40 Years Ago

40 years ago the decision of Roe v. Wade made abortion legal.  Since then it is estimated that over 55 million abortions have taken place.

A few months ago, I saw a post on Facebook by someone in support of abortion and a women's right to choose to have an abortion.  I read through some of her comments and was shocked when she said that a fetus wasn't human life, it was only the "potential" for human life.  I wasn't really sure what to say at that point in time, or how to rationally get my point across so I knew it would be a good topic for a blog post.

As someone who us ultimately pro-life because of my Catholic faith and beliefs, I am also a scientist.  I'm inquisitive by nature, I want to know the how and why of things and how to explain them using logic, even secular logic.  While it is passion behind personal beliefs that is usually an impetus to speak-out on things, I fear it sometimes gets me in trouble when trying to defend my beliefs.  I know I can get a little worked up.  I'm going to use very secular terms in the next part of my post to show things in as plain language as possible.

Let's go back to the basics: from the moment when a sperm and egg combine during the biological process of fertilization, a new human has been created.  Now, is this life or is this the potential for life?  It is life!  It is a human life with it's very own unique DNA.

Now the to crux of the issue that was posted on Facebook: it is only the "potential" for human life.  I do not disagree that the newly created human life can not survive outside of the woman's body.  But how would the situation surrounding how a life is being supported or sheltered make it less of a human?

Take another biological example: developing from egg to tadpole to frog.  A tadpole would not survive outside of water during stages of it's development.  It is still a frog that is living, growing and developing in an environment that is different from the environment it will need to survive when it reaches the next stage of development.

Let's take this a step further, a human life that has been born/exited the womb of the biological mother.  I think most people would be hard-pressed to find someone who said that it would be acceptable or a choice to kill that human life.  The only change is that it is no longer living inside another human being.  The recently born human life can now breathe air and consume food.  Is this new human life all of the sudden not dependent on another human as it was approximately 38 weeks before it exited the mother?  No, this life still needs to be fed and sheltered and can not accomplish those things on it's own.  Is this still only "potential" human life because it can not survive without support of another?  Should this new life be able to be legally killed simply because another chooses not to support this life?  No.  Although it is possible that there are those who believe this should be an option, which I know is not necessarily a "mainstream" belief as abortion unfortunately is seen.

Abortion is the killing of human life during a stage of development because a woman chooses not to support that life.  Does pregnancy and birth affect a woman and her life?  Absolutely, there is no doubt about that fact.  I believe there needs to be support women who choose to have babies regardless of circumstances.  I know there are support programs out there with the potential to grow to support more pregnant women.  Perhaps I will try to gather those things into a future post.

Maybe it also needs to be clearly stated that I am pro-life, not just against abortion.  I do not believe in or support the death penalty or euthanasia.

On this tragic anniversary of Roe v. Wade please feel free to check out some other well done posts marking the passing of 40 years or on the topic of abortion/pro-life.

• GoDark4Life at NFP & Me
• The Deafening Silence at Endless Strength
• 180 Movie (some parts of this video are graphic)

I hope this post has made sense to those who are reading and that everyone can take the time to reflect on it.  I hope and pray everyday that abortion becomes a thing of the past.  I also am asking for a prayer request for the 55 million or more lives that have been lost due to abortion in the past 40 years.

I welcome any and all comments/questions to this post.  I only ask that everyone keeps their comments respectful.  Open debate/discussion is never a bad thing in my opinion.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Here are some fun family pictures from our HOT day today!

Christopher hanging out on my back before our town's 4th of July parade!  I absolutely love being able to walk to our city's downtown from our house!

My favorite guys watching the parade... that's a yawn from Jack, not a surprised look.

Hot baby playing with the flag that was passed out... he & I walked home shortly after this shot.

Later that day after naps and lots of inside time, we went to the city's festivities at the park.

Me and my boys... Jack cheesing it up!

I love my silly little boy!

Daddy took Jack on a fair ride!  It was a fire truck that went around in circles... Jack LOVED it!

Jack's favorite ride was the train... he had to sit in the engine all three times he rode on it!

On the train!

Getting ready to leave... we lasted maybe an hour because it was so hot!

Today's plans were a bit spur of the moment because we were supposed to go to my grandma's but that was cancelled.  Please say some prayers for her as she's in the hospital and has a long road of recovery ahead of her.  Thanks!

Prayer Request for Tomorrow

Sorry for being pretty absent from the blogging lately.  I promise, I'm going to get better!  I've got two posts drafted for later this week already!

Please say some prayers for my dad as he undergoes surgery to hopefully complete his colon cancer treatment.  Prayers to guide his wonderful surgeon's hands as well as for him to have a speedy recovery are greatly appreciated!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter last weekend!

Lots of Prayers Needed!

I am writing to ask for your thoughts & prayers for quite a few special intentions in my heart these days. 

A very dear friend's mother was hospitalized late last week after emergency surgery.  She is recovering, but still has the road of recovery ahead of her.

A family member of Matt's boss is pregnant and went into preterm labor, the doctors and nurses are working very hard to stop her labor from progressing.  She is only 28 weeks along, so prayers for the health of both her and her baby are greatly appreciated.

Prayers for my sister-in-law as her due date quickly approaches and this is her first child.  Please pray for the safe delivery of our nephew, as well as calm and confidence for her as labor and delivery draws nearer. 

Selfishly, I request prayers for myself and our family as we prepare for for the arrival for our second child, whenever he or she decides to make their appearance!

Prayer Request for our Pastor

The pastor of our parish passed away sometime overnight Friday-Saturday this past weekend.  He was a very vibrant personality who had a passion for preaching and enjoyed taking care of his alpacas.  This past weekend was also the weekend of our parish festival, we were lucky enough to get to see him there Friday night.

We are very lucky to be a part of a parish that did not have a shortage of priests, but this will truly have a large impact on our parish family.  Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers for the repose of Fr. Rod's soul!

If you are a local reader, you can view his obituary here.

Prayer Request

We had a tragic death in our family earlier this week.  The funeral for my aunt's husband is today.  If you pray, please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through an extremely difficult time.

Thank you.

Prayer Request

Two prayer requests for this week!  My mother-in-law is having her knee replaced today and one of my good friends is having ankle surgery tomorrow!

Prayers for steady hands of the surgeons and a speedy recovery for both!

Thanks!

Taking out my Wisdom..

Teeth that is... on Thursday morning!

Say some prayers for me for a speedy recovery.  Especially because Matt and I leave for Germany on January 10th!

Thank you!
 

Welcome to Heaven Carol!

As you may have read from a month ago, Matt's aunt Carol's health had been failing.  Early yesterday evening she joined her father (Matt's grandpa) in heaven.

Please say a prayer for Matt's family, especially his grandmother who had dedicated her entire life to caring for all of Carol's needs.  Carol was full of spunk!  She loved cartoons, balloons stuffed animals, and to eat!  She will be missed greatly.

Right of Christian Initiation for Adults

I was recently asked to become an RCIA sponsor!  When we joined our parish I checked a number of boxes on the "time commitment interest" sheet, one of them included being a sponsor for someone going through RCIA.

Late last week I got a voicemail saying there was a need and they hoped I would still be interested.  I called back and left a voicemail, but the woman who had called me only worked on Mondays & Tuesdays.  Monday afternoon I got an email mentioning that they had already started the "program" and that the teaching Mass was this Tuesday.  Luckily, my mom was able to stay late Tuesday, so I could make the meeting.

RCIA has a very special place in my heart as my Dad became Catholic when I was in junior high.  I am the oldest in my family, so my younger siblings may not have as much memory of when my Dad was not Catholic.  I remember the Easter Vigil when he became Catholic like it was yesterday.  His sponsor's family are still great family friends of my family because it is such a special experience.  To this day when RCIA candidates enter into the Church at Easter Vigil, it is such a beautiful moment that it brings tears to my eyes.

I unfortunately didn't get to meet my candidate Tuesday because she had a work event, but will hopefully get to meet her next week.  Please take a moment to say some prayers in support of all those considering becoming Catholic!  Please say a special little prayer for me as I enter into this journey in support of this person's faith development.

Prayer Request!

Prayers still needed for Matt's aunt... things are looking better but she's got a long road ahead of her!

Thanks,

Prayer Request

I'm asking for some prayers for Matt's aunt who is currently in the hospital battling pneumonia. She has other health battles so even the slightest infections can be extremely hard to recover from. Please say prayers for his family for the support they may need in the coming days.

Thank you in advance for your prayers!

Prayer Request

Please say some prayers for my mother-in-law who will be going through another procedure to have another stent put in.

Thank you!