Report from Women's Voices for the Earth. Do your part to change our future. As the old saying goes - An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

New Cell Phone Study Says Hang Up and Use a Landline

"The new study, Mobile Phones and Brain Tumors – A Public Health Concern, was conducted by noted Australian brain surgeon Dr. Vini Gautam Khurana. Dr. Khurana analyzed more than 100 separate studies, both pro and con, on the potential health effects of cellular phone usage and concluded that the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by cell phones will likely lead to an epidemic of brain cancers within the next decade." To read the full article, go to Seventh Generation and find out how choosing a phone with a low Specific Energy Absorption (SAR) value and RF Safe to buy a shielded headset which can help reduce your risks in addition to using a land line whenever possible.

One thing leads to another.

When I had my first two children, I used cloth diapers - there were no disposables. When I had my last child several years later disposables were on the supermarket shelves so I used them. I never really thought about it. It seemed like an improvement even though using cloth diapers weren't a convenience issue since I used a diaper service. You just used diaper liners, flushed them, and dropped the diaper into a diaper pail similar to the ones you use for disposables.

So wouldn't you know it I heard some bad press about disposable diapers and the chemicals they use which is not only bad for the environment (I was aware of that.) but also bad for the child. (Huh?) So of course the Internet research began and I must say the data is convincing. What do you think disposable diapers are made of? Check it out for yourself at The Diaper Hyena, Chemistry Explained or What's Wrong With "Disposable" Single-Use Diapers? from The Diaper Facts. If you are convinced but not enthusiastic about going to cloth, I understand. But I hope you decide to make the change to better living without chemicals and at least use chlorine free disposable diapers and baby wipes.

Saturday Morning over Coffee

We were having a conversation at our house about some of the things I've been writing about on my blog i.e. energy, plastics, organic foods, vaccines, etc. and what we could personally do to improve life for ourselves and others.

During this conversation my husband mentioned Deirdre Imus and her efforts to raise awareness of the risks of vaccines. So I did a search on her name and found several articles about her work and that led me to Inside Vaccines - A Forum for Parents from Parents which I found to be a great online resource as well as the Vaccine Information Statement your doctor is required to give you before your child is immunized.

Deirdre is also an proponent of Eco-friendly living and has some good ideas for environmentally friendly cleaning. To be honest some things may be beyond our control except at the consumer level. My advice is to always read the labels. I love Deirdre's quote from an African proverb in an interview on April 18th, "If you think you're too small to have an impact, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito." So we just have to focus on the things we can do and pray that our numbers grow. If you want more ideas on how you can do an impersonation of a mosquito, check out Wendy's Blog and visit Seventh Generation to find green cleaning products.

A Logical Approach to Childrearing

A few years back while searching the Internet for a child biting solution, I ran across Love and Logic and I liked what I read. It's a commonsense approach to getting the results you want and helping your child learn to make good decisions at the same time by letting the natural and sometime delayed consequences teach the lesson. Here are some great one liners from Love and Logic and funny parenting stories. Dr. Jim LeFay is a great storyteller! Enjoy it.

Going Green - What's in it for you?

I think a lot of people are thinking more about this subject now than they ever have before. Wasn't life a lot better when we didn't have to worry about what was in our food or the air or the water or our body and when gasoline was 35 cents a gallon? That may be before your time if you were born after 1960. I think most people would agree that we've paid a big price for convenience and technology.

So what can we do about it. I think we should eat from our own gardens or buy meat and produce from local farmers. You can also check out the Tennessee agriculture resources for farms and Farmers Markets near you in Tennessee.

Decrease your use of plastics by using glass, paper or cloth instead of plastics whenever possible. Most grocery stores will give you paper bags or if you want to save a tree, you can bring your own reusable cloth bags.

There seems to be a lot of alternate power options on the horizon. The free energy home generator is really interesting. What about this wind turbine and solar panels. Anyway, you get my drift. Big Brother and his friend Big Business aren't taking care of us very well. It's time we take care of ourselves. Go Green as soon as you can. Hopefully the more interest is shown the more affordable it will become.

What are you passionate about?

Of course, first and foremost, I am passionate about my family. I think back over the years and I know that I could have done things differently had I known what I know now or if I had let God be God. But I believe that in spite of all the mistakes I made, I gave them unconditional love and they are passing that legacy on to their children. I have been blessed in spite of myself because He is merciful.

I am passionate about people. I believe God is passionate about people too. Why else would he put up with us? I am especially passionate about little people. I hate it when big people are mean to them. I hate it when big people exploit them, abuse them, use them and treat them as though they don't matter. They matter very much to God. It is our responsibility to protect and care for them and to always let them know that they are loved and important to us and to God. I believe that our future on this earth depends on how we treat our children. I believe that children learn what they live and that loved children can change the world. I am ready for that change. How about you?

I am very blessed to have grandchildren whose parents take this responsibility very seriously. When you get to the final equation, love is all there is worth living for and dying for.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

All Child Safety Seats Are Not Created Equal

Britax Child Safety Seats are definitely worth the cost should the unexpected happen. After all how many times do you buy a carseat? Only once per child if you buy the Decathalon which takes you from newborn to 65 pounds and up to 49" tall. There are other models of course including the Regent which takes a child from 22 to 80 pounds and up to 53" tall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association states that all children up to 49" tall must be in a child restraint - the reason being that the position of the seat belt may injure their internal organs in an accident. In fact you will get a ticket in the state of Tennessee if your child (or child's friend) are not secured in a child safety seat - but of course a ticket would be the least of your worries in an accident situation.

I have personally invested in 4 of them - 1 for each grandchild and 1 for my great-grandchild. I think it was the best gift I could give.

Check out the Britax and the NHTSA site links for more information. For the best prices, check out Baby Catalog or What She Buys. You can also find them at Target or BabiesRUs but the selection is limited.

What is Bisphenol A and why should you care?

I don't know about you but I thought those little numbers in the triangle on the bottom of plastic items were about recycling - an important subject in itself but it never occured to me that it might be about me too. That is until I saw an interview with a doctor on the subject. Turns out those little numbers or lack of numbers are of utmost importance. I know you're probably saying everything causes cancer, right? In my opinion you should probably minimize your risks whenever you can and this one is pretty painless.

You may want to print out The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Report "The Smart Plastics Guide."
You can also read the ABC news report on the safety of water bottles and baby bottles or go to Bisphenol A Free.org for more information on what you can do to protect your family from "Better Living Through Chemistry."

After you do your own research you can make an informed decision about what to do with all those plastic cups you've been saving and any plastic container, baby bottle, etc. that has the number 3, 6, and 7 except for bio-based plastics labeled as such. How hard is that? You'll also see that latex nipples and pacifiers should go in the trash too. Use silicone instead.

And if you really want to do us all a favor, how about reverting to glass? That's where I'm heading. After all glass containers never hurt anybody permanently!

Two Beautiful Grandchildren Born Au Naturale

Well, this has certainly been an exciting week for our family with Andrew Evan coming into the world on April 9th and his cousin Chloe Grace following on his heels on April 14th.

I want to shout praises and thanks to God for their parents' commitment to making the choice for natural childbirth. Easy for me to say I know but I do so admire them for stepping out on faith and doing it even though it was hard! Hooray for the fathers who supported the laboring moms all the way and for being there when their baby was born. (I'm from a generation where fathers were relegated to the waiting room.)
What an awesome accomplishment! You gave your babies a wonderful entrance into the world. Be proud!

Dr. Bob Sears Takes a Balanced Look at Immunizations

Dr. Bob Sears of the Sears family of pediatricians has published a book that takes an objective look at the risks and benefits of immunizations. His book "The Vaccine Book" should be in every parent's reference library in my opinion. It is a very good read and examines the pros and cons of immunizations and the rights of parents to make informed choices. His extensive research lists the contents of each vaccine (you may be surprised) as well as the rights of parents to alternative, delayed, selective, and brand specific choices (preferably aluminum and animal tissue free.)

I recently took this book with me when I accompanied my granddaughter to her son's well baby/immunization appointment. I was pleasantly surprised at the response I received when I began to ask informed questions about which vaccines and what brands of vaccines were going to be administered and she was able to delay a couple of the vaccines because they were not the "right sort" until other options could be explored. I also remembered to ask if the vaccines he would be getting were from single dose vials (less objectional additives.) I don't know if that was the original plan but we were given the individual vials his vaccines were drawn from and shown how to read the lot number. YES!

My granddaughter later reported back to me that her son had a very mild reaction to the immunizations he did receive which was a big change from his three hour crying episodes and other negative reactions from his previous vaccines. Hmmm, maybe animal tissues and aluminum in a young immune system isn't such a great idea after all.

Check out Dr. Sears website at Ask Dr. Sears for more information or to purchase "The Vaccine Book."

If your doctor patronizes you or rolls his/her eyes, you can choose to ignore it and stand your ground or look for a vaccine friendly doctor. In the Nashville, Tennessee area you can contact Dr. Daniel Kalb.

Natural Childbirth

I wish that I had known what I know now (don't we all) but even though it's too late for me, it may not be too late for you so I'd like to share what I have learned over the years. Some of the things I learned a long time ago and forgot --- some things I was ignorant of. Here are some links I hope will help you to make informed choices.

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

http://wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com/ (My daughter Beth's doula and my mentor.)

http://www.childbirth.org/

http://inamay.com/archive/index.php

I love my Pastor Pete!

Check out Pastor Pete's Blog at http://withoutwax.tv/,

LSU

Check it out!!

http://www.lsusports.net/