La Vita e' Bella

October Baby

2011-11-02T21:46:00.002-06:00

Please click on the title of this post to view a preview of this movie.

My Dad's Death

2011-10-22T11:41:00.003-06:00

My Dad passed away a year and a half ago. I've wanted to write about his dying and death for two years. It's difficult to put it all into words. Not because it was "sad", although in ways it was. Mostly it was a lovely, positive surprise. My dad gave my sisters and I something we never could have imagined. It’s hard to explain the significance of three women in their mid 40s having 9 months to share, heal and hear their father admit his weaknesses and apologize for his mistakes, so believe me when I say it’s overwhelming. He was able to give us the one thing we needed from him before he left this earth and we were able to give him a peaceful death. I wonder at how truly connected it all seems. I suppose that’s been the most surprising part. The connection he made with us completed something that I have no words for.

It's important to me to share this here because, once again, the connection between life and death is so undeniable ~ so tangible. Coming face to face with death is life changing ~ for everyone involved. To take death lightly, to not realize the connect with life, is almost impossible. The death of a loved one can be a cross, or a gift, or a lesson, but in any case it has deep meaning for those left behind. It's an inevitable part of life and for that reason alone we need to think about it, face it, deal with it, accept it, even embrace it. No matter how difficult.

Just as life is a gift directly from God ~ so is death. Our "time" to move on has come. It's not possible for us to will life, only God can do that. It is possible for us to take life through murder and suicide. This is never God's will.

When we murder our babies we not only rob them of their life, but we rob ourselves and the countless number of people that would have been touched by them; of the crosses they would have brought; the gifts they would have given; the lessons they would have taught; the experiences (no matter how small) they would have had and so the experiences of all of the people they would have come in contact with (no matter how brief). And then there's the generations, the descendants, they may have produced. It changes the world in profound ways. It interferes with God's will. It interferes with eternity.

I wonder how many people who are pro-abortion or pro-choice know someone that they honestly think should have been aborted. It's an evil thought ~ because it's an evil act. Who do we think we are?

Koala Bear

2011-10-21T06:12:00.000-06:00

Ahhhhh, yes. We have a new baby; a daughter; a sister; another person to love. I read a magazine article some years ago written by a mother of a large family. She said that people often asked her if there was enough love to go around. Her response . . . the love isn't divided, it's multiplied! Truer words were never spoken. The joy!

We waited for this baby longer than we'd waited for our previous babies. We were starting to think it wasn't going to happen again. Once we found out she was coming, she came home faster than any of her brothers ~ ~ ~ in less than 24 hours. Surprise!

We're going to call her Koala Bear (because her brothers have decided that's what she is to be called) for our little blog. She is beautiful, precious, sweet, calm, happy, content, and pink. I had NO idea it was possible to love the color pink so much.

Flash forward two years . . . yes, that's how long ago I wrote the above. It's all still true and I do want to introduce our baby girl if for no other reason than to celebrate her birthmother, who made a very brave decision. Without giving away too much private information, it's important for me to say that placing our baby girl for adoption was extremely hard for her birthmother. She agonized for three weeks and had a hard time even speaking for several days. In the end she put her baby's future before her own pain. A sacrifice that goes without due acknowledgment to birthmothers. It's truly amazing.

So here's to birthmothers and to adoption and to baby girls (they really are different than boys!). God bless us, everyone!

33 Minutes

2011-10-20T14:45:00.002-06:00

The Human Soul

2011-10-19T16:49:00.004-06:00

I couldn't help but think of all the souls that were aborted, and thus robbed of their time on earth, when I read this today.

~ From Secrets of the Interior Life

by Bishop Luis Martinez

The human soul is precious and delicate. It came forth from the divine lips as a most gentle breath; it is cleansed and rendered beautiful with the divine blood of Jesus; and it is destined to be united with God Himself to participate in the life and in the ineffable mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity.

Such an exquisite jewel must be handled with consummate delicacy. That is how God treats it, and that is how we should treat it. What an atmosphere of purity of mind, of peace, and of delicacy ought to surround a soul for it to achieve it's sanctification!

The soul is a delicate thing: a reflection of God, a breath of the Most High. Let it be treated as it deserves.

A Mother's Sacrifice

2011-10-19T00:15:00.003-06:00

A friend (thank you Dr. D) kindly sent me the link to this article about the ultimate sacrifice of a mother.

Please click on the title of this post to read the short story.

No Life = No Death

2011-10-17T13:36:00.005-06:00

I have three people in my life that are dying as I type this ~

One is the father of a friend that I grew up with. A very special man to his entire family, and to me. He lost one of his legs in a gunshot accident when he was 15 years old. The first time I saw him I was 12 years old and I was not aware of his "leg". I was standing in the entry way of their house waiting for my girlfriend when he came hopping down their hallway on his only leg (with his sweatpants pinned up on the side of his missing leg) yelling, "Madeline, where's my f_ckin' TV guide?" To say he made an impression would be an understatement. The funny thing is that my first impression was not a true depiction of this loving husband and father.

The second person is one of my favorite people on the face of the planet. She's not a relative, but our family made her one of our own when she started dating my uncle when I was four years old. Their relationship lasted about 10 years, but she was too special to let go, so we didn't. She had an extremely difficult childhood, growing up with two violently alcoholic parents. When she shares stories from her youth it's hard to believe that someone can come through such things ~ especially someone so extraordinary.

The third person is the mother of one of my son's teachers. She is the mother of eight children and her youngest is five years old.

These three people have little in common, but they've all made their mark on our world and they all have loved ones ~ family and friends and family of friends and friends of friends and co-workers and acquaintances that are going to miss them when they're gone. People who are going to grieve their loss. They're all going to leave a hole somewhere in time and in many people's lives.

So many refuse to view abortion as death. I imagine that for them that's the beauty of not admitting that there was ever a life to begin with. No life = no death. It's hard to imagine the immense hole left in our world because of the death of the millions that have died before they were even allowed to be born.

If we stop and think, even for a moment, how many lives are touched by one person . . .

Birthdays

2011-03-23T06:12:00.004-06:00

Black Bear recently celebrated his birthday. Birthdays are big around here. When I woke him up that morning, all tingly and a little bouncy with happiness, I was almost speechless.

"Happy Birthday", I said with as many kisses as he'd allow before he turned his sleeping face away. I made his favorite breakfast and packed his favorite lunch. Every time we looked at each other I said, "Happy Birthday". Every thing I said to him was preceded by, "Happy Birthday".

He tried to make an escape that morning without me noticing . . . fat chance. I went out to the car and when I opened the door Black Bear said, "Happy Birthday".

"Oh, no! It's YOUR birthday, but it's MY mother's day!"

He looked at me with his half smile and nodded one simple nod of understanding.

"Happy Birthday, have a great day!", I said.

"Happy Mother's Day", he said.

Thaaaats right!

I know that Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May. It just seems (for me) that day is more about Our Lady . . . my mother . . . my children's birth mothers . . . all of you other mothers. But MY mother's days are the days my children came to me, and especially the day my first child was born. The actual day I became their mother. The whole idea and joy and gratefulness of being a mother is so tangible to me on those days.

I have a coffee cup, given to me by my mother, that I make a point to drink out of on my children's birthdays and on their birth mother's birthdays. It reads . . .

"When I think of all the things that would have never been if you had never been . . . I celebrate the day you were born." ~ Flavia

Thaaat's right!

Webcast

2009-07-22T18:39:00.002-06:00

Please visit ~

StopTheAbortionMandate.com

to register for the webcast which airs tomorrow, July 23rd at 9:00 PM Eastern time.

From their webpage . . .

"Join the URGENT nationwide webcast event on Thursday,

July 23, to prevent Washington D.C. bureaucrats and abortion industry lobbyists from forcing YOU to pay for abortions"

Topics covered ~

*taxpayer-funded abortions

*massive abortion industry bailout

*a health plan that mandates abortion coverage

Surf for Charity

2009-07-16T15:44:00.002-06:00

I just found out about a charitable way to surf the web or to shop on-line. Any time you want to "search" for a website, certain information, a phone number, or shop on-line you can use this search engine and do good. What a great way to support your favorite pro-life charity.

http://www.goodsearch.com

A Gift

2009-05-10T21:40:00.002-06:00

We have a new baby in our home. A n d . . . it's a baby sister. Let me assure any one out there that is still in doubt - life truly is a gift!

I need to pay tribute to the four women that have made me a mother.

Today is Mother’s Day and my thoughts are with the four women that have made me a mother. My gratitude goes beyond words. I look at my children and think about how much they’ve brought to my life; how I get to do exactly what I want to do each day because they live with me; how there is no one that I would rather be with; how much I love them; and I can’t help but love their birthmothers.

It’s extraordinary to have these feelings about people I don’t really know. Although, it’s probably not any more extraordinary than the feelings I’ve had when our children were handed to me for the first time … disbelief, a little bit of shock, unbelievable gratitude, immediate love. I’m not sure that my feelings are any different from the feelings of mothers who give birth. The only difference is that I have these feelings because the mother that’s given birth has given me the reason for them.

Today is Mother’s Day and there is so much I want "our" birthmothers to know. I want them to know that there is never a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for these children. I want them to know that they are healthy. I want them to know that they are really, really good. I want them to know that they love each other so much.

I want to say that, “I love your child as much as you hoped I would. They know that they ‘grew in your tummy’ and they pray for you often, but especially on your birthday.”

Today is Mother’s Day and I want to be able to share my motherly happiness with the four mothers that have made me a mother. I never take for granted the 9 months that they mothered my children. They may be in my care for a longer period of time, but my time would never have been possible without theirs. I wish I could share some of the joy. My greatest hope is that they have peace about where their babies are.

I have peace about where my babies came from. I’ve had sadness that they didn’t grow inside of me, that I wasn’t able to give birth to them. Then I remember that if they had they wouldn’t be exactly who they are and I wouldn’t change that for anything. I like to imagine that if their birthmothers met them today that they would like their child, that they would be proud of their child and that they wouldn’t change anything.

Today is Mother’s Day, and really … it’s not any different than any other day.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there!

In the Womb

2009-03-11T10:26:00.010-06:00

National Geographic is selling a DVD called "In the Womb". This is their description of the video ~

From the moment of conception, every human embryo embarks on an incredible nine month journey of development. Now, cutting-edge technology makes it possible for us to open a window into the hidden world of the fetus and explore each trimester in amazing new detail. Revolutionary 3-D and 4-D ultrasound imagery sheds light on the delicate, dark world of a fetus as never before and follows a rare fetoscope operation, performed in utero with the hope of correcting life threatening complications before birth.

To watch a short, incredible, preview of their presentation click on "Watch the Preview" in very small print here.

I was struck by their statement that a person's time in the womb is "266 days". I'd never thought of it in terms of "days" before. Most abortions (61.3%) are committed before 63 days (9 weeks) gestation. Pro-choice advocates tout this as a positive. By 63 days we've already spent almost a quarter of our time (23.68%) in the womb. It's amazing that with this technology and images like this available that abortion is still a choice.

My friend that sent me the National Geographic link brought up an interesting point - - - when they do operations in utero, do they use anesthetic? According to this source they do (note the second to last sentence in the link provided), and a quote from this source states, "Anesthesia for fetal surgery involves two patients simultaneously."

How is it that we see the growing person; we know there are people out there that will LOVE and take care of the growing person; we know that the growing person can feel and hear; we are amazed by the wonder and miracle presented in such videos as this one; and yet it's a "choice"?

A Beating Heart

2009-03-09T14:15:00.003-06:00

The other morning I was laying in bed wishing I could go back to sleep. It was Saturday, the only morning I can "sleep in". As I was laying there with my eyes closed and trying to breathe s-l-o-w and d-e-e-p, I became aware of my heart beat. As our minds often skip from one thing to another, mine skipped to something I had heard several years ago about sleep, heart beats and prayer. It goes like this . . .

We can offer our sleep to Our Lord in union with His sleep during His life on Earth. Bear in mind that every action united to the acts of Our Lord has an indescribable value. Priests, before beginning to pray their Office, unite it with the prayer of Jesus when on Earth.

We can offer every breath we draw, every beat of our hearts during the night as so many acts of love for God. Thousands of acts of love every night!

~ Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P.

Have you seen the bumper sticker that reads, "Abortion . . . it stops a beating heart"?

What if we offer our sleep, every breath we take and every beat of our hearts for the unborn who are in danger of being aborted?!

Such a simple, yet profitable way to go to sleep each night!

Sweet dreams ~

Methods of Abortion

2009-03-05T15:20:00.004-07:00

Warning - - - This is a very difficult post to read. Please bear in mind that my intention is to expose the truth of what happens in an abortion. The truth is horrific. If people know the truth they may not be so apt to ignore what is happening every single day, up to a million times per year just in our country.

This may also help to explain why some health care workers need the 'conscience rule' in place to protect their jobs (see the previous post and please consider contacting the president).

Suction (vacuum) Aspiration - this is the most common method of abortion, typically performed when the fetus is 6-12 weeks, can be used up to 16 weeks.

The cervix is dilated, and a hollow plastic tube with a sharp tip is inserted into the cervix and then into the uterus. An aspirator attached to the tube tears the body of the fetus apart and suctions the pieces through the tube.

Dilation and Curettage (D&C) - typically performed in the first trimester, a curette (sharp looped knife) is inserted into the uterus to scrape it's walls. The curette is then used to dismember the fetus and placenta.

Intracardiac Injection Abortion - a needle is guided into the fetus's heart with the aid of ultrasound, and poison (often potassium chloride or digoxin) is injected, causing an immediate heart attack. This is most commonly used for "pregnancy reduction" abortions following in vitro fertilization procedures, if multiple embryos were implanted to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. In these cases, the procedure is typically performed around 16 weeks.

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) - typically performed in the first half of the second trimester (13-20 weeks), but can be used up to approximately 28 weeks. At this stage of pregnancy, the fetus' tendons, muscles, and bones are more developed. In a D&E abortion, forceps are inserted into the uterus to forcibly dismember the fetus, and the pieces are removed one by one. Larger fetuses must also have their skulls crushed so the pieces can pass through the cervix.

Typically, the cervix must be dilated for a period of one to three days prior to a D&E abortion. This is most often done by inserting laminaria (dried seaweed sticks) into the cervix. Therefore, a D& E abortion usually requires two visits to the abortion facility.

Dilation and Extraction (D&X or Partial-Birth Abortion) - typically performed in the late second or third trimester. As with a D& E abortion (see above), the cervix must first be dilated, usually with laminaria (dried seaweed sticks). Forceps are then inserted into the uterus to grasp the fetus' legs. The fetus is delivered breech while the head remains inside the birth canal. Using blunt-tipped surgical scissors, the base of the skull is pierced, and a suction catheter is inserted to extract the contents of the skull. This causes the skull to collapse, and the dead fetus is then fully delivered.

Despite the fact that the United States Supreme Court upheld the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2007, D&X abortions are still being performed. An abortionist can avoid violating the law by first injecting the fetus with a lethal intracardiac injection to ensure that the fetus will already be dead when it is partially delivered.

Instillation (Saline) Abortion - amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus and replaced with a saline solution, which the fetus swallows. The fetus is killed by salt poisoning, dehydration, brain hemorrhage and convulsions. Saline abortions, typically performed in the second and early third trimester, are rarely used today, due to the risk of particularly serious health complications to the woman.

Prostaglandin Abortion - a dose of prostaglandin hormones is injected into the uterine muscle, which induces violent labor resulting in the death of the fetus. Prostaglandin abortions, typically performed in the second and early third trimester, are rarely used today, due to the relatively high chance that the fetus will survive the abortion and be born alive.

Chemical (medical) Abortion - a woman is administered an abortifacient compound called mifepristone (also called RU-486 or Mifeprex). Mifepristone blocks the action of progesterone, the natural hormone vital to maintaining the lining of the uterus. As the nutrient lining disintegrates, the embryo starves. Subsequently, the woman takes a dose of artificial prostaglandins which initiate uterine contractions and cause the embryo to be expelled from the uterus. Abortions by mifepristone are usually done prior to 49 days gestation.

Obama to Take Away Choice

2009-03-04T08:10:00.007-07:00

Our president wants to lift the 'conscience rule' that protects a health care worker's religious freedom to refuse to take part in a procedure, such as abortion, that goes against their beliefs.

Please read here and here.

According to a NY Times article (link above) there will be a 30 day period for public comment. Please take the opportunity to contact the president to let him know that a woman's right to choose does not take precedence over a health care worker's freedom of religion and constitutional right to practice their religion.

Amazing that there is any insinuation that abortion procedures, or access to them, will be effected by this 'conscience rule'. If the pro-choice advocates are right about their majority in society, then there should be plenty of health care providers to perform these procedures. The unending effort to force the pro-choice attitude and actions on pro-life advocates seems to go against the whole idea of CHOICE.

Below is the email I sent to the White House at the above link. Feel free to use any part of it to compose your own letter. I will also be mailing my thoughts to the White House.

I oppose the administration's desire to rescind the 'conscience rule'. One person's Constitutional Right to practice religion, in every aspect of life, should not be superseded by another person's right to choose any health care procedure.
If pro-choice advocates are right about their majority in society, then there will be plenty of health care workers to perform these procedures. Any effort to force a procedure on a health care worker seems to go against the whole notion of CHOICE.
Insinuating that reproductive choices, or access to them, will be effected by the 'conscience rule' is a deceptive way to take away our Freedom of Religion.

Lenten Meditation

2009-02-26T22:05:00.003-07:00

I so wanted to post this by Ash Wednesday, and here we are ~ a day late. There is always so much I want to say and so much I wish I could accomplish.

I have been struggling with my own cross, my infertility. It's always there, lurking over me and at times can really bear down on me. I know that I need to focus on the gifts of these three sons I've been so blessed to mother and concentrate on what I have ~ not on what I can't do. I often wonder how this cross of mine is like a woman who finds herself pregnant with an "unwanted" baby. The complete and utter lack of control, the wondering why, the sadness, the frustration, the ache. I don't know if it's at all the same or not? So often apparent opposites aren't as different as they seem.

I know the answer to that "why" question when I look at my boys. And, I am part of the answer to their birthmother's "why". We have fulfilled a need for each other. The other part of their "why" can only be explained by God, but I do know that it has something to do with their finding their way to Him.

We each have our own crosses to bear and I find great comfort in knowing exactly Who mine came from and His whole purpose in sending it. Not to mention the three incredible boys He's sent to help me carry it. As we make our way through this holy season of Lent, I pray that all of you will find your way a little closer to Him, too.

Splinters From The Cross

   +

Little headaches, little heartaches
   Little griefs of every day.
Little trials and vexations,
   How they throng around our way!
One great cross, immense and heavy,
   So it seems to our weak will,
Might be borne with resignation,
   But these many small ones kill,
Yet all life is formed of small things,
   Little leaves, make up the trees,
Many tiny drops of water
   Blending, make the mighty seas.
Let us not then by impatience
   Mar the beauty of the whole,
But for love of Jesus bear all
   Asking Him for grace sufficient
To sustain us through each loss,
   And to treasure each small offering
As a splinter from His Cross.

Abortion Statistics

2009-02-18T20:00:00.004-07:00

All of the following statistics are from the Guttmacher Institute (GI) or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or from Johnston's Archive (WRJ). I have linked you to their source.

The Guttmacher Institute is the research arm of Planned Parenthood, who is the largest abortion provider in the United States.

Since 1973, when abortion was legalized, there have been approximately 50 million abortions in the United States. (GI)

In 2005, the most recent year for which data is available, there were 1.21 million abortions performed in the United States.

That is 3,315 abortions per day. (GI) (WRJ)

There were 4.14 million live births in 2005 in the United States. Taking into account the 1.21 million abortions that same year, about 23% of all pregnancies ended in abortion. (WRJ)

89% of abortions occur in the first trimester (first 12 weeks) of pregnancy.

before 9 weeks: 61.3% = 741,730

9-10 weeks: 17.8% = 21,380

11-12 weeks: 9.6% = 11,616

13-15 weeks: 6.7% = 81,070

16-20 weeks: 3.5% = 42,350

21+ weeks: 1.1% = 13,310

all abortions: 100% = 1.21 million

(GI)

Half of all abortions are performed on women 24 years old or younger.

less than age 15: 0.5%

age 15-19: 16.4%

age 20-24: 32.6%

age 25-29: 23.4%

age 30-34: 14.5%

age 35-39: 8.7%

age 40+: 3.2%

(CDC)

Blacks and Hispanics comprise 28% of the population, yet they account for nearly 60% of all abortions. A black woman is three times as likely to have an abortion as a white woman. A Hispanic woman is 2 1/2 times as likely to have an abortion as a white woman.

White: 34%

Black: 37%

Hispanic: 22%

Other: 7%

(GI)

Women living below the federal poverty line abort at a higher rate than women living above the poverty line. A single woman having an annual income of about $11,000 is four times more likely to abort than a woman making at least $30,000 per year. (GI)

Research indicates that 98% of all abortions are related to issues of "personal choice". The primary reasons women give for having an abortion include:

not feeling emotionally capable: 32%

not financially capable: 25%

having a child would drastically alter her life: 16%

(GI) (WRJ)

The three most frequently cited "hard cases" in which abortion might be justified are rape, incest, and protecting the life of the mother. However, women rarely report that they are seeking an abortion for any of these reasons:

Rape: 0.3%

Incest: 0.03%

Protection of mother's life: 0.2%

Out of 1,000 women that seek an abortion only 3 cite rape as their reason, and only 2 cite protecting her life as the reason for abortion. Out of 10,000 women that seek abortion only 3 cite incest as a reason.

(WRJ)

Four hundred and eighty physicians have signed a public declaration stating: "I agree that there is never a situation in the law or in the ethical practice of medicine where a preborn child's life need be intentionally destroyed by procured abortion for the purpose of saving the life of the mother."

Wisdom

2009-02-17T18:14:00.002-07:00

My Valentines

2009-02-14T17:39:00.003-07:00

The following poem is special to me because it expresses the kind of mother my mother was to me (Thank you, Mom!) AND the kind of mother I desire to be to my boys.

I want my boys to know they're loved every single day . . . no matter what! Time goes too fast to take for granted. I'm not as good at the little things in this poem as my Mom was (I have a serious uneasiness with disorder that my mother didn't have), but learning how to love from the best has helped me tremendously.

I have to thank my valentine-husband for loving me for being the kind of mother I want to be! He knows what a gift motherhood is to me and he knows how much I love my boys and he loves me for it.

Happy St. Valentine's Day to all of my Valentines! I am soooooooo blessed!

Mother, oh Mother,
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little
Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~Author Unknown ~

Precious Feet

2009-02-11T21:11:00.003-07:00

Have you seen the "precious feet"?

It's a lapel pin that's become the "international pro-life symbol". They're the size of an unborn baby's feet at ten weeks after conception.

The back of the card that they come on says:

When people see your Precious Feet pin you have the opportunity to share about the humanity of the unborn. At 10 weeks an unborn baby is perfectly formed - right down to the toes! All that is needed is time to grow. The unborn cannot speak for themselves. You speak for them by wearing your Precious Feet.

I've been wearing mine over my heart. It's one more simple way to remind others, to make them think and hopefully wonder, about the unborn.

Red Envelope

2009-02-10T16:14:00.011-07:00

I found this at Are We There Yet. It's a GREAT idea and so simple. Hopefully it will also turn out to be a powerful statement to the recipient.

Dear Friends and Intercessors:

This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception.

I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal.

As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.

Here is what I would like you to do:Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington , D.C.
20500

On the back, write the following message:
This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception.

Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this email to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.

Warmly,
John Otto

Glorious Mystery Meditations

2009-02-10T13:01:00.010-07:00

The Resurrection ~ As the soldiers stood guard in anticipation of Life triumphing over death . . .

I ask that my prayers be as soldiers guarding the hearts of any mother considering abortion and that life will triumph over death.

The Ascension ~ I'm always struck by how bittersweet the Ascension must have been. The hope that carried the people, who were present, away from that spot had to be a mighty and powerful hope!

I pray for a hope that powerful for the unborn baby of any mother considering abortion today.

The Descent of the Holy Ghost ~ The Holy Ghost, also called the Comforter, infused ALL that was necessary for the apostles to go forth and do God's will in starting His church and spreading His faith.

I pray that the Comforter will infuse all expectant mothers with ALL that is necessary for them to go forth and do God's will in

bringing their babies to life.

The Assumption ~ Death of our body is a result of original sin. Since our Blessed Mother was immaculately conceived she did not suffer death, but was assumed into Heaven body and soul.

I pray that our Blessed Mother will wrap Her heavenly arms around any mother who is struggling with thoughts of abortion, and comfort her

with the peace of God's will.

The Coronation ~ Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession was left unaided.

I pray that any mother contemplating abortion will find our Blessed Mother's protection, help and intercession through this rosary.

Sorrowful Mystery Meditations

2009-02-06T06:48:00.001-07:00

The Agony in the Garden ~ Our Lord's agony in the garden can parallel our own struggles as we face obvious difficulties just ahead of us. His prayer was, "not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke ch. 22 v. 42)

I pray that any woman facing an unexpected pregnancy will have God's will made perfectly clear.

The Scourging at the Pillar ~ The gut wrenching brutality with which Our Lord was scourged and the strength with which He endured

is testimony of His perfection and His love.

I pray that His suffering will give strength to anyone who is considering abortion, to endure their struggle and to let their baby live.

The Crowning with Thorns ~ The mortification and humiliation the King of Heaven and earth must have felt while they crowned Him with thorns, spit upon Him, and mocked Him is hard to imagine.

I pray that His mortification will give all women the courage to overcome anything that might keep them from carrying their baby to

term.

The Carrying of the Cross ~ Just as Our Lord had Simon of Cyrene to help carry His Cross, we, too, need help many times through out life.

I pray that anyone carrying the cross of an unexpected pregnancy will have a "Cyrenian" in their life to help them carry their cross and give their baby life.

The Crucifixion ~ This, for me, is the most amazing miracle Our Lord ever performed. This must be where "actions speak louder than words" comes from, because there are no words for His actions here. They're not even necessary, are they? No greater love than this!

I pray that the miracle of His death will give those who are contemplating abortion today the grace to continue the life He has created in their unborn baby.

Joyful Mystery Meditations

2009-02-04T07:43:00.020-07:00

The Annunciation ~ Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary said, "Yes" to our Lord when faced with an unexpected pregnancy ~ I pray that women today who find themselves in the same situation will follow Her example.

The Visitation ~ In perfect charity, and right after receiving the news that She was with Child, the Blessed Virgin traveled to Her cousin Elizabeth to assist her as she waited for the birth of St. John the Baptist.

I pray that anyone contemplating abortion today will be given the grace to put their unborn child before themselves ~ in perfect charity.

The Nativity ~ The seeming poverty in which the Baby Jesus was born to this earth was no indication of the richness and fullness of His Life or His impact on all the people of the earth.

I pray that no matter how poor the situation seems that women contemplating abortion

today will realize that it's no indication of the

possibilities that come with a new life.

The Presentation ~

Forty days after His birth, our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph

brought the Baby Jesus to the temple, according to Jewish law, to present Him to the Lord. It just so happened that Simeon (who "had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord" - Luke ch. 2 v. 26) was at the temple. Upon meeting the Baby Jesus Simeon said, "Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace: Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of they people, Israel." (Luke ch. 2 vs. 29-32)

I pray that just as Simeon recognized his salvation when he saw Him that any woman facing an unwanted pregnancy will recognize it as part of her salvation and choose life.

The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple ~ The only words we have to

describe Our Lord's childhood are, "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth: and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men." (Luke ch.2 vs. 51-52)

I pray that the unborn today will be given the chance to grow in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

An Engaging Thought

2009-02-01T21:24:00.011-07:00

I love to cook and I love to eat AND I love to eat what I cook. I'm not sure if I know anyone who enjoys their own cooking as much as I do. With that said, when I take a dish that I've made to share at a potluck I get a l-i-t-t-l-e over excited about others tasting my food. I usually end up teasing people, even perfect strangers, about how very much they're going to like what ever it is I've made.

As twisted as this may seem, it brings me to the point of this post. Here is a story about a woman going about her business which ends up saving the life of an unborn baby. Please read the story before you go on.

Most expectant mothers have ultrasounds done at some point during their pregnancy. Many people ~ Mommy-to-be, Daddy-to-be, Grandma-to-be, etc. ~ carry a picture of that ultrasound with them to show off their new bundle of joy. So . . . what if people started showing off their ultrasound pictures in the same way that I show off my culinary creations - in an engaging, playful, (and yes), proud way - to perfect strangers. There's the grocery store checker and bagger, the pharmacy technician, the postal worker, the bank teller, the dental assistant, the teacher, the person next to you in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles, anyone you come into contact with. The possibilities are endless.

Who wouldn't be happy for you?

What's the worst thing that could happen?

They might think you're a bit crazy, but who cares!

What's the best thing that could happen?

Like the scenario in this story . . . you could be instrumental in saving the life of an unborn baby!

Now that is worth taking a risk for!

Another Change of Heart

2009-01-31T20:46:00.004-07:00

An actor's conversion story, in his own words. The honesty with which this man shares his past and the courage with which he publicly speaks out for the unborn is admirable. There is hope!

Spiritual Adoption

2009-01-29T12:50:00.005-07:00

In order to counter the propaganda for abortion, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen recommended the spiritual adoption of unborn babies. This was to be done by praying that these little ones be spared abortion, and continue to live after birth. The following prayer, said every day for one whole year, was recommended:

Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
I love you very much;
I beg you to spare the life
of the unborn child that
I have spiritually adopted,
and who is in danger
of being aborted.

During your earthly life, this child, whom you have adopted, will be known only to God, but in the hereafter, you will enjoy each other's company for all eternity.

The Beginning

2009-01-27T16:21:00.005-07:00

All of us have experienced the excitement of learning someone we love is going to have a baby. The anticipation and expectation of a new life . . . well, there's just nothing like it! Another someone to love!

Most of us have known someone who's had a miscarriage. The sadness and loss we feel ourselves, or for that family, is intense AND real.

WHEN is the world going to wake up and realize that the desire for a baby does not make life a reality?

Whether we want a baby or not ~ life is present.

Once again, something I've been wanting to post has been sent to me through a faithful friend. This is a beautiful three and a half minute video that shows the beginning of life.

Ballad to Our Lady of Tears

2009-01-26T08:26:00.003-07:00

O Mary, Mother of all men

Remember how one day

You rocked a little Boy to sleep

In a cradle filled with hay.

Remember how you held Him,

The long and weary night,

You fled from Herod’s soldiers

In Egypt’s dismal flight.

How the lonely stars looked down.

How the night was long;

With hoof beats in the distance

But in your heart a song.

You trod the darkness round you

You warmed the sands so cold

You lulled the winds to whispers

And turned the tears to gold.

When God was very little

And Life was very new,

With death a lurking shadow

He chose to cling to you.

He chose not Heaven’s legions,

Nor Michael’s sword of flame,

To shield Him in the darkness;

He chose your tender name.

Your tender arms to hold Him,

Your tender eyes so deep,

Your tender voice to comfort

And sing His soul to sleep.

Look down again in pity

O Mother of Our Lord

Upon a world where children still

Must flee from Herod’s sword.

Where Moloch claims his victims still

And still the price is paid

Where lust is crowned and love is drowned

And death a grim charade.

Where little ones are torn apart

Or burned with hateful brine

Where murder in a velvet coat

Is a social valentine.

These little hands, these little feet,

These little eyes and ears,

O Mother, see their misery

Baptize them in your tears.

They have never known the sunshine

Nor felt the cool of rain

Their heritage is horror

Their first caress is pain.

They were the breath of springtime.

The promise April gave,

Til winter’s vultures ravished-

Their cradle is their grave.

And now before the Father

Some ask: whose can these be?

Please wrap your arms around them,

Say: these belong to me.

For love of Him who was little too,

Who traded Heaven to be with you,

Take these children torn apart

To the playground of your heart.

Bruised and swollen, crucified

On the cross of human pride;

May their bodies perfect rise,

Take their souls to paradise.

Let them not for want of grace

Linger in a darkened place.

Ask your Son to give them joy,

He was once a little Boy.

Now and at the hour of death,

May they feel your gentle breath;

Tuck them in a bed of white,

O Mother, sing to them tonight!

~ by Therese Ickinger

Who Should Have Been Your Children

2009-01-22T00:15:00.003-07:00

I wanted to do something special today (the 36th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade) to honor the millions of lives that have been lost to abortion. In an answer to my prayer asking for just this, a very special someone sent me the following narrative from Bishop Fulton Sheen's book, Three to Get Married along with the poem by John Davidson that she paired with this lovely picture. It perfectly represents my desire for something special!

The first direct, human limitation of infant life in the history of Christianity took place in the village of Bethlehem through an Infant-Controller whose name was Herod. The prevention of infant life was simultaneously an attack upon Divinity in the person of God made man, Jesus Christ, our Lord. No one strikes at birth who does not simultaneously strike at God, for birth is earth's reflection of the Son's eternal generation. To those who conspire against life in Herod's way or more scientifically, there will one day come the haunting conscience described by John Davidson:

Your cruellest pain is when you think of all
The honied treasure of your bodies spent
And no new life to show. O, then you feel
How people lift their hands against themselves,
And taste the bitterest of the punishment
Of those whom pleasure isolates. Sometimes
When darkness, silence, and the sleeping world
Give vision scope, you lie awake and see
The pale sad faces of the little ones
Who should have been your children, as they press
Their cheeks against your windows, looking in
With piteous wonder, homeless, famished babes,
Denied your wombs and bosoms.

Imagine the Potential!

2009-01-20T01:22:00.004-07:00

A profound message for this historic day ~

Dr. King

2009-01-15T13:08:00.015-07:00

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. I love his "I Have a Dream" speech. His eloquence and passion and poetry are enviable to me. Every single time I read this speech I get a huge lump in my throat. If you'd like to listen to it or read it go here.

There are many resources today that say the number of black abortions disproportionately outnumber white and hispanic abortions. Read this and this as just two examples.

I bring this up because as I re-read "I Have a Dream" this morning the following jumped out at me . . .

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are CREATED (emphasis added) equal.""

It doesn't say born equal - - - it says created equal.

I'll go out on a limb here and say that I don't think it was part of Dr. King's dream to have more abortion clinics in black neighborhoods than in white neighborhoods; or to read the above statistics about the number of black abortions.

Today ~ Dr. King's birthday and five days away from inaugurating the first black president ~ is as good a day as any to do something to end the destruction of what God has created, in His image.

I've posted an excerpt before of one of my favorite books, We and Our Children by Mary Reed Newland. This excerpt speaks of our creation ~

"What do you suppose it means - they made man in their image and likeness? It doesn't mean we look like God, because this happened in the very beginning, long before the Son of God came down to earth to take the form of a human baby. And it couldn't mean that He made us out of the same stuff as Himself, because God is not made out of stuff; God is a spirit, without a body. God never changes, but we change. So it couldn't be that we are like Him in our body, which changes every year and grows bigger and older all the time. It is the foreverness that he breathed into man that is like Him, the part of us that never dies, as God never dies. We are like Him deep inside, where our love comes from. That is the part of us we call our soul, and we cannot see it, or touch it, because, like God, it is a spirit."

It's NOT just a "blob of tissue". It's a soul, a living human soul. There may not be a body, but that's coming . . . if we let it. Doesn't it seem absurd that allowing another soul to become the person it was created to be would ever be a question . . . a choice? We need to think about this and talk about this as simply and plainly as Mrs. Newland did ~ "foreverness" ~ "never dies" ~ "where our love comes from" ~ "like God"

If you haven't already signed the petition to fight the so-called 'Freedom of Choice Act' please click on the link to the left to do so. If you don't know about praying a novena for life please scroll down to my previous post. If you're interested in attending a pro-life rally on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton, January 22nd, please go to your state's Right to Life web-page.

"The time is always right to do what is right."
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Novena for Life

2009-01-11T12:39:00.004-07:00

I've been avoiding you lately. I'm depressed about the incoming administration and I'm sickened by the attitude of our country. There should be something I can say. There should be something I can do. The only thing that comes to mind is to pray. When we're vulnerable (or feeling as helpless as I do) we're to put ourselves in Our Lady's Hands, under the protection of St. Joseph ~ as the Baby, Jesus did.

Catholics all across our country are going to be praying a novena (nine days of prayer) against the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). Any prayer can be said, but the Rosary is encouraged ~ putting our intentions in Our Lady's Hands. They're also suggesting at least two days of fasting during the novena. Please join us in these next nine days and as St. Augustine said ~

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you."

Vulnerable

2009-01-01T20:34:00.004-07:00

It's the eighth day of Christmas. According to Jewish law baby boys were circumcised on the eighth day and given their name. Today is the feast of the Circumcision, a holy day of obligation that honors both our Newborn King's first drops of blood shed for us and His holy name, Jesus.

Our priest gave a sermon today about vulnerability. When our Lord came into the world as a newborn baby He put Himself in a very vulnerable position. He was vulnerable to the elements, hunger, and everything that all newborns face. In addition He was vulnerable to King Herod. In His omnipotence He knew all that He would face. He put Himself in Our Lady's Hands, under the protection of St. Joseph.

All babies are completely vulnerable to their mothers. This one fact is what makes us all the more responsible for protecting them. The word, vulnerable, comes from the Latin vulnero, which means wound, hurt; damage. If it weren't so heinous, it might seem ironic that this is exactly what the pro-abortion side wants the right to do to the unborn ~ the most vulnerable.

We can even go a step further and say they want to completely destroy, so as to eliminate the vulnerable. Then I guess they can get on with life . . . well at least their own.

Holy Innocents

2008-12-28T22:30:00.003-07:00

Today is the feast of the Holy Innocents, the day we remember and honor all the innocent babies that lost their lives not only for the Newborn King, but in His place. The Church calls these sweet babies the Flowers of the Martyrs.

While traveling in search of their King, the Three Wise Men, stopped to pay a respectful visit to King Herod, as they passed through his kingdom. King Herod might have been embarrassed, humiliated, jealous or offended that these Wise Men from afar were aware of the Newborn King in his kingdom and yet he was not. He may have asked many questions in an effort to find out exactly where they were going and whom they were going to see.

We know that the Three Wise Men made their visit to the Newborn King and presented their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh (St. Matt, chap 2, v 11). We know that an angel appeared to St. Joseph (St. Matt, chap 2, v 13-15) in his sleep, saying:

"Arise, and take the Child and his Mother, and fly into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee. For it shall come to pass that Herod will seek the Child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the Child and his Mother by night, and retired into Egypt, and he was there until the death of Herod;"

We know that King Herod (St. Matt, chap 2, v 16) sent his men and

"killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under,".

In Herod we see how blind and how cruel ambition is. It begs the question, what is the driving force behind the loss of the innocent lives from abortion? I'm ashamed to even try to guess at some of the reasons a person may choose to end their baby's life. Any reason I conjure up seems inadequate and inappropriate . . . timing? finances? health? fear?

It's always devastating to hear of the death of a child, always. Can you imagine the pain and suffering in Bethlehem on that day? Can you imagine soldiers coming down the streets and into homes on a mission to massacre babies and leaving them to die in their wake? Why is it so unbearable to even think of losing our babies against our will and yet we should have the "choice" of abortion? It's inherently wrong, and we know it. It can not be wrong for someone else to kill our babies and at the same time "a right" for us to kill them.

Holy Innocents, Flowers of the Martyrs, please pray for us to be as brave as your parents had to be so that we have the courage to end abortion!

Mama Bear's Christmas Message

2008-12-25T21:16:00.002-07:00

Mama Bear loves, loves, loves the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". The Story of George Bailey, who never got to follow his dream. George finds himself one Christmas Eve in despair because of his company's apparent financial doom. God sends a guardian angel, second class, Clarence, to help George through this difficult time. Clarence shows George what a different place his corner of the world would be if George had never been born. George discovers that despite the fact that life didn't go the way he wanted he's really had a wonderful life and we get to see an example of what a difference ONE person can make in so many other's lives.

Panda Bear received the book, "Horton Hears a Who" for Christmas. The message ~ a person's a person no matter how small. Appropriately the smallest Who in Whoville makes the difference that saves all of Whoville. Never under estimate the power of one, a person's a person no matter how small.

Our three bears also received the movie "Wall-E", from their aunt and uncle. Even Wall-E knew to protect life.

Today we celebrate the birth of One who is Our Newborn King, the Savior of the World. Who would have believed that He would choose to come as a baby to such a humble couple in such a lowly place surrounded by the night air, the stable animals, with only hay for his bed. Who can say how One can make such a difference in the world for over 2000 years to all on earth, even those that don't believe.

For those of us who do believe in Him and know the importance of His example and our duty to follow Him . . . His choice to become Life, to come as a baby, to live as we live, to walk the earth, to have relationships, to work and struggle and suffer, to die ~ this is the choice we are to follow . . . Life! We must choose Life ~ always! No matter how difficult, no matter the surprise or unexpectedness, no matter how small, no matter how seemingly hopeless, no matter.

His gift to us is always Life. He's given us His Life and our own life; the gift of the lives of the ones we love; the gift of the lives of the ones that we don't love ~ to teach us; to bring us to Him.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Life!

Happy Matrimony

2008-12-23T00:20:00.003-07:00

Today is my wedding anniversary, the day we received the sacrament of Matrimony. The literal translation of matrimony is "mother-making". I think that's beautiful, or as Panda Bear says, "oooh, bue-a-foe"!

The only thing I ever knew I wanted to be was a mother. When I was little I said I wanted eight children. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with my husband ~ he comes from a family of ten children. There is something about the energy in a house full of children that has always attracted me. By the time my husband and I started dating I thought four children sounded pretty good and he thought six was a nice round number (which he doesn't recall ever saying). It was the first time I had ever been out 'numbered' by a prospective mate.

I especially remember a conversation we had while we were engaged when I was worrying about what we were going to do if the children came too fast and furious. My fiance assured me that God knew best. I chuckle at that memory for a couple of reasons ~ one, because it's a great example of how worthless it is to worry about our future; two, because my husband was right and I don't admit that too often.

God had His own plans for us and, it never ceases to amaze us! I have said before that with each of our sons we were twice blessed ~ once by God and once by their birth mother. We did get what we wanted . . . six blessings . . . just not exactly the way we ever thought or planned.

I can not put into words, even in my own head, what a gift it is to mother another's child. It's the added miracle that our boys have another mother and she has blessed us with her child. Doesn't that just ooze G I F T ?!

On this day, only two days until the gift of His Son, I thank the Dear Lord for my husband, our children, our birth mothers and His amazing gift of my matrimony!

Baby Making Rhyme

2008-12-17T17:18:00.006-07:00

We've been reading a LOT of Dr. Seuss lately, it's Panda Bear's favorite! With all of the Dr. Seuss rhymes running through my head I've come up with a rendition of my own to be read to the rhythm of Dr. Seuss. To get you in the mood here's a little Fox in Socks ...

"When tweetle beetles fight,
it's called
a tweetle beetle battle.

And when they
battle in a puddle,
it's a tweetle
beetle puddle battle.

AND when tweetle beetles
battle with paddles in a puddle,
they call it a tweetle
beetle puddle paddle battle.

AND...
When beetles battle beetles
in a puddle paddle battle
and the beetle battle puddle
is a puddle in a bottle ...
...They call this
a tweetle beetle
bottle puddle
paddle battle muddle."

Here's what I've come up with...

When people choose to act
in a way that makes a baby
then those people who
make babies
should be ready
for a baby

If people don't want
babies then those acts
that make babies
can be postponed
and avoided so as not to
make a baby

If people don't want babies but
can't wait for
the baby making act
then there's always
contraception

If these people don't want babies
and choose to use contraception
then the people need to
know that despite their contraception
that a baby may be made

So . . . when people choose to act in a way that
makes a baby then those
people who make babies
should be ready for a baby

And . . . If people R-E-A-L-L-Y
don't want babies
then those acts that
make babies
can be postponed and avoided
so as not to make a baby

If people know this all
and choose the act
that makes a baby
and a baby is made
then the baby is a fact
and will never go away
despite what you've been told

So . . . let babies be considered
for the baby making act
and the people will be
ready for their babies

The Journey

2008-12-16T23:08:00.004-07:00

As we get closer to Christmas, while we await Life Himself, my thoughts turn to the journey. It's a difficult journey, to be sure. There will be anxiety, discomfort, pain, work, responsibility, fatigue, rejection, and in the end Joy.

When we try to take such control of our life, believing we make every decision at every turn OR that we must fix the situation that we didn't choose, we miss out on the unknown, the untapped, the unimaginable gifts that lie within AND without ~ the benefit of a cross sent straight from God.

We've all heard, "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger". There's a heck-of-a-lot to say for that inner strength, that self confidence, that lesson learned that all comes from bearing our crosses.

When I think of the greatest trials in my life I'm reminded of the pain and the struggle to get through each of these situations, sometimes years later or once again. I would never have chosen any of these trials. BUT, they have each led me to the most treasured gifts in my life.

We all know someone who's been laid off from their job and it's led to their dream job; someone who's boyfriend broke up with them which led to them meeting their spouse; someone who's had to deal with a life threatening illness which led them to reconnect with a family member or maybe even God. Which is really where life is supposed to lead us ... that's why He sends our crosses ... to lead us to Him.

Of course, hindsight (a blessing in itself) is to thank for the understanding I have as I sit here and type. As we grow and mature we learn the benefit of our crosses. We learn that our crosses are gifts of suffering on earth, from God. They truly are gifts! As St. Francis de Sales wrote:

"The everlasting God has, in His wisdom, foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you, as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with His loving arms, and weighed with His own hands, to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God."

So, as we journey let us consider ~ ~ ~

Life is a gift.

There are no accidents.

Nothing is unplanned.

Good can come from difficulty.

In LIFE there is joy!

Prince of Peace Award

2008-12-15T14:14:00.008-07:00

A spiritual mentor of mine has recognized my blog with this award. I have no idea how many people stop to read my thoughts, but I am touched that Lisa, at Are We There Yet?, has passed this on to me. Thank you, Lisa!

Here is a link to View From The Pews where this special honor started.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

2008-12-12T00:12:00.001-07:00

The image at the top of this blog is a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On the right is a picture of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As we celebrate Her feast today I'd like to share Her story ~

In 1531, in the part of Mexico that is now Mexico City, the bishop prayed to Our Blessed Mother to bring peace between the Spanish rule and the natives, and for a stop to the human sacrifices. On December 9th, 10th and 12th of that year Our Lady appeared, near Tepayac Hill, to a peasant named Juan Diego. She appeared pregnant with Her Divine Son. Our Lady requested that a church be built there on Tepayac Hill. When Juan Diego took this message to the bishop, the bishop asked for a sign.

Juan Diego returned with an undeniable sign. Although it was December, Our Lady had him pick Castilian roses that were native to the bishop's home in Spain. He put the roses in his tilma (a poncho like cloak made of cactus fiber). When he opened his tilma to reveal the roses there was a miraculous image of Our Lady just as Juan Diego had described Her to the bishop.

This miracle took place 477 years ago today and the image is still visible on the tilma that is miraculously still in tact. Since Our Lady's appearance human sacrifices have ended. I've read that 6 - 9 million conversions took place over the next 6 - 9 years.

My prayer for Our Blessed Mother today (and everyday) is that She will intervene for the unborn and help to put a stop to the human sacrifice that today we call abortion.

Until then, may Her words to Juan Diego be their comfort ~

"Do not be distressed, my littlest son. Am I not here with you who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection?"

*Please click on the title of this post if you'd like to read more detail about the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Unknown

2008-12-10T19:13:00.001-07:00

It doesn't matter how old I am there are still monsters in the dark. The unknown is scary! It's only human to be afraid of the unknown or unplanned. That's where faith comes in. We can't, I repeat ... we can't do "it" on our own. When we look at life through the eyes of faith and accept the unknown or unplanned as coming from God we open ourselves up to His plan vs. ours.

Have you ever heard this? ~ "If you want to make God laugh, make plans." His ways are always best!

Birthmothers seem to get this in a special way and cooperate with God's plan in a courageous manner. I worry about the negative image that people have of birth mothers: they're cold and heartless; they don't love their children; they're selfish, careless and irresponsible.

Consider that birth mothers are women of all ages; they are women from all walks of life; they're in a difficult situation or they're having a hard time at this point in life; they love their children as much as anyone; they have incredible self awareness admitting that they can't give their child what they want them to have; they are unimaginably selfless in their ability to let go of a part of themselves, with no guarantee - but hope, that their child will have a better life; they live with a hole in their heart because of this sacrifice; that they are brave.

Each birth mother has her own individual story. And because the adoption process has changed in the last generation, she can now make choices that she wouldn't have been able to make in the past. Choices that take away some of the unknown and thus quell some of her fears. A birth mother can specify the exact family she would want to love her baby. She can choose the race, religion, pets, number of children, yearly income, anything that's important to her.

I've heard negative comments about this, as well. If we stop to really think about what a birth mother is sacrificing then it makes all the sense in the world that she should have the ability to make choices for her baby that she is comfortable with. She will have plenty of the unknown to wonder about in the future and giving her this peace of mind in the beginning isn't too much to ask.

Respect

2008-12-09T23:58:00.003-07:00

As a mother raising three boys it seems that daily life is an ongoing lesson in respect. We need to learn to respect our property, each other, God, special qualities or talents, a person's feelings, boundaries, rules & laws. There are undoubtedly things worthy of respect that I'm leaving out ~ ~ ~

With the evolution of political correctness it's become expected that we respect *differences* and even sin. I have a friend that often speaks in awe of how backward things seem. Her concluding comment, with a touch of sarcasm, is, "What's right is wrong and what's wrong is right." This always reminds me of Isaias 5:20,

"Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil:"

The pro-abortion agenda is a perfect example of this twisted, backward, evil. How can we respect choosing to kill your unborn child? Where is the respect for God given life?

If we respect something we take care of it.

If we respect someone we care for and honor them. We may even aspire to be like them.

Choosing abortion is seen as taking care of one person; honoring one person's rights. The fact that another person is not being taken care of, but is destroyed, is ignored. The fact that one person not only has no right to choose, but also has their right to live taken away, is ignored. There is nothing respectful about taking advantage of our authority or control over another life, especially one that is dependent on us. That's usually called abuse.

Devastating But True

2008-12-03T13:53:00.013-07:00

As I was doing some reading on the web the other night I came across a quote, a devastating quote in my opinion.

"Life is a sexually transmitted disease."
~ R. D. Laing

I googled Mr. Laing and it turns out he was a psychiatrist. I really just wanted to know who said such a thing. The more I thought about it the more I thought that this must be how some see "it". They must think of their pregnancy as a disease, or an infection, and an abortion as the treatment. Isn't that devastating?

It reminds me of the phrase "unwanted pregnancy". Maybe the person who's pregnant doesn't want to be pregnant or to have a baby, but there's someone out there that wants both more than words can say. There isn't anything as valuable or as important as a person's life yet some would rather throw it away than give it away. Isn't that devastating?

We live in a large city. Unfortunately home break ins and random acts of violence are not rare. I'm not a worrier by nature but I do have thoughts about what I'd do if something were to happen to us. I, like most mothers, would die for my children ~ literally. In the name of "women's rights" and "choice" it's the children (with no rights or choice) who die for their mothers. Isn't that devastating?

Planned Parenthood of Indiana is selling gift certificates for the holidays. According to an AP article "the Indiana branch is among a handful of its 99 affiliates that currently offer gift certificates or have done so in the past." Isn't that pathetic? Merry Christmas.

It's really too bad that Planned Parenthood doesn't like the word "life", because they could put the above quote to some devastating use.

Who Made You?

2008-11-30T21:16:00.005-07:00

Hopefully we all have at least a few books that we absolutely treasure. One of my treasures is a book called We and Our Children, by Mary Reed Newland.

I'd like to share a couple of excerpts from this treasure with you ~

"Stephen, do you know who made you?"
"Who made me?"
"God made you, Stephen."
"Oh." And he stops, and thinks, and confirms it. "God made Stephen."
"Do you know why God made you, Stephen?" he will hardly ever answer, "No." But almost always, "Why?" And you tell him, "Because He loves you." And Stephen knows the most important thing in all the world.
This is security, the first and last and only real security. And we must make it so real for our children that they will look out at the world from the snug safety of God's love. They must know that He loves them as though they were His only love, and that they need not fear the dividing of His love because it is indivisible. It is like the flame of a candle, which will light another candle, and another, and another, and still burn as before. Nowhere is there more love than this. This is all love, it never changes, and they may turn to it from the middle of sin or sanctity and always find asylum.

Each and every time I read these words I'm warmed from the inside out by their simple truth. As wonderful as it is to share this bit of necessity with my boys (and oooh how wonderful it is) it wouldn't be possible if I didn't know it ~ believe it ~ myself. So I wonder ... how many people don't know this, really know this, inside out?

Today is the first Sunday of Advent ~ the time of year that we prepare for the coming of the Baby Jesus. I can't begin to tell you all of the lovely thoughts that race through my brain as I contemplate what it must have been like for Our Blessed Mother. She said, "Yes" to the angel, Gabriel. She wasn't married; She didn't know how she was going to explain this to her mother or to her betrothed; She might have been stoned to death; she had not planned this. Yet, she said, "Yes" ... to God ... to Life Itself.

"God made you, dear, ages before He put you on this earth. You were in the mind of God so long ago that even Mother cannot tell you when it was. Always He knew you, always He wanted you, and because He knows all things, He knew when was the perfect time for you to come so that you could do what He has planned for you."

During this Advent as my mind is turned to thoughts of the Expectant Virgin Mother I will be praying for this understanding for us all.

The Most Important Person

2008-11-27T08:18:00.001-07:00

Each time we brought home one of our sons we were overwhelmed with the incredible feelings of being blessed. We are tangibly aware that we are blessed, not once but twice, with each child ~ once by God and once by our son's birth mother. It's an amazingly humbling experience. The gratitude is never ending.

Being a mother starts at conception. When a birth mother makes an adoption plan for her child she IS mothering her child ... in an extraordinary way.

This goes out to all birth mothers in thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day.

God bless you!

The Most Important Person On Earth

The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral - a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.

The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation...

What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?

~ Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

Prayer for the Helpless Unborn

2008-11-25T19:40:00.005-07:00

Heavenly Father, in Your

love for us, protect against the

wickedness of the devil, those

helpless little ones to whom You

have given the gift of life.

Touch with pity the hearts of

those women pregnant in our

world today who are not

thinking of motherhood.

Help them to see that the child

they carry is made in Your

image - as well as theirs -

made for eternal life.

Dispel their fear and selfishness

and give them true womanly

hearts to love their babies and

give them birth and all the

needed care that a mother alone

can give.

We ask this through Jesus

Christ, Your Son, Our Lord,

Who lives and reigns with You

and the Holy Spirit, one God,

Forever and ever, Amen.

99 Balloons

2008-11-24T13:34:00.002-07:00

I first saw this video about a year ago and I'm still inspired by Eliot and his parents. It embodies EVERYTHING I hope to achieve with this blog. It's a true celebration of life and a true appreciation of what a gift the unplanned can be.

Watch and be inspired for yourself!

Freedom?

2008-11-21T17:21:00.014-07:00

In reading about the so called Freedom of Choice Act, I'm quite frankly nauseated. Freedom? For who? For women? For expectant mother's? What about the unborn child who doesn't get a say in this decision? Who's protecting their freedom? I'm flabbergasted by their rhetoric.

(1) "The United States was founded on core principles, such as liberty, personal privacy, and equality, ..."

Isn't it life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? No surprise that they've left out *life*.

(2) "One of the most private and difficult decisions an individual makes is whether to begin, prevent, continue, or terminate a pregnancy."

Here's the *solution to a problem* attitude again. What happened to look before you leap? In a society that puts the emphasis on decision making where it belongs - before we decide to partake in an activity - we wouldn't need to legislate the right to kill our babies.

(5) "...Prior to the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, an estimated 1,200,000 women each year were forced to resort to illegal abortions,..."

Forced? Are the millions of drug users who show up in our emergency rooms every year because of overdose forced to resort to their illegal drug use? We better think seriously about legalizing these drugs. These people have a constitutional right to their personal pursuit of happiness.

(6) "In countries in which abortion remains illegal, the risk of maternal mortality is high."

According to Dr. Ron Paul, who delivered over 4,000 babies in 35 years, he never had the life of a mother threatened due to her pregnancy. How many women do you know that die because of their pregnancy? What is the medical technology like in the countries they're citing here? We have the most advanced medical care in the world. Does "maternal mortality" refer to death during child birth? Those deaths could not be prevented by committing abortion, because a woman giving birth chose life.

(7) "The Roe v. Wade decision also expanded the opportunities for women to participate equally in society. ...the Supreme Court observed that, 'the ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.'."

If I understand this correctly then abortion has allowed women to 'participate equally in society' and 'control their reproductive lives'. That's a less than dignified illustration of women.

(8) "Even though the Roe v. Wade decision has stood for more than 34 years, there are increasing threats to reproductive health..."

There certainly are increasing threats to reproductive health due to abortion: breast cancer, mental health risks, and much more.

(10) "Legal and practical barriers to the full range of reproductive services endanger women's health and lives. ... Currently, 87 percent of the counties in the United States have no abortion provider."

How many counties in the United States have no hospitals? The insinuated lack of access to abortion doesn't seem to be effecting the number of abortions committed each year.

(13) "...Congress may, where authorized by it's enumerated powers and not prohibited by the Constitution, enact legislation to create and secure statutory rights in areas of legitimate national concern."

There's a misnomer for you = "legitimate national concern"? What about those of us who are concerned with protecting the unborn?

(14) "Congress has the affirmative power...to facilitate interstate commerce and to prevent State interference with interstate commerce, liberty, or equal protection of the laws."

How does interstate commerce figure in? Is this the real concern? Big business.

(15) "Federal protection of a woman's right to choose ... falls within this affirmative power of Congress, in part, because--
(A) many women cross State lines to obtain abortions...
(B) reproductive health clinics are commercial actors that regularly purchase...from out-of-State suppliers; and
(C) reproductive health clinics employ...personnel who travel across State lines..."

Is it illegal to do business or travel across State lines? Does this "State line" business seem like an excuse to involve our Federal government?

Please visit www.fightfoca.com to sign the petition against this federal act that our president-elect has promised to sign. "This act will apply to every Federal, State and local statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative order, decision, policy, practice, or other action enacted, adopted, or implemented before, on, or after the date of enactment of the act." So much for freedom.

Human

2008-11-20T16:59:00.007-07:00

Last weekend I saw the movie Freedom Writers. It's a true story about a high school teacher that taught a diverse group of students who hated anyone that wasn't part of their ethnic group. In the beginning of the movie her classroom was a war zone. By the end of the movie her classroom was a family. She brilliantly used the holocaust to teach her students how ignorance about a group of people can lead to the destruction of people.

This movie is thought provoking, to say the least. I started thinking about the ignorance of humanity at different times in history. There was a time when some believed that black people were not human. This belief made slavery possible and acceptable. There was a time when some believed that Jewish people were not human. This belief led to the holocaust. Today there are people who believe that an unborn baby is not human. This belief makes abortion possible and acceptable. When will the ignorance end?

I looked the word "human" up in the thesaurus. The synonyms listed are: being, biped, body, character, child, creature, individual, life, mortal, personage, soul, wight. The antonyms listed are: abstract, immortal, inanimate, nonentity, plant. When I look at this picture of a 10 week old baby growing in his mother's womb I'm astonished at the ignorance that might believe this picture shows an abstract, immortal, inanimate, nonentity or plant.

I looked the word "human" up in the dictionary. The meanings listed are: adj. 1. of, pertaining to , or characteristic of mankind. 2. consisting of people or men; the human race. 3. of or pertaining to the social aspect or character of man: human affairs. 4. sympathetic; humane: human understanding. 5. --n. a human being. What part of a human pregnancy would not apply here?

I wonder ... is it ignorance or denial?!

Panda Bear

2008-11-19T21:33:00.003-07:00

Our youngest son, who's quickly approaching his 3rd birthday, wants to be called "Panda Bear".

Panda Bear has been the *gift that keeps on giving* to every one of us. Watching our two oldest sons with him has been as wonderful as having a baby again. When I think back to when Black Bear came home, and made us parents, I'm reminded of the new reasons I found to love my husband. I've had the same experience with our big boys as I observe them loving their little brother. Other than our faith, we believe that the greatest gifts we can give our children are siblings. The way they love each other is proof positive.

It never ceases to amaze me how these three boys came together to bless us with parenthood and form our family. I sometimes fantasize about having a get together with all of their birthmothers so they can see how much their sons love each other and were meant to be brothers. I like to think it would bring our birthmothers comfort and reassurance. They didn't know what their son's life would be like when they made their adoption plan. I've reaped unending benefits from their choice and I would love to be able to give them peace of mind.

We often hear the pro-abortion side talk about how "it's never an easy decision". I can not begin to imagine the difficulty in making an adoption plan for my baby. It's the ultimate sacrifice as a mother. I can't count how many times I've heard, "I could never give my baby away." It's a sad commentary on what people think of birthmothers. Until our society becomes a whole lot more supportive and accepting of a women's right to choose adoption there will be more women who choose abortion.

A Change of Heart

2008-11-18T21:00:00.005-07:00

I received this story from three different people. It's a story of hope. Against all odds, truth found a way into this man's life.

Our Society ~ Our Place

2008-11-13T12:20:00.001-07:00

It's important to me that anyone who visits this blog understands that I do not think people who have had an abortion are bad people. I think a society that allows abortions is a bad society. Unfortunately this is a society that treats sex casually and thus everything that goes along with it has become far too casual. How did we get here? Why is abortion an option at all? No matter how difficult a person's life is, or their unborn baby's life may be, that is not a reason to end life. Having an abortion is looked at as a solution to a problem. Our own president-elect has said, "I have two daughters...If they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

The problem is not the baby, the problem is our society's attitude toward the baby. The attitude appears to be that life is disposable. I find it so ironic that when a new born baby is found in a dumpster it makes the local news and yet every single day babies are thrown out in the trash of abortion clinics.

My favorite rationale from many of my "pro-choice" acquaintances is, "I could never have an abortion, but it's not my place to say that others shouldn't." You've got to be kidding me! I would never drown my children in a bath tub, but it's not my place to say that Andrea Yates shouldn't. I would never kill my spouse, but it's not my place to say that O. J. Simpson shouldn't. I would never be sexually inappropriate with the children in my catechism class, but it's not my place to say that the priest shouldn't. I would never drink and drive, but it's not my place to say that others shouldn't. Come on, people, wake up!

Until the fence riders decide that abortion is as wrong as drowning our children, killing each other, sexually molesting our children and drunk driving - babies are going to continue to die. And they're not going to die because someone is mentally ill, or drunk, but because "it's not our place to say".

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
~ Edmund Burke

Polar Bear

2008-11-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

Our second gift from God we're going to call "Polar Bear", because he wants to live in Alaska when he grows up.

Polar Bear is our 9 year old peaceful perfectionist. He needs routine, to know what to expect and time to adjust to change. He likes peace and quiet (hence his desire for life in Alaska). He is very sensitive with a true desire to be understood, being misunderstood hurts his feelings. He's a boy of intense emotions. He is self motivated and very bright, quickly catching on at school. His perfectionism creeps in here and he can be very hard on himself. Best of all, he is extremely loving and lovable.

Polar Bear does not like to talk about being adopted. From the time he could communicate (before he was verbal) he did not want to hear that he grew in someone else's tummy. In an effort to keep him from burying his feelings I occasionally ask him if we can talk about some aspect of adoption or I ask his opinion or feeling about a specific adoption topic. He quickly gets emotional. I have to allow him other ways to express his feelings. I've given him a baby blanket that his birth mother knit for him when he was born. He has happily slept with it every night since. For his last birthday we took a trip to visit the hospital in which he was born. We took pictures of him at the main entrance to the hospital and in front of the labor and delivery door. He was beaming the entire time! Sometimes when we're telling each other how much we love each other, I tell him that his birth mother loves him, too. Then I add, "And, I love her for growing you, and picking us to be your family, and because you are part her."

As adoptive parents we often hear how fortunate our kids are. This comment is not unique to us. Our friends that are adoptive parents hear this, too. I'm always surprised by this comment because I consider myself the fortunate one. I have to admit, though, that in Polar Bear's case I do think he's fortunate. His birth mother was quite generous with information about her background and her life at the time he was born. She had a very chaotic and unstable life. Polar Bear would be a miserable mess without routine, stability and security.

As in life, grief is a part of adoption that we can't escape. The up-side is that, as in life, we still have joy. With abortion there will never be, not even a chance, for joy.

Black Bear

2008-11-11T11:57:00.001-07:00

I would like to introduce my first child. For blogging purposes we're going to call him "Black Bear", because his favorite color is black and because I'm "Mama Bear".

Black Bear is 12 years old and nearing 13 faster than I care to admit. If there were one word that best describes him it would be ''creative". His brain is always on and coming up with something. He is a leader and very well liked at school. He is very smart, but not crazy about the work that school requires. He'd much rather be doing something that was his idea.

Black Bear has developed an incredible sense of humor and he's becoming more communicative as he matures. He loves to be talked to, treated as and given the responsibilities of an adult. He really is an absolute joy to be with (most of the time), especially getting a glimpse now and then of the man he's growing into.

Black Bear and I have had quite a few conversations about adoption this year. I've been reading Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew, by Sherrie Eldridge. I asked him if he would mind discussing the book with me as I went through it. He was very interested in what it had to say and anything I brought up for discussion. His candor was bittersweet and enlightening.

There are times that he wishes he wasn't adopted, although he wouldn't change it. I tried to say there are times that I wish I could have been pregnant and given birth, although I wouldn't change it. He put me in my place by saying, "Yes, but you'll never really understand because you're not adopted." He's right! I need to listen to him and be grateful for his ability to express himself without trying to fix it.

Black Bear also learned what abortion means this year. For a boy that commented, after his youngest brother came home to join our family, "We just need to adopt nine more brothers and we'll have the perfect family.", this was unimaginable.

It led to a wonderful conversation about his birth mother and what an unrealized gift she really gave him when she chose life. Black Bear had never even considered that he might not be here, much less that it would have been because she could have taken his life from him.

All Too Real

2008-11-10T09:33:00.008-07:00

A common fallacy about abortion is that if it's committed early enough there isn't a life present yet, "it's just a mass of cells". My contention with this fallacy is that in death we have a perfect example of a body without a soul. Have you ever touched a body in a casket? It's amazing to behold the stark, tangible difference between life and death. Your loved one's body is there, right in front of you ~ but he is not there.

If in death we can have a body without a soul, then it's feasible that in life we can have a soul without a body.

I've attached an important video to this post. It addresses the reality of abortion, consequently some of it's content is horrific. If you're interested in the message but not the pictures you'll have the ability to skip that part of the video. On behalf of the innocent lives that will be lost today, I ask you to consider watching.

God's Plan

2008-11-07T12:47:00.008-07:00

Life will bring all of us something we never planned for, never even imagined. By it's very nature the unexpected is uncomfortable, many times down right difficult. Hindsight gives us the ability to understand why something may have happened by revealing where it has brought us. It doesn't, however, help us while we trudge through the unexpected.

The emotions that go along with any difficulty are unavoidable. Our attitude depends on our beliefs, how overwhelmed we are, how much support we have, our outlook on life, our sense of self worth, our temperament/personality type, and our past experiences. Our actions will depend on what choices we see, with the influence of our emotions and our attitude.

The following is a meditation that a friend recently sent to me that seems appropriate. In difficult times it is sometimes helpful to view our concerns in a Godly perspective ...

Living According to God's Plan

Why do you take pleasure in tormenting yourself, as you do, over the future? Your faith teaches you that the future is in the hands of a Father who is infinitely good, Who loves you more than you love yourself and Who understands your interests far better than you. Have you forgotten that everything that happens is directed by the orders of Divine Providence? But if we know this how can we hesitate to remain in a state of humble submission, in the most trifling as in the greatest events, to all that God wishes or permits? How blind we are when we desire anything other than what God wishes. He alone knows the dangers which threaten us in the future and the help which we shall need. I am firmly convinced that we should all be lost if God gave us all our desires, and that is why, as Saint Augustine says, God, in His mercy and compassion for our blindness, does not always grant our prayers, and sometimes gives us the contrary of what we ask as being in reality better for us. In truth, I often think that nearly all of us are in this world in the position of poor-sick people who in their frenzy or delirium ask for the very thing that would cause their death and who have to be refused out of pure charity and an enlightened pity.

~Father Jean-Piere De Caussade, S.J. (1751)

"Sometimes, God hands us something we never expected that ends up leading us to something so unexpectedly wonderful, it changes our life forever ..."

Why this blog?

2008-11-06T11:06:00.006-07:00

My intention in starting this blog is three fold: For the glory and honor of God; in thanksgiving for my sons; so as not to be one of the silent any longer.

I know what I do here may not please the majority, but I trust that it will please God. There is too much fear out there about offending each other. In our effort to stay moderate are we offending God? Are we allowing the murder of the most innocent? Are we part of the problem?

I am the mother of three sons through adoption. I am more thankful for my boys each day that I spend with them. I have a connection to their birth-mothers that I can't put into words. I don't know them, and yet they have given me the greatest gift I could ever receive. I have a constant desire to thank them, to give back to them. Along with being the best mother I can be to their sons, this blog is being offered as a prayer of thanksgiving for them and to them.

As so many others, I have spent the last year listening to, thinking about, praying about this presidential campaign. In prioritizing the issues I kept coming back to the fact that one candidate was pro-life and one candidate was pro-abortion. The closer we got to election day the more horrified I was that this is an "issue" at all. In an effort to *do something*, anything, to appease my sense of helplessness I wrote a letter to my family and friends (see yesterday's post) in hopes of swaying their decisions. In light of the outcome of the election my sense of helplessness can only be quieted by my decision not to be another one of the silent on the subject of abortion any longer.

Hopefully people who visit will be thinking and talking about the importance and reality of life right from the beginning. My experience as an adoptive mother will spill in here and there, I hope quite appropriately. Who knows, maybe some of us will even be inspired to take action that will save lives.

A New Day

2008-11-05T12:23:00.004-07:00

I wonder if when people vote for *change* if they are voting for the hope of a country at peace; a county that is financially stable; a country with health care for all; a country with an A+ education system; a country with secure boarders; a country with a leader that we trust; a country with _______ (fill in the blank).

I wonder if all of this is possible? And, if it were, would we then be willing to stop killing an average of 1,000,000 babies a year?

People do not like to talk about abortion. Is that how it was with slavery? Is that how it was with the holocaust? Is that how it is with anything that is so wrong that it scares us silent?

People think it's inhumane to show pictures of aborted babies; to describe abortion procedures; to require an ultrasound before an abortion; to make the realities of abortion in-your-face-all-too-real. Why are these things considered inhumane and abortion is considered a choice? If we don't all agree that it's a choice to kill, can we agree that it's a choice to stop life?

Many people think that this should be a choice because it's not really a baby yet. The desire for a baby does not make it real or not. Wanting a baby doesn't make someone pregnant any more than not wanting a baby changes the fact that someone is really pregnant. If there's not really a baby growing inside of you then you're not pregnant.

I have often wondered what a different world this would be if the approximately 30,000,000 "abortions" had not had their lives stopped? When I casually meet a stranger who touches my life in a way that changes the course of my day I wonder how some of those people might have changed the course of our lives, of our world?

I don't expect that everyone sees life from the same perspective. I just hope that everyone will consider life itself.

I had found myself feeling almost apologetic for the fact that whether or not a candidate is pro-life drives my decision so forcefully. I have come to find that I am not sorry that THE most important gift that any of us ever receives is THE most important "issue" in my decision making. When we take away the most basic right ~ the greatest gift ~ life itself ~ I'm just not sure what else matters.

***As I'm saddened by the out come of the election last night, I'm comforted by the man I voted for. Please click on the title of this post to see his gracious concession speech.