Hansen Dairy Rocks My Socks Off!!

So I continue to LOVE Hansen Dairy! Every time I go there I feel so welcome and appreciated. The staff/owners are always so kind and conversational! For lunch today, I jumped across the street to MooRoos where they sell their ice cream by the scoop. Mmmmmm Delish! So good. And as I was in there, the delivery guy, who of course is a Hansen:) asked me "don't you normally shop over in the Cedar Falls store?" Okay, love that he recognizes the customers. That is awesome. And as I walked out he asked if I like tortillas. Well of course I do! And so he gave me a free package of some tortillas that were literally made last night in Decorah. They are having customers test them out to see if they will start selling them in their stores. Awesome! Can't wait to try them tonight.

It's about me, but its also about us.

As I read over my entries, I realize I write a lot about MY life, rather than our (Josh and my) life together. Which, I think that is okay. I mean, I am still an individual dealing with my own personal struggles and I think this is a place where I kind of mentally deal with those things. But, after rereading my Vegan Parenting entry, I realized I did a lot of talking about my kids and what I will teach them. I think I did this mostly because Josh isn't on the same path as I am in terms of being strict about boycotting factory farming and that was the specific issue at hand in the blog. He does it where he can, but he still eats what he wants and that is totally fine by me. I think he probably thinks I over do it a bit, but also supports me in what I need to do. But, I wanted to clarify, there will definitely be a partnership as WE raise OUR kids. And, honestly, IF we ever do have children, I can't wait to help him raise our kid(s).

On another note: They say the first year of marriage can be tough. Even tougher when your dealing with depression I would guess. I commend my husband for putting up with my woah is me attitude. Especially because he is such a social butterfly. It isn't fair to him that I continue to wallow in my own self pity. I think I am finally making some good changes in my daily life that will ultimately change my brain chemistry! Honestly, over the last couple of days I have felt less reactionary and anxiety driven, and dare I say, happier?! I'm still waiting to see if it holds or if I've just been lucky:) I've been working out everyday in hopes to naturally boost my endorphines, as well as taking the St. John's Wort. I really hope it works as I don't want to have to deal with the potential side affects of meds, although, if needed I will make use of them. So, there ya have it. More about me than you probably wanted to know. Have a blessed day!

Not Free Speech, RIGHT speech.

My new Mantra. Like I said yesterday, small steps, one day at a time, but I'll eventually get to a place where my heart feel at peace. I hope this helps me get there.

Three Tests of Right Speech:

Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?

Just reading it lifts a weight from my shoulders.

Vegan Parenting?

Well, I am not strictly vegan, however my attempt to eat meat and dairy and other animal by products that comes only from small family farms where the animals are treated more humanely has been fairly successful. I still struggle with this because I know if I owned a cow, I would grow attached and treat it like a pet. And I would never eat my pets. But, I also believe that if I lived in the "wild", I would probably kill animals for nourishment. So I guess that is my reasoning for now. I'm just not in a place where I feel comfortable getting rid of all animal products from my diet. It may happen eventually. You never know. One day at a time, with small changes will allow me to get to the place where I feel most at peace and stay there long term.

With that being said, I did want to share the article below. I agree with the main idea. While I won't be able to control everything my kids eat or wear, they will be taught the idea that ALL animals deserve to be treated in a humane way and that we should make an effort to observe that through the products we choose to buy. I don't think I'd go as far as restricting them from friends and family with leather furniture, though a precocious little one (as I'm sure mine will be) may have a word or two for someone with a leather couch;) Is it any different than instilling another belief system in our kids? I think not as long as they are not malnourished, but I'd love to hear what others think. Just some food for thought, I guess.

Animal Person

Mary Martin, PhD, deconstructs the language, ethics and economics of our relationship with nonhuman animals.

On Vegan Parenting . . . Again

In "Custody Battle Over Quints Questions Vegan Lifestyle," by Emily Nipps, we learn about Gayle and Jeff Nelson-Folkersen of Tampa who are getting divorced, and Jeff is seeking primary custoday of their five 10-year olds. The only reason we know at this point for his decision, is Gayle's strict vegan lifestyle. Jeff claims she has:

'serious psychological control issues' and imposes a strict vegan diet - no meat, eggs or dairy - on the children, according to Hillsborough County court files. She even restricts the quints' visits with their paternal grandparents, the divorce petition states, because they have leather furniture.

The article casually states a commonly held train of thought that I'd like to take a moment to derail:

Vegan diets, especially for children, are often criticized not just from a nutritional standpoint, but also an ethical or psychological one. Adults often choose veganism because they disagree with the way factory farms use animals to produce eggs and milk, as well as how they are fattened or slaughtered for meat.

Is it okay to teach a child about these practices to ensure they share a parent's views on cheese, ice cream and leather furniture?

First, even the New York Times has realized that Nina Plank-like concern over vegan diets for children is bunkum. People who criticize veganism from a nutritional standpoint simply don't know the facts. There's been more discussion about this topic over the last 30 days than ever before, and we have Nina Planck and her misinformed op-ed to thank for that. The American public has been schooled on the nutritional aspects of veganism, and for those paying attention, the case is closed.

What strikes me as entirely backward, however, is that vegan diets are criticized from and ethical or psychological standpoint. Everyone communicates their values to their children, either implicitly or explicitly. If I have leather furniture in my house or my car (I don't), I am telling the world--through my choices--that I think it's okay to sit on someone else's skin. If I feed my children meat, which my parents did to me, I am sending them the message that eating the flesh of another--for no better reason than you like the taste of it or it's readily available and inexpensive--is acceptable. My parents transmitted values to me: Certain animals, such as chickens and cows and pigs, are for eating, and there's nothing wrong with eating them. In fact, they can be quite tasty. Other animals, such as cats and dogs, are cute and sweet and for petting. You shouldn't eat those animals.

Pit that value system against: We don't eat nonhuman animals because we don't believe they are ours to eat. They are like us in many ways that are very important. They are like Fido and Fluffy in every way that is important. We wouldn't eat Fido or Fluffy, so we shouldn't eat other creatures either. (Language can be modified to fit appropriate stages of cognitive development, naturally.)

What makes the latter value system criticize-able? Isn't the former one, which encourages unnecessary killing of nonhuman animals and is devoid of logic, the one on ethical and psychological-shaky ground? Is it okay to teach a child what really goes on in the world? Of course it is (with appropriately language). It's better than lying to them about Old McDonald and his mythical farm, while driving through McDonald's for a happy meal.

Finally, "Some might find the choice to raise a child to have these ethical beliefs as no different from raising a child to have certain spiritual beliefs." Some might. I don't. Spiritual beliefs are based on faith and faith, by definition, is belief without evidence. Veganism is a way of life based on science. Facts. We know that sentient beings are like us in all ways that matter. That's not a belief--it's a fact. Raising children to be nonviolent and to ask questions and align their actions with what is right is not the child abuse it is made out to be--it's responsible parenting.

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Life is yours to live...just the way you want to live it.

This is a giant block of whatever is most difficult for you to carry & trust me on this, you'll carry it more times than you can count until you decide that's exactly what you want to do most & then it won't weigh a thing anymore. ~Brian Andreas, Weight Training

As I've journeyed through life, I've made some tough decisions. Mostly decisions about who I wanted to be, what was important to me, and when and where I would take a stand for those things. It's never easy. I think it was more so for me because I had a lot of great supports in my life. People who only wanted me to be happy and trusted I knew exactly how to get to that point...whether immediately or in the long run. Really my family is the best. They supported me through being a philosophy major...where was that going to get me I got asked by strangers all the time. And my sister took two whole years off before even considering going to college. "Oh she'll never go" was what many people probably thought. And what if she never did? Would that make her less than? And through life experience she learned what she wanted to do rather than force the decision in 2 short years of college before she would have had to declare a major. I think we are both happier people now for following our hearts! My husband is a prime example of someone who just never felt like college material. He had 2 go's at it, but in the long run he wanted to work with his hands. He's a carpenter now and gets paid the same as me...and I have the student loan bill! Imagine that.

Really the same goes for any stance in life. College, religion, raising your kids, hell, birthing your kids, eating your food...Anything. You'll always get the eyebrow raise, the sly looks, the "concerned" questioning, the "but don't you think you should...."!

It makes me sad when I know there are people out there who crumble under the pressure of their "support" systems. "Supports" who don't truly hear what these precious individuals need to become complete in their very own way. Everyone has their own path and they have the right to follow that path as long as it does not injure another. But it can be so hard to follow when everyone else wants you to go down the "right" path. I wish there were no "right" mandated by most of society. It just breeds insecurity and hostility in those who try to follow it but never feel quite right about it.

Follow your dreams, live your life for yourself because you'll never be able to live for someone else until you do, let others love you for exactly who you are and leave the rest to miss out on the best person they may never know!

Mm mm Delish!

If for some reason I'm in the market to marry again, this is the man I will be seeking. One swimmer for another. Who knew I had a penchant for swimmers? Really, I had no clue who he was before this week, but that's about all I needed with Josh so apparently it is par for the course! Ooh he's about to race again. Exciting stuff.

Mock Blogs

My friend Kaari's blog
So above is a link to an entry on my friend Kaari's blog. It also links to another spoof blog, but she did a good job explaining what it spoofs. Although not Mormon, it makes me laugh out loud quite a bit because it really does mock many bloggers, I think!