To Take the Pill or Not

This blog post says it well.

I remember a pastor talking about the Pill being between us and God. That's it. No mention of the possibility of a newly created baby not being able to implant. It could be that he truly had no idea, but since he wanted to talk about the Pill, shouldn't he have looked into it?

Naturally not all the blame should be on pastors. They are fallible and prone to political correctness at times. The burden in doing something that changes the way our body functions ultimately lies in ourselves. We could say ignorance is bliss. But who are we fooling?

Four less birds...

I am racked with guilt. There will be four less birds in this world because of my actions. The children are very sad, to say the least.

I changed our cockatiels' nest today to make it cleaner. They didn't like the new nest. We put back the old one. They were either too confused or too distrusting and would not brood anymore.

I am obviously not cut out to be a bird breeder. Knowing that what I did caused the eggs not to be hatched is a sobering fact. I wish I could undo this afternoon. I wish there was something that could be done so these four little eggs would live. But alas, life is real. That is a very lame thought but of course, what I mean is that the reality of this sinful world is death and it can not be reversed. It's no comfort to think that these are animals. The eggs contained more than just future birds. They embodied hope and wonder. The sense of loss is tremendous. I am thankful that my children only experience sorrow and not the pangs of remorse in this instance.

I can grieve over my imbecilic decision to take away the birds' nest but I know that once they have more eggs and they hatch, I will feel infinitely better. How on earth does a woman who had her child(ren) murdered by an abortionist or other means survive her guilt? I do not think she can. It must be buried so deep that she forgets in order for her to not drown in the horror of it all.

Thinking about all the women who have fallen for this evil deed fills me with anguish. The tragedy of our baby-less birds has paled in comparison to the souls that never became little people.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that our children will never know the guilt that comes from rejecting their baby, whether born or unborn. Thank you for the precious gift of life, eternally secure in Jesus. In His name, Amen.

Culture of Death: The Intent of the Heart

"In summary, according to multiple references throughout the Physician's Desk Reference, which articulate the research findings of all the birth control pill manufacturers, there are not one but three mechanisms of birth control pills: 1) inhibiting ovulation (the primary mechanism), 2) thickening the cervical mucus, thereby making it more difficult for sperm to travel to the eggs, and 3) thinning and shriveling the lining of the uterus to the point that it is unable or less able to facilitate the implantation of the newly-fertilized egg. The first two mechanisms are contraceptive. The third is abortive." Randy Alcorn

Let's just play devil's advocate and say that chemical birth control measures always work in preventing ovulation. So no possibility of an abortion. But what about the desire of not receiving these little ones through the artificial means of preventing ovulation? Of course, making sure that a baby is not conceived is hardly the same as wanting an abortion. Hardly.

Practicing Catholics may be applauded for rejecting birth control. But really, what difference is there between 'natural' family planning and artificial family planning? Both say, No, God. Not right now. I don't desire a child in my womb, thank you very much. When I want one there, I'll let you know.

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis 3:16

The Fall certainly has taken the delight in anticipating children and turned it into sorrow.

What a read!

I came upon this fantastic thesis on homebirth, specifically at home unassisted.

Culture of Death

I have been wanting to buy the Duggar's book and went online to see where I should buy it from. I really should not have been surprised at the venom and loathing I read about this family on a blog. They were accused of being 'fundies'. Well, is that really so bad? It really could be taken as a compliment. All it takes, these days, to be labelled a 'fundie', is to have high moral standards and to live according to the Bible. Actually, it doesn't even take that. The fact that our girls choose to wear dresses will get us branded us legalists. Does anyone even know what this word means? I don't think so. The girls and I choose to wear dresses because they're pretty. Thy're feminine looking and don't emphasize our hips and bottoms like pants do. I like to wear skirts because they are very comfortable. Our clothes help us to remember to sit in a ladylike way and to behave with decorum. So no, we don't wear jeans because we prefer to wear feminine and modest looking clothes. Not because we're working our way to heaven. But maybe because we reject feminism. We reject that women should be just like men. We embrace childbearing and homemaking as God-honoring and fulfilling. Feminism demands equal pay. The rewards from staying home and raising my own children cannot be compared to any amount of monetary gain. Feminism demands a voice. I prefer going to my husband. Feminism demands the separation of love and procreation. Feminism is selfish. It is what is taught at government schools. It is the pervasive view of our country. 'Barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen' is a repugnant idea to our society, but to us it's funny because I am almost always barefoot and have been pregnant 7 times. And we practically live in the kitchen. (Because the chocolate is in the pantry.) Before feminism took root in this land of the free, the Duggars would not have been vilified. Why would they? The US is indeed a free country, without limits on the number of children can family can have. But times have changed and there is no stigma for the woman who has abortions. How can I be more politically correct? If a woman chooses not to bear an infant in her body, she certainly is entitled not to. On the other hand, if a woman chooses to not tamper her body with chemical drugs, which are abortificient in nature, or prematurely and surgically alters her reproductive organs to be 'broken' (synonymous with fixed), she will be derided and ridiculed. Ours is a culture of death. Life is not celebrated. Marriage covenants are broken as easily as they are made. God bless the Duggars who are counter-culture. I will buy the book because I'm sure it will be an interesting read. I expect I will be challenged and edified.

I may need to edit what I wrote about feminism taking root in this country. Feminism, of course, had its beginning in the Garden of Eden. Eve could've hidden behind her husband for protection from the devil, but she was bold and she was deceived. And not content with her own sin, she drew her husband in as well. Previously, I had erroneously thought that Adam sinned because he loved Eve and didn't want to separated from her. What is love when one knowingly disobeys God? Moral of the story: When a woman falls, she drags her man along with her. I pray tha Max, Lucas, Josiah, Noah and Noble, will choose wisely the women who will do them good and not evil all the days of their lives. If there's a hint of feminism at work in her, you can be sure to find pride lurking underneath.

All this to say that what's pleasing to God is sure not to be pleasing to man.

Birthing books

I saw a few really good books on childbirth at the Dellinger's consignment sale on Tuesday. I picked Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and thought about getting it for someone. Anyone who could potentially have a baby. Then I thought about all the books I already have and how I've been trying not to have duplicates and put the book back. When I was standing in the enormously long line to pay later and passed by the books section and saw that the book was gone, I was immediately filled with regret. Isn't that how it is? When something is gone, then you really wish you could've had it. :)

I am so glad that there are 9 people who believe that birthing in one's home is the way to go. Noble may only be 6 months old, but I'm sure he appreciated being born in a place he already knows and didn't have to be in a hospital since he didn't need medical care. All the other children have witnessed that birth is not a medical event. They have seen how normal birth is. They know that God has made their mother to be able to birth without anyone telling her what to do. They don't associate fear and anxiety with childbirth. May our children pass on these truths to their progeny and may hospitals not take the place of homes in welcoming babies in one's family.

Here's my list of childbirth book recommendations:

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Homebirth by Sheila Kitzinger
The American Way of Birth by Jessica Mitford
Birth as an American Rite of Passage by Robbie E. Davis-Floyd
Active Birth by Janet Balaskas
Immaculate Deception by Suzanne Arms
Birthing From Within by Pam England
Special Delivery by Rahima Baldwin

Whatsoever things...

I've been wanting to write a little bit about my father for some time. Even though he passed away 14 years ago, there are things that remind me of him all the time. Noble reminds me of my father. Something about Noble's face makes me think of him. Neither my mother nor my siblings have seen Noble in person so I don't know if they see it too. I hope there's a good sale on scanner's soon so that I can scan a picture of my father to put with this post and have a picture of Noble here too.
Chris says something that makes me think of my father. Chris will say, Same same, instead of same thing. Just like my father did. I love it. I love hearing Chris say it.

I didn't know how much I would appreciate hearing our children call Chris, Baba. That was how I addressed my father so I am so grateful to have my children carry on that tradition.

I miss my father.