PLANNED!

If we believe that God plans our life, then we can't believe that there are accidents. He has it all planned out. 

When I look at my Isaac, I can't help but think: he wouldn't be here if someone didn't want to give him life. And he is NOT an accident. He's perfectly and wonderfully made. 

How many Isaac's don't exist today because someone thought their life wasn't worth living?

I'm looking at a masterpiece
I'm staring at a work of art
I'm listening to a symphony
In every beat of your tiny heart
You used to be a choice to make
But now I think you've chosen me
'Cause I see ten fingers, ten toes
Two eyes and I know this is meant to be

Oh I don't believe in accidents
Miracles, they don't just happen by chance
As long as my God holds the world in his hands
I know that there's no such thing as unplanned

Broken turns to beautiful
I see you right before my eyes
And every single breath you breathe
Is destiny love has brought to life
I thought it was my story's end
But now the future's all I see
Instead of asking who you might've been
I'm wondering who you're gonna be

'Cause I don't believe in accidents
Miracles, they don't just happen by chance
As long as my God holds the world in his hands
I know that there's no such thing as unplanned

Every life deserves a voice
Every child deserves a chance
You are more than just a choice
There's no such thing as unplanned
Every life deserves a voice
Every child deserves a chance
You are more than just a choice
There's no such thing as unplanned

Every life deserves a voice
Every child deserves a chance
You are more than just a choice
'Cause there's no such thing as unplanned

Read more:  Matthew West - Unplanned (From "Unplanned") Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Adoption and Abortion

I read this quote online and it really spoke to me. She so perfectly captured my words as I watch all my kids, but specifically my beautiful Isaac, grow into a young man.

"Why those of us who support adoption cannot condone abortion? Our kids are here because someone chose life. "As an adopted person, from a family with many adopted people. I can only say I was a person from the very beginning. We all were, from day one unique individuals, alive, with our own set of DNA like no others and deserving of fundamental rights. I thank God I am alive. My mother was unmarried, homeless, burdened with a child and pregnant with me, in a city with no family, and yet I was me.  I was not a choice, I was a human being, in the womb, out of the womb. My mother's situation was dire, but I bend a knee in prayer for her because in all her misery, and yet she knew in her broken heart that I was not hers to kill, but a person that deserved my life. I speak for those that cannot yet speak. All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. May God forgive and heal a generation of women that have been lead down a dark and destructive path and may they return to be true peace activists and defenders of the rights of man by being more merciful, hopeful and following a more natural path. Hope, love and life can never be the wrong answer." -- Gayle

I'm Done Being Nice About Abortion and Adoption!

I'm so SICK AND TIRED of all this Planned Parenthood mumbo jumbo.

I'm sick of being nice.

We currently have four couples still waiting for placement with our organization Because of Isaac.  One of those couples: Ryan and Briana have raised 100% of their monies and after many close calls, are still waiting to be chosen. To say they are weary and tired and frustrated would be one of the largest understatements I could ever make.

Our other three couples: Joel & Criss, Kevin & Tessa, and Chris & Renae are still fundraising. While they haven't raised all their money, they are still on the list to adopt and could get a call at any time.

And yet they wait.

This article: Adoption Update: The Resounding "No" to our Constant "Yes" is an outstanding adoption article discussing what it feels like to be a waiting parent.

In short: It sucks.

How would you like to be one of these couples, waiting for a birth mother to choose you while you watch Planned Parenthood receive GOVERNMENT FUNDING that pays for babies to die?

I keep reading articles and Facebook posts about Planned Parenthood. I keep reading some sort of combination of words that go like this:

"We can't expect these women to not abort when we don't have resources for them. We need more resources if we expect them not to abort."

And I want to punch a wall.

Or scream.

Or punch and scream at the same time.

There are resources GALORE to help these women have a baby without ANY COST TO THEM! All they have to do is call up any adoption agency in any city or any state in all of America and tell them they would like to place their child up for adoption. Within an HOUR there would be someone there and within a day there would be a family for their child.

Here are four families that would be there tomorrow!

Did you know that a birth mother can have all her medical costs and even counseling and housing/food costs covered if they need it?

In addition, a woman can bring her baby without question to any church, hospital, or EMS station and leave them there and a family will be found. It's called the Safe-haven law. Check it out.

And yet IGNORANT PEOPLE keep saying "Mothers need more resources if we expect them not to abort."

Wall.

Scream.

They do not need resources. They HAVE resources. What they need is someone to tell them, "Hey, you know what, abortion is not without issue. You will have emotional and possible physical ramifications. This could lead to infertility. This could cause you sadness and intense grief and pain. And you know what? There is a family who could adopt your baby. You could give this child life. And it will cost you nothing."

How about using this tax payer money to help infertile couples not have to spend $25,000 to adopt a newborn baby? If we weren't paying for women to have abortions, we could do that.

If you could PROVE TO ME that each woman, before being given an abortion, has all of these facts explained to them .... that they are told, "There is someone who can help pay for you to have this baby and give this baby a great home," then maybe I might understand a bit more all these people saying, "Women need more help."

(Please don't tell me they have this explained to them. I'm not talking about a flyer or a quick video. I'm talking about an actual, truthful, counseling conversation that explains this in clear, concise language.)

BIRTH MOTHERS HAVE HELP!

(Please also don't tell me that Planned Parenthood does other good things. If the chickens we are raising on our farm are 99% healthy but have 1% of poison in them, that is not okay. People are not okay with 1% bad. And if Planned Parenthood is doing something 1% badly, then they are not okay. And at the very least, shouldn't be getting my money.)

Meet four families who would LOVE to be the Daddy and Mommy for the baby they are planning on murdering.

I can't be nice about it any longer.

People are ignorant to the truths of adoption.

Hopefully my words help explain it. I'm sorry that I couldn't be more of the peaceful, sublime Wendi. I just can't do it anymore on this topic. My heart hurts too badly watching these four families wait and wait and wait while babies are dying and dying and dying.

It.
Is.
Not.
Okay.

Abortion Debate: Here's what I want to say

That couple above is my high school sweetheart and me on our wedding day.

June 20, 1998.

We had a lot of dreams when that picture was taken, but by far, the biggest dream was the dream that many couples share.

We had a dream to have children.

Right now, our media is abuzz on the topic of abortion. Every now and then something pops up, people get outraged, and the debate picks up heat. 

But I'm not here to debate abortion.

Instead, what I want to discuss is that couple in the picture above. 

Five years after they were married, they were told that it was unlikely they would ever conceive a child without intense medical intervention.

They did everything the doctors told them to do, and five years later, they were exactly where they started.

Childless.

Infertile.

And then, they received a phone call.

And it is this phone call that I want to spend this post discussing.

This phone call was from a young woman who was in the midst of her own debate. She was young. She was unmarried. And she was pregnant. 

As she sat in the doctor's office, her physician said to her, "You have a choice."

And this woman replied with complete certainty the words that changed the life of that couple pictured above forever. 

She said, "I have made my choice."

She chose to see that pregnancy to a delivery room. And that choice meant that she had to drop out of school. She had to miss out on her senior year of high school. She had to endure sickness and stretch marks and weight gain and the pain of delivery.

But she chose to do it.

That little boy is now seven years old. 

Isaac John is real. He is a beautiful and amazing little boy who gave my husband and I the family we always dreamed of.

But the facts still remain that countless women in the U.S. choose abortion over adoption for their unborn babies every year. (Click here to read an article by Kristi Brown discussing this topic.) Most women want to keep their baby or get rid of their baby immediately. Adoption is not an option. Adoption statistics are not easy to track, but estimates are that for every 1 baby placed into a loving home, 36 more families are still waiting.

Now I want you to meet someone else.

This is my cousin, Ryan, and his wife, Briana.

They are in the same spot that my husband and I found ourselves in eight years ago.

They have not been able to have a biological child and are dreaming of a family. They have raised all of the money to adopt and are simply waiting for a birth mom to choose them.

They have now been waiting over a year. While estimates vary greatly, most research indicates that while they have been waiting for a baby, over 984,000 babies in the U.S. alone have been aborted.

Almost 1 million.

I'm not here today to discuss the ethics of abortion. I am not here to argue whether it is right or wrong. You can decide that for yourself.

But what I am here to argue is that baby inside of your womb is a child many couples dream of. And whether you believe life begins at conception or whether a woman has the right to choose is really not what is at the crux of this issue.

The one thing that no one can deny is that that what is in your womb WILL result in a baby if that baby is not aborted. What is in your womb right now WILL be life ... even if you don't believe it is a life right now.

And so today, all I ask is that you look at the picture of Ryan and Briana and see what your decision can mean for someone else. 

Look at the picture of my husband and I on our wedding day. And see who we are today ... because of one woman's choice.

If you would like help support a couple trying to raise money to adopt, please visit our website at: www.becauseofisaac.org to find out how you can make a difference today.

See the Little Girl Saved by the Super Bowl

Monumental Motherhood (Part II)

Yesterday I wrote of how I randomly happened upon an incredible Mother's Day sermon by Pastor Bob Coy.

Here it is. What I love about this talk is that he covers motherhood, adoption, abortion, infertility, and prodigals all in one talk.

Here is that talk, in His words.

2 Kings 4:8

One day Elisha went to the town, the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she invited him to eat some food. From then on, whenever he passed that way, he'd stop by.

She said to her husband, "I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. Let's make a little room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by."

Later Elisha asked Gehazi, "What do you think we can do for her?"

And he suggested, "She doesn't have a son, and her husband is an old man."

When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway, "Next year about this time you'll be holding a son in your arms!"

"No, my lord!" she protested. "Don't lie to me like that oh man of God."

Now pause right there before we go to verse 17. What is this? Don't lie to me oh man of God? Why does that seem like an apparent contradiction: Don't lie to me man of God.

Here's what she's saying: she's saying: "Don't mess with me! Bearing children is a very sensitive subject if you can't!"

I have to, because some of you know our story, pause long enough to say, it is a very sensitive subject.

Proverbs 30:15-16: "There are three things that are never satisfied. Four that say never enough."

Number 1: the grave. The Proverbs writer says the grave is never satisfied; the grave will always want and take another body.

The second thing on the list?

A barren womb.

This woman has had that hope in her heart for how many years? But the Bible says hope deferred makes the heart sick.

When Elisha the man of God says, "Next year you'll have a baby," she says, "Don't mess with me! That's a serious subject, don't play a game with me. If I'm gonna have a baby, I've got to be certain!"

Why?

Because if you've ever had to go on the rollercoaster ride of infertility, you know that the ups and down can be very, very traumatic.

And we did that roller coaster for 10 years.

And the last couple of years while we were still barren, Mother's Day was not a Sunday that Diane liked to come to church.

Why? 

Just too heavy.

There are always some women who still want to be moms.

Let me also say that in a church like ours, the church today, there's another sensitive side to that same subject because the Supreme Court in 1973 said we could say goodbye to the life that our womb is created for. And in this room today there's a handful of women who don't want to hear about Mom. Why do they feel that way? Because now the longing desire they had hoped with their heart, has been dashed by a decision they live to regret.

Now, my responsibility, my position as pastor is one to say, if you did make that decision there is healing found in Jesus Christ.

But let me also say, that if you're a wanna-be mom, there's also healing in the lives of some of the girls who have determined that its best for them to gift their baby for an adoptive purpose.

Because of those girls, you might find there is still life in store for you, and I am the man of God that might be in Elisha's place today and say, "Next year at this time you'll have a baby in your arms."

You say: "Bob I can't believe you'd say that, you have no idea how much that hope lies in my heart."

Oh I know that hope well! Because I remember many years being ago on my living room floor crying out to God, saying, "God I just want to be a dad. Why is this so hard? You know my heart; I want to be a daddy!"

You see these girls who decide to gift their child, what is that? That's the ministry of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

The ministry of Mary?

Yes!

Mary knew that Jesus wasn't hers; Mary knew that Jesus belonged to someone else, and when a young girl finds herself with an unexpected pregnancy and determines that her child is for someone else, there is great healing in the house of God.

Why?

Because God navigates these paths in such a way. You could be someone here, from an adoptive family and your mother is every bit as a mother as anybody's mother who biologically brought them into the world.

My point it's a sensitive subject and if we are to be sensible, sensitive Christians, we will have the same sensitivity as we watch the reaction of the woman who says, "Hey man of God don't' mess with me!"

Well you know the story. Verse 17: "But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said. One day when her child was older, he went out to help his father, who was working with the harvesters."

And suddenly the son complained, "My head hurts! My head hurts!"

His father said to one of the servants what most fathers say, "Take him to mom."

So the servant took him home and mother held him on her lap. But around noontime he died. She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door, and left him there.

She sent a message to her husband: "Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come back."

Now Dad is somewhat clueless, so he says, "Why are you going to the man of God today? Is it a new moon? Is it festival or church service?"

She said, "No, it's all right."

Now why does she say it's all right?

Scholars and commentators scatter on this point. Either:

1. She's saying everything is okay because she realizes her husband really can't do what needs to be done.
2. She's saying it's okay because she's trying to be a good wife and leave him alone because he's got a busy business day ahead. 

In verse 24, she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, "Hurry! Don't slow down on my account unless I tell you to."

She approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, and Elisha saw her in the distance. He said to Gehazi, "Look, the woman from Shunem is coming. Run out and meet her and ask her if everything's okay: how's your husband, how's your child?'"

"Yes," the woman told Gehazi, "Everything is fine."

When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she fell to the ground, and she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi began to push her away, but the man of God said, "Leave her alone. Something's troubling her deeply, and the Lord's not told me what it is."

And she said, "It was you," and I can hear the disdain and the disgust in her voice, "My lord who said I would have a son? And didn't I say not to raise my hopes?"

Elisha said to Gehazi, "Get ready, travel, take my staff and go! Don't talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child's face."

But the boy's mother said, "As surely as the Lord lives and you live yourself, I won't go home unless you go with me."

In another words, "Don't send your staff! This is a job for you Elisha, not another pastor."

There are times I say my staff should go and times God says, "No, this is not a job for your staff; this is a job for you."

My point is there are times that God's gonna call you! You will be the one helps the hurting woman who finds that she's beside herself because her son is dead.

Her son is dead!

Spiritually speaking there are a lot of women in this church today who's sons are dead, dead spiritually! They're disconnected from God and some women believe that if they can make their way to Elisha then he will solve the problem ... it may be you that God is choosing to employ to make difference in the life of woman who's son is spiritually dead.

What happens next? Well again, so many of you know the story: "When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet's bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord. And then he lay down on the child's body, placing his mouth on the child's mouth, eyes on the child's eyes, hands on the child's hands. And the child's body began to grow warm again! Elisha got up, walked back and forth in the room a few times, and he stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. 'Call the child's mother!' And when she came in, Elisha said, 'Take here your son!'"

Labor with unbelievable perseverance. Mom's are your boys dead? Are your daughters dead? Have you come here with a prayer: God please bring spiritual life to my son.

Well I'm glad you have. I don't' know anyone else on the planet that's gonna pray for your boys and girls like you will! I don't know anyone else on the planet that's gonna care for your kids like you will! You can't outsource mom's prayers. There's no prayers like moms prayers because mom is mom and nobody else will pray the way a mom will!

And that's why to this day I still hear my mom's voice. She's been gone for more than 10 years but I still hear my mom speaking,

Don't give up. Just because it appears that your kids are not listening -- they're listening. You're still putting it in, and because your still putting it in, there will be a day that it's gonna come back. And it may be after you're gone.

Again, how many years has my mom been gone with the Lord and I still hear her voice? Trust me, they will still hear your voice, but don't abandon the responsibility because they pay no attention. God will chose to employ your words with the spirit's strength and they will hear your voice mom and dad, just don't give up. Don't give up.

Lastly I want to encourage you surrender with forever faith.

Exodus 2:2. "So the woman conceived and bore a son and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months."

Most of you know the story. Moses' mom hid him for three months because, of course, there was a life-threatening leader. "When she could no longer hide him, she took a basket of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank."

What did she do?

She released her child with a trust in a greater good. And again I'll say, she released her child with a trust in a greater good.

Moms? It's a powerful position you're in. You can release with a greater good -- it's what Moses mom did, and again it's what Jesus mom did. She released her child for greater good.

Dad's have a way of easily cutting the cord, letting go.

Mom's tie a knot in it.

A lot of people can say they love me. A lot of people can say the say words, Bobby I love you but no one can say, Bobby I love you like my mommy.

Yes many times for the greater good, there's nobody like you mom; nobody like you.

Father God we come to you in Jesus' name. And we're so thankful for this woman that you have placed in our path that has meant so much to the next generation. Lord we pray that today you strengthen their resolve, Lord that they see just how important, how necessary, how imperative, their role and responsibility. Lord if too often we have given them the impression that this thing called mom is, is something that we can outsource, something we can negotiate, Father forgive us. Today we esteem, today we honor, and today we declare our thanks to mom. God bless them, in Jesus name we pray Amen.

You know Jesus said it this way in Mathew 23:11: "If you want to be the greatest you must be the servant of all."

And I think there's a lot of great moms because they chose to be the servants of all. So here's what I say, I've said this before; I declare it today, no dishes for mom today. Guys listen to me, no dishes for mom today! Everyone agree? All right!

Just put them in the sink. She'll do them on Monday.

Sports, Fatherhood & Life

An awesome video (well worth the 15 minute watch) on what really makes a perfect child. A marathon runner admits he wanted to abort his daughter before birth -- and depicts how she changed everything.

Vice Presidential Abortion Debate

I am not allowing comments on this post because I am not trying to ignite a debate. If you want to see my past post where I discussed the reason I must vote for Romney (abortion) you can click here. I sincerely appreciated how maturely we were all able to discuss a topic that is very close to many of our hearts (for varrying reason.) If you would like to leave comments regarding abortion, you can do so on that post.

Instead,, I simply wanted to post a link to the VP discussion on abortion between Biden and Ryan last night. To me this bit of video perfectly illustrates where each group (Obama/Biden vs. Romney/Ryan) stand on abortion. Debating the intricies of what they are saying is not needed. But understanding that one will support abortion and one will not is obvious from the video and should make a difference (in both directions) to whom one should vote for.

P.S. Got our absentee ballots in! The State of Florida will get two votes from Portugal.
 

Who I Will Vote For

I have often said on this blog that I will avoid political discussions. If you meet me in person, I will avoid them. Truly, I don't care who you vote for. We can be friends no matter what side of the aisle you will sit on.

But while lying in bed last night, I decided ... this is my blog. And when it comes to the topic of abortion, I feel so incredibly strongly, that I cannot let myself be silenced.

If you feel differently, I must respect that. But I can also say I disagree. More specifically if you tell me that while you support my viewpoint on abortion, other issues are more important and you must vote on them, I definitey respect that. In a two-party candidate system, you just don't get a whole lot of options. Obviously if you are pro-life and pro-Obama and there was a man who was Obama who was pro-life, you'd vote for him. But that doesn't exist. So we much choose.

I do not hate President Obama. He is our President. He deserves my respect. But I do not think he has the answers for our country. I don't believe any man has the answers.

I do not believe Mitt Romney has all the answers. And I don't really like Romney all that much if I'm being honest. I definitely do not think he has the answers for our country either.

But I have decided to vote based on the fact that I believe abortion is murder. And I must do everything I can to stop those murders from happening.

If you do not believe that abortion is murder, I challenge you to watch the video I am attaching here: The Truth About Abortion Video. I am warning you. It is very graphic. You will find it difficult to watch. The images will stick with you. Do not watch it if these things bother you. (I could only watch half of it.)

I know many of my very good friends who have had abortions. Some of you have shared this with me. Some of you, I am sure, have not. You know, of course, that I see you as no greater sinner than me. We are all sinners, saved by grace. I harbor no animosity to individuals who have abortions. That is not what this is about.

What it is about is putting someone in office who will not support abortion. Years ago, when abortions were first done legally, no one dreamed they would be done up until the last day of pregnancy for any reason at all. But they are. Right now, in Maryland, an abortion is allowed, for any reason at all, at any moment of pregnancy. People do not know this. We need to know this. When the 2007 U.S. Supreme Counrt decision upholding the federal ban on partial-birth abortion came down, President Obama was quoted as saying, "I strongly disagree with today's Supreme Court ruling, which dramatically departs from previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women." This means that he supports a woman ending the life of her full-term infant, even though there are families lined up who would take that child home and love them forever.

I believe as Christians, most of us believe abortion is wrong. But we believe it is someone else's problem. I have to disagree. If 4,000 military personnel were dying every day, we would be outraged. And yet, according to The Center for Bioethical Reform, that is exactly what is happening in America. Here are the stats on abortion:

• Approximately 42 Million performed each year (1.37 million in the U.S.)
• Approximately 115,000 performed each day (3,700 in the U.S.)
• 52% of women obtaining abortions are younger than 25 (something to really think about when most research indicates we are not fully mature until 25 or 26.)
• 38% of these abortions are being done on people in the $30,000-$59,999 financial income bracket. nearly 14% are being done on women making over $60,000. This is not something secluded to the poor.
• We talk so often about rape or incest being a reason for abortion. Or the health of the mother. But in fact, only 1% of abortions are done because of rape or incest. And only 6% are done beacause of the health of the mother. 93% of all abortions occur because of social reasons (unwanted, inconvenient, etc.)
• 48% of all abortion facilities provide services after the 12th week of pregnancy. 9 out of 10 managed care plans routinely cover abortion or provide limited coverage. 14% of abortions in the United States are being paid for with public funds. 16 states will pay for abortions for poor women.

So all of this to say, I need to write that because of abortion alone, I going to vote for Mitt Romney. Everything else aside, I have to look at the things Obama has done regarding abortion. So many of his actions have furthered the cause of abortion, and I cannot allow that to happen.

Some examples of Obama's actions:

• January 2009: Issued an executive order overturning a ban on federal funds for organizations that perform or promote abortions in foreign countries. His order reversed what is known as the Mexico City policy.
• January 2009: Restored funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a U.N. agency that supports China's population control program which includes forced abortions.
• March 2009: Nominated Kathleen Sebelius to be secretary of Health and Human Services. As Kansas governor, Sebelius had vetoed several pro-life bills, including one that would have placed limits on late-term abortions. Since being confirmed as HHS secretary, she spoke at a fundraiser for NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights group.
• December 2009: Signed into law a bill that allowed government funding for abortions in the District of Columbia.
• December 2009: Endorsed a Senate version of the health care bill that included taxpayer funding for abortion as part of a public option. The bill that became law did not include a public option.
• March 2010: Signed the landmark health care bill into law. It includes federal subsidies for insurance plans that cover abortion.
• May 2010: Nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court. Pro-life groups said Kagan's record indicated she would uphold Roe v. Wade. Pro-choice groups endorsed her.
• August 2011: Announced, through his Health and Human Services Department, that insurance plans must cover contraceptives and abortion-causing drugs as part of the new health care law. The mandate, which went into effect in August 2012, exempts churches but not religious organizations such as Christian schools, hospitals and charities.
• October 2011: Threatened to veto a bill that included a section eliminating federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.
• Summer/fall 2012: Launched a political TV ad campaign that makes his pro-choice views a major theme of the general election. No Democratic nominee had ever made abortion a major general election theme in TV ads.

Do I know that Romney will be better? No. Do I know that he will slow down the accessibility of abortion? Will he put an end to partial birth abortion? God I pray he will, but I have no lofty expectations. He is not proven. But based on the actions of my other choice above, I must  give him a chance.

Romney was originally pro-choice. However, in 2005 he switched to pro-life when he vetoed a bill that would have allowed pharmacists to dispense the morning-after pill without a prescription to minors! (This is bad on so many levels -- giving a drug without a prescription? Are you kidding me?! And giving it to people without parental support?! When is this ever okay? What are we afraid of in this country. Are we afraid of mothers, like Joan, helping their daughter, like Bri, make a choice that will allow a woman, like me, to have a son, like Isaac?

"I am pro-life," Romney wrote. "I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."

Romney added, "You can't be a pro-life governor in a pro-choice state without understanding that there are heartfelt and thoughtful arguments on both sides of the question. Many women considering abortions face terrible pressures, hurts, and fears; we should come to their aid with all the resourcefulness and empathy we can offer. At the same time, the starting point should be the innocence and vulnerability of the child waiting to be born."

I could not agree more. I cannot imagine what a mother of limited means must feel when she finds out she is pregnant. However, I wonder if we could consider helping her have this child (adoption agencies will) and helping her place this child in a family that would want a baby more than anything in the world -- instead of making it free for her to have an abortion. I wonder if we coudl give her an ultrasound so that she could see what a baby looks like when its heart is beating. I wonder if we could let her meet 29-year-old Wendi -- who would have done anything to raise the child she is thinking of killing as my own.  

Some things that Mr. Romney has stated:

• that he believes that life begins at conception and wishes that the laws of our nation reflected that view. But while the nation remains so divided, he believes that the right next step is for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade -- a case of blatant judicial activism that took a decision that should be left to the people and placed it in the hands of unelected judges. With Roe overturned, states will be empowered through the democratic process to determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate.
• that he supports the Hyde Amendment, which broadly bars the use of federal funds for abortions.
• that he will end federal funding for abortion advocates like Planned Parenthood. (Yes! Could we instead consider helping poor families adopt with tax incentives and credits?!)
• that he will protect the right of health care workers to follow their conscience in their work.
• that we will never hear a President Romney or his vice president tell the Chinese government that 'I fully understand' and won't 'second guess' compulsory sterilization and forced abortion.

Americans have a moral duty to uphold the sanctity of life and protect the weakest, most vulnerable and most innocent among us.

Please note that you are more than welcome to leave a comment. However, we must be very careful not to bash people in any form or fashion for their differing viewpoints. This is not what this is about. I agree that Mitt Romney is not the man who will save our world. Our country. Only Jesus can do that. I am simply saying that if you don't know who to vote for because neither person sounds great, I wanted to share with you why I was going to vote, absentee ballot for Mitt Romney.

Thanks all!

Abortions: Take Action

Did you know that right now, abortions are legal in the District of Columbia for any reason, through all nine months of pregnancy, until the moment of birth? Currently, abortion is completely unrestricted in D.C., which means that abortions can be performed for any reason, through all nine months of pregnancy, until birth in our nation’s capital. This is a tragedy that must be fixed. The D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would ban abortions in D.C. after 20 weeks (about the 6-month mark) when an unborn child can feel pain.

I know that I had no idea that abortions could be performed for any reason until the nine month mark.

Medical evidence shows that by 20 weeks in age, an unborn child can feel intense pain as he or she is torn apart, limb by limb, by brute manual force, during a D&E abortion –a horrific practice that is happening right now, at an abortion business not far from the White House in Washington, D.C.

The responsibility rests with Congress, which has clear Constitutional authority over the District of Columbia.

Because of extensive lobbying over the last few months, the House of Representatives will vote TONIGHT on the D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, sponsored by pro-life leader Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ). This bill would ban abortions performed after 20 weeks (about the six-month mark) in the District of Columbia.

Even if you are pro-choice, wouldn't you agree that abortions should not be performed once a child can feel pain?

Thanks to your activism, the D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 3803) is up for a vote TONIGHT. You can bet that Representatives are paying attention to what they hear from their constituents, so every call counts.
Click here to call your Representative and ask them to vote YES on the D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 3803).

By clicking on the link above, you’ll be provided with your Representative’s name, phone number, and talking points when you talk to the staff member who answers the phone.

Be a voice for the voiceless: Tell your Representative to end late-term abortion in our nation’s capital by voting YES on and vocally supporting H.R. 3803.

Don’t forget, once you’ve taken action, make sure to forward this message on to five or ten of your like-minded family members and friends so they too can contact their Representative to tell them to end the horrific practice of late-term abortion in Washington, D.C.

Abortion Pledge

If you, like me, are committed to putting people in office who are pro-life, would you take a moment to visit the link below and sign the pledge? In it, you promise to only vote for individuals listed on this website. Individuals who have promised to fight for the unborn.

2012 Pro-life Citizen's Pledge

If you do decide to sign the pledge, would you consider leaving a comment on my blog indicating that you signed it? I want to see how many people I can get from this blog to add their name? Also, keep in mind that the Susan B. Anthony list is a great way to get up-to-date information regarding the flight for life in our goverment.

Also, while I recognize that some of you may not be like-minded in thinking with me, please avoid comments arguing abortion for this post. Maybe some other time we can open up discussion on this topic, but for now, I want this post to be simply for those who want to participate.

Good news

Must share my excitement that our government did not vote to repeal a longstranding ban on abortions on U.S. military bases last week. This provision would have allowed abortions to be performed in taxpayer-funded facilities in the States and abroad.

No matter what your opinion on abortion, the idea that tax-payers should have to pay for someone to receive an abortion is completely ludicrous in my opinion. Individuals can still receive an abortion but must pay for it themselves and go off-Base to receive the services.

Good job political leaders. Well done.

Funding for Abortion

Did you know that one billion dollars of our government's money (which comes from the people of the USA) has gone to abortion-related causes in the last eight years? While I do avoid too much of politics on my blog, my feelings about abortion are something that I cannot and will not silence.

Please do not confuse my passion about this. I have many friends and family members who have had abortions in their past. I am not judging their decisions or loving them any differently. God's forgiveness is a very mighty thing.

I am a member of the SusanBAnthony list (thanks to my Tante Jan) which keeps me updated on how abortion is being supported or not supported in our government. Please read the letter below and consider signing this petition which is fighting to have abortion be something that we, as a people, do not fund.

***

Dear Family and Friends,

I am asking you to join me in an effort to end all federal funding of abortion.

Every single year, hundreds of millions of our hard-earned tax dollars are sent to abortion providers. In fact, over one billion dollars has gone to the abortion industry over the past eight years alone, according to the non-partisan Government Accountability Office.

And with the passage of the health care bill, even more of our hard-earned tax dollars are slated to be spent on subsidizing plans that cover abortion.

We can stop this, but only with your help.

I just signed a Stop Abortion Funding petition, started by the Susan B. Anthony List, urging members of the upcoming Congress to support two commonsense bills that would end all federal funding of abortion:

• The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," a bi-partisan bill sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), creates a government-wide statutory prohibition on abortion funding including problematic provisions in the health care bill.

• The "Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act" ensures that organizations, including Planned Parenthood, do not receive federal dollars under the Title X federal family planning assistance program.

Please join me today in signing the Susan B. Anthony List’s petition to Stop Abortion Funding.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a network of 280,000 pro-lifers across the country. They successfully worked around the clock to ensure major pro-life gains in the recent mid-term elections. Now, they are focusing their energy to ensure that our electoral gains are translated into legislative victories, like ending federal funding of abortion.

Please sign the petition by visiting here.

After you’ve signed the petition, make sure to forward this e-mail on to your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers.

Thank you for standing up for Life!

Please sign

While I avoid discussion of politics on my blog whenever possible, abortion is an issue I cannot be silenced on.

Combine it with the military, and I am especially vigiliant.

The Senate will vote on the Department of Defense Authorization bill very soon—and it includes a provision to allow abortions on military bases home and abroad. The deadline for Members of Congress to sign on to the pro-life letter is TOMORROW, so please act now.

Ask your Member of Congress to sign on to Rep. Akin and Rep. Taylor’s letter to Congressional leadership asking for the exclusion of abortion language from the Department of Defense Authorization bill.

Abortion battle still waging

Please remember that I am not commenting on the healthcare bill (although I have strong feelings about it.) I am simply commenting on the fact that I do not want to see abortion paid for by the public. Please read the email below and take the time to contact your senators. (It really is easy! Just a few clicks I promise!)

Later this week, the Senate will vote on the reconciliation package to the health care bill passed by the House on Sunday, which includes federal funding for abortion. During this process, Senators will be able to offer an unlimited number of amendments.

Senator Coburn plans to offer two amendments in regard to the Life issue. One amendment will prevent funding for RU-486, the abortion pill, and the other will ensure conscience protection for doctors who do not want to be involved in abortion. The amendments could be voted on as early as tonight.

Please click here to contact your Senators and encourage them to vote in favor of these two amendments.

Senator Coburn’s amendments are essential to ensure that your tax dollars do not go toward the purchase of the dangerous abortion pill and to allow doctors to practice medicine without the fear of being forcibly involved in an act that goes against their conscience.

Make sure your Senator knows where you stand on these pro-life amednments and contact your Senator today.

If you live in AR, PA, IL, ND, WV, MI, OH, or IN CALL NOW!

Nancy Pelosi and her allies are currently negotiating with key pro-life Democrats to try and secure their vote for their pro-abortion health care plan.

What's on the negotiating table?

A proposed executive order from President Obama that would allegedly bar abortion funding in the health care bill.

An executive order is an ineffective maneuver and completely unacceptable.

Here's why:

1. An executive order can be rescinded any time. President Obama could reverse it next week, next month, or next year. Should another pro-abortion president be elected in the future, it could be rescinded on inauguration day.

2. An executive order will not prevent insurance companies that provide abortion from participating in the exchanges.

3. Abortion funding in the health care legislation can be only be removed using the legislative process. An executive order not only doesn't fix the problem, it isn't needed to fix the problem, and could not stand a legal challenge. If Democrats are serious about protecting taxpayers from funding abortion in the health care bill, they must use the legislative process to fix the problem

Call the following members of Congress immediately and tell them that an executive order by the president on abortion is unacceptable and urge them to vote NO on the pro-abortion health care bill

Kathy Dahlkemper (PA) 202 225-3103
Daniel Lipinski (IL) 202-225-5701
Earl Pomeroy (ND) 202-225-2611
Nick Rahall (WV) 202-225-3452
Bart Stupak (MI) 202-225-4744
Steve Driehaus (OH) 202-225-2216
Joe Donnelly (IN) 202-225-3915
Jerry Costello (IL) 202-225-5661
Marcy Kaptur (OH) 202-225-4146
Paul Kanjorski (PA) 202-225-6511
Alan Mollohan (WV) 202-225-4172

*** Text taken from Susan B. Anthony list.

I can't keep quiet

I refrain from getting into politics on my blog. It was just a decision I made early on in my blogging life, and I try to stick to it. Politics can cause division. I didn't want division.

I'm not going to get into the whole healthcare bill currently being worked out amongst our leaders. That's politics.

But what I am going to get into is the fact that I do not want my tax money, money our family makes, to help pay for abortion.

I am the mother of an "unborn child." I am the mother of a child that had his birth mother made the easy choice, would not be here.

This is not an abortion discuss however.

This is a discussion about the fact that regardless of your opinion on abortion, how can we argue about the fact that Americans should not be forced to pay for women to have this "right."

I am not alone in my feelings. Take a look at just one survey on how Americans feel about abortion funding. (Survey regarding abortion and tax money). 78% of Americans oppose the funding of abortion! This is regardless of their personal opinion on abortion.

Did you know that Planned Parenthood currently receives 33% of their funding from our government? This means that we are paying for this organization to promote abortion.

The Susan B. Anthony list was named after a woman who helped give women the right to vote. What isn't told of her and other women who supported this right was the fact that most of them were also huge supporters of the sanctity of life.

Here are two video clips that help explain what we are fighting for:

• Watch our Latest TV Ad, "The Baby"
• Senator Inhofe's Message to the Susan B. Anthony List

This is not a religious organization, and yet they are asking for prayer that this Bill does not pass. Passing would mean we would be paying for abortions.

Here are the names of undecided members of congress. Will you pray for them by name? Pray that they make the right decision on behalf of unborn children everywhere.

Kathy Dahlkemper
Marcy Kaptur
Paul Kanjorski
Baron Hill
Solomon Ortiz
Earl Pomeroy
Chris Carney
Lincoln Davis
Alan Mollohan

Here is a list of key members of the House who need you to call them and express your opinion. Please take a look and see if your representative is on this list. Even if your representative is not on the undecided list, please call them as soon as you see this post to support their decision. This website even provides information on how to call and what to say. While staff members may say that the bill does not allow federal funding of abortion, this is misinformation.


The current legislation would allow private insurance plans operating in a new insurance marketplace to cover abortions, provided they do not use taxpayer funds. What makes that tricky is that many of the plans' customers would be receiving federal subsidies to help pay their premiums.


This vote takes place on Sunday. Please join me when you wake up this morning in prayer for our leaders.