October Baby

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

My Dad's Death

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

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

The Human Soul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Valentines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.