... When It's All Literal

In first grade, Miriam completes a book report every week.  For several weeks in a row, she was assigned Amelia Bedelia books.  Remember those?  I used to love them.  As is our habit, all the kids would huddle around me as I read the "new" book for the first time.  They were engaged; they enjoyed it. -- but they didn't get it.

Though Miriam has had her own share of developmental struggles, reading comprehension has never been one of them.  As I read the first Amelia Bedelia aloud, I knew she was going to have a hard time with the reading comprehension test.  You see, Amelia Bedelia is entirely literal... and so are my children.  They didn't get why Amelia Bedelia wouldn't be selling pieces of her lawn and plants at her yard sale.  I tried to explain why the scenario was supposed to be funny, and I even believed that they understood.  However, a few days later we were admiring a neighbor's plant and Noah asked, "Oh!  Maybe we can buy it if they have a yard sale!"

I love the literalism of children.  Its innocence and truth are so endearing.  Their literal interpretations can pull me out of grouch and grump.  Consider these anecdotes:

Grandma & Dido at Ukrainian Christmas in California

The kids were fighting in the back seat of the mini van.  Fighting while I'm driving, though a common occurrence, is a huge pet peeve of mine.  "JUST DROP IT!"  I yelled.  Dead silence.  Then a confused voice piped up, "Drop what, Mommy?  We're not holding anything."

Lucy, super excited to be TWO!

Miriam and Gus were having a conversation, in which they were conceiving hypothetical scenarios.  Whatever the scenario was, Miriam inquired of Gus, "But wouldn't that just break your heart?"  Gus replied, "No.  Why would that break my heart?  The only thing that could break my heart was if I died."

Hockey Game with Tot

I was drawing a bath for Lucy.  Gus comes in with an ever-so-urgent request for me.  Frustrated, I snapped, "Wait a minute!  I'm in the middle of something."  Pause.  Then, Gus responds, "No.  Actually, you're kind of on the left-ish side."

Somehow, Miriam turned 7 (today!)

At the end of the day, I'd love to buy a nice fruit tree at a yard sale.  And wouldn't it often be easier to drop an object than an argument?  Oh, how I would love to see what images dance in the kids' heads during the consecration at Mass.  Yet, something tells me that they see Christ's Body and Blood much more virtuously than I do.

... When You Kiss Health Insurance Goodbye

I have always referred to Noah as our "seventeen thousand dollar baby."  He was certainly worth every shiny penny, but he legitimately cost us $17,000.  The irony?  That was when we had health insurance.  The salt in the wound?  It was several months before we were putting a down payment on our first home.  The funny part?  When Gus was born twenty-two months later, we were still paying for the birth of Noah.

And that was when we decided to kiss health insurance goodbye.

After Gus was born, we knew we couldn't afford a health insurance premium for a family of five.  (Unfortunately, our family has never been insured through my husband's work).  People assured us that Obamacare would bring us "hope."  I spent way too many hours researching our health care options, only to find that the end of the rabbit hole looked just as I suspected: unaffordable.

I have been caught in at least a dozen conversations where my remark, "We don't have insurance" is met with judgment.  I either receive a look of pity or a gaping glance that speaks "irresponsibility" in volumes.  Heck, I don't blame them.  If I saw a disheveled mom of four young kids (one of whom was recently referred to as my "feral child"-- a nickname I couldn't reject) who told me her family was uninsured, I, too, would react with pity or judgment.

Visiting My Brother's Seminary

Now, here's our secret: I broke up with health insurance to enter into a far more rewarding experience.  We are now members of a health share program called Samaritan Ministries.

Samaritan Ministries is one of many Christian-based health share programs.  What exactly does this mean?  It means that we belong to a group of about 200,000 people who are putting Galatians 6:2 into action in our own way.  St. Paul encourages us to, "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."  For many, navigating through health issues alone is too large a burden to carry.  Now, coupling health issues with the financial burdens that often come alongside can be crippling.  Unfortunately, our government, in part, has intensified this burden.  Obamacare could offer nothing for a family like
ours.  Praise God for our friend, DB, who told us about Samaritan Ministries!

Hiking at Eaton Canyon

As a member of Samaritan Ministries, we pledge to help other families and individuals meet their health care costs.  We pay just under $500/month for our family of six.  Each month, we receive our newsletter that tells us about a family and his or her health care need.  We then write a check along with a few prayerful words of encouragement, and send it directly to the family.  In turn, when we are in need, we are blessed with both prayers and monetary gifts from other Samaritan members.  When we open our mailbox to find a check and hand-written card from someone whom we have never met, it is a very tangible reminder of St. Paul's image of the Body of Christ.  We are one body!  Together, we can bear one another's burdens.

Another cool part?  If there are not as many health care needs in a given month, our monthly amount gets reduced!  Can you imagine your health insurance company informing you, "Our overhead expenses were less than anticipated this month.  Therefore, you will receive an 8% reduction on your premium payment."  Through Samaritan, we are all committed to helping each other meet our needs; no one is here to profit from your health needs.

A Sample of One of Many Samaritan Blessings

I felt compelled to write this blog for several reasons.  First of all, I know there are other people out there who have been abused by our health care system.  For you: there is another way!  (Here, I would really like to insert: Don't let the government control you! -- but I am trying so very hard to be non-political in this post). Secondly, Samaritan has been such a spiritual blessing for our family, I pray that it can bless you, too.

[Lest I lead anyone astray, I do want to note that Samaritan has a handful of health care costs it will not cover, i.e. immunizations and well-baby visits to name a few.  However, despite these exceptions, we have still found it to be immensely beneficial, worthwhile, and affordable for our family.]

To sum it up?  Lucy was our $300 baby.

Lucy, One and On the Run!

My Newest Pet Project