Our Lady of Czestochowa came for a visit

Last week a very special grace came to our community.  The traveling icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa visited our town, which has been traveling from town to town across the entire world since 2012 on a pilgrimage to inspire greater devotion to Jesus through Mary and to awaken Christians to the urgent calling to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death.  The pilgrimage is officially called "The Ocean to Ocean Campaign in Defense of Life," which is being carried out through the pro-life missionary organization called Human Life International. The pilgrimage started in Russia, which is quite fitting, since Russia was the birthplace of abortion-on-demand and holds the staggering statistic of 8 abortions per Russian woman!

The icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa is also called the "Black Madonna" due to Mary's dark skin which was probably caused by candle smoke over the years.  According to tradition, the original icon was painted by St. Luke on the table belonging to the Holy Family.  Centuries later, St. Helena brought the icon from Jerusalem to Constantinople, and it eventually found its final home in Czestochowa, Poland.  The traveling icon that I was blessed to be able to see and touch is a beautiful replica of the original, and was blessed by the bishop of Czestochowa before it began its pilgrimage across the globe.

Here is a picture of the original icon in Poland:

Many miracles have been associated both with the original icon and with the newly painted icon made specifically for the "Ocean to Ocean Campaign in Defense of Life."  The original icon was often carried into battle, just like the Ark of the Covenant was carried into battle in the Old Testament, and brought about miraculous military victories over the years.  Many faithful Christians believe that asking for the intercession of Our Lady of Czestachowa aided in ending Communism in Poland, as well.  The new icon has been brought to many abortion clinics where faithful Christians have asked for Our Lady's intercession, resulting in many saved babies on the day the icon was present, and even the complete closure of a few clinics within days of the icon's visit.

I believe that I witnessed something miraculous at our own Planned Parenthood here in Helena.  Fr. Peter West, who is the priest that is caring for the icon on its pilgrimage, brought the icon to our Planned Parenthood the day before our 40 Days for Life campaign began.  A few days later was a scheduled abortion day at our Planned Parenthood.  A group of us came to pray at 8:00am.  The abortionist arrived, but no clients came for the first hour, which was very unusual (typically, the abortion clients arrive first-thing in the morning).  Three clients came later in the morning, but that was the lowest number we have seen on an abortion day.  Perhaps the extra intercession to Our Lady helped spare the lives of some unborn children in our town, just like in many others around the world!  Praise the Lord!

Here is Fr. West and a few of my pro-life friends praying at Helena's Planned Parenthood:

There is so much rich history regarding this icon.  If you'd like to read more, here are a couple of great links that I found:

http://www.hli.org/2013/08/history-black-madonna/

http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/czesto.htm

And for more information about the Ocean to Ocean Campaign, here is their website:

http://www.hli.org/hli_campaigns/ocean-ocean-pilgrimage/

Day Before School Day at the Beach

So, the day before the first day of school I decided to do one last day at the beach.  It was just what we needed...one more day of fun and relaxation before the chaotic routine of school and sports (and hunting season...aaarrrgh) begins.  I was wishing I could capture that day's sunshine and peace in a bottle so that I could open it up and take a swig from time to time! :) 

We spent the day with one of our very favorite families.  I wish everyone could meet this family.  They have a way of rubbing off on you in the best of ways and making you want to be more like them:  more Catholic, more fun-loving, more joy-filled, more relaxed, and more open to life.  Did I mention there are 12 children in their family?  And they make it look so easy and just plain old fun.  Ann, the mom, is my hero.  I want to be just like her when I grow up! :)  She fills me with hope that having a large family is a blessing, rather than a curse like our culture tries to tell us.  What a blessing it is to be friends with this family, and what a blessing it was to spend the day with them. 

No fish were caught that day, but plenty of sunshine and fellowship with friends.

Dominic felt "on top of the world" on this rock with his classmate (aka "first crush") Veronica

I love this action photo.

Just looking at it makes me nervous that I'm going to get sprayed in about 5 seconds.

Ironically, Natey is scared of getting wet, but LOVES soaking other people.

Here's Ann, my hero.

Always with a smile on her face.

Always with a baby on her hip! :)

Sweet dreams and have a happy school year!

My friend--a pro-life beacon

I have a friend who inspires me.  She always has.  She home schools, she has 7 great kids, she is joyful and hospitable, she is funny and real.   I have always felt very blessed to be considered her friend.  But now, more than ever, she inspires me as she shines like a pro-life beacon in this dark and anti-life culture.  She shines like a beacon when it would be so tempting and easy to simply turn off the light, to become bitter, or to fall into the darkness of despair.  My friend is pregnant with her 8th child, but she recently found out things are not going well in her womb.  Her baby boy is not growing at the normal rate, he appears to have some birth defects, and the doctors don't know how much longer he will live.

My friend is so humble that I know she would not want me to share her name, but I hope she won't mind me sharing her words from a recent blog post.  Her words have inspired my faith and my pro-life convictions, and I want others to be encouraged by them too.  I also want to share her story so that she can be showered with prayers.  Even though I am not sharing her name, God will know who you are praying for.  So please help me to pray for my friend...that she will be given all the graces needed to help her carry her cross and be a beacon of light even when all seems dark...


{an excerpt from my friend's blog}:

The last days have brought a torrent of information, emotions and tears. How can a little guy (yep, a little boy) that looked so absolutely perfect five weeks ago change so drastically? He still looks perfect to my uneducated eye, but obviously some things with the pregnancy have went wrong. Our routine 20 week ultrasound indicated a few things were awry. Our midwife called to tell us we needed to see a specialist....the next day. When things happen that quickly, I know things are not good.

My husband and I went to Great Falls to be told that the same chain of events that occurred when we lost our previous baby at this stage were happening again. We thought losing Clare was a fluke, but now the doctor is thinking there may be more to it, with circumstances repeating themselves. Along with the baby's environment deteriorating, he has some significant birth defects that would certainly affect his and our lives if he does make it to term.

So this is where the rubber meets the pro-life road.

Our case is truly an argument that would be used to promote abortion. Things aren't looking good for the babe to make it to term. If he does, his life isn't going to be "quality" anyhow, so why not end it all. Put the baby out of his misery and end the fear of the unknown for the mother.

Yes, the fear, the unknown, is overwhelming at moments. But, this life was given to us, to me, to protect and cherish no matter what the outcome.

It is painful.

But he is mine and is a gift. Sometimes we are just unable to see the value in a gift received til much later. So we will wait and find out what God has in store for us...what value this gift of uncertainty, of pain, of loss, holds.

Meanwhile, the meaning of being pro-life has taken on an entirely deeper meaning. I've always talked a good talk. I mean, we have seven children. What is not pro-life about that?

But there is more.

I am still nurturing this little one, no matter what the outcome is in the next two weeks or next two decades. I still need to give it my best effort, from eating well and taking vitamins to getting enough rest to praying for my little guy.

It is difficult to avoid looking glum. But if I believe in the sanctity of every life and this child is a gift, maybe I shouldn't mope around too much. Strangely, keeping myself busy and putting on a peaceful, if not happy, face, has made me feel interiorly at peace. And, after all, if things go as bad as they are saying he will be in Heaven soon and what could possibly be better?

Then, there has been the support of my family: My husband, Mom and Dad, my sisters...and darn it, even my brothers. I can't help but think of all the women that choose abortion, how abandoned they must feel in that moment. What different choices they would make if only surrounded by a family that lifted them in prayer and loved them.

So we will continue on. Who knows what tomorrow may bring. As my husband said at the beginning of this pregnancy, "We will be a beacon."

I just didn't realize what that would entail.

At The Cemetery

A few times a year our family makes a trip to the cemetery.  We go to visit the tombstone of our child Sebastian who died when I was 13 weeks pregnant, and to remember all three of our babies waiting for us in heaven.  We bring flowers and pinwheels.  We say a prayer together, asking for the intercession of our little saints to help us love God better and hoping that one day we will all be together in heaven.  One of my favorite parts in the book "Heaven is for Real," is when the young boy who went to heaven saw his sister that he never knew he had.  She was a sister that his mother had miscarried.   The little boy described his sister so beautifully, and it fills my heart with longing to see what my children in heaven will look like.  Will one of them be a little girl?  Will one have curly hair like their daddy had, or red like mine?

My children, both in heaven and on earth, have taught me so much about death and the purpose of life.  When we go to the cemetery, I tend to get lost in grief.  My boys, however, do not.  After we pray together, they run off and play.  According to them, there is life to be lived and football to be played, even in a cemetery.  At first that used to bother me.  I'd want them to grieve with me and be a little more sombre.  But, actually, I think my children have it all right and I all wrong.  Why should we be sombre?  Sebastian, Christian, and Frances are celebrating with Christ.  They've finished the race and won the prize; those of us still left on earth have not.  We still have some running to do, and we must run as if to win.  If we sit in our grief and bitterly wish life was different we may find that we have forfeited the prize of heaven in the end.  Life must go on for those of us still here on earth.  A joyful life of service and glorying the Lord so that we can celebrate in heaven one day too.  Getting lost in grief is losing opportunities to love God and others.  My children love God better playing football than I do sitting in despair.  These are the thoughts that passed through my mind as I sat on a bench in the cemetery...  I sat nursing my new baby, sitting near my buried babies, and watching my grown-up babies play football with their daddy.  It felt a bit odd, and perhaps we looked a bit strange, but hopefully it was somehow pleasing to the Lord.  After all, this is our family, this is real life, and life must go on.  So many bittersweet lessons have I learned at the cemetery...

Thank you, Jesus, for all of my children--those with you and those still with me--who are guiding my heart daily closer to Yours.  Please give my little saints a big hug for me today.

 

At Planned Parenthood

 

As another 40 Days for Life campaign has come to a close both nationally and in my local town, I found myself reflecting on all my experiences thus far in the pro-life movement.  I have spent many days at Planned Parenthood in the last 15 years of my life, and I feel like each time I have been there has been both a burden and a blessing.  

I first started praying at PP with a group of pro-life college friends in Omaha, NE.  Every time I went, it was a bit of a burden to obey my blaring alarm clock at 5:00am each Saturday (the only day I could have slept in!), and get myself out of bed to go pray on the busiest abortion day of the week.  It was also a burden because for the first time in my life I saw the real faces of scared and wounded women who walked into the building with a child in their womb, and then walked out looking even more wounded with an empty womb...with an emptiness that might just stay with them forever. For the first time my heart ached---truly ached---from the issue of abortion.  It was no longer just a moral ideology for me, it became a real issue, for my eyes had finally seen the reality of what choice can do not only to the unborn, but to those who had to live with their abortion choice for the rest of their lives. I no longer felt like I was "right" and pro-choice people were "wrong";  I just felt raw sorrow, as well as a new found passion to rescue those very real people from the pain of abortion. On the sidewalk of Omaha's PP, I also saw for the first time pro-life convictions put into loving action by the men and women who chose to come stand outside in the heat, the cold, the rain, the snow, to try to be Christ's sign of hope for those women, hoping to help them choose life at the last second before walking in those PP doors. Those pro-lifers inspired me and changed me forever.  Every time I went to pray at Omaha's PP, the burden of waking up early, the burden of having my heart broken as I watched woman after woman make her painful choice, actually became a blessing because it stretched my heart and made me authentically pro-life.

Now fast-forward to me getting married, having babies, and moving to Montana.  Upon learning that my town had a PP, I felt called to be like the courageous and loving pro-lifers I met in Omaha.  I was thankful that I was not alone in this calling, for already there were a handful of faithful prayer warriors who prayed at our local PP every Friday--the abortion day in our town.  God also connected me with a holy and courageous friend named Margaret, who was inspired to start a 40 Days for Life campaign in our town in the Fall of 2007, and ever since then she and I have helped lead the campaigns annually.  The peaceful, prayerful approach of the 40 Days for Life movement, which focuses on fasting and asking the Lord to change hearts and save lives, is the best thing that has ever happened to the pro-life movement in my opinion.  It has been beautiful and humbling to hear the number of moms and babies saved during each campaign, the number of abortion workers' hearts converted, the number of post-abortive women and men healed through God's merciful love poured out through the loving witness of faithful prayer volunteers on the sidewalks of Planned Parenthoods.  God is certainly at work through the 40DFL movement, and I feel blessed to be a small part of it.

What continues to amaze me is what God is doing in my own heart every time I go out to pray at PP.  Like I said at the start, every time has been both a burden and a blessing.  It's a burden because every time I watch a woman, or an employee, or the abortionist himself enter those doors, my heart aches anew.  For example, last week I was praying at PP with my older two sons, and the abortionist pulled up and parked next to the sidewalk where we were standing. He walked within a few yards of us and I felt called to speak to him, to let him know he was loved and being prayed for. All I said was, "Good morning, we're out here praying for you." He looked at us with a blank stare, then casually walked inside the building.  I explained to my boys who the man was, and we prayed specifically for his conversion, for God to soften his heart to be receptive to the truth. A little while later, I noticed my son Michael was very sad and was trying very hard not to cry. I asked him what was the matter, and he said, "Mommy, it was really hard to see his face."  Yes, it is hard; it's a burden and a blessing. To see the abortionist's face does make all of it more real.  To see the man's face who is killing hundred of babies every year creates a heaviness in one's heart that is hard to describe.  To see the women's faces who are choosing death for their children and will be emotionally scarred for life creates a heavy sadness of a different kind.  To be on the sidewalk able to see each face truly is a burden to bear, for it makes it impossible to pretend that abortions don't really happen in our town.  But it's also a blessing to see those faces, to pray specifically for each soul, and to know I at least tried to be Christ's presence at PP by being present myself.

It is also a burden to get persecuted by people who don't see the truth about the sanctity of life.  Many times I have been yelled at or had someone's middle finger pointed in my direction or had to debate my beliefs with some very misguided or angry people at PP.  I had a lady pull up beside me in her car the other day while I was praying, and she asked me if I had ever thought about all the "good" things PP does?  I told her I couldn't really think of any good things.  So she proceeded to tell me about how PP gave her a free mammogram which detected cancer, which led to treatment, which saved her life.   I told her that I was happy for her, but that in reality, she could have gotten her mammogram somewhere else that doesn't perform abortions, and that the benefits of mammograms simply can't compare with the countless babies that are being killed at PP.  After she left, my heart was heavy because so many people just choose not to see the truth.  Satan, the father of lies, continues to be so clever and mislead sincere souls.  But at the same time, it's a blessing to be persecuted because it reminds me that Christ, too, was persecuted, and He promised that we would be persecuted if we follow His way and do His Father's will. 

Our town just finished the Spring 40 Days for Life campaign, although there really wasn't anything "Spring-like" about it.  It is still bitter cold here.  I tried to commit to praying twice a week during the campaign.  It was often a burden to stand outside in the cold to pray at PP, but I have to honestly say that every time I finished praying I found that the sacrifice of my time and comfort was far out-weighed by the graces that I felt God gave me for the effort.  Some of my most intimate times of prayer have been on the sidewalk of PP.  I know my faith is stronger because of my prayer time spent there--what a blessing!  I believe my children are learning the sacredness of human life and the value of standing up for a worthy cause--another huge blessing!  And I have also received the blessing of new friendships that I have made with the faithful prayer warriors who come week after week because they too are called to participate in the burden and blessing of being at Planned Parenthood.  As with all things God calls us to do, the blessings outweigh the burdens in the end. 

Here's a collage of favorite photos collected over the years at Planned Parenthood:



Joseph, my biggest little prayer warrior

Michael braving the sleet and snow at PP

Dominic, proud to be praying at PP



Paul with Nathanael, who slept right through the sleet

A group of faithful pro-lifers praying to end abortion even in the sleet during one of our Spring 40DFL campaigns

A handful of faithful pro-lifers praying in the snow and subzero weather

What a blessing it was to have BOTH of the national 40DFL leaders pray with us at our PP: 
David Bereit and Shawn Carney

Another huge blessing was praying with the holy and humble Fr. Benedict Groeshel who is often seen on EWTN

 

Two of the most adorable prayer warriors, Agnes and Grace, reminding us that every child is a beautiful and precious gift from God

 

This picture is my constant reminder of why I need to go pray at Planned Parenthood:  abortion grieves Jesus' heart and we need to be His hands, feet, and voice to defend those who can't defend themselves

a prayer

Most Merciful Jesus,

Today I learned that my country elected a president, for the second time, who condones and promotes evil.  I know that President Obama must grieve Your heart through his unashamed support of abortion, gay marriage and other evils that are contrary to Your truth.  What must offend You even more is that over half of our country voted for him, proclaiming that they believe Obama is right and You, our perfect God who laid down Your life for us, is somehow wrong.  Forgive us, sweet Jesus, for clearly we do not know what we do.  

I feel deep sadness at how our nation is offending You and causing You to relive the pain of your Passion by the way we cling to our sinful ways--the sins that You died to free us from.  I am sorry that our country continues to wound Your loving heart by turning away from the mercy and life-giving truth that You offer.  I simply do not know what else to do except to beg for Your continued mercy to be poured upon our nation so that many souls may be saved before it is too late.  Even though I am one of Your weakest servants, I pray that I may somehow console Your sorrowing heart through my prayers, my humble sacrifices, and my sincere love for You. 

I know You have every right to unleash a just punishment on our nation for choosing a culture of death over Your ways of life and truth, but I do not fear.  I do not fear because even though I know You are the just Judge and a severe punishment may surely come, I also know You are my merciful Savior, and that those who believe in Your mercy will be hidden and protected always inside your most Sacred and loving heart.

Filled with sorrow, but profound trust in You Jesus,
Your loving servant,
~Maria

12 weeks prego and your vote please

 

So now that there is finally a baby-bump to show, I asked my husband to take a picture :)  I am so happy to be safely through the 1st trimester, even though I know I still have a long way to go.  I will be even more relieved once I'm past 15 weeks (which is how far along I was when I miscarried our baby Sebastian).  I am also eager to get past the nausea-phase, which is usually over around 14-16 weeks.  However, my nausea started a week or two earlier this time around, so I'm hoping that means it will also end earlier (which is probably wishful thinking on my part, but a girl can dream can't she?!)

 

People keep asking me if I feel the same this pregnancy as I did with my previous ones with the boys.  I would have to say "yes" for the most part, which leads me to believe we will be blessed with another boy.  My nausea is about the same intensity:  24 hours a day flu-like feeling but rarely throwing up.  The only difference is that is started at around 5 weeks this time (with my other pregnancies it started at 7 weeks).  And the only other difference that I've noticed is that I'm more emotional this time.  The first two weeks of this pregnancy I was in tears around the clock.  Even songs on the Christian radio station would make me cry.  My emotions have balanced out a little bit over the last few weeks, which my family is very grateful for!  :)  I'm guessing much of the tears had to do with pregnancy hormones and feeling like throwing up 24/7, but some of it was probably due to the fact that this pregnancy was a bit more of a surprise than my others.  Surprise?  I know, I know...being a veteran NFP user, you would think there would be no surprises in the baby making department, but that's simply not the case.  I'll try to explain. There is a big difference between using fertile days to try to conceive and using days on the edge of your fertile window as a way to remain open to life.  My husband and I try whole-heartedly to follow the Church's teachings regarding NFP, which means we try to remain open to the gift of life and to not use NFP as a means of contraception unless there is a very serious reason for avoiding pregnancy.  There have been times when we've had serious reasons to postpone a pregnancy, but we were not in one of those seasons recently, so we were using days in my cycle that were a little bit fertile in order to be open to God's will for our family size.  For months we didn't get pregnant, so I was slightly surprised when I missed my period in August.  Totally suprised?   No, certainly not. NFP didn't fail. We knew it was a possibility to be pregnant. And therein lies the beauty and the challenge of NFP: it leaves God in control. And since we have a God who loves us and is trustworthy, why not let Him send surprises?  The surprise factor, however, mentally made it a bit harder for me to become elated right away.  Of course I was happy, just like I was with our other pregnancies, but because we were not actively trying to conceive, it took more time to let go of the anxieties that come with having another child.  When you're trying to get pregnant, you have mentally already tackled most of those anxieties before you conceive.  With all our other pregnancies, we were actively trying to conceive, so it was easier to be excited right away.  I'm not sure if that makes sense to anyone but me, but that's part of the reason that I think I've been so emotional this pregnancy.  Surprises from God just take a little bit longer to process, even though they are just as wonderful because God only gives what is good, right?!  :)

 

OK, sorry if that above paragraph was way too much information!  You have to keep in mind that blogging is like therapy for me...it's how I work through things, and sometimes I inadvertantly take my readers along for the ride...sorry!   Hopefully you're learning along with me though! :}

 

So on a lighter note, last week I had my second ultrasound, and what a joy it was to see that bouncing baby in my womb!  At my first ultrasound I was only at 6 weeks, so all I could really see was a beautiful heartbeat inside a tiny little stationary body.  My 12 week ultrasound was totally different...there were little arms and legs and I'm pretty sure I saw a trampoline in there that the baby was bouncing on! :)   It made all that nausea so worth it!  I couldn't believe how active the baby was...it was like he or she just drank a Mr. Dew.  Hopefully that was not a premonition of how hyperactive this little one will be outside of the womb! :} Anyway, it was a beautiful sight and it really helped me to embrace this pregnancy, this new little person, with all of my heart.  Yes, God is very good indeed.

 

And now on a totally unrelated topic...  I was wondering if you would mind helping me make a decision???  This pregnancy is making my face break out (especially on my forehead), so I am tempted to get bangs...lots of bangs (see photo below).  I've done side-swept bangs before and immediately vowed to never to do that again.  But this time I'm thinking of full bangs to hide my pregnancy acne.  My big concern is that it would make me look younger, which I want to avoid since I still get carded for alcohol at age 33.  Plus, my husband is predominantly grey, so I really don't want to look like I'm his daughter.  That would be very bad.  So I'd love to get some second opinions on what I should do.  Would you please cast your vote for "bangs" or "no bangs" in the comment box to help me decide?  Thank you :)

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor

Lately, my husband and I have been praying and stewing a lot about the recent Health and Human Services mandate, which will require all businesses to offer insurance that would freely cover unethical things like contraception, sterilization, and even abortion in the form of the morning after pill and oral contraceptives that can cause abortions if conception takes place. Obviously, we are strongly opposed to this mandate, but we are struggling with what to do about it. The government seems so big, and we seem so small. Another Goliath versus David scenario, perhaps? So finally, I felt moved by the Holy Spirit to at least make my Catholic voice heard through letters to my local politicians and through an editorial, which got published last week. The name of our local newspaper is called the Independent Record, and what sparked the editorial was a question that that IR posted the previous week, asking the community what they thought about the Blunt Amendment, which would have overturned the HHS mandate. Below is my editorial, followed by some unexpected feedback I received from a person I admire very much indeed...


Last week’s "Independent Record" Question of the Week asked the community to share their views on how they felt about the Blunt Amendment being rejected in the Senate. The Blunt Amendment was put forth by Roy Blunt, a pro-life Republican senator from Missouri, and it would have overridden the Obama Administration's HHS contraception coverage mandate and allowed any employer to refuse to cover any kind of health care service by citing "moral reasons." The Amendment was rejected by a 51 to 48 vote in the Senate.

As a Catholic Christian, I was saddened that the Blunt Amendment was rejected. I strongly believe it is completely unethical and unconstitutional for a government to mandate that businesses and individuals violate their consciences. The HHS mandate would provide insurance coverage for not only birth control, but also the morning after pill and sterilization---none of those items are considered necessary "health care" in my mind. Also, many forms of birth control are abortifacients that take the lives of unborn babies. How appalling that our government would force businesses and insurance companies to provide something so evil for free! As Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the Senate floor before the Blunt Amendment vote. "This is just the beginning. If the government is allowed to tell people to buy health care, it won't stop there. I wonder what's next? This isn't about one particular religion -- it's about the right of any American to live out their faith without the government picking and choosing which doctrines they're allowed to follow."

Even though the Blunt Amendment failed, I continue to have hope in our nation’s leaders to correct the wrongs that the current administration has inflicted upon our country. I have even greater hope and trust in God’s patience and mercy. Therefore, I believe with much prayer and the voices of constitutionally-minded Christians who speak out, the HHS mandate will eventually be overturned. I am so proud of all the religious and political leaders who are boldly speaking up to protect our religious and constitutional freedoms. As Alexander Hamilton, one of our nation’s Founding Fathers, once said, “Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.”



Not very often does a person receive much feedback from an editorial. You wonder to yourself whether or not anyone even read it, let alone was moved by it. You wonder if it was worth your time, energy, prayers, editing and re-editing. But something inside you tells you to write it anyway out of obedience—obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. So I wrote it. This time, however, I actually received some special feedback. I received a personal letter from my bishop. A letter of thanks. I was shocked, encouraged, and filled with profound thankfulness at having such a loving shepherd to lead the flock of this diocese. Here were his exact words:

Dear Maria,

I wish to thank you for the courageous letter you wrote to the Independent Record, published this morning, March 22nd, on the opening page. Your remarks were thoughtful, timely, and a strong public testimony to the mind and mission of the Catholic Church. I am both grateful and proud to know that you are a member of our Cathedral Parish. May the blessing of this Holy season be yours in abundance.

With warm personal regards, I am sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend George Leo Thomas
Bishop of Helena

I encourage all of you readers to find your voice about this issue too. Please write to your local newspaper and ask your politicians to stand up for religious freedom and the Constitutional rights. You may not receive a personal thank you note from your bishop, but I have a feeling God will send a grace-filled thank you hug to your heart.

A Good Kind of Busy

It has been many weeks since the last time I blogged. I wanted to, and I had lots to say, but simply was too busy. But it has been a very good kind of busy. The reason for my busy-ness: the Fall 40 Days for Life campaign. Twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, I help lead a 40 Days for Life campaign in our town. My perfectionist tendencies make it a very stressful and busy time of the year for me, but I can't imagine NOT doing it. I truly feel God has called me to this life-saving ministry, and He is blessing it in ways that makes me feel so humbled and happy to be "a pencil in His hand," as Mother Teresa would say. A short, stubby, needing-to-be-sharpened-pencil is what I am, but thrilled to be used by the Maker nonetheless! :)

This particular campaign has been extra exciting because we were able to have the national directors and founders of 40 Days for Life, David Bereit and Shawn Carney, come speak at our Kick-Off Rally. I was also one of the speakers, so I was crazy-stressed-out (as in, notsleepingatnightnearlyhavingapanicattackstressedout) to share the stage with such dynamically pro-life and godly men! If you want to hear their incredible speeches at our rally, you can click on this link (http://40daysforlife.com/blog/). But BE WARNED...their words will inspire you to be more pro-actively pro-life!!! :)

I wish I could share every detail of what is on my heart regarding 40 Days for Life...what it has done for my relationship with Christ, how it is positively impacting others who are involved, every story of mothers and babies spared from the pain of abortion, the tears I've witnessed of post-abortive women who are finding healing through this ministry, the number of abortion workers who have been converted like Abby Johnson was... Speaking of Abby Johnson, she also came to Helena the day after our Kick-Off rally to speak at the Affirming the Culture of Life Conference. Wow, is that girl feisty, sassy, and just plain hilarious!!! God is using her conversion story (poignantly told in her book "unPlanned") to touch so many souls! I am thrilled that I got to meet her and spend time with her... Oh, there is just so much I want to share, but I don't know where I would begin, nor do I know if my words would ever find an end. Truly, this ministry is a never-ending story of God at work in so many hearts in so many ways. So, to spare you a novel, I guess I will just share the basics. I recently wrote an article for our Catholic Diocesan newspaper that hopefully will give you an overview of what 40 Days for Life is about, and I pray it inspires you to get involved in a 40 Days for Life campaign near you---or at the very least to unite with other pro-lifers in praying and fasting like you've never done before during the rest of the campaign! (There are 29 days left and already 109 babies have been saved in the last 11 days!!!)

Pro-lifers from around Montana were inspired to be more pro-active at the 40 Days for Life Kick-Off Rally that was held in Helena on September 29th at Memorial Park. Much of the inspiration came from the keynote speakers, David Bereit and Shawn Carney, the co-founders and national directors of the 40 Days for Life movement. It was a huge blessing to have such nationally renowned speakers to share their contagious pro-life energy with those in attendance.

Since 40 Days for Life began in 2007, over 4300 babies have been spared from abortion, 43 clinic workers have quit their jobs, and 14 abortion clinics have closed. In his keynote speech, David Bereit reminded the crowd that the Planned Parenthood in Kalispell, MT closed right after a 40 Days for Life campaign was held on their sidewalk in 2009, and he believes Helena’s Planned Parenthood could be the next clinic to close its doors for good. Shawn Carney challenged everyone to fast and pray, and to take their prayers to the places where hope, love, and mercy are needed most: abortion clinics. He explained how it is the visible presence of the prayer volunteers on the sidewalk of abortion clinics that most effectively changes mothers’ hearts at the last second to choose life. Ben Seitz, the coordinator of Helena’s 40 Days for Life campaign said, “With a peaceful, prayerful, loving witness, women coming to Planned Parenthood will see us as a sign of hope, a ray of light, in an otherwise very troubling, hopeless situation, and that they can reach out to us to find alternatives to abortion.”

40 Days for Life goes beyond reaching out to women in crisis pregnancies; the prayer volunteers strive to share Christ’s love to women who need post-abortion healing, to the employees at the clinic, and even to people driving by in their cars. That is the beauty and power of 40 Days for Life—it is not a protest movement; it is a prayer vigil that taps into God’s grace to change hearts towards truth and life.

The Kick-Off Rally concluded with a prayerful procession from Memorial Park to Helena’s Planned Parenthood where the group sang hymns and offered prayers for an end to abortion, healing for all those affected by abortion, and conversion of all those who work in the abortion industry. To learn more about 40 Days for Life or to sign up for the prayer vigil in Helena, visit:
www.40daysforlife.com/helena.

Me and my friend Cheline (the dynamic red-head duo!) at the Kick-Off rally, helping people sign up for times to pray on the vigil calendar.

Shawn Carney and David Bereit---co-founders of 40 Days for Life---truly amazing men of God who are turning our culture back into a culture of life by tapping into the gospel messages of prayer, fasting, mercy, and trust in the Lord.

David Bereit on the stage at Memorial Park.

Shawn Carney lit up the stage with his smile, his southern accent, and his passion for the precious unborn and all those affected by abortion.

Me, feeling very unworthy to be on the same stage as the two men pictured above. Thankfully, God took away all of my nervousness right before my speech and I was able to share my message of how important it is to be a visible, prayerful presence outside Planned Parenthood. I am the Vigil Coordinator of the campaign, so it is my job to help people sign up for their hours to pray. I have been doing this for the past 5 years, and I am so encouraged this campaign because more people than ever before are finding the courage to go out and pray at PP.

This is Shawn Carney, David Bereit with his wife and 2 kids, and a few other 40DFL leaders from around Montana standing outside Planned Parenthood where we sang and prayed after the Kick-Off speeches. The director of PP was waiting for us and called the police. Thankfully, we had already told the police ahead of time that we would be there, and the police told the PP director that we had the legal right to be there praying. Legal victory was ours that night, but we need to contanstly pray because a real spiritual battle is certainly underway daily!

Gifts Given

For two months while I was confined to bedrest, my dear friends Mike and Margaret brought me the greatest Gift on earth every single day: my Savior Jesus Christ under the disguise of a humble piece of bread. The gift of the Eucharist was the highlight of my day while I rested and prayed for baby Nathanael to grow strong in my womb. I know the Eucharist helped me to grow stronger in my faith those two, long months. Each time I received Him, I could feel the anxiety leave my soul and be replaced with peace and joy. I treasured those minutes with Mike and Margaret every day... reading the Scriptures together, praying together, and being in the Presence of Jesus together. Receiving Jesus daily during that time on bedrest made my love and hunger for Him grow in a very beautiful way, and once my time on bedrest was complete I made a commitment to receive Jesus in the Eucharist as often as I could, for there is no greater Gift on this side of Heaven. I also made a commitment to find a way to thank Mike and Margaret for bringing me such a Great Gift. And so I started making them a gift of thanks...

My gift started with a simple rose, frayed around the edges to give texture and dimension (a tecnique called "French Roses" taught by quilter Heather French).

I followed with 9 more roses to represent the 10 roses we offer to Mary in a decade of the rosary (the word rosary actually comes from the word "rosario" (Latin for "rose") because each "Hail Mary" that we pray is like offering a rose to the Queen of Heaven).

Mary is our Queen and our heavenly Mother; how fitting to offer her roses just like a little child picks wildflowers to delight his or her mother! :) Let's surround Mary with roses every day!!!

As I stitched Our Blessed Mother's glowing halo and her tender hands folded in prayer, I tried to offer prayers of thanksgiving and blessing upon Mike and Margaret who, like Mary, glow with God's love.

For over 9 months I worked on this gift for them, designing every inch from Mary's rose-covered feet like she appeared to St. Bernadette, to the moon upon which she stood like the miraculous image on Juan Diego's tilma. Although Mary's true beauty far surpasses any image ever created, I prayed that Our Lady would be pleased with this humble quilt, and that Mike and Margaret's hearts would be touched as they touched mine.

What a sweet memory I will always carry, presenting them with this gift from my heart.

Margaret is such an inspiration to me...her deep faith, her love for Jesus and His mother, and her passion for defending the unborn. Margaret has faithfully prayed at Planned Parenthood every Friday for many years and has led numerous 40 Days for Life campaigns with me as her humble side-kick :) I wonder how many babies her prayers and loving witness have saved from abortion? I feel so blessed to be her friend.

Mary, my mother, I pray that you bless Mike and Margaret with graces galore for bringing me the Gift of your Son in such a beautiful way. And I pray that more and more people turn to you for help in times of trouble, for you are the loving mother to us all, guiding all souls to the only Source of Salvation, your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.