Mommy Life

January 27, 2012

Down syndrome awareness: Cali

Cali: You are beautiful

Love,

January 27, 2012 ( 5:26 PM) | Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 26, 2012

Yellow ballons at March for Life DC and Dallas

Remember the Yellow Balloons for Life in Chicago? Well, they came to DC for the March for Life:

Brother Joshua writes:

Also, I thought you might like the concept of the "Life Boat" - the youth of St. John Cantius Church are carrying Br. Chad McCoy, SJC. They also threw "Lifesaver" candies overboard to the crowds.

Yellow balloons were also used at the Dallas March for Life, as you can see in this poignant video:

Love this lighthearted, joyful, memorable approach.

Love,

January 26, 2012 ( 9:10 PM) | 2012 Choose Life",Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (0)

Elizabeth Ministry - miscarriage and infant loss

Celebrate Life asked me to do a profile of Elizabeth Ministry, a grassroots ministry to parents who've suffered the loss of a baby before or shortly after birth:

Elizabeth Ministry: God sends a friend to hurting families
By Barbara Curtis

I have had four miscarriages. Two I flushed down the toilet ... and the other two were taken by hospital staff and disposed of. I can't tell you the guilt and shame I feel for not honoring my babies and being so ignorant of what to do. One baby I wrapped up gently and brought to my doctor because he asked to do a test on the remains. I was shocked when he returned to the room empty-handed and told me he had thrown "it" away--including the bag I bought special, which had the words "True Love" written on it.

Jennifer left this comment on my blog recently. After years of feeling isolated and alone, mothers of miscarried babies have finally found a safe place to share their feelings: the Internet. Her story is typical of their outpourings of grief and shame. Miscarriage is a loss the world doesn't seem to understand. After all, the baby wasn't born yet. Why can't the mother let go?

So, besides the pain of losing a baby, many women struggle with guilt and shame for their overwhelming sadness--thinking there must be something wrong with them. Jennifer continued,

It's hard relating with people unless they've been there, and it's hard relating with the world because most of the world doesn't acknowledge [he/she] was a true life. You seem to get a pat on the back and a "Well, you can try again." And it's like this one carried no weight at all because [he/she] never saw the sun or breathed air?!

But even after acknowledging and sharing our grief, it still feels as if something has been left undone. Like Jennifer, I've had four miscarriages. Like Jennifer, I felt a sense of loss beyond the baby--a loss that comes later when you realize your baby was flushed down the toilet or given up to a doctor who didn't care.
Does respect for life end at death? Of course not. This is why we treat the remains of our loved ones with dignity. We bury our dead. We have funerals and memorials, offer eulogies, and send sympathy cards. With these traditions the healing process begins as God ministers, through the hands of others, to those who mourn.

But when it comes to babies who die before or shortly after birth, without traditions, we've been at a loss. In a state of shock, mothers have often let those babies go without the dignity they deserve. And realizing this later only adds to their burden.
Now there's a place to find help. Elizabeth Ministry is an international movement that not only provides mentoring and tangible help to mothers who have experienced miscarriage, but also educates health care providers and clergy on how to improve their outreach to families in such times of need.

Read more at Celebrate Life.

Love,

January 26, 2012 ( 8:25 PM) | Babies",Death and dying",Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ballet Magnificat performs in Leesburg 3/19

From Mark:

You are invited to experience one of Ballet Magnificat!'s most popular and longest touring ballets, Deliver Us (click here for preview) followed by The Arrival (click here for preview) at Tuscarora High School in Leesburg, VA on March 19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Set to the music of Dreamworks' The Prince of Egypt, Deliver Us blazes across the stage, retelling the biblical story of Moses and setting the audience up for the energy and passion of The Arrival . The Arrival is a lively showcase of contemporary ballet including music by Phil Wickman which awakens hearts to the return of Jesus Christ.

The program is 90 minutes in length: Deliver Us is a 55 minute performance, followed by a 15 minute intermission. The Arrival is a 20 minutes performance.

Save the date! Ticket sale information will be coming soon.

Love,

January 26, 2012 ( 8:18 PM) | Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Loudoun Special Needs - free haircuts+more 2/11

The Faith & Family Foundation has moved to the Old Wheatland Farm, and the Forrests have been hard at work putting it to use to serve the special needs community in Loudoun.

This is their second Hearts and Haircuts event, which offers free haircuts in an understanding atmosphere to kids with special needs. Though the flyer below says all the haircut spaces are taken, my four boys had to drop out because they have a Special Olympics basketball tournament.

While kids are getting haircuts, moms can have a free manicure. In addition, from 11-1 there are pony rides. From 10:30-1 wheelchair repair and cleaning. And even a craft class for moms and daughters.

Contact Muriel(at)wheatlandfarm.org to get on the schedule for any of these activities.

Love,

January 26, 2012 ( 7:50 PM) | Disabilities",Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (0)

Catholics flee Nigeria Muslim violence

CNA reports the latest from "the religion of peace" -

Panicked Catholics flee violence in northern Nigeria

0 Comments

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Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of Nigeria. Credit: UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Abuja, Nigeria, Jan 26, 2012 / 01:50 am (CNA).- As many as 35,000 people have fled their homes in northern Nigeria after continuing attacks from the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. Their numbers include a large number of Catholics who report that churches have been destroyed.
"There is panic. Many just leave everything behind, and run for safety, because they do not know when violence might flare up again," a source told Aid to the Church in Need on Jan. 24.
On Jan. 20, Boko Haram killed at least 185 people in attacks that rocked Kano city, located in the state of Borno, the Associated Press reports. The coordinated attacks used cars with heavy explosives and suicide bombers who targeted police stations. Men in security uniforms gunned down government officials.
Churches have also been destroyed in Maidiguri in Borno and the city of Bauchi, in Bauchi state.
"It is the stated goal of Boko Haram to make the whole of the north free of Christians," one source told Aid to the Church in Need.
At the beginning of January, Boko Haram spokesman Abu Qaqa gave Christians a three-day ultimatum to leave the area.
Refugees are headed to where they believe it is safe, especially the city of Jos.
Boko Haram's name means "western education is sinful" in Nigeria's Hausa language. The group has killed at least 935 people since its 2009 uprising, and more than 250 since the beginning of 2012, Human Rights Watch reports.
The Catholic bishops of Nigeria have decried the actions of the group.

Analysts believe the group intends to make the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, appear unable to control the country.

Love,

January 26, 2012 ( 4:47 PM) | Catholicism",Islam issues",Terrorism | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thank you for shopping Amazon

These items all have one thing in common. They were purchased by MommyLife readers who remembered to click on the Amazon link in my left sidebar before beginning shopping.

I believe you can buy just about anything at Amazon, and while I can't see who bought what, I browse purchases for ideas for my own home and to share with you. You can buy textbooks, automotive supplies, diapers, kitty littler, pantry items (including gluten-free), shoes and clothing, tools, seeds, furniture, toys - oh, yes music, movies and books!

I became an Amazon associate because it is a way to replace the income I used to generate writing articles for magazines and newspapers. I much prefer the freedom and immediacy of blogging, so I am grateful for this income stream. When you purchase anything at Amazon after clicking through my link (it doesn't work if you already have a full shopping cart, you have to start from scratch), MommyLife gets a small percentage. You don't pay more, but you are supporting this site and helping me keep on blogging.

I feel good about it too because I'm a big believer in Amazon shopping and have used it for EVERYTHING for 12 years, saving vast amounts of time and energy and avoiding impulse shopping at places like Target.

So thanks, everyone - especially for remembering when you are making big purchases. And don't forget - for cleaning supplies, food, vitamins, diapers, kitty litter, you can sign up for Subscribe and Save and get 15% off your purchases while controlling the delivery intervals. And always remember to opt for Super Saver Shipping whenever you can.

Love,

January 26, 2012 (10:22 AM) | Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 25, 2012

Obama Declares Himself King

Trying to be a good steward timewise, I see no reason to analyze Obama's disconnect with reality/dangerous demagoguery when someone else has already done a brilliant job.

Rachel's Thoughts from a Conservative Mom is a trusted source of news/analysis:

2012 State Of The Union Address: Obama Declares Himself King

January 24th, 2012 | Author: Rachel

No, I'm not exaggerating.

Tonight's speech was all about Obama. How he's the man with all the answers to our problems. How innovation and job creation aren't possible without government funding, mandates and centralized planning. How our Constitutional Republic is "broken," congress is "obstructionist," the old-fashioned Executive branch hasn't been granted enough power, and he will therefore rule by executive fiat from this point forward.

Obama gives government credit for all the achievements of free enterprise, and blames the free market for all the adverse consequences of misguided government policies. It doesn't get much more Orwellian than that.
Read more at Thoughts from a Conservative Mom

Right now I feel led to put my energy into other things - this morning, for instance, I'm on my way to my weekly volunteer post at Loudoun Interfaith Relief's food pantry.

But no matter how we are led to spend our time - and moms first priority is the positive work of building their families - we need to stay informed and increaseour communication skills so we can articulate to others the danger faced by our country with an out-of-control leader who is seizing more and more power and upsetting the balance of powers so carefully crafted by our country's founders.

Love,

January 25, 2012 ( 9:06 AM) | Obama Nation",Oppression | Permalink | Comments (5)

Loudoun mom arrested for kids' truancy

Talk about school bullies!

Reprinted from Free Range Kids - because I see no mention of it in Loudoun/Washington DC "mainstream" media:

Hi Folks -- This blog, as you know, is always trying to distinguish between real threats to children and the over-hyped ones. In this case, the fear of children being neglected or falling behind has gone overboard. The mom is due in court this morning - Wednesday. I wish her a lot of luck, and a judge with compassion and common sense. -- L.

Dear Free-Range Kids: Here in Loudoun, VA, I am a the mother of three little girls at an elementary school who was just ARRESTED for getting my girls late to school. After the fifth offense there was a meeting with a truant officer. We were late twice since then, which resulted in the surprise of three officers showing up on this Sat night ( 1.21.2012), where I was literally handcuffed and brought to the Adult Detention Center to meet with the magistrate who chose to release me with a $3,000 bond promised to be paid if I fail to show up for the arraignment in a few days. [N.B. The court date is Weds., Jan. 25.]

The charge is "contributing to the delinquency of her minor children." The VA code is written that after five absences the truant officer meets with parents and then works with them in cases in which students are absent without awareness and notification from a parent. My truant officer seems to miss the rather obvious distinction between ABSENCE without a parent's knowledge, and TARDINESS. Our lateness has been, on average, less than ten minutes.

Considering that all four of us -- the kids and me -- have had medical care for disabilities (some with a diagnosis of ADHD, others with other psychological issues, which the school is very aware of), I find it not only a waste of resources and taxpayer dollars to engage our police and courts for this, but also an absolute failure on the part of our school to service those with disabilities with any sort of empathy and understanding. There is nothing short of animosity in their treatment of me as a mother, as if I am incompetent due to the one problem of having difficulty getting my children to school on time.

While it is debatable whether or not I am a decent mother, EVEN IF I WERE NOT it would hardly be CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR to be so imperfect. -- A Virginia Mom

Lenore here again: I agree. Once we start criminalizing imperfect parents, all of us are at risk...because there are no perfect parents.

HT/Michelle I got a notice putting me on warning a couple months ago. This one-size-fits-all thinking is pretty crazy.

Parents of multiple kids with disabilities live in a whole other world than normal parents. Just do the math: If you have two kids, the possibility of something going wrong in the morning is x/1. If you have 2, it's x/2. . . .if you have 7, it's 7/x . . .and so on.

Add disabilities to that, and you increase the risk of "an event" exponentially.

Here's my personal experience: Every morning, I put four boys with Down syndrome (2 of whom also have autism) on four different buses. The first one - my youngest - leaves at 6:56 while it's still dark. One of my sons has some bipolar type mood swings and we're never sure where he will be in the morning. A lot of things can go wrong.

It seems to me that Loudoun might better use our taxpayer dollars than arresting this mom. How about a more compassionate - How Can We Help You? - approach. Get together and help her plan better or get the services which could help her get her kids off to a good start each day.

But when it comes to the State v. parents, I am outraged that they would humiliate a mother in this fashion.

Another reason to click and join:

Love,

January 25, 2012 ( 8:31 AM) | Loudoun County",Parental Rights",Public schools | Permalink | Comments (8)

March for Life - best photos I've seen

When it comes to photos of the March for Life, I know mine are not the best. One of my goals this year is to improve my photography skills - but then again, that's been a goal for many years. Unfortunately, like a lot of other stuff I'd like to do, it bows to my passion for writing and the time it takes me to take care of that (I always have much more to write about than I have time for).

Anyway, I came across these extraordinary photos by Mike at St. Blogustine. Just sharing two to whet your appetite! Go there now and see if they don't make your heart sing!