As a foster parent, I hear these words all the time "I could never do that!" When we were first considering adoption and learned about foster care, we did not choose it as an option. The uncertainty was scary. What kind of child would we get? Would we have to give them up? We couldn't do it. We didn't risk it. But God led us back.
In a discussion with a pro-choice woman on facebook, I was challenged "what have I done about all the unwanted children?" Telling her I was a foster parent shut her up pretty quickly. From the perspective of a pro-choice woman, there are thousands of unwanted children in our world and abortion is helping solve that problem.
I am always struck and saddened by the negativity towards adoption. Most profoundly by women facing an unplanned pregnancy. I heard it on the MTV show "Sixteen & Pregnant." I heard it in a discussion with a post-abortive teenager. I have heard it when counseling women outside of abortion clinics. "I could never give my baby up for adoption." WHY do they feel this is the worst thing they could do to that child?
I am so grateful for adoption! It has forever changed my life and the life of my children.
Thank you Grace in My Heart for directing me to watch this:
The same women who have stated they could never give up their baby for adoption have most surely at one point in their lives said "I could never have an abortion," And then, they are faced with the unimaginable. A dark dark place with no hope. And then, in that cloudy, dark, scary place...they decide they have to have an abortion.
So what has happened to our world that in that dark time abortion is the only way out?
I can not even begin to imagine what a woman goes through when she decides to place her baby for adoption. I can not imagine what she faces when she goes home, without a child in her arms. I can not imagine her fears and insecurities. I can not imagine the pain and despair.
And for each woman that makes this choice, there is another woman, another family that is eternally grateful for her. EVERY child is a wanted child. How can we get this message out?
Start here. Read this.
"Adoption is an act of love, mercy, justice and infinite possibilities. It transforms not only the life of the child, but families, communities, and in some cases…the world."
Watch this.
There are no unwanted children.
There are no unwanted children.
There are no unwanted children.
Meanwhile....while we continue to pray for an end to abortion...while we continue to pray for women to have the courage to choose life...please remember there are children in foster care. There are kids who have not yet found their families. And there is a great need for foster parents. And if you are open to a child....another child...You can. You totally can. Just ask me how.
Showing posts with label abortion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abortion. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Quick Take Friday: facebook edition
1. Happy Friday. My husband found this posted by MonkRock. It was too fitting not to share. Evidently Pride & Self Love is an appropriate diagnosis for all of us. The real question...how many of us are as repulsed by it as God?
2. What a wonderful week of playdates. I am enjoying the sounds of my daughter and her friend, who, as I type, are on the other side of my computer watching Cinderella and playing princesses. Rosie dresses up just about every day, as evidenced by the picture of my lovely princess+bride. Her playing takes me right back to my childhood. This precious time of her life where she truly believes that she is a princess and is disappointed when others try to tell her she is not. I love this age.
In other news, she is so super excited about her first wiggly teeth.
3. As the March for Life approaches my posting on facebook reflects my passion and advocacy. I think this is the time of the year I am most likely to loose "friends" and be hidden by family that are polar opposites. I am sure everyone has seen this...but posting it here any how.
4.Speaking of facebook....I feel the pull to step away. I know I will be giving up the Internet (as much as humanly possible) during Lent. I was honored when a real life friend read my blog and was inspired by my floating screen post & cancelled her facebook.
Last night I received an email from a friend who felt lead by the Holy Spirit to send me the text of her Pastor's homily. The message was about finding God in the busy. It was also about all the distractions that keep us from seeing/seeking God. Facebook was not only in this homily, but in my head.
The kicker was this morning when I finally read this article in the Catholic Register (that has been sitting by our bathroom for several weeks. It is called "Make the Most of the Time God Gives You". Before facebook I was plenty busy and found a hundred excuses to not pray or go to Mass. Now, how much time do I constantly carve out (read: waste) on facebook. I have resisted stepping back (except for lent) for years. It is time I do something about this.
5. When I adopted my son, I found and blocked most of his bio family so they hopefully would not find my pictures shared via facebook. I have not found my daughter's bio family...which concerns me a bit. Some of them must be on, and unless I am blocking them, they can find me or possibly see my pictures. It is easy to be complaisant about what I am sharing and what is being shared. So...to start the process of weaning I will be deleting the extraneous - photo albums and tags. I will also be deleting my facebook app. Is there a patron saint against idolatry?
6. Okay, enough about FB (bleh). We got two big gifts for Christmas. A Sodastream and a Keurig. Here are my reviews. I love the Sodastream. I am a new fan of fizzy water (or bizzy water as Augie calls it). Flavored fizzy water is much more interesting to my palate. I have also been having issues with our newly softened water and feeling thirsty (maybe because it is not as enjoyable to drink). But adding fizz to the water has miraculously resolved that issue. Also, the kids love the bizzy water so any time I can get them drinking more water, score! Two thumbs up recommendation for the sodastream.
The Keurig, on the other hand. It is a total luxury to go to someone's house and find a Keurig. I LOVE being a guest of a Keurig owner. I do not, however, love being a Keurig owner. For four reasons. 1. Soft water is water with salt added. This does not brew well in a Keurig. However, even with bottled water, it still tastes off to me. 2. The strength of a k-cup stinks. It is perfect if I was drinking a tea cup worth of coffee. For the large mug, I would need a double strength k cup. Have not found these yet. The best so far is using the EZ cup with our own coffee. Better strength and budget friendly. 3. The ease and temptation mean we are drinking way more coffee/tea/chai/hot chocolate than we would normally be drinking. Which means more sugar/caffeine/calories. And which also means way more.... 4. Expensive! Initially I tried to justify the expense that by only brewing a cup, there would be no wasted coffee in the pot. That argument has no legs to stand on. Holy expensiveness! In addition to the fact we are drinking more hot beverages my a little math tells me it is cheaper to by a mug of fresh brewed Starbucks. I was told that if you can score a k-cup for less than $.50 a cup, it is a good deal. Well...did you know that with your own mug, you can go to Starbucks and get coffee for $.50? And that is a travel mug...which would actually take two k-cups. SO, Starbucks store brewed is actually cheaper than a good deal on Folgers or other more generic coffee.
For the gifter who reads my blog (aren't I a terrible woman!)- we are so grateful for the gift and my husband would give you an entirely different review. I am excited to entertain with it and have had two opportunities this week to show it off and pamper my guests.
7. Can not wait to finish this room - our office! It is next on our to do list. Drywall this weekend. The before is wretched....but I am all about humility, right? Well, this isn't a true before. This is a living-in-the-room-after-demo-before. As of now my/our vision is as many bookshelves as we can possibly squeeze into the space and wood counter top custom made desk (large desk with two computer stations and a jet out in the middle that will be my client table. It has been FOREVER since I have had the luxury of seeing clients in my home. I am looking forward to an office again. Hopefully before too long...
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Planned Parenthood's Bunnies
Okay, please don't watch this with children around. A very powerful comparison of government funding and Pl@nnd Parenh00d.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
unPlanned
It has been less than a week since the March for Life. On our bus someone had a copy of a new book by Abby Johnson. It was being passed around and it stopped at my seat. I started reading and devoured the first five chapters. The person who brought it on the trip gave it to me and then asked that I pass it on to someone else when I finished. I am not a huge reader but I was picking this up at every free moment until I finished it yesterday.At her Texas A&M volunteer fair, Abby was recruited to work for Planned Parenth00d. She was drawn in by the attractive display, the well spoken professional woman at the table and especially by the idea of helping women in crisis. All along she believed that she was there to make abortion rare. She believed her involvement in this organization would make a difference. Through the years Abby quickly rose through the ranks and eventually became the director of a Planned Parenth00d clinic near Texas A&M. She became a champion for women...or so she believed.
As Abby's story unfolds, so does the parallel story of the people on the other side of the fence. The pro-lifers.
I am interjecting Abby's story to tell part of my own:
I am a pro-lifer. I am one of those people who have stood on the other side of the fence. While attending college in Mobile, Alabama I became connected with a gentleman who knew of my deep pro-life convictions, I will call him Joe. Joe invited me to join him to pray at Planned Parenth00d on their abortion day. My heart was pounding as I drove up to that clinic at 7am on a Tuesday morning, December 14, 1999. I parked across the street and found Joe. I helped him gather his literature and signs as clients and pro-lifers began arriving. The other pro-lifers set to work praying, trying to catch the attention of the people sitting in their cars. Car after car arrived. As the doors opened, these women begin pouring into the clinic. One woman, got out of her car about 10 feet from where I stood. I opened my mouth for the first time and said "please don't do this". She looked at me, stone-faced, and said "my husband and I already have too many children." At that moment I lost it. I feel to my knees and began to weep.
I imagine most people are unaware of abortion clinics in their town. For those who have not had a personal connection with them, they can be easy to ignore. Even for us that consider ourselves pro-life, how often do we think about those clinics. Definitely out of sight, out of mind. However, we you know what happens during an abortion and then when you stand face to face with an abortion clinic...there are no words to describe the feeling. Especially when you face it for the first time.
I knelt and wept for quite a while as the sounds of the rosary where filling the air around me. I clutched my beads. After two hours there were at least thirty cars in the parking lot. Thirty women waiting for abortions. During that time there were three teenage girls that kept coming out to their car. They would smoke and laugh then go back into the clinic. Around 9:15 the pro-lifers begin leaving. As I was about to get in my car I noticed Joe had caught the attention of one of those teenagers. She was walking over to him. I went back towards them. One of her friends came out and came over. Joe offered that we go out to breakfast. They agreed.
We walked two blocks down to Shoneys and he ushered us into the smoking section. One of the girls was pregnant from her boyfriend and the other was pregnant through rape. We talked to them and "Amanda" was very open and receptive. After a bit she began to cry and said she is going to keep her baby. Methodically she went for a cigarette, then looked at it and said "Oh my gosh, I can't smoke! I am pregnant!"
This was my first encounter with side walk counseling. We had a save on my first day!! It was miraculous. I was hooked. That day ignited my passion for praying on the sidewalk.
Back to Abby's story! The pro-life group on the other side of the fence was called Coalition for Life. As I have "stood at the fence" I saw myself in their tears and prayers. The story talks about how this amazing group of young people establish acceptable behaviors for the sidewalk counselors. No more grim reapers, signs that call out "murders" or graphic images. Instead they offer love and friendship to the clinic workers and girls. Their most powerful witness was the program that began by this group at this clinic, called 40 Days for Life (now a national prayer campaign).
God uses the love and friendship from Coalition for Life, and the prayers of people involved with 40 Days for Life to work on Abby's heart. She begins to feel pressure from above to increase revenue to her clinic. Revenue comes from abortions. Again, one of Abby's hopes was to decrease the number of abortions. As the organizational pressure mounts, so does her internal struggle. In this perfectly orchestrated series of events, she is then called into to help with an abortion, for the first time in her 10 year involvement with this clinic. The doctor needed her to hold an ultrasound while he conducts the abortion. What Abby witnesses, changes her life. I highly encourage you to read the first chapter of her book on her website: http://www.unplannedthebook.com/.
I highly encourage you to purchase her book. Abby's story is riveting and I know she will continue to be a witness to thousands on both sides of the fence.
I am grateful for a new and renewed spirit of activism. There are two women that I know need to join me in prayer outside of our local clinic. The next 40 Days campaign starts on March 9th. We will be there.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
My Heart Exalts - MFL
We had a wonderful (albeit cold)...March for Life on Monday. One of my highlights was meeting the beautiful blogger, "My Heart Exalts." She glows and I am certain it is her beautiful soul shining brightly. I wish that we had more time to sip coffee and get lost in conversation. Unfortunately, I had a very tired 1 year old who kept falling on his head and an anxious to move 3 year old...and the March!
MHE - Thank you for coming to find us!! I am sure it was a bit nerve wrecking when you realized what you were up against in the crowds! I am certain it won't be our last meeting! Be assured of my prayers and love you too!!
The second highlight for me was the fact that after we took the picture by the supreme court, and after standing in the same spot for 20 minutes, I realized we were standing next to my favorite Catholic band, L'Angelus!
They are Cajun and that is what makes their music so unique and interesting. If you haven't heard them before, check them out!
Finally, on the ride home I was blessed to meet a beautiful brave soul on our bus. She was marching for the first time. She came into the Church last year. She suffered 3 miscarriages. Her first miscarriage was her turning point. She used to work for Banned Parnthood. The moment she was grieving her first lost she discovered she was not sad about loosing a "mass of cells" she was sad because she lost her baby. She passed on a book that I think is fantastic. Everyone needs a copy of "UnPlanned" by Abby Johnson. Start with reading the first chapter on her website. Tell everyone you know to read this chapter! Abby has a powerful witness and the account of her story is wonderful.
MHE - Thank you for coming to find us!! I am sure it was a bit nerve wrecking when you realized what you were up against in the crowds! I am certain it won't be our last meeting! Be assured of my prayers and love you too!!
The second highlight for me was the fact that after we took the picture by the supreme court, and after standing in the same spot for 20 minutes, I realized we were standing next to my favorite Catholic band, L'Angelus!
They are Cajun and that is what makes their music so unique and interesting. If you haven't heard them before, check them out!
Finally, on the ride home I was blessed to meet a beautiful brave soul on our bus. She was marching for the first time. She came into the Church last year. She suffered 3 miscarriages. Her first miscarriage was her turning point. She used to work for Banned Parnthood. The moment she was grieving her first lost she discovered she was not sad about loosing a "mass of cells" she was sad because she lost her baby. She passed on a book that I think is fantastic. Everyone needs a copy of "UnPlanned" by Abby Johnson. Start with reading the first chapter on her website. Tell everyone you know to read this chapter! Abby has a powerful witness and the account of her story is wonderful.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
March for Life
My Heart Exults mentioned she was attending her first March for Life this year. I am so blessed to live within a relatively easy drive of DC. I take it for granted. We are hoping to attend and have not yet decided whether we are driving or joining a bus trip (if there is still room).I am pretty new to the fabulous blogging community and wondering if anyone else is going??
I have to admit I am a bit of a crazed socialite at the March for Life. When I worked for Priests for Life it was my job to attend them. How cool is that? Our staff would go with a big plan to cover all of DC in the days or week leading up to the March. I would be involved with students for life conferences, youth rallies, the vendor display...and then hanging out at the Dubliner (where I first learned to love a Black Velvet). When I moved to PA and ran the youth group, I started leading bus trips. We would always hit the Verizon Center at 7am and, beside leading the trip, my day was spent fluttering around finding old friends. I love the March for Life!
In the last couple years, I have been less connected with my pro-life activist roots. I drive by Banned Paren7hood on a regular basis but I have not counseled in years. SBR and H have only been with me once to pray. I have gone to from working for the pro-life movement to youth ministry to Creighton teacher. I realize teaching NFP is a pro-life ministry. But I miss the passion. There is no cause greater than abortion. I could go on and on here.
In our local news, and national news a doctor was just arrested for murdering 7 live born babies. Of course, there is no discussion about the fact that the babies were "this close" (head in uterus) to being perfectly legal to kill in the same fashion. Wow. I really have to control myself or this is about to be a novel.
So...while I adore going to the March for Life and seeing old (and new) friends - there is one very specific reason I go (and now drag the family along). For someone that has never Marched, it is truly a very powerful experience. MHE, I am so glad you are making the trip. For all the long time marchers, remember. For all those that can't attend, pray.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
conversation with a post abortive teen
Last night I had the opportunity to spend a couple hours with a 16 year old girl at my 4hour/week job. Work was slow, we were chatting, and the conversation started to turn personal as she described her upbringing. She has asked me several times in the past about our fostering situation. As she described herself, I began to understand her interest a little better.
She has had a tough life. In the course of the conversation she whispered "and I had an abortion." I was not sure where the conversation was to go and said a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit. She talked a little about the scenario, she was 14, her boyfriend was 19, her father brought her (forced her) to Pla.nn.ed Par.entho.d. I listened, empatheticaly, mad for her at her father and the 19 year old who took advantage of a young girl.
She was confessing this to a stranger. Then I explained my background. After college I worked for an organization that tries to educate people about abortion. I have prayed outside of abortion clinics and talked to girls doing "sidewalk counseling." Her mood shifted and I could tell she was uncomfortable. She said that she was very scared of the protesters outside when she was going in for her abortion. She also said she would consider the possibility of going back and being one of the protesters one day. She harbored anger towards her father who took her for the abortion. She confessed jealously that she has towards other girls at her high school that kept their babies, and one in particular who lives with her boyfriend's family and is spoiled by his mother. In addition to those teens that parenting, my heart broke as she described several other girls whom she knew had an abortion.
When I worked for Priests for Life I was the coordinator of youth outreach. I mostly worked in Church circles. This put a new twist on youth outreach, imagining how great the need to get the pro life message into every school. Making sure every teenage girl knows her real options.
I asked her if she ever considered adoption. No. Her family never said a word about it. My other pet peeve is how very few teen moms every give adoption a thought. Of course they are thinking of themselves (understandable), but how do you get them to think outside of that? She said she could never imagine her flesh and blood being raised as another person's child. Inside my head I am asking the obvious "so you rather kill your child?". I responded that as hard as adoption must be, I can not imagine how hard, the birth parents have to know they did the right thing for their child and a miraculous thing for someone else.
We discussed birth control. She goes to Pla.ned Par.nthood frequently for Depo shots. I discussed some of the risks of Depo (52% increased risk of Breast Cancer) and side effects of the pill...a lawsuit pending on a death from the patch. She was clearly shaken. I said just know that information is out there if you want to look for it. We talked about her fear of becoming pregnant before she leaves home, I talked about CPC and homes for unwed mothers. She felt it was beneath her to live in a "shelter" and I tried to explain these as valid alternatives.
We spoke off and on over the course of our time together. I told her I just want to make sure she knows that I don't judge her. She asks if I think she is a bad person. "No." She said she wonders if she will go to hell. I said "God believes in forgiveness." I ask if she was upset when I told her what I did (pro-life work, sidewalk counseling). She said yes and something about how everyone is entitled to their beliefs, etc. I explained that even though we are in different places, I feel great compassion for her. "I am sorry you had to go through that." I tried to offer her the website for Silent No More, but she declined, worried it would make her feel worse. I said that I just wanted her to know that there are resources available if she ever needed a way to deal with that grief.
She talked about her desire to become pregnant again, praying to God that God would replace her child...that her second chance would literally be the same baby, replaced. I described that I know some women that have had abortions name their child and maybe write the baby a letter. I tried to encourage her to know that fetus, her child, was a little person. "If you can give them that dignity, I may help you a little bit to let go of some of the pain." She said she would consider doing that and explained that she has an ultrasound picture from before the abortion that she treasures.
On my way home I contemplated writing her a letter. If I could describe this girl, she is not a warm fuzzy person. She is calloused, broken, in pain. I want to tell her God loves her. I want to talk to her about forgiveness and healing. She was filling in for someone I work with so I am not sure when I will see her again. I am grateful for her openness. For a profound sharing of stories. I hope she will find some consolation.
Please pray for this sweet, hurting girl. Pray that the Holy Spirit can move her heart. God bless all these suffering souls and help them find peace.
She has had a tough life. In the course of the conversation she whispered "and I had an abortion." I was not sure where the conversation was to go and said a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit. She talked a little about the scenario, she was 14, her boyfriend was 19, her father brought her (forced her) to Pla.nn.ed Par.entho.d. I listened, empatheticaly, mad for her at her father and the 19 year old who took advantage of a young girl.
She was confessing this to a stranger. Then I explained my background. After college I worked for an organization that tries to educate people about abortion. I have prayed outside of abortion clinics and talked to girls doing "sidewalk counseling." Her mood shifted and I could tell she was uncomfortable. She said that she was very scared of the protesters outside when she was going in for her abortion. She also said she would consider the possibility of going back and being one of the protesters one day. She harbored anger towards her father who took her for the abortion. She confessed jealously that she has towards other girls at her high school that kept their babies, and one in particular who lives with her boyfriend's family and is spoiled by his mother. In addition to those teens that parenting, my heart broke as she described several other girls whom she knew had an abortion.
When I worked for Priests for Life I was the coordinator of youth outreach. I mostly worked in Church circles. This put a new twist on youth outreach, imagining how great the need to get the pro life message into every school. Making sure every teenage girl knows her real options.
I asked her if she ever considered adoption. No. Her family never said a word about it. My other pet peeve is how very few teen moms every give adoption a thought. Of course they are thinking of themselves (understandable), but how do you get them to think outside of that? She said she could never imagine her flesh and blood being raised as another person's child. Inside my head I am asking the obvious "so you rather kill your child?". I responded that as hard as adoption must be, I can not imagine how hard, the birth parents have to know they did the right thing for their child and a miraculous thing for someone else.
We discussed birth control. She goes to Pla.ned Par.nthood frequently for Depo shots. I discussed some of the risks of Depo (52% increased risk of Breast Cancer) and side effects of the pill...a lawsuit pending on a death from the patch. She was clearly shaken. I said just know that information is out there if you want to look for it. We talked about her fear of becoming pregnant before she leaves home, I talked about CPC and homes for unwed mothers. She felt it was beneath her to live in a "shelter" and I tried to explain these as valid alternatives.
We spoke off and on over the course of our time together. I told her I just want to make sure she knows that I don't judge her. She asks if I think she is a bad person. "No." She said she wonders if she will go to hell. I said "God believes in forgiveness." I ask if she was upset when I told her what I did (pro-life work, sidewalk counseling). She said yes and something about how everyone is entitled to their beliefs, etc. I explained that even though we are in different places, I feel great compassion for her. "I am sorry you had to go through that." I tried to offer her the website for Silent No More, but she declined, worried it would make her feel worse. I said that I just wanted her to know that there are resources available if she ever needed a way to deal with that grief.
She talked about her desire to become pregnant again, praying to God that God would replace her child...that her second chance would literally be the same baby, replaced. I described that I know some women that have had abortions name their child and maybe write the baby a letter. I tried to encourage her to know that fetus, her child, was a little person. "If you can give them that dignity, I may help you a little bit to let go of some of the pain." She said she would consider doing that and explained that she has an ultrasound picture from before the abortion that she treasures.
On my way home I contemplated writing her a letter. If I could describe this girl, she is not a warm fuzzy person. She is calloused, broken, in pain. I want to tell her God loves her. I want to talk to her about forgiveness and healing. She was filling in for someone I work with so I am not sure when I will see her again. I am grateful for her openness. For a profound sharing of stories. I hope she will find some consolation.
Please pray for this sweet, hurting girl. Pray that the Holy Spirit can move her heart. God bless all these suffering souls and help them find peace.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Life, Unborn
On the very sad anniversary of Roe V. Wade, I pray for those whose lives have been destroyed by abortion - physically and psychologically.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Seriously? On Obama's Peace Prize award
Alright, here is the thing. I just have to remind myself that the Nobel awards are given by a foundation of worldy people. Obviously our world today has quite a screwed up definition of Peace.
From LifeSite News
In his will, Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel said the Peace Prize is meant to be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
Unfortunately, our world doesn't quite "get" many things. The Peace prize of course was given to Al Gore two years ago for his "work" on Climate Change. Until we correct our screwed up priorities and recognize every conceived human life as sacred and full of every hope for the future, I will likely continue to curse the Nobel foundation.
From LifeSite News
In his will, Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel said the Peace Prize is meant to be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
Yet, at the time (of his nomination) the only bridge building Obama had done with other countries is to take tens of millions of taxpayer funds and give them to abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood and Marie Stopes International.
Those groups would use the funds to not only perform abortions but lobby the pro-life governments of nations in places like South America and Africa to overturn their laws.
Mother Theresa has stated "The greatest threat to world peace is abortion." Also, Pope Benedict released a very similar statement on the World Day of Peace in 2006. “Respect for people promotes peace,” the pope said in the statement as he stressed “the duty to respect the dignity of each and every person."Unfortunately, our world doesn't quite "get" many things. The Peace prize of course was given to Al Gore two years ago for his "work" on Climate Change. Until we correct our screwed up priorities and recognize every conceived human life as sacred and full of every hope for the future, I will likely continue to curse the Nobel foundation.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Powerful Story of an Abortion Survivor
I urge everyone to watch this phenomenal testimony of abortion survivor, Gianna Jessen.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Friday, November 07, 2008
Continuing to use my freedom of speech...
One thing I have learned during this election, everyone is and should be entitled to their freedom of speech. This is the beauty and gift of being American. This is one thing I am most grateful for to those who give their lives for our country. The freedom of speech is a glorious thing.
Over the past months I have read and shared emails with friends and family of various opinions. I have heard many sides of many stories. While we can all disagree about opinion, we should all respect each others freedom to express opinion. Twice, my McCain/Palin signs were stolen in the week prior to the election. This upset me enough to replace it with a sign "coward's stole my McCain/Palin sign." I am not proud of using the word coward, it was not the most charitable word to use, though I do believe it fits the role of someone who takes that freedom from me.
With that said, in our America today, we have so many new ways, and forums to express our opinions publicly. I am sure everyone received emails from friends and family expressing election opinions. As I am demonstrating now, we have personal blogs. And like never before, people are connecting and expressing opinions with Facebook, a social networking site.
All this freedom of speech has allowed the flame of my pro-life passion to be reignited. While I was never a "closet" pro-life activist, today we have even greater abilities to make our causes/beliefs known. All I can do is pray these discussions allow people to listen and hear Truth. This does not mean find your own personal truth...but find the objective, unchanging Truth is the Truth is the Truth.
One of these Truths: Human Life Begins at Conception. This is not an opinion, this is not a religious belief. This is an objective, unchanging, scientifically proven Truth. Another Truth, abortion kills the life of a human child. And...as our new president-elect has stated...regardless of your position on abortion, we should all agree on reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies (supposedly, therefore reducing the number of abortions).
President-elect Obama has vowed to support a very dangerous and scary bill, The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). In his words, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." -- Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007
"If passed into law, FOCA will impose upon the entire country an abortion regime far worse than anything brought on by Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. And the current level of 1.1 million abortions a year will go up, not down." USCCB
Cardinal Justin Rigali recently wrote the following: "there is one thing absolutely everyone should agree on: We can't reduce abortions by promoting abortion. We cannot reduce abortions by invalidating the very laws that have been shown to reduce abortions. We cannot reduce abortions by insisting that every program supporting women in childbirth and child care must also support abortion. No one who sponsors or supports legislation like FOCA can credibly claim to be part of a good-faith discussion on how to reduce abortions."
Please join me in praying and petitioning your representatives and senators:
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard to contact the offices of
your Representative and two Senators: 202.224.3121.
Urge them to oppose FOCA
Go to http://www.nchla.org/issues.asp?ID=50 for more info.
Over the past months I have read and shared emails with friends and family of various opinions. I have heard many sides of many stories. While we can all disagree about opinion, we should all respect each others freedom to express opinion. Twice, my McCain/Palin signs were stolen in the week prior to the election. This upset me enough to replace it with a sign "coward's stole my McCain/Palin sign." I am not proud of using the word coward, it was not the most charitable word to use, though I do believe it fits the role of someone who takes that freedom from me.
With that said, in our America today, we have so many new ways, and forums to express our opinions publicly. I am sure everyone received emails from friends and family expressing election opinions. As I am demonstrating now, we have personal blogs. And like never before, people are connecting and expressing opinions with Facebook, a social networking site.
All this freedom of speech has allowed the flame of my pro-life passion to be reignited. While I was never a "closet" pro-life activist, today we have even greater abilities to make our causes/beliefs known. All I can do is pray these discussions allow people to listen and hear Truth. This does not mean find your own personal truth...but find the objective, unchanging Truth is the Truth is the Truth.
One of these Truths: Human Life Begins at Conception. This is not an opinion, this is not a religious belief. This is an objective, unchanging, scientifically proven Truth. Another Truth, abortion kills the life of a human child. And...as our new president-elect has stated...regardless of your position on abortion, we should all agree on reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies (supposedly, therefore reducing the number of abortions).
President-elect Obama has vowed to support a very dangerous and scary bill, The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). In his words, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do." -- Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007
"If passed into law, FOCA will impose upon the entire country an abortion regime far worse than anything brought on by Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. And the current level of 1.1 million abortions a year will go up, not down." USCCB
Cardinal Justin Rigali recently wrote the following: "there is one thing absolutely everyone should agree on: We can't reduce abortions by promoting abortion. We cannot reduce abortions by invalidating the very laws that have been shown to reduce abortions. We cannot reduce abortions by insisting that every program supporting women in childbirth and child care must also support abortion. No one who sponsors or supports legislation like FOCA can credibly claim to be part of a good-faith discussion on how to reduce abortions."
Please join me in praying and petitioning your representatives and senators:
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard to contact the offices of
your Representative and two Senators: 202.224.3121.
Urge them to oppose FOCA
Go to http://www.nchla.org/issue
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Why we vote pro-life
I am sure many of our blog readers are of like mind. Some are not. Although I have always been adamantly pro-life (since I understood abortion in high school), having our miracle has taken it to a new level. I can't even fathom how anyone could allow abortion to occur. Women (or girls) that choose abortion, often make that choice because they feel they have no other choice. Not only am I adamantly against abortion, I try to help women (and men) know and understand they have a choice...a choice for life. And if they have had an abortion in the past, I try to help them understand forgiveness is available through the grace Christ.
Now...to those in government that choose abortion for our country, there is no excuse. And there is no excuse to those who elect them into office. Have these elected officials NOT seen the pictures of aborted babies? Of course they have. Yet they choose to allow this procedure which kills 4,000 innocent babies every day in the US. Abortion is far worse than any holocaust, any genocide, any war the world has ever seen.
I watched a YouTube video yesterday. Paul and I were both in tears. I hope you will take 5 minutes to watch this video. I met Jill Stanek when I worked at Priests for Life. God bless her for speaking out against the atrocity of born-alive abortions. Senator Obama has voted 3 times against a bill that would squelch this practice. Regardless of his "personal views" on abortion, he is no friend to the unborn, or those who claim to be pro-life. How can we find middle ground when he is in favor of letting babies die cold, on a table. I was very close to throwing up watching the discussion on abortion in the last debate.
I thank God every second of every day for the gift of H. My heart hurts for those that have made the choice of abortion....and I pray they find forgiveness. But for those that make the choice to allow abortion to continue, and those that elect them into office - God have mercy.
Now...to those in government that choose abortion for our country, there is no excuse. And there is no excuse to those who elect them into office. Have these elected officials NOT seen the pictures of aborted babies? Of course they have. Yet they choose to allow this procedure which kills 4,000 innocent babies every day in the US. Abortion is far worse than any holocaust, any genocide, any war the world has ever seen.
I watched a YouTube video yesterday. Paul and I were both in tears. I hope you will take 5 minutes to watch this video. I met Jill Stanek when I worked at Priests for Life. God bless her for speaking out against the atrocity of born-alive abortions. Senator Obama has voted 3 times against a bill that would squelch this practice. Regardless of his "personal views" on abortion, he is no friend to the unborn, or those who claim to be pro-life. How can we find middle ground when he is in favor of letting babies die cold, on a table. I was very close to throwing up watching the discussion on abortion in the last debate.
I thank God every second of every day for the gift of H. My heart hurts for those that have made the choice of abortion....and I pray they find forgiveness. But for those that make the choice to allow abortion to continue, and those that elect them into office - God have mercy.
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