More Molokai fun!

Purdy's Macadamia Nut Farm!

Macadamia nuts on the tree!

Look at how much fun Moses is having!

He loved cracking the nuts and eating, eating, eating!

A rare family photo!

I have been to this farm dozen's of times. I can honestly say they have the best macademia nuts I have ever had. They are grown and processed right there on the island. I've been here with my dad, my mom, my friends... everyone loves this place! We toured the farm, learned about the growing process, and were able to crack open some of the raw macademia nuts. Moses really enjoyed this place!

Molokai.

Many, many moons ago my grandfather (my dad's dad) spent his summer's on Molokai. He had a condo at Kenanikai and each summer he would go off to Hawaii. His health started to deteriorate around the same time my brother was stationed on Oahu, and so he sent my dad and I to Molokai for a couple of weeks in his place. It was a great vacation. We split our time between Molokai and visiting with my brother Oahu. Fun, fun, fun.

Fast forward a few years and Jeremiah and I were living on Molokai - just a few minutes from Kenanikai resort. When Jeremiah and I first arrived on the island I went and visited the places I had gone to with my dad. It was surreal. It was on that trip with my dad that I first found out that he was sick. He said the doctors had given him about four years.. but I was sixteen then and the reality of those words didn't really sink in. Now to be back at the place that I had shared so many fun memories with my father, but older and wiser and honestly quite healed up from the awfulness of losing him and everything that happened around his death... it was just surreal. I'm really grateful for those early days on Molokai with Jeremiah. God really did something in my heart to heal me up. It was good.

The beach dad and I spent most of our time on.

This trip was special, too. This time I could my take my family to all the places dad and I had gone, and then Jeremiah and I as well. Molokai has a special place in our hearts. I hope we can spend many, many more family vacations there.

Moses' first time at the beach. The little homie was fearless!

So many more pictures and memories to share! More to come.

Vaccines, continued.

If you would like to read the first post on the subject you can find it here. I was able to get ahold of Sanofi Pasteur and they were very helpful. The only vaccine that my pediatrician gets from them is DTap-IPV/Hib. You can also split this vaccine up and if you do you usually give a diphtheria and tetanus shot and then another for the polio. In the conjugate vaccine (the one with all of them in one) the polio was grown using aborted fetal tissue. If you just give the Dtap (just the diphtheria and tetanus) it has no gelatin, no aborted fetal tissue, and was grown on pork products.

So this is what that looks like:

DTaP-IPV/Hib - Human aborted fetal tissue.

DTaP - Porcine.

The thing I have learned from this is that if I have a question or concern that means a lot to my family, I can't just ask the doctor. I really do have to do the investigating myself. I had 3 different answers from 3 doctors (all were wrong!). Pretty amazing.

Also, there are other options if using the vaccines made by these manufacturers isn't an option for your family. For us the next step is calling San Juan Basin Health and inquiring about where they get their vaccines and then calling those manufacturers. If I find out anything else that seems significant I will let you all know!

Your Daily Hayes.

Helping Papa do the dishes!

What a good helper!

Hayes Happenings

I just had one of those mommy moments where I am praying out loud for the grace to make it through the next 30 minutes. Goodness gracious, these little people stretch and refine their parents - and that's not a complaint. I am so grateful for it!

I recently made up a game plan for our days. It is wonderful for many reasons, but one of the biggies is that I am sure to get some quiet time in the mornings before the babies get up. There are some verses that have really been helping me get through the day gracefully. I have them written down and posted. They are what keep me centered in these crazy, crazy, wonderful days.

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

Phil 4:5

I so desire to be gentle with my babies from the moment they wake until I tuck them in at night (and again in the middle of the night). Obviously, the Lord desires it too!

"But we hope for what we do not see, with PERSEVERANCE we wait eagerly for it."

Romans 8:25

I am persevering through the daily challenges of motherhood, and so desire to run this race well.

"The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

This one is so helpful when my best made plans fail.

"Do not complain, brethren, against one another so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold the judge is standing at the door."

James 5:9

Not even about my children.. or naps that get cut short.. or ANYTHING!

Speaking of naps getting cut short.. I think I hear a Sarah!

Park fun!

Some days are just so sweet. The fall weather, happy babies and a mama with nothing else to do but love them (forget the laundry, the cleaning, the..). These days are so precious.

Sarah was strapped to me the whole time.. but I think she was having just a much fun as Brother.

Five Month's Old!

Our sweet girl will be 5 month's old tomorrow. Where has the time gone?! Sarah is such a delight. Our refluxy baby has turned into a sweet little lady - so smiley and sweet. We have just started solid food and she is doing so well.

She is loving the rice cereal!

Applesauce.. not so much :)

Sweet potatoes were a hit!

This little lady is such a blessing. I love being her mama :)