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That’s the slogan for this year’s World Fair Trade Day and it’s tomorrow, May 10th..

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Why does it matter?

Because Fair Trade means fair pay and working conditions for farmers and producers. Fair Trade products are made in safe and healthy working conditions, where farmers and producers receive a fair price and have a voice in how their workplace is run.

Fair Trade supports communities. By working through cooperative structures, Fair Trade artisans and small farmers are able to invest Fair Trade earnings in their communities, improving housing, healthcare, and schools. And Fair Trade is better for the environment as it supports sustainable practices that minimize our environmental footprint.

But ultimately Fair Trade means what you buy matters. By choosing Fair Trade products, you are not only accessing high quality products, you are making a difference in the lives of the people who grow the food you eat and the goods you use.

How can you help?

- PRAY

-Stay informed and learn more.

-Buy fair trade products whenever possible and join the community of concerned Catholics determined to build a better world, one purchase at a time.

-Donate through Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Fund where 100% of your tax-deductible contributions are used to benefit Fair Trade farmers and artisans. Through the Fair Trade Fund, CRS makes targeted, high-impact Development Grants to help artisans and farmers overseas succeed in the U.S. Fair Trade market, and Market-Building Grants that have unique potential to help grow the market for Fair Trade products here in the United States.

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A gift from our oldest son for our 23rd wedding anniversary (this past Monday the 6th).

Fairtrade chocolate that lives up to its heavenly name! Yes those are 100 gram bars —yes there were ten.

Divine is the fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by the cocoa farmers cooperative Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana, who not only receive a fair price for their cocoa but also share in the company’s profit.

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It almost seems un fair to have so much delicious chocolate . . . almost.

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3 yr. old Matthew to Grammie on the phone:  “Grammie, Maggie has blood sugar!”

Matthew to Mom: “Mommy, why do you keep giving Maggie shots?  Stop it!”

Matthew to Mom : “Mom Peter called me a human! I’m not a human I’m a kid!”  “Peter keeps being annoying!”

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Thank you all for the prayers. We are home now and Maggie is doing much better. She’s still having trouble keeping her blood sugar levels stable sometimes but we know that’s to be expected. Last night was a good night and this morning she had good numbers.

It’s been kinda scary for all of us and Maggie has been such a trooper with all the pokes and needle sticks. She’s getting 4 shots a day of insulin and numerous finger sticks for blood glucose level checks. Most of the time she’s pretty cheerful but there are moments when she is just tired of it all. Me too.

The reality that your child has a life threatening, lifetime disease is quite sobering. We know it’s livable and eventually will become “normal” but there’s a lot to get used to right now. The likelihood is that she will be fine and grow up healthy and of course we hope and pray for that, but we also know that sometimes the day in day out can be a trial and we are already realizing some of the limits and difficulties of it. Still, though there are difficulties the blessings are already innumerable.

Maggie has understandably become very attached to me and fears being separated from me. I don’t mind of course and I am sure it’s normal. We can see stress in some of the other children too and are spending a lot of time snuggling and holding and talking.

I have canceled my speaking engagement in Kansas City next month as I cannot imagine leaving even for a night. The conference coordinator was very understanding.

I am going no mail or unsubbing from most of my e-groups so that I can focus my attention where it’s most needed. Truth be told it’s hard to focus on anything other than Maggie and the family anyway and that’s as it should be.

Thank you again for the prayers, we have felt them very tangibly these last several crazy days.

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Sunday afternoon we rushed our 8yr. old daughter Maggie to the ER because she was having trouble breathing. Within minutes of arriving a new and totally unexpected reality was thrust upon us as we came to realize that our little girl was most likely suffering from Type I diabetes. Her blood sugar was 433 —she was in diabetic ketoacidosis. She was rushed to Penn State Hershey Medical Center where she has been receiving excellent care. The last 30 hours have been very frightening for all of us but we are relieved to know that Maggie is going to be OK. She does indeed have Type I Diabetes and will be on insulin for the rest of her life.

Right now are just trying to get used to the idea of it all. We know that this is a disease that can be lived with and adjusted to well but there are still emotions to deal with when your child is suddenly struck with something that is so potentially life threatening. Among other things it leaves you feeling scared, grateful, protective and oh so vulnerable.

We know that God is in control and we have felt His love very tangibly through this difficult time. We are ever so grateful for the prayers of the family of God, both locally and far and wide. We are thankful for Fr. Matthew who anointed her in the ER and Fr. Leo and Fr. Chuks who prayed over and for her, as well as Fr. Bernard who prays for her from afar.

Maggie is doing very well and will be going home sometime tomorrow. We have been learning how to care for her (I gave her her first shot of insulin tonight) and will be having a detailed, intensive training session tomorrow before we go home. Further prayers for all of us as we adjust to the changes are greatly appreciated.

We’ve had a change of direction and it came with a new perspective. We knew that our life was mightly blessed before but we know it even more so now.

Thank you again for all your prayers –they are truly appreciated!

Thank you also to everyone who has offered to help in terms of the actual living with and understanding diabetes. We are being inundated with information at the moment and have many people helping us to learn what we need to, but we are glad to know there are others we can ask for advice should the need arise.

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There’s one week left for early bird registration of the upcoming Family-Centered Learning conference.

It’s going to be a truly lovely weekend.  I happen to know of several blogging moms that are for sure going to be there.

Friday July 25th we’re having a Family-Centered picnic and Saturday July 26th we have a terrific line up of women who will be sharing their wit and wisdom with us:

Alice Gunther

• A Garden Well Tended: Living the Liturgical Year in the Catholic Home.
  
• What about Socialization?

Margot Davidson

• Purposeful Literature Study: Making Good Readers Great Thinkers

Mary Ellen Barrett

• Tending the Wildflowers in Your Garden: Cultivating Love and Acceptance for Your Special Needs Child
  

Meredith Henning

• Bringing Sweetness to Early Childhood Education: The Preschool Learning Corner

Please consider joining us –we’d love to meet you!