Inequality

I believe in equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation. A friend posted this blog on Facebook which I found very powerful. I'll let it speak for itself. Please take a look. I just have to share one of my favourite quotes heard recently from Whoopi Goldberg... "If you're against gay marriage, then don't marry a gay person." Love it!

Consumerism

Yesterday I needed a break from my boys (yes, it happens once in awhile!), so while Joel was in charge of things on the homefront, I got to do whatever I wanted. Wanting to do something I haven't done in awhile, I decided to go shopping at the nearby Heartland Town Centre where you can find just about any store you want. I hadn't been since sometime before the boys were born. I started walking from store to store, browsing the aisles of clothes, shoes and fashion accessories. But while I was enjoying the time outside of my home, I quickly became uncomfortable. I've been thinking a lot lately about the kind of life I want to live, the kind of life we want to live as a family. Simplicity is a big part of that. It's something I'm not good at. I fail all the time, but I really want to practice going against the cultural norm of accumulating more "stuff". I started to see slogans like "must haves for the fall", "because you deserve it" etc. Such lies.

How in the world, with a closet and drawers FULL of clothes, did I end up looking for more? Why has shopping become a hobby, something to do just for fun, not because we need something... and I use the word "need" very loosely as few things are necessities. I don't need any more stuff. Really, I don't. I don't need that shirt just because it's on sale (my weakness) or because I don't have one in that exact colour. I don't need those boots because they are the latest trend. And yet, I came home with a new shirt. It wasn't expensive but I don't need it. The excuse in my head was that the store supports the company Joel works for. Pathetic, I know. The truth is, it was $16 I could have given away to help someone in need. If a hungry child was put in front of me as well as the shirt I would have chosen to feed the child. I don't think it's wrong to have nice things, but if I do, I want to make sure I'm giving a heck of a lot of money away. We are wealthy. No, not middle class. Wealthy! The majority of people reading this are among the wealthiest in the world, having FAR more than most around the globe. But we feel entitled. I know I do. It's a constant struggle and the tension we live in. I'm trying to figure out how to do it well. How do I enjoy a nice dinner out with my husband, when they money we spend could probably feed hundreds? I think there's a way to do it, without feeling guilty about every dollar I spend, but also thinking beyond the norms of our culture and giving generously.

If you are someone who values simplicity and generosity, or at least wants to, what are some ways you're working towards it? Ideas always welcome! :)

Famine in Africa

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Hopefully anyone reading this knows by now that there is a famine in the horn of Africa. If you don't, please get yourself caught up. The UN is calling it the world's worst humanitarian disaster. It's estimated that 29,000 children under the age of 5 have died in the last 90 days and millions are at risk. Media attention seems to be picking up but I'm still shocked at the limited amount of coverage it's getting. I listen to CBC radio every morning which includes several news reports and the "World Report" and I rarely hear this famine mentioned. It baffles me. When people die in terrorist attacks, riots, natural disasters it is all over the news (rightly so). Maybe because this is ongoing it's not the top story, but it needs to be. In some ways it is complicated... why this is happening, the politics involved. But in other ways it's very simple. Thousands of people are desperate and dying and I believe it's our responsibility to help. Period.

I have given money, signed petitions and am trying to stay informed. I'm also trying to get the word out on places like Facebook and it's obvious some people do care which is encouraging. But I want to do more. I know I need to give more. I have a hard time spending extra money on the luxuries of life when people are days, minutes, seconds away from starvation. Last night I watched this great video featuring Bono and K'naan. I found it challenging. Some mothers are having to choose between children to feed or leaving their dead children on the side of the road so they can continue on to look for food. I know this is on the other side of the world, but as a mother if I try to imagine what that's like, enter the situation as best as I can, I want to do more. What can I go without so that I can give more and help save lives? There is plenty. Have you done something to help? If not, can you? Will you? To quote Bono, "It's not our intentions, it's our actions."

Summer Vacation

This past week Joel took the week off work for a much needed vacation. His last vacation days were over Christmas which was a bit of a bust. My Grandma had just passed away, we were all sick on Christmas day and then ended up in the hospital for several days with the boys. Not very relaxing or enjoyable. His other vacation days last year were spent at home helping in the early weeks of the boys. We were ready for a break!

Since the boys are still napping twice a day and mobile, but not yet walking, we figured we'd stay with the familiar. So we headed to the farm for several days. We saw both of my brothers and their families and my parents were there as well. Highlights included lots of time reading (I was on my third book when we left), sleeping in every day (a bonus of having a husband who LIKES to get up early...crazy, I know!), riding the waves of Georgian Bay with my brother on a stormy day, Micah's first steps (and last for the moment... no new attempts) and watching my boys explore the farm. I'm thankful to have such a wonderful place in our family to go and relax. Every season there is beautiful and unique in its own way. When we came home we enjoyed a day with friends and some more relaxing at home.

Vacations aren't what they used to be. As a teacher I have great time off, so that would often mean a March Break trip to Cuba, camping or cottaging in Muskoka, day trips to Niagara-on-the Lake or Stratford. Now with two little toddlers in tow, we don't go too farm from the comforts of home or the farm and we don't DO much. It's a new normal, but I like it. I know as our kids gets older we will get more adventurous again. There's lots of time for that. But for now I enjoy the simple pleasures of getting out of my house and being together as a family. Joel is such an involved dad that having him around really is a vacation.

As I'm back to the usual stay-at-home mom gig. I have a big "Household Projects" list on my fridge, left-over from my spring cleaning attempts, that I'd like to get done before my summer ends and have my life in some kind of organized order. But summer's not over yet. I plan to enjoy a few more BBQs, lots of fresh Ontario peaches and corn-on-the cob, bike rides, sitting on our patio and long evenings with my favourite people. What do you like best about summer?

6 Years

That's how long I've been married to my amazing husband. The years keep rolling by. While I don't really believe in "the one", I absolutely believe I married the right guy for me. Our marriage isn't perfect, we definitely have things to work on, but we're both one hundred percent committed to making our relationship the best it can be. And I think a huge part of that is time. As we prepared to welcome two babies into the world, just over a year ago, I wondered what kind of impact the huge transition would have on our marriage. I can honestly say it's only gotten better. Joel is a an amazing, hard working, fully engaged dad and watching him with our boys makes me fall even more in love with him. There's nothing sexier than a man changing diapers ;) But another thing, that I know not everyone will agree with, is that our relationship with each other comes first, before our relationship with our boys. Although we haven't done it perfectly, we try to make time together a priority. Just a few weeks after we became parents we went out for dinner on our first date, and we frequently have babysitters so we can get out (the bonus of a 7pm bedtime is that we can put our boys down and then go out... they don't miss out on us, and babysitting consists of watching TV at our house. Bonus for everyone!) One of the best gifts I think you can give your children is the example of a strong, healthy marriage.

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful meal out at a local inn. While we ate delicious food and drank delicious wine, we reflected on the past and dreamed of the future. But I also enjoyed the present, spending time with the person I love most in this world, who challenges me, encourages me, teaches me and loves me despite my faults. No doubt there will be some bumps, maybe even some mountains ahead, but I'm thankful for the person I get to be on the journey with. I love you Joel. Happy 6 years! xoxo

Jealousy

Yes, it's an ugly word, but it's something I struggle with. Currently there are two areas I'm struggling with that are somewhat related. One is being jealous of moms who can easily cart their kids wherever they want. I know lots of twin moms who are constantly going out with their kids but this is something I've found a challenge. Partly it's just fear... fear that they'll both completely lose it at once and I won't be able to handle it. I'm not sure why that paralyzes me so much as my boys almost never lose it and have been overall really great wherever we take them. I've been trying to combat that fear recently and just bite the bullet and do it. Recent successes have been a trip to Coscto with the boys and taking them to a chiropractor appointment with me. They were awesome both times. It's a lot of organizing, figuring out what to do with one boy while I put the other in the car etc., but I can make it work. And don't get me wrong, I don't ever wish I didn't have two of them, but I sometimes hear stories from my mom friends of singletons who take their kids everywhere, feeding them on the go and it seems so much harder for me. I spend so much time at home. I'm trying to remember that it's just a phase and it will get easier.

The other thing I get jealous of is friends with big yards, or maybe not even big yards, just yards with fences. We live in a condo townhouse complex which means our grass is cut for us (yes, it's nice!) but our fences only go halfway so they can get through. This makes it nearly impossible to hang out in the yard with the boys without Joel around. We took them out the other evening and they basically needed one-on-one attention as they were off in different directions. After a long winter indoors, I am craving the sunshine and fresh air. We make do with short walks and trips to the park where we all enjoy the confinement of the baby swings.

In the big picture, these are very trivial things. I am blessed with so much and I don't like feeling the way I do. I think the antidote to jealousy and discontentment is thankfullness. When my mind goes to wishing for things I don't have, I try to think of all that I do have. I have healthy boys, I can afford to stay home with them (even if sometimes staying home all the time makes me a bit loopy), we have a roof over our head, plenty of food, we have a yard, albeit small. The list could go on. Gratitude is something I've been reading and thinking a lot about. I wish I didn't get jealous of people and their circumstances but sometimes I do. I'm hoping that as I make gratitude more central to my life, it's something that I'll get better at.

A Weekend Getaway

While on a birthday date in May, Joel surprised me with a weekend away to see my new favourite band, Lady Antebellum. We dropped the boys off at my parents and started on the long trek to Sarnia for Bayfest, with stops at Subway for lunch and Lick's for a bonus milkshake (mmm, SO good!). We checked into a quiet Bed and Breakfast in Petrolia, about half an hour from Sarnia and explored the small town to find dinner... a short walk through the three block strip. Then it was concert time.

I never in a million years would imagine that our first real overnight date would be at a Countryfest. I never really considered myself a country fan, but Lady Antebellum is country and I think they're awesome. I first discovered them while watching Ellen last year. Just pure talent and I'm always a fan of bands who have a piano. I like the story-telling aspect of the music and the simplicity of a few instruments and some great voices. We were packed into the crowd, surrounded by mostly teenagers sporting short shorts and cowboy hats, singing along to all the words. It was an interesting to see as I don't think I've ever met a country-loving teenager where I live. They were there for a good time, and a good time was had by all. Some musicians don't sound that great live, without the help of a recording studio, but I was pleasantly surprised and felt like I was listening to their album. They played all of my favourite songs, including this, this, this and this.

The boys had a great time with my parents and didn't see to have any issues being gone for us from 24 hours. It was so nice to stay up late, go on a road trip, enjoy good music and have extended alone time with Joel. I feel refreshed and am thankful for such a great opportunity!