***updated with new donation widget and hopefully, the video is working!***

Uh-oh, the dreaded V-word. Vaccines. I know enough about them to be afraid, but not enough to ditch them.

What I do know is that vaccines have eradicated many diseases in our world.

One such disease is tetanus.

Tetanus? Is that even a thing anymore? Who’s ever heard of someone who has tetanus? Not me.

Well, until I went to Cincinnati. Until I met (!) the President & CEO of US Fund for UNICEF, Caryl Stern. Until I saw the video diary of Bryan McCleary, Director of External Relations of P&G and his trip with UNICEF to Angola, Africa. Until I read that 140,000 newborns and 30,000 mothers die each year from this preventable disease; a disease that has been preventable for the last FIFTY years!

Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) is one of those diseases that’s just lurking everywhere. It’s transmitted through dirt and in the air and passed through open wounds. Open wounds like UMBILICAL CORDS. Many infants in third-world countries are delivered in mud huts with no clean water available. Umbilical cords are cut with whatever sharp instrument is around instead of a clean knife. Then packed with mud to stop the bleeding. And within 5-7 days, they die from tetanus.

It’s not a silent slow killer either. It’s marked with muscle rigidity, muscle spasms, inability to eat and seizures triggered by light and touch.

LIGHT and TOUCH.

Imagine your newborn baby, having muscle spasms and whenever you tried to comfort him he had a seizure. It’s horrifying.

Pampers has teamed up with UNICEF to end tetanus. Period. Since the year 2000 UNICEF has already eradicated it in 11 countries. It’s not out of the question because each vaccine only costs FIVE CENTS. One nickel. If you buy a pack of Pampers (with the below sticker on it), they’ll donate one vaccine.

You know, I don’t usually get involved with big charity organizations. My passion is not cancer or animals or storm victims. I’m glad someone is raising money and support for each one of these issues. But it’s not just me. I’m passionate about families and kids and Godly values. I’ve posted about Compassion because I want people to give their money to help raise kids to LIVE in this world but also to LOVE God.

But when I saw this video (I’m about to link to it…) of children dying when they are SIX days old, I was impelled to act. They just should not show a video of a newborn baby writhing in pain to a pregnant woman. It’s cruel and unusual.

Normally, big companies that give money makes me kind of irate. I mean, a movie star giving away 1 million dollars when they made 13 million on one of 3 movies they made last year, doesn’t impress me. (like uh…this.) It doesn’t motivate me to give when a company says they’ll give away one penny for every upc code I cut out, save and mail to them. It’s just false generosity. Why don’t they just donate the money and send out a press release?

Well, I wanted to ask the Global VP of Pampers Baby Care, Jane Wildman and Bryan McCleary this same question.

But before I could, they showed us the video (the link is coming…) of Mr. McCleary’s visit to Angola to see UNICEF’s progress with tetanus vaccines. They told us about the contest that P&G had so that 2 employees could travel with Mr. McCleary to Angola. They told us stories about their employees who were in “puddles” after watching this in-house video. We heard about these same employees who are saving their nickels so they can in turn save babies. And to top it off, they donated 1,000 vaccines in MY name. And 1,000 vaccines for each of the Mom bloggers that attended this event.

That’s only $50. But it’s 1,000 babies. 1,000 precious bundles of joy. 1,000 lives that God knit together.

I finally spoke up and said, “One of my biggest pet peeves is companies who have false generosity. But listening to what you guys are doing behind the scenes with UNICEF makes me motivated to give. I want to save babies with you.” (or something like that. I’m sure it wasn’t that expressive…)

So. Now, that you’ve heard my heart-gush. Here’s the video. Remember, this was an in-house video just for P&G employees. Not a marketing ploy. We had to beg them to give it to us. (Thank you, Amanda at PainePR!)

Did you watch it? If not, go back and at least watch the first 40 seconds. That’ll do it.

Now do you see why I’m writing this forever long post? Like I said, I had to act. So, here’s my idea.

In honor of the 1,000 vaccines that were donated in my name, I’m going to challenge you my dear readers and friends, to match that donation. I’d like us to collectively donate 1,000 vaccines to the Pampers/UNICEF tetanus fund. I’d like us to save 1,000 babies from tetanus. But to show you how serious I am (and to encourage you, too) I’m going to start it off by donating 1,000 vaccines personally. Will you partner with me?

If you’d like some more info, check out Pamper’s site and some of the other bloggers that were at the Pampers’ event. Kailiani tells a story about a mama in Mozambique and how her baby is alive thanks to these vaccines. Christine at Boston Mamas has an articulate (we haven’t seen that here in awhile…) retelling of our entire experience. And check out Stacy’s fantastic post, too.

By the way, if you’re here because of the word “vaccines” and want to argue their safety—please don’t. I am not an expert on Pampers, UNICEF or tetanus. Nor am I an employee of either organization. I’m just a mom who wants to help babies.

Vaccines & More Vaccines **updated** is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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It’s Saturday. Obviously. I have been trying to post all day but just haven’t been able to sit down long enough. Not like anything interesting is going on. Just normal toddler-land, I guess.

Les and Lydia are outside washing the car. (As if that’s the dirtiest thing we own!) It’s nice though because I can finish cleaning blogging.

This post is really more of one of those uhm…daily round-up things. Everybody say YEE-HAW!

1. Did you watch Oprah the other day? I’m not sure what day it was per my lovely Tivo. But it had the organizer guy from Clean Sweep. He has a new book out called, “Does this Clutter make my Butt Look Fat?” He thinks clutter and obesity are the same. He says you can’t have a healthy lifestyle if you don’t have a healthy house. Try cooking a healthy meal when your fridge is a mess! So, he inspired me/convicted me. I cleaned out the fridge and the freezer today. Did anyone else see this episode? Wasn’t it good?

2. Dh bought me these last night. Eating for two remember?

3. It’s my one year blog-anniversary-birthday-blogiversary thingie tomorrow. I’m having a little party. It might be a day late due to my day o’rest, but get ready— it’s going to be fun!

4. I finally read day 5 of my text:_. Thanks K-dogg for keeping me accountable! I wanted to write something profound because wow, it’s a hard-hitting text, but Lydia is apparently afraid of the waterhose so now she’s sitting in my lap saying “Not like the water, Mommy!”

Happy Weekend!

Saturday Oh, Saturday! is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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Psalm 119
97 Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.

99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

100 I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.

101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.

102 I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.

text:_day4_psalm119_97_104 is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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I really did read this yesterday. But my internet was down for like 12 hours. What-ever.

33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
  then I will keep them to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.

35 Direct me in the path of your commands,
       for there I find delight.

36 Turn my heart toward your statutes
       and not toward selfish gain.

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
       preserve my life according to your word.

The sections in bold are all the things David is asking of God. The italics are the result. Interesting!

text:_day3_psalm119_33_37 is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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My thoughts/prayers in italics…

Psalm 119
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

I memorized this one as a kid. Help me teach this to Lydia.

10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

One of the first verses I memorized as a kid. How much this would/does help if I actually do what it says!

12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.

I want YOU to be my teacher, Lord!

13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.

Interesting. My lips. I have to not only read, meditate and act on, I also need to SPEAK God’s Word!

14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.

Really? Do I do that? How do I get to that point? Is it a choice? Is it a process of filling my heart with His Word and then it makes me rejoice?

15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.

16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

Lord, this is my prayer and goal. To delight in your Word and never neglect it again. I do not think this is lofty goal.

text:_day2_psalm119_9_16 is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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Thanks for all your great comments about yesterday’s sermon. I love hearing what you have to say! I’m going to try to respond to everyone because I really am interested in this and am thankful for your candor.

I’ll be posting my Bible reading every day. I literally might just cut & paste the scripture or I’ll write a little something about it. This isn’t going to be the onlly thing I post about this week, it’s just a little accountability thing for me. So, if I don’t post one day feel free to say, “OH AMANDA, where’s your B-I-B-L-E? Remember if you read your Bible and pray every day then you’ll grow grow grow!” (Anyone remember that song?)

Anyway, here’s what we’re reading today: Psalm 1

I actually read it 3 times.

My goal:
Verse 2, “But his [Amanda's] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he [she] meitates day and night.”

The promise I loved:
Verse 3, “He [Amanda] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yeields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he [she] does prospers.”

text:_day1_psalm1 is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
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