Vaccines

Now this post is not to cause a stir or a battle but to pass on some valuable sources I have found while trying to decide the best in vaccinating our kids.

My first two sons are fully vaccinated up to date but after much research and "breaking away" from just doing what I'm told by doctors, I have many questions and I am in the search for answers.

I have asked many a friends' opinion and I must say they are as different as apples and oranges BUT I must say that they are both "fruit" - good, concerned mothers.

Keeper of the Home: The Thoughtful Parent’s Guide to Thinking Through Vaccinations

Keeper of the Home:  Pro-Vaccine and Cautionary Resources

Mrs. Informed 

This website arranges all the ingredients of the vaccines in a table format.

Dr. Sears: The Vaccine Book

It must be said that there are many moms who are FOR vaccines and there are many moms who are AGAINST vaccines. If you, like me, read many natural and real food blogs, you can almost always find results in the bloggers opinion if you type "vaccines" in the search.

I, personally, want to read it all - the for, against and the "in-between".

I am still not quite sure the road we are going to take. I am still researching and will probably continue researching. I struggle with the ethics of some, the "what if I don't vaccinate and Lincoln dies of Haemophilus Influenzae Type B?" and "what if I vaccinate and Kristian has some horrible side affect?". I go back and forth, so please join me on the journey to research the products going into our childrens' bodies.

Please be respectful and kind (I will close comments if it gets out of hand. Please don't make me pull my "mama card". :)) but I would love to hear your opinion on vaccines. Do you vaccinate? Are you in the research stage as I am? What have you found?

Toilet Talks on a Monday Morning...

All of us already know that I am crazy, BUT I cannot be the only one that does this...

Does anyone else converse with themselves as they are cleaning toilets?

And I just have to warn you that today, while cleaning the toilets, I had some serious conversations... Be warned these are a couple of random thoughts, but they are deep and a little serious... (Isn't a little weird that I am having serious, "grown-up" thoughts while I'm cleaning toilets? Hmm.. Thought provoking... )

And let me just state this one more time for the record: This is my personal blog. My thoughts, my passions, my ramblings... If you read this and are offended, I am sorry. It is not my intention at all. I am only the Messenger for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Here I go...

Random Thought at the Toilet Number 1:

Around this time of year, every year, I begin to get anxious due to the fact that a certain family event is coming up. This week, that family event if happening...And at the risk of sounding like a hormonal, whinny teenager, I want to share with you my feelings about it...

It all goes back to summer about 7 years ago. My family was at another member's house and some family from out of town came and were there too. I had friend with me and she was very pretty and my male cousin was interested in her. They went out for a little bit and a little while afterward she called and told me, "Jodi, your cousin says that his whole family hates you and only puts up with you because your family and they PRETEND they like you, but they really don't..."

First of all, I had no idea that these were the feelings. I had always loved my family, everyone in my family, but I do know that family can get annoying. But never in a million years, did I think they were pretending to even stand me. Second, as I look back, I cannot believe that friend felt it necessary to call me and tell me all this.

Now I chalk it up to being a teenager and all that, but it still haunts me. I know that back then I was not a nice person and did some really silly things, but I still worry that they aren't giving me a chance to see that I have changed. Now I have to be honest... I take things a little personally but I still feel this insecurity everytime I have to be around them. And this weekend would happen to be the weekend.... Can anyone say silly anxiety?

Random Thought at the Toilet Number 2:

I love following Laura's blog. She is such an awesome mother, wife, believer, cook, money savor... and the list goes on and on and on... (I am writing this at the risk of being really annoying. I know it won't annoy her because she is such a super sweet person and I am blessed to call her a friend! If your reading this... You bless me Laura, really you do!)

Ugh and what's worse is she is writing about how she is just a normal mom like everyone else, "a real mom"!

Seriously, Jodi... Comparing much?!? Wishing you were better much? Coveting much? Jealous much?

Ummm... Get a grip girl!!

A couple of weeks ago, I was complaining (scratch that... whinning) to a friend on facebook (I am not brave enough to do it in person....) I was going on and on about what was wrong with me and my life and what I did not have that I wanted (Thanks for still loving me!). Gently my friend, who is struggling in her own life, said "Jodi, do you know how many times I wished I were you?" Do you know how many times I thought "Jodi's got it together and everything I want..."

That really took me back...Do people really look at me and see someone that has it all and all together?

I know that I am no where NEAR having it all together but isn't that just the same as I am doing with Laura? Aren't I looking at what I perceive she is and has and then wishing myself more? Isn't that just as crazy?

In Genesis 1, the Bible tells us that "God made us in His image." He made us like him. If we truly believe in His awesomeness, shouldn't we quit being so hard on ourselves?

God loved us so much that He sent His only son to die for our sins. Isn't that the love we should be meditating on? Does God love us any less if we have laundry stacked up or the kitchen table isn't cleared? NO WAY! His love and goodness surpasses all those little things which in the long run, have little importance.

Does it matter that my family may or may not hate me and not like being around me? It surely does hurt, but it really shouldn't matter as much as it does. God loves me! God has forgiven me. That is the truth that should be the end all, be all of the moment.

Then why do we compare and put so much pressure on ourselves? Why do we expect such mighty things from ourselves? Why do we try to please people and not just the Lord? Why is it so important for everyone to like us? Not even everyone liked Jesus, the most compassionate, perfect person EVER!

So please... (and I'm sayin' this to myself too) can we please stop comparing ourselves as mothers and stop trying to please everyone? Love yourself for the person God made you and loves! Give yourself a little break and quit beingso hard on yourself!

As Alicia would say (I just love this!)...

Just keepin' it real,

GratiTuesday - A Grateful Year in Review

Before I get into just how blessed we were this year, I want to share with y'all the Christmas letter we sent out. I hope it conveyed to our friends and family AND conveys to you all the message of how God has abundantly blessed us this year!

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Merry Christmas from the Davis Family!

I have to be honest with y’all; I did not want to write a Christmas letter. I didn’t want to take the time to try and figure out what to say. This year has been pretty uneventful and we have been blessed… Hey there, wait a minute! I should write and tell how we have been blessed beyond belief this year… God has been faithful!

Lincoln is getting so big. He is going to be two years old in April. I cannot believe a year ago we were running around trying to find why he wouldn’t gain weight. We went to the pediatrician this week and he is on track and healthy. Praise be to God! He is a handful and he definitely has his Mama’s spunk! I love him so much! He is into everything that Dylan and the cousins are into. He wants to hang with the big boys! He doesn’t talk yet (except for Mama! :)), but why should he when Mama and Dylan fill everything in for him!

Dylan is also getting so big! He is so tall (110 percentile to be exact!). He is going to be five years old in June. It is so hard to believe the little boy (don’t tell him I called him little) that saved my life is already getting so big. It seems just like yesterday! He loves to play outside and with superheroes! I am homeschooling him right now and we are both enjoying our time together. If you would have told me it would be going this well, I would have laughed at you. It is truly God’s work! He is such a blessing and I love and enjoy every minute of being around him. He has a heart of gold and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for him!

With this crazy economy, we are blessed that Andy is still working at Evenflo. There have been quite a few lay-offs and he’s still there and working his way up to doing new important parts of the business. We have been blessed!

I spent the summer gardening and preserving food. We were blessed in abundance. We were not only able to put up enough food for ourselves but also for friends and family that were in need. Blessings, blessings and more blessings! God is faithful!

We hope this letter finds you and yours healthy! We love you all and you are in our prayers!
Andy, Jodi, Dylan and Lincoln
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Through GratiTuesday, I was able to write a lot of posts about what I was grateful for. Here is a quick explanation and if you click on them, they will take you to the post itself.

• As always, I am so thankful for a Savior that found me worth His dying on a Cross and taking on my sins AND then He continues to forgive me for my sins and shortcomings! Also, the Lord always knows our hearts and knows and hears our needs and communicates what we need to hear and believe.
• I am so blessed to be a help-meet to a Godly husband and father.
• Everyday (good and bad) I give the Lord thanks for two special boys that He has thought me worthy to raise. They make me so proud, they teach me lessons and I learn from teaching them, Dylan is beginning to help out around the house, and lastly that they love each other so much.
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  We not only have a roof over our heads, we have worked hard to make our home a haven from the troubles of the World.
  
  
  
• I am extremely grateful that I have a husband that has a steady and sufficient income so that I can stay home and take care of our home and children.
• This year I began home-educating Dylan. It has been such an incredible bonding experience and the memories we have made will be forever engrained in us.
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  This year, we were blessed with a plentiful harvest from our garden that not only provided food for us and our family but others that were in need.
  
  
  
• I didn't say a whole lot about it but back in August, I was in a serious car accident. I was only slightly injured but my car was hurt badly. Not only was I not seriously hurt but in the car behind me was my mother and my children. If they would have been in the car, they would have been seriously hurt or killed (mainly my mom in the passenger seat). I was also very thankful we had car insurance.
• In January, we went on a cruise with my family to celebrate my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.
• Andy and I have great friends that hold us accountable and are always there for us!
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  After a lot of praying and debating, I am grateful that the Lord has directed me on the type of blog He wants me to share and I am grateful that He has choosen me to be His messenger.
  
  
  
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  I am very grateful that this year after many years of silence, the Lord has prompted me to begin to open up and share the birth story of my first son Dylan (part 1 and part 2. I promise I will pick it back up soon in the New Year. It truly is a hard topic for me.)
  
  
  
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  I am so grateful for my sisters and friends that I have made in the blogging community. Who knew some of your best friends could come from the internet?
  
  
  
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  I am sorry but this just has to be said... I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY JARS!
  
  
  

This year has been a year full of blessings. We were continually shown God's faithfulness! I cannot praise Him enough!

For more incredible stories of God's greatness, go check out Heavenly Homemakers!

Dora

As you all know, this is Christmas week. This is the one week a year when I wonder.... "Can we please just not eat anymore?"

Christmas brings about the hustle and bustle and we all need to de-clutter. Now I want to set the record straight, my children are not clutter but all the attention they need while I am running around like a crazy woman does become overwhelming.

Now please do not tie me up and stone me but this week I am just so in love with Dora and Diego. No matter what is going on around the house, just pop in Dora or just find Diego on the TV Menu Guide (or DVR it!) and they are totally focused on the television.

Now I am a control freak when it comes to how much and what my children watch but this week, Dora and Diego has saved my children's lives and my sanity. This week, Dora and Diego are something that I totally love. I also found printable (free!) Dora sheets that my older son loves to color. They can be found here, here, and here!

So if you are a mom like me who doesn't really allow her children much TV, give Dora a try. She is a life saver when it comes to a Mom's Christmas Sanity!

Date Nite

Today is GratiTuesday over at Heavenly Homemakers. I have something that I am very grateful for and cannot wait to share it with you...

As a mother, I find that I hardly ever take the time for myself none the less my husband and myself. I am finding that for days at a time, I am not leaving our home and the kids are always occupying my mind and all my attention.

The teens in our church youth group are going to be attending an International Youth Convention this upcoming summer. They are trying to earn money. (Enter great and makes me oh so grateful
idea....)

They decided around the Holidays, they would provide childcare at a reasonable (I think too cheap!) price on Saturday evening from 6P-9P at our church.

Andy and I totally took advantage of this... What a great idea for us to drop our kids off and get time together, while supporting an awesome purpose!

We really enjoyed our time together. It made our marriage stronger. It made me notice that I did not a little adult interaction. AND it made me feel like I wasn't just a mother, but a wife and a woman. A wife and woman which God made to have feelings and needs of her own. It was an awesome experience.

I do not know if they are going to continue this new fundraiser. However, I am all for the continuation! :)

So if your church youth group is looking for a great and servicing fundraiser, this is one idea I would throw out to you! AND if there is nothing like this available to you, I highly recommend finding time to get out of the house with your husband. It is always nice to be reminded that you are more than a mother (even though it's nice to be that too!)
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This post is linked to GratiTuesday.

A New Kind of Blog

First off, Hi, I'm Jodi Davis and deep down, I'm a people pleaser, but I have strong opinions. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping my opinions to myself. I wait and wait and wait until I just cannot hold it anymore, blow up and then I have a pity party in the fact that I made someone else unhappy and not like me.

This is a dangerous combo!

I have really been struggling with this blog and with myself. I am not happy with either. I go other people blogs and have two things happen: 1) Why aren't this many people interested in what I have to say? and 2)Why don't I have my life this together?

I don't want to be like that anymore.

So after a lot of praying and thinking, I have decided. This is going to be a different kind of blog and I'm going to be a different kind of person...

My blog is going to be passionate and my life is going to be passionate.

See, for a long time, I have kept my interests and my real opinions to myself. My opinions and my interests aren't always what I'd like to think of as normal (Truly, what is normal?). They aren't exactly what I've grown up knowing, not what my parents liked or thought. I am finding that a lot of the opinions I thought I had were based on things I heard and thought were right growing up. A lot of my opinions and interests are what I thought the Church and Church people thought and liked.

See, it took a long time to make my faith my own. To choose to love the Lord and trust in Him for myself. I just always acted like the Christian I thought everyone else was. I never made my own commitments.

It is high time I allow myself to feel, love, and believe as I, Jodi, feel that I should. Not others.

For a long time now, I would become very interested in something, but when I'd look around at other's in my life and hear their opinions of it, I would drop it like a hot potato. To others it seemed like I was very flakey, but to me, it felt like an internal struggle. One, that cost me a lot of great opportunities.

I am not making those mistakes a second time. I am going to embrace the thoughts and interests that God has given me and run with them. I am going to tell people about them and I am going to be proud that I have them. No more hiding for me anymore...

My life and this blog are now going be REAL.

I spend a lot of time appearing like I have it together.

The posts and real-life facade I put on make it appear like I am everyday Bible reading, Jesus talking, Christ-follower. That is not the case at all. I have so much room to grow and I need to find the time to grow.

I spend a lot of time making it appear like I have the perfect marriage. I do not. That is far from the truth. Now don't get my wrong I have a wonderful marriage, but I do not put enough love, patience, and joy into it. First and foremost I do not put God into it.

My home is a wreck. I find that I do not ask friends to come over and cancel important things that happen in my home due to my not being happy with it's appearance. I find myself endlessly searching for blog photos that do not show the piles of laundry.

My kids are kids. Sometimes, because it can be humorous, I put posts up that show some of the crazy things they do. BUT if I'm honest, I would say that I portray a mother that tries to have it all together. Once again, not always the case.

I spend a lot of time trying to find the balance of being honest on this blog (Will my in-laws stumble across this blog and see that I am not the perfect housewife?) and in my life. I need to accept that I have interests that a lot of people might now have, but that's okay. Just like it's okay, if they don't have the same interests and opinions that I have. BUT, I should not be afraid to have them.

Therefore, I am proclaiming that this is a new blog. A blog where I am going to be and like me. I am going to talk to you about the things that ARE important to me and I'm going to be proud that I have my own feelings. Please understand that this is a blog of no judgement. I am always open to a good debate AS LONG as it is done in love and civilized. I will have to say that I might have to think of things and get back to you, but don't think for one second that I am ignoring you and do not care about your opinions. I am learning that God gave us all our own and it's GREAT!

So PLEASE take this journey WITH me. Look deep down inside yourself and see what you like or if you're just liking things because you think it's what other expect. Together we will find the women that God made us to be.

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:1-2

Why Do We Bother?

I am still on the couch trying to recover from this cold that seems to have a horrible hold on my asthma. I refuse to go to the doctor due to the fact that I don't want a cold with asthma and the flu!

I am lying here watching my kids play. We have like 500 toys, NO JOKE! Would you like to guess at what the are playing with the most?

2 BOXES and 2 EMPTY MILK JUGS!

It hit me just then, why do I bother buying my kids all these huge gifts? Why do I even sit and stress over were the money for Christmas is going to come from to buy the boys gifts I want them to have? Why do we have so many toys anyway?!?

This year we are keeping a close eye on where our money is going. We are still blessed with my husband having a job, but I just have this nagging feeling that you never know anymore if you will have a job tomorrow.

We live in Dayton where most jobs come from GM and Delphi- two major factories that have closed down. Companies are pulling out and moving to other parts of the country. Our community is struggling. I pray for all of my family and friends without income right now. I pray that God takes control over our economy and it begins to look up.

So back to my original questions. Why do I feel that my kids should have every toy that their little hearts desire and don't desire?

The answer is I want my boys to have everything out there. I want my kids to have everything they want. I want my kids to be happy. I want my kids to like me. I want... I want.. I want...

When it boils down to it, it comes down to me. I think my kids deserve so much. My kids struggle with contentment because of me. Not only do I want my kids to have everything, I want to have everything. I want everything for us instantly. It boils down to me and my discontentment.

I have heard it said that anything worth having comes from work. (Umm... I paraphrased...:))

I want my family to be healthy, but I do not want to take the time to make good, healthy, nutritious foods. I give in a buy the horribly over-processed foods that seem easy and quick. Eating this horrible food at home is still better than eating out, right? Yes, eating horribly processed foods are better than eating out, but is that really the point?!? I should be preparing good foods for my family all the time and feel blessed that I have the resources and ability to.

I want my marriage to be incredible, but I don't want to take the time to communicate with my husband. I want him to read my mind (men should be able to do that right!?). I want to sleep not be bothered. I want to have MY alone time, not OUR alone time. Is that really thinking of my husband first?

I want my home to be well-kept (not perfect, but well-kept). Why can't we just hire a maid?!? I'm tired, the boys make more messes than I can keep out with. I am trying to preserve all this food for my family. I am trying to make Christmas gifts... I am... I am.. I shouldn't have.. I'm tired... The excuses continue to fall. I can justify just about anything... Is this really the heart of a the woman and homemaker I want to be and I know that God wants me to be?

I want to be debt free! But after all the daily doings, don't I deserve to be taken out to eat? Don't I deserve a day off to go to Target or the Mall? Don't I deserve?

Too many times I often think I deserve so much more. This was not my "life-plan". Then it hits me. I don't deserve anything. I have been blessed so much more than I deserve. All of these things I get agitated with, I actually have been blessed with and love doing. Who am I to think that God has given my a raw deal? God gave his son for my selfish, sinning self. He has given more than I would ever consider. He has given me far more than I deserve.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13

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So even though this has gotten way off topic. My question for you today is... Are you content? Do you see all the blessings you have been given? What can we do to be more appreciative of our blessings?
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Don't forget to click here to see the awesome giveaway for my blogoversary!

Do You Delight in Yours?

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

I do not know why but I just felt an urgency to get on here and type this up. I am in the midst of trying to get everything in order for my part of the Women's Retreat tonight. Something just moved my spirit and I knew I had to take a minute and write this entry.

I have tons to do! Tons!!! I do not know what it is about today but nothing seems to matter but spending time with the boys. I have sat and soaked up every minute with them that I can. I find myself actually delighting in being with them. I know sometimes, I feel extreme love for them as I watch them, but today, I just really enjoyed and delighted in being with them. I found myself taking mental pictures as well as physical. I am such a blessed woman.

My question for you today is have you stopped and just delighted in your life and children today? Is the Lord asking you to interrupt whatever to-do list you may have and just asking you to soak in your blessings? Be careful not to miss out, they grow up way to fast...

I NEED YOUR help!

So with all this blogging about family and home, you would think I would have it somewhat together but I DO NOT! Shocker, huh?

So here is the dilema I have, my son, Dylan, just turned four years old, BUT he looks like a seven year old. He is VERY tall and VERY mature!

We started homeschooling this year, so I look for ways that he can learn socialization.

We live in a neighborhood that has a TON of kids in the almost five to 11 years old age range. I am fine with Dylan playing with the kids, BUT I really want him to play at our home. I do not want him riding all over the neighborhood and running inside and outside houses.

The families look nice, but I don't really know the families and I really want Dylan, the younger one, to be close to home.

So here's my question... I really want to be the Christian home where love and kindness draws the kids in and they really want to play here. BUT, how do you compete with the neighbors who have all the cool toys and NO rules?

I am really torn. Am I being to over-protective and sheltering him instead of letting him go out to their homes? Am I just listening to my inner voice?!?