My Natural Family Plan Worked

Well, not really. I've been doing NFP for years now, but we're still refining it. Apparently I'm more fertile than I thought I'd be early on in the cycle, and not always good at reading the signs. But we're always happy when it comes to adding another family member. Each one is such a delight, and we wouldn't change a thing. What really "worked" is Our Openness to Life! Click on picture to enlarge and read our thoughts!   We are thrilled to announce that our "Brady Bunch" days have arrived [Except for Alice]. We are expecting a GIRL in February and she'll tie us up having 3 girls...

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Done Having Children

How can I be "Open to Life" when "I'm Done?" Many couples, whether it be after their first, third or sixth child come to a point where they decide their family is complete. We are ready to do new things we couldn't do with little ones, or perhaps we've maxed our finances and stress levels. Therefore, we've decided to not have any more children. BUT we're a couple who follows God's desire for us to be open to life and not use contraception or sterilization. Our only choices are abstinence and Natural Family Planning. (And we all know the abstinence thing ain't happening.) How can we be "open...

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Prioritizing Your Marriage

Read my guest post entitled "Prioritizing Your Marriage" ! It has been featured on Hot Summer Nights. Every day in July you can read great advice and ideas for your renewing your marriage over at Enter Under My Roof. She is hosting "Hot Summer Nights" with guest posts from various writers including myself!  We'll discuss Marriage, Passion, Love and Faith!   "Prioritizing Your Marriage" Links *My Article on HSN *The New Task List - free to print! "Marriage. One of the greatest gifts we've been given, yet - sometimes - one of the things we take most for granted....

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Rules on Making Love and Babies

I have done extensive research about sterilization. Coming upon another cesarean delivery, I was told my risks of rupture increase with each surgery and pregnancy. (not necessarily true, but none the less...) I was faced with the decision to rely solely on Natural Family Planning or chose tubal ligation or another form of Birth Control. Well, as a practicing Catholic, I wanted to be certain that I was not going against the church's teachings. I wanted to know what those teachings were, and how they applied to my situation. ...

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Music to my ears

My girls are ages 5 and 10. I've been catching amazing moments when they sing or hum songs, not realizing we're listening. The songs on the radio can be captivating, and just like their Mommy and Daddy, they love a good beat to groove to. Not saying that we're the best at dancing or singing, but music moves our feet as much as our soul. I am excited to bring out the performers in my children, since they remind me of myself when I was younger.  [No Mom, please don't bring out the video again.] We are sharing with them our favorite old classics, finding new ones to enjoy, and helping them...

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Overcoming Depression and Autoimmune Disorders

  I thought you might be personally interested or know someone who has an auto-immune condition, depression, mood swings, IBS, thyroid disease, extreme fatigue, diabetes, ADHD/ADD, etc that could benefit from a holistic approach to a cure or treatment. This is my testimony.....

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A Willing Spirit

"The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41 We are in a constant Spiritual Warfare.   We see this eminent in the Agony in the Garden, where Jesus battles between his human desires and the will of God. The devil has a way of getting under your skin. He does what he can to infiltrate your life with despair, depression, hopelessness, unworthiness, fear, anxiety, negative thoughts, loneliness, hatred, anger, jealousy, lust, gluttony, selfishness, doubt - anything that will cause you to leave faith and sin. He will confuse our minds in menacing ways, and label them with...

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Pick Me Up, Lord.

   I share this with you to bring hope to others who have fallen into the same despair for whatever reason. That place where your own life seems to come to an end, because all your thoughts are focused on all the bad in your life. You ask to be taken away, to disappear, to escape somehow. To give up on yourself. It's been years since I felt as low as I did today. Almost 7 in fact. I have long suffered from moderate to severe depression. This past year I've been so much better, I thought it had passed. Instead it culminated in my subconscious, and shot out with the slightest trigger. ...

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Out of the blizzard and into our home

The snow lays thickly over the yard, as it come down in one messy storm. Outside is the harsh wind, that dashes the flakes at every angle. Toys are buried, trees weighed down, and roads waiting to be plowed. The news says not to venture out, and shows images of empty roads and vehicles in ditches. Outside is such chaos. From inside it looks beautiful. The light reflects into our home, with no need to turn on the lamps. The flakes gracefully dance from sky to ground, and through the glass is an mesmerizing snow globe. We're warm and unaware of the frigid chill outside. We go about our day,...

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Holy Household

A POST IN PROGRESS! I always liked having motivational posters in my room, little sayings inside cupboard doors, etc. My mom had a few in our home while growing up, and they always inspired me in times of weakness. My favorite for the past twelve years has been The Serenity Prayer, all over my home. After finding a few new ones online, I decided to make a printout of some spiritual motivators for our home. While we are a Catholic family, these are great for anyone of a Christian faith! Print onto cardstock and laminate, cut out, and tape onto all sorts of place...

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