I used to hate Easter

I used to hate Easter. 

Not only are (specifically) peanut products everywhere but to add insult to injury, they're in the SHAPE of another of Ash's life-threatening food allergy (eggs...peanut butter eggs). 

Also, I'm bitter because I can't eat them anymore 😂

But. As his allergies have gotten even worse and we've added new anaphylactic ones, the people around us just rallied even more. Here are a few examples:

*You Facebookers who make sure I hear about all of the recalls and epi-pen coupons. 

*The entire kids area at church is nut and egg free. 

*The Youth group at church sells peanut butter eggs that are handmade and the proceeds go toward youth camp. TONS of $$ is raised. They now make these off site and the eggs never enter the church building. This is a HUGE inconvenience but all they do is continually verify that Asher is safe and never complain. Pastor Steve won't even let me feel guilty for a second. 

*The Care Group that we host at our home twice a month is learning and keeping Asher safe. I have to stop them from feeling guilty if Ash can't have something they prepare, when they try really hard. Soy. It's errywherr. Care Group is a good controlled learning environment for him anyway. "Eat this, not that. Ok, let me see you safely prepare your plate."  They are family. They are amazing. 

*My grandma has completely changed how dinners are prepared (and man, soy really threw us for a loop) Not all grandmas are so food allergy supportive. Asher has quite a few grandma advocates and that doesn't even count aunts, uncles, godparents, friends, etc)

*The preschool he attended made all of his food and made all of the food there safe. This was HUGE. 

*His kindergarten class has gone nut free and parents constantly text labels to me to read so that he's safe around their food. His teachers are in constant contact with me and even though it's normal to hear complaints, I haven't heard any. Even though I expected it and guarded and prepared my heart...nothing but openness to change their lunch routine.  A lot of kids won't even eat peanut butter on the weekends, they want to protect him so fiercely. I tell their parents, "oh no no they don't have to stop altogether!" but they refuse. What a compassionate, loving bunch. The parents are learning a lot about how awesome their kids are!

*Birthday party parents. 

You reading this know how hard it is to throw a party and how much goes into it. And yet they spend lots of text time with me (all on their own...we prepare for any situation but they take a lot of the guess work out without me even asking). Even when they're hosting a party for one of Asher's siblings, they verify if he will be there and make sure he has party food there that he can eat along with everyone else (and we always have a special cupcake 😉). 

There are times he can't attend something (like potlucks) but all of the can'ts are just working to build his character and build his compassion for others. God will turn the bads to goods and the bitter waters to sweet. Our parents' hearts want him to feel included always, but he's learning so much in realizing that life isn't always like that and that's ok. You just keep moving and maybe it'll work out better the next time. None of us are owed special treatment which makes it all they more sweet when people go out of their way. I pray Asher is seeing that. That it's soaking in even if he doesn't yet fully process it in his 6 year-old brain. It'll all connect one day in a love explosion. 

It's true that food allergies tend to take up all the room in your brain but you guys lessen the pressure. I don't dread Easter anymore (or birthday parties or school) so I'm throwing out a big THANK YOU that I hope you'll feel.  I can't always say it when I need to because it just reminds me that he could go out into the world on any given day, touch the residue of a pb&j and die...but when I feel the most strong I want to be the most vocal. 

THANK YOU, YOU LOVELY, AMAZING PEOPLE!!!