Bread alone...

Evan and I both have the privilege of having a peanut/tree nuts allergies. This was never a big deal to me growing up. Peanut M&Ms? No problem. I would just eat the chocolate from around the peanut and throw the peanut away. Cracker jacks? I can just eat the candied popcorn and leave whatever is left for my siblings.

Things are totally different, though, with Evan. Something about being resposible for his life, that it is my responsibility to make sure he doesn't eat anything that could harm him. If I make a mistake that harms myself, no big deal....but I would feel horrible if Evan had his health threatened as a result of something I did or didn't do.

One time someone offered me a Reeses Peanut Butter cup. I said,"No thank you. I am allergic to peanuts." This person then explained, "But it doesn't have peanuts in it."

This is why I try not to assume people are aware and I sometimes bug people and embarass myself to inquire about ingredients and things.

Has anyone ever considered the sacrament bread? I never have...not for 32 years...until a few months ago.

(I know this is funny because it should not be such a big deal--but here I am, blogging about bread at church anyway)

A few times I noticed that the bread was "grainy". I know from experience that the more "fancy" a bread is, the more likely it is to contain almond flour or peanut flour. So, I asked Dana if he would just put a word out (to whoever) about making sure the bread was nut free (and nut-flour free).

(Do you think since the bread is blessed before we eat it, that it would be okay anyway? :-)
Do I need more faith?)

So, now I am keeping an eye on the bread. It is kind of annoying that I just can't eat a little piece of bread at church without thinking about it--But not as annoying as an an allergy attack. I certainly don't want to have to bug people at church about it every week.

A couple weeks ago, we had some wholesome looking bread--again. This bread had stuff in it. Very healthy looking! And, a potential danger....Seriously, I am laughing....it just seems so silly that I am concerned about this.... it's probably just sunflower seeds--which are okay....but what if it's not....

So, I took a piece and put it in my mouth, so did Evan. Then, I quickly took it back out and picked out the little "things" that were in it--just to see if I was being paranoid. The first little thing looked like a sunflower seed. But the second little thing--in my little piece of bread--did not look like one. I passed this little thing to Dana and he said it looked like a walnut. Oh, joy. Evan ate a piece. I watched him for a reaction, but he seemed fine. Thank goodness.

I look imploringly at Dana--will you please talk to someone about this, or should I? And, I had a nice little talk with my son about "checking out" the sacrament bread before we eat it.

Crazy!