checks, credit cards, and Paypal, oh my!

How do you support your favorite pro-life ministry? Do you send them checks? Do you have an automatic withdrawal schedule set up? Or...do you do what I just discovered (yes, I'm a little slow sometimes, I admit) and send them something directly out of your Paypal account?

Holy mackerel! It was so easy! No check to write, no postage, no getting a paper cut from licking a yucky envelope flap (ewwww). Just three clicks. Maybe four. And done. Hoo-wah!

Here is a sampling of our allies on the front lines that accept Paypal:

Susan B. Anthony List
Live Action
National Right to Life
Survivors
The UnChoice
Personhood USA

If you're quick, you can still get in a year-end donation, too. Don't delay! Your laptop is standing by!

UPDATE: As I clicked "publish post" and was sent to the "Your post published successfully!" page, guess what the Google ad was? To donate to the "Pro-Choice Cause" of Planned Parenthood. Just thought you should know.

Witnessing through music...

Beautiful testimony to the truth. Inspired witness to the joy of motherhood. Thanks so much to HFL member Cecilia at Hairbows for Life for sharing this.

'Unborn' by Caitlin Jane

Unborn- Caitlin Jane from Glen Elliott on Vimeo.

Wearing the Truth

I recently came across this T-Shirt by typing "pro-life" into an Etsy search. The description reads:

Anyone can be a hero-because even the smallest among us can dramatically affect all of us.

Featuring Da Vinci's sketch of the child in utero, this shirt simply and boldly proclaims that human life is worth saving at all stages. 

Definitely going on my wish list. Find it at 

Eternal Revolution's websites Here  and Here .

Life Athletes

Chris Godfrey is a great man. Great in a worldly sense as a member of the Indiana Bar and as a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School. Great in an athletic sense as the starting right guard for the Super Bowl XXI champion New York Giants. And great in heart and character, giving his life and talents to build a Culture of Life among athletes, particularly the young.

Life Athletes was born in the heart of Chris Godfrey in South Bend, Indiana. I had the pleasure of getting to know his family at that time through our mutual interests in faith, family and defense of the unborn. During Advent of 1997, we were invited to a Christmas party at his home and I was expecting the arrival of my first born at any time. On that particular day, Chris summoned his guests to his family room and popped a VHS into the player. It was the inaugural Life Athletes video and I thought it was awesome.

Since then, Chris's efforts have clearly born fruit and blossomed in ways that have me jumping up and down. I couldn't find the original video I saw so many years ago but found his recent work which is simply incredible.
Here are two, 30 second spots. Wouldn't you love to see these on network television?






There is also a longer (5 minute) inspirational film that is well-worth watching. Entrancing. And if you watch closely at the end, you'll see Chris Godfrey, a true hero who is strong enough to dominate world class athletes and man enough to defend the most helpless and innocent among us.

The Life Athletes Commitment

I will try to do what is right, even when it is difficult.

I will give myself only to the special person whom I marry as my partner for life.

I will respect the lives of others, especially the unborn and the aged. 

I will not quit or make excuses when I fail. I will try again.

To find out more about Life Athletes and the resources it provides to help build a life-giving culture among our youth, visit LifeAthletes.org .

Free Silent No More Awareness Sign

In an effort to encourage more women and men to stand up and speak out about the terrible impact of abortion in their lives, the leaders of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign are giving away free signs .

These signs are big (2 feet by 2 feet), double-sided and made of sturdy corrugated vinyl; perfect for placing outside your home or taking them to rallies or mills.

Donations are very welcome but not required. Visit the Silent No More website to order your Free sign today.

Georgette Forney and Janet Morana (co-founders of Silent No More) each holding up one side of the sign.

Mother, Activist, Artist

An artist's life is a life of passion looking for expression. The creation of beautiful things cannot come from a soul that is bored and dull. All of our artists here at Handmade for Life are witnesses to this and Jess at New Vintage is a particularly striking example of this truth.

She is a 24-year old homeschooling mother of two little ones, including one with cerebral palsy . So she knows about life-giving love. She is a musician with a degree in piano pedagogy and teaches children the joy of musical expression. So she knows how to express passion with beauty. She is a jewelry artist who designs for pleasure, profit and as a way to communicate and educate about the value of Life. And 30% of the profits from her pro-life creations is donated to the Right to Life cause. So she knows how to use her gifts for a greater purpose.


I asked Jess to tell me more about the work that she does for Life and this is a little of what she shared:

My day is consumed with homemaking and training up my kids each moment; so conveniently, God has given me two gifts I can use to bless others even while at home. I have an degree in piano pedagogy and design jewelry! I have always liked to research the pro-life battle and thought there was a void that needed filling;  awareness needs to be raised to this problem that always seems to be pushed under the table. 

I love making something stylish and statement-making that people will ask about because I can give them a personal defense of the value of each life. I have a piano student with downs syndrome and she is part of the lucky 10% of children with Down's that gets to breath his or her first breath; and my son (having cp himself) is part of this vulnerable special needs group so often put out of their parent's misery to save them time, cost, and supposed hassle. The most shocking thing I've come to learn about the abortion industry are the blatant lies told and the misconceptions people have as a result about the physical and mental harms to both women, children, whole families, clinic workers, and even our economy. 

There is no good whatsoever that comes from "getting rid of the evidence" of a trying time in life, no matter the situation. It won't heal any hurt. Someday, I would like to do more, but for now I can offer these bracelets as a reminder (and conversation starter) to people everywhere that little ones are dying; the number of children who die every day from abortion-on-demand equals the total number of deaths from the Iraq war. Perhaps a few would be saved if I could use that conversation to deliver a few special facts that opened someone's mind to more logical and eternal thinking.

If that isn't enough to draw you to Jess's shop , then a peek at her jewelry will have you hooked. I have had the great pleasure of seeing and touching her work and I give you my word that her pieces are quality and absolutely gorgeous. Earlier this year, she donated this Vibrant Carnelian Pro-Life Charm Bracelet to my local pro-life fundraiser....even though she lives in another state. I am grateful to Jess for her gift of spontaneous generosity. She is an inspiration to me and a blessing to the pro-life movement.

Red Coral and Leaf Fabric Bead Sterling Loop Necklace

 Amethyst and Pearl Sterling Rolo Chain Earrings

(Jess's sister, Alexa Roy, is pictured above modeling the Water Lily Citrine and Jade Sterling Loop Necklace )

Art Student Enhances Ultrasound Technology

"I just can't wait to hold my baby!" How many times have the expectant mothers among us expressed such a desire? Now, it's finally possible...in a way.

Brazilian PhD student Jorge Lopes has pioneered a method of converting data from MRI and ultrasound images into life size models of unborn babies.

His method, called rapid protyping, slowly prints layer upon layer of plastic powder until a 3D model appears. The method has been used for everything from jewelry and car components to mummies; and now to babies hidden within their mothers' wombs.

'It’s amazing to see the faces of the mothers. They can see the full scale of their baby, really understand the size of it,' said Dr Lopes.

Read more about this amazing new technology here .

and the winner is...

Wait, wait, wait. You expect me to tell you right off the bat? No way, Jose! First you get to see pics of the Highly Technical Drawing Procedure we followed.

1. Find the cutest three-year-old you know. Fortunately, I live with one, so he was pretty handy. Employ said three-year-old in cutting out small pieces of paper.

2. Encourage him to keep cutting while you tally up entries and start writing names on already cut pieces of paper.

3. Help him fold and insert papers into knit hat ("You mean fode dem so dey wook wike chips?Awwwright!")

4. Hold up hat by the earflaps to admire your work sufficiently. Ta da!

5. Okay, here it comes...WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Congratulations, Allison! Many blessings on your new marriage!

Family Attic giveaway!

We want to introduce you to one of our precious team members - Nana from Family Attic! Here she is, in her own words...and don't forget to check for details at the end of this post for how you can enter to win one of her beautiful custom signs!

There's nothing more important to me than FAMILY. As a little girl I would sneak up an old winding staircase to my Nana's attic and dig through her old trunks & dusty boxes exploring for treasure. That attic was like a time capsule and I just LOVED IT! Memories of those times at my Nana's house stayed with me. :) That is where I got the name for my Cottage business, FAMILY ATTIC SHOPPE.

I get inspiration from anything vintage & chippy. Those objects speak to me and become a part of my cottage sign designs. I've painted for as long as I can remember and everything I LOVE comes together in my cottage signs, and I think it shows. Now my grandchildren call me Nana and so do you! I adored my Nana who taught me about FAMILY. I'm honored to carry on her name in my business, FAMILY ATTIC SHOPPE.

Years ago my husband and I purchased 80 acres in a small town, much like I grew up in and we built a country ranch home together. It took us six years to finish but when it was complete we were amazed. It felt as if we lived there all our lives because the house was a reflection of who we were and what we love. Now we are struggling to keep it. Our primary business has all but failed after 25 years of hard work. The economy has effected us like it has many families in the world. After praying for direction I started painting again and my sign business started making enough for food. Then enough to pay this bill or that. Now we are hoping it will be enough to keep our home that we built and our daughters grew up in and our grandchildren enjoy.

My heart has always gone out to children of any age. I discovered a group called LIFE CARE CENTER. They provide young single mothers with diapers, food, bottles, medical care, etc. and they need help. I've decided to create a children's line of signs and donate the profits to them.

I love Family Attic! And I loooove the sign Nana is giving away! Below is an example, it measures 10"x24" and will have the winner's family name. Here's how you can enter to win - and yes...you can enter more than once!

1. Leave a comment here mentioning your favorite item from Family Attic (1 entry).

2. Become a follower of this blog (1 entry).

3. Become a follower of Family Attic's blog (1 entry).

4. Add the HFL badge to your blog and post a link in the comments below (2 entries).

5. Blog about this contest and link our blog on it - and don't forget to give us the link below in the comments! (3 entries)

Existing followers and those who already display the HFL badge count as entries, as long as you post a comment (with link if applicable) to let us know! Them's the rules... you can have up to 8 entries! Contest closes Friday, November 20th, and we'll announce the winner on Monday, November 23rd!

Aborted fetal material used in anti-wrinkle cream

What price will we pay for our vanity? Children of God for Life announced today that a bio-pharmaceutical company called Neocutis is using aborted fetal cell lines to produce anti-aging creams. From COG's press release:

“It is absolutely deplorable that Neocutis would resort to exploiting the remains of a deliberately slaughtered baby for nothing other than pure vanity and financial gain,, stated (COG) Executive Director Debi Vinnedge. “There is simply no moral justification for this.”... 

Neocutis’ key ingredient known as “Processed Skin Proteins” was developed at the University of Luasanne from the skin tissue of a 14-week gestation electively-aborted male baby donated by the University Hospital in Switzerland.  Subsequently, a working cell bank was established, containing several billion cultured skin cells to produce the human growth factor needed to restore aging skin.

The list of products using the cell line include: Bio-Gel, Journee, Bio-Serum, Prevedem, Bio Restorative Skin Cream and Lumiere....

“We know there are companies using moral sources for collagen and skin proteins. We intend to publicly promote these other cosmetic companies competing with Neocutis that are willing to step forward and contact us.”

Read the rest of the article HERE , contact Neocutis , and spread the word.

And if you're looking for some beautiful Bath and Body products made by pro-life artists, check out the following links :

  

Luscious Lather 

 Nourishing Undereye Creme

 Detox Facial Mask

   Mum Mum's Crafts 

Mineral Make-up Eye Shadow and Liner

Pro-Life Halloween!

I hope you haven't carved your pumpkins yet because this idea is the coolest way to share your passion for life during the holiday! Congrats to American Life League (ALL) for coming up with this amazing design.  Get the template here.

And I know that all you crafty people already have your own amazing ideas rattling around in your wonderful heads. ALL would like to see what you come up with and will post the best pics on their home page. Find out more here.

Make sure to link your efforts in the comments here!

A Six Minute Love Story

You will not regret the 6 minutes that you spend watching this powerful love story. Watch it HERE .

from the fire

I had a dream the night before last that will probably stick with me forever. I was somewhere around this huge oven, or stove, or campfire, and (this was disturbing) there were babies abandoned around it. They had been left there either to die or because people thought they were already dead, and I was so sad...I was watching them and realized two of the babies were still alive ...and I went to ask for help, and I pulled them out of the fire, and got them blankets, thinking I needed to get them to a hospital for burn treatment. But they had no burns, they were perfectly calm, healthy, living babies. The dream was so vivid! Still half asleep, I asked God what it meant and He said, clear as anything, "You are pulling babies from the fire." I immediately thought of Jude 23. Gasp!

"...snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh."

Here in Wasilla, we are in the middle of fundraising efforts to convert our local HeartReach Pregnancy Center into a medical facility, so we can provide ultrasounds for women in need. Currently these women have to be referred to the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Anchorage forty-five minutes away to get an ultrasound. Unfortunately, not everyone will make that drive to see the reality of the life inside them, so we are bringing that reality to them as soon as possible.

We are snatching them from the fire! Every time we send a check to a local crisis pregancy center, every time we vote for candidates who value life, everytime we support the business of someone who donates to the cause of life, every time we sign a petition furthering the cause for life. Every time we read the Constitution, and every time we educate ourselves and others about legislation and current events.

Every time we hold our elected officials feet to the fire, we are snatching the babies - and their mothers - out of it.

Every time we put a new ultrasound machine in a prolife facility, we win! Every time.

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Corinthians 4:1

One Minute of Pure Happiness...

partners in the cause

This month marks Mom 4 Life's 6th anniversary! Oh...you haven't heard of them? Go check them out! This company is the brainchild of Heather Ledeboer, a funny, savvy gal who is the mother of four children - three here on earth and one in Heaven. Her story is amazing, and her website is full of great mom-invented products that you may not be able to live without!

But wait - I got ahead of myself and forgot the main reason I was posting this. Bear with me...I'm taking a sip of coffee...oh, yes, where was I?

Mom 4 Life is donating ALL PROFITS IN OCTOBER to Open Arms, their local pregnancy care center. So you can read about it here, read about Heather here, and go shopping for the cause HERE!

But don't forget to check out all of our great artists, too. :)

Handmade For Life Baby

Handmade for Life Kids

Nurses for Life

Find out more about the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses HERE .

60-Yard Touchdown Run by Boy with Down Syndrome

When I read this story this morning I was struck again by the fact that a person who loves all life (regardless of ability) has a blessing of joy that those who fight to suppress and destroy life do not have. The pro-life person accepts a certain amount of suffering to live a life of sacrificial love. The result of that investment of love is a bounty of blessing that would not have existed otherwise.

The story of Matt Ziesel's touchdown run is an example of the fruit of such love. Everyone involved in this event had the opportunity to have their minds and hearts changed forever by embracing the life and effort of this boy.

"I scored a touchdown! 60 yards, I go for touchdown for us!" 


Final score? 46-6 in favor of the other team; but everyone was a winner that day. Read the full story HERE .

Hair Bows 4 Life

One of the joys of being a part of the Handmade for Life community is to have ongoing communication with and inspiration from creative people who use their talents to help the unborn. Our newest member has even included that mission in the name of her shop.

Hair Bows 4 Life is run by Cecilia who is the mother of 5 children. It all began as an effort to make quality hair bows for her 3 beautiful daughters who happen to have a lot of hair! As a Christian, Cecelia knew that her work needed to lift up God's children and support the sanctity of life. She gives 10% of all sales the pro-life community.

In addition to supporting the cause of life financially, Hair Bows 4 Life also accepts donations for their A Bow for a Girl mission. Every time someone donates $5, a pretty Princess Bow to an orphan cared for my Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity . Cecilia's goal is to "make each girl feel pretty and bright as she is told and retold that she is a daughter of God, His little princess!"

Welcome, Cecilia! And thank you so much for all that you do for God's children!

Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments

Partial excerpt from Randy Alcorn's Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments :

Argument 17. "Every child a wanted child. It's unfair to children to bring them into a world where they're not wanted."...

...Answer 17c. "Unwanted" describes not a condition of the child, but an attitude of adults.

The problem is not unwanted children, but unwanting adults. "Wanting" is simply one person's subjective and changeable feeling toward another. The unwanted child is a real person regardless of anyone else's feelings toward her. For years women were degraded when their value was judged by whether or not they were wanted by men. Just as a woman's value is real whether or not a man recognizes it, so a baby's value is real whether or not his mother or father recognizes it. "Every woman or child a wanted woman or child" is a good goal, but if a woman or child is not wanted, it does not justify killing her.

Pro-Life Victory Dominican Republic

In response to efforts by pro-abortion activists to decriminalize abortion in the Dominican Republic, the country's legislature added a constitutional ammendment to permanently protect pre-born children. The April 22nd vote of 167 to 32  added the words: "the right to life is inviolable from conception until death."


Read more at LifeSiteNews.com .

There is hope for the United States. Thanks so much to all who work so tirelessly in battle. Please keep up the great work!

Pro-Life Television Ad

On July 16, 2009, CatholicVote.org released it's 3rd "Imagine" ad.  These pro-life ads are stunning in their simplicity and beauty. They speak the truth in 45 seconds with tremendous clarity and power. Imagine spot #1 was famously (or infamously) rejected by NBC and CNN and still viewed over 1.8 million times! Their Imagine spot #2 was equally powerful. Number 3 certainly does not disappoint. Beautiful.

Celebrating Harvest with Pro-Life Artists and Crafters

I have recently been  browsing the Autumn collections from our member shops and having a great time. Here are just a very few of the wonderful items I stumbled upon including harvest goodies useful for pets, kids, crafters, home, and...um...personal organizational necessities (a.k.a. beautiful handbags). 

Enjoy!

Autumn Owls Dog Collar by Inu Inspirations 

Boys Native American Indian Costume by Custom Threadlines 

Pumpkin Hand Knit Hat by DeusProvidebit 

Brilliant Leaves Hang Tags by Peek a Boo Productions 

Fall Harvest Cottage Signs by Family Attic 

Chocolate Brown and Orange Fall Handbag by My Creative Threads 

Pro-Life Activist Murdered

BREAKING:  A well-known pro-life activist has been gunned down in front of a Michigan high school. Read more here .

Nazi Germany or modern America?

Can anyone guess who wrote the following?

How about this one?

Adolph Hitler? Not this time...

The man who helped to write the preceding words has just been appointed by President Obama to be our new "Science Czar".  John Holdren wrote a book in 1977 along with Paul and Ann Ehrlich called, Ecoscience--Population, Resources, Environment . The selections above are taken from that book and should suffice to alarm any thinking American.

Please read more here and be sure to sound the alarm.

Blood Money movie trailer

The movie Blood Money is due to be completed later this month. The director is making an effort to garner enough public interest to be able to present it in theaters. Please distribute the link to the trailer on YouTube to spread the word.

Pro-Life Hollywood

August 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Jim Caviezel, the actor who took the film world by surprise with his moving depiction of Christ in 2004 (The Passion of Christ), said this week that abortion has nothing to do with helping women and that he is willing to risk his career to say so.

Caviezel gave an interview with the US magazine Catholic Digest, in which he spoke about the challenge he received from a colleague to adopt a disabled child as a demonstration of his well-publicized pro-life stand. Earlier this year Caviezel adopted his second child - a five-year-old girl with a brain tumour from the Guangzhou region of China...

..."Look, I am for helping women. I just don't see abortion as helping women. And I don't love my career that much to say, 'I'm going to remain silent on this'. I'm defending every single baby who has never been born. And every voice that would have been unique....How do we know that we didn't kill the very child who could have created a particular type of medicine that saves other lives?"

Read the rest of the story here.

Closing Sale for Mum Mum's Jewelry!

Lucy of Mum Mum's Crafts will be closing her jewelry shop in order to focus exclusively on her bath and body shop. Lucy is having a clearance sale on all of her remaining jewelry...50% off of her beautiful work! A great opportunity to stock up on some quality, handmade gifts for Christmas. And a wonderful comfort to know that your money will be supporting an enthusiastic advocate for life!

Visit Mum Mum's Beaded Jewelry to shop her Closing Sale at www.mummumsbeadedjewelry.etsy.com

While you're at it, check out her amazing bath and body shop at Mum Mum's Crafts for Mineral Make-up, lotion, soap, lip balm and deodorant.


Mineral Make-up from Mum Mum's

Embracing Life--A Mother's Instinct Saves Her Baby

Even our smallest choices have big consequences. One mother's decision to hold her dying baby made the difference between life and death. This beautiful story was originally published on GrowingYourBaby.com.

Sometimes a preemie doesn’t need to be hooked up to 10 different machines to be given the chance to survive.
When Carolyn Isbister put her 20oz baby on her chest for a cuddle, she thought that it would be the only chance she would ever have to hold her. Doctors had told the parents that baby Rachel only had only minutes to live because her heart was beating once every ten seconds and she was not breathing.

Mrs. Isbister remembers saying:

“I didn’t want her to die being cold. So I lifted her out of her blanket and put her against my skin to warm her up. Her feet were so cold.

“It was the only cuddle I was going to have with her, so I wanted to remember the moment.” Then something remarkable happened. The warmth of her mother’s skin kick started Rachael’s heart into beating properly, which allowed her to take little breaths of her own.

“We couldn’t believe it – and neither could the doctors. She let out a tiny cry.”

“The doctors came in and said there was still no hope – but I wasn’t letting go of her. We had her blessed by the hospital chaplain, and waited for her to slip away.

“But she still hung on. And then amazingly the pink colour began to return to her cheeks.”

“She literally was turning from grey to pink before our eyes, and she began to warm up too.”

The sad part is that when the baby was born, doctors took one look at her and said ‘no’.

“They didn’t even try to help her with her breathing as they said it would just prolong her dying. Everyone just gave up on her,” her mom remembered. Ian Laing, a consultant neonatologist at the hospital, said: “All the signs were that the little one was not going to make it and we took the decision to let mum have a cuddle as it was all we could do.

“Two hours later the wee thing was crying. This is indeed a miracle baby and I have seen nothing like it in my 27 years of practice. I have not the slightest doubt that mother’s love saved her daughter.”

Rachael was moved on to a ventilator where she continued to make steady progress.

Miss Isbister said: “The doctors said that she had proved she was a fighter and that she now deserved some intensive care as there was some hope.

“She had done it all on her own – without any medical intervention or drugs.

“She had clung on to life – and it was all because of that cuddle. It had warmed up her body enough for her to start fighting.”

Because Rachel had suffered from a lack of oxygen doctors said there was a high risk of damage to her brain. But a scan showed no evidence of any problems.

After just 5 weeks she was taken off the ventilator and four months she was released home. She is currently doing well and enjoy cuddles, which her parents give whenever possible.

When a parent holds their baby on their chest – skin to skin it is referred to as Kangaroo Mother Care.

The benefits for all babies on KMC are that they stabilize faster on skin to skin care than in the incubator (they do not stabilize in the incubator in the first six hours of life)Then KMC babies have stable oxygen rates and breathing. The heart rate is stable. The temperature is most stable on the mother ( in skin to skin care the mothers chest automatically warms to warm a cold baby, and the mothers core temperature can drop if her baby has a temperature.)

The Facts about Health Care...

As most of you know, town hall meetings have been organized by politicians all over the country to discuss Obama's health care plan. The legal team at Americans United for Life (AUL) has written a concise flyer to distribute at these meetings. It provides details concerning the aspects of the bills under consideration that relate to abortion, end-of-life care and conscience rights. This flyer also includes three fundamental principles that must be in any health care plan that aims to protect life.

Click here to see the flyer.

Although this flyer was designed for the town hall forum, it could be used in many different situations. Print a few out and make sure that everyone in your life is aware of the disaster the President is trying to foist upon Americans.

And while it's on your mind, sign this petition(created by the National Center for Policy Analysis) opposing Obama's health care plan . It is being talked about all over the radio and exceeded 1 million signatures as of August 4th. Read what Bill Bennett has to say about this petition here.
And sign it here.

Christmas in July with Handmade for Life Artists...

Need an excuse to do a little shopping? 'Tis the season for school shopping, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, memorial gifts, and just-because gifts....

But my favorite reason to shop year-round is Christmas preparation! I love to leave those weeks before Christmas free for baking, gathering with friends and family, and decorating. Last minute mall excursions are not the way I prefer to spend my Advent. Finding great deals is the icing on the cake!

Here are a few fantastic sales from some of our pro-life artists. Grab a cup of tea...Put your feet up...And enjoy!!


Clearance!-Garden Jubilee Children's Purse--$12.50 from Storybook Stitches



Sale-Felted toddler mittens with cuff and tie-- $17 from Baruch's Lullaby


New Listing Sale-Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of the Unborn) Rosary-$150 from With Love From Mom


Sale-Handpainted Chenille Neckwarmer/Cowl-$25 from Matic Studio


Sale-Over the Shoulder Hobo Day Bag-$23 from My Creative Threads


SALE-Striped Red and Green Handmade Card-$2.25 from The Paper Button


SALE-Flower Pendant Necklace set...Pearls and Autumn Jasper-$45 from Sue Runyon Designs

RU-486 Cartoon Editorial...

Dana Summers, Orlando, FL-From the Orlando Sentinel.

Stop the Abortion Mandate....

Abortion opponents know that the current health care reform proposals, if enacted, would be the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade. In just a few hours at 9 PM Eastern time (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific), over 23,000 people of faith and conscience and 70 pro-life and pro-family organizations will be gathering for a history-making nationwide webcast event.
www.StopTheAbortionMandate.com will be hosting this unprecedented event. The country must come together to fight the scourge of abortion and stop it from expanding through our health care system. This is a tremendous opportunity to do just that.

Who else is going to be at this event? Take a look at this list and you'll know why you will be in some of the best company our country has to offer:

* DR. JAMES DOBSON, Focus on the Family
* DR. CHARMAINE YOEST, Americans United for Life
* FR. FRANK PAVONE, Priests for Life
* TONY PERKINS, Family Research Council
* MARJORIE DANNENFELSER, Susan B. Anthony List
* DOUGLAS JOHNSON, National Right to Life Committee
* WENDY WRIGHT, Concerned Women for America
* TOM MINNERY, Focus on the Family
* KRISTEN DAY, Democrats for Life
* CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH, New Jersey
* DR. RICHARD LAND, Southern Baptist Convention ERLC
* KRISTAN HAWKINS, Students for Life of America
* CONGRESSMAN JOE PITTS, Pennsylvania
* PEGGY HARTSHORN, Heartbeat International
* MELINDA DELAHOYDE, Care Net
* JIM SEDLAK, American Life League/STOPP
* DAY GARDNER, National Black Pro-Life Union
* BISHOP HARRY JACKSON, High Impact Leadership Coalition
* CARMEN PATE, Point of View Radio Show
* DAVID BEREIT, 40 Days for Life

Please get involved. The word is going out across the country and even Capitol Hill is talking about this event. And one of the goals is to max out tonight's webcast to show America that we are united and determined to stop the abortion industry from taking over our health care system.

Register at: www.StopTheAbortionMandate.com

And spread the word!!!

Miscarriage Loss...And Gain.

I have neglected things here on the blog for a while. The primary reason was fatigue and sickness due to pregnancy. Then, at 12 weeks, we lost our little baby and I have been slowly recovering physically and emotionally from this very sad but beautiful journey.

We are a pro-life people in life and in death. We recognize that even our unborn child (only 2 inches long in life) lived for a purpose and we did our best to love him in life and treat him with dignity in death. Miscarriage is a loss...An empty womb. But recognizing the value of the life of my baby is a gain. I have a son forever!

As I've traveled this journey, it has become clear that many, many parents have already been down this same road and a great many will be where I walk. How can we deal with miscarriage as a pro-life people? I'd like to share some things that I have learned....

1. Do we deliver at home or the hospital?

There are certainly situations that require hospital delivery. Pregnancies that are far along or earlier pregnancies that show obvious signs of difficulty fall into that category. The desire to stay at home may meet with the necessity of greater medical care. But if a women does choose to go to the hospital, there are things she should be aware of.

Most doctors will throw away the body of a baby prior to 20 weeks simply because death certificates are not issued before that time. If you want the body of your child respected, then be prepared to fight for it. My midwife was very glad that I chose to stay at home. She described the process of trying to retrieve the baby from the hospital doctors as "difficult".

We delivered our baby at home and were able to see him and hold him. That's not possible for everyone, I know...But very worth it if it is a possibility. Stay in touch with your doctor regardless of your situation and be bold in defense of your preferences with regard to the body of your child.

2. Consider naming the baby.

During my personal grieving process, the greatest moment of healing came with naming our child. We did not know with certainty whether our baby was a boy or a girl but we took a leap and named him anyway. My husband chose the name Matthew. And in that naming I understood fully that I had a son. My arms were empty but my heart was full. My tears were a mixture of sadness and unquestionable joy as I imagined the meeting I would have with him some day.

I strongly encourage anyone who has lost a child (at any age) to consider naming him or her. It will bring you closer in love and knowledge to your little one and one step further in your healing.

3. What do we do with the baby's body?

This is not a simple question when the child is earlier than 20 weeks. Again, 20 weeks appears to be the cutoff age for a death certificate (at least in my state) and as I was told by an OB at the Catholic hospital in my area: "Honestly, they just throw them away before that...But I guess you could bury it in your backyard." She offered this directly after my loss and in response to my question about where I could bury my child. I made a mental note never to seek out this women for care!

Fortunately, many cemeteries will bury your little one regardless of age with a letter from your doctor (proof of pregnancy). A Catholic cemetery in our area will be burying Matthew, at no cost to us, in a special section dedicated to infants. They will also provide the headstone free of charge. It is a beautiful example of Christians walking the talk and I am profoundly grateful. We also had the option of burying him with a relative already at the cemetery and that would have cost us about $200.

The following photo was taken of a burial box that was lovingly made for Matthew by our friend, Jim Kelley. The box measures 11 x 7 x 6 and is constructed using pine. Not all cemeteries allow wood but our funeral director is providing a concrete enclosure for the box at no charge. Jim does not have a website but I will happily forward your information if you have an inquiry for him.


Contact your church leaders for any information they might have specific to your location.

4. Should we tell people about our loss?

Absolutely. Your baby's life was beautiful and worth remembering and honoring. By acknowledging the loss we are also acknowledging the life. Perhaps your example will inspire others to look at an unborn life in a new way. I hope and pray that mine has.

And if you are a member of a church, I strongly suggest having a memorial service or Mass which your friends and relatives can attend if they wish. My sister-in-law lost her baby 3 months before I did and we had one Mass said for both Matthew and Caeli (her baby). We did not advertise widely but our closest relatives and dearest friends attended. We were also surprised to see other members of our church who heard "through the grapevine" and wanted to lend their love and support. Our service was perfect and I will always carry that memory in my heart

5. How can I support someone who has experienced a miscarriage?

Please do follow your instinct and just love them as well as you can. There are so many ways to show support. I can list a few here but I'm sure there are many more. Please feel free to share additional ideas in the comments.

-Acknowledge the loss. Please don't ignore it. Set aside your own feelings of discomfort and offer your sympathy. Even if it seems to remind the mother of her grief, she will not be sorry that you have expressed your love. She may, however, notice if you seem to disregard her loss. And she will feel isolated and alone in her grief if none have the courage to walk with her.

-Ask if they've named the baby and use the name when speaking with and writing to them. If they haven't chosen a name, please remember not use the term "it" when referring to the child.

-Let her talk. Although a miscarriage seems "small" to others, it's a pretty big deal to the person it happens to. I am very blessed with people who allowed me to pour out my thoughts and feelings and I can see how difficult it would be to have no one.

-A miscarriage is like a mini labor. It can be physically exhausting, quite painful and sometimes rather lengthy, and does require a period of recovery. Consider sending a nutritious meal or offering to watch other children to allow mama that recovery time.

-Do send an expression of sympathy. A card is a beautiful way to let someone know you are thinking of them. I recently purchased several beautiful cards from Loss Remembered and unfortunately, have had occasion to use them all. I intend to purchase several more so that I never again delay or miss the opportunity to send a token of love and support.

-If you are close to the family or simply want to do something more, consider a small memorial gift. A personalized Christmas ornament is a lovely choice. A very close family member (husband or parent) might consider memorial jewelry for the mother. It is a beautiful way to honor the life and loss of her baby and her motherhood at the same time. The picture below shows a memorial cross that I purchased for my sister-in-law. It was handcrafted and personalized for her with her baby's name and a '2009' charm on the back by Totally Crosses.



This memorial necklace made by Peace of Mind is a personal and touching way to express support.


See Handmade for Life's list of jewelry artists to request custom work.

Other ideas include a memorial plant for their yard (such as a rose), a donation to a crisis pregnancy center in the baby's name, or a basket of pretty bath and body items to comfort and pamper mama.

-Pray for the family. A woman's grief often runs deeper than anyone can see. I have heard many stories in the last few weeks of women who suffered intensely after an early miscarriage and were offered no support from a spouse or family. Depression is common.

We live in a world where babies are throw-aways and a woman is so often expected to forget and move on quickly. The smaller the baby, the less we are supposed to grieve. But our pro-life hearts know that every life has an equal value and purpose and that we are called to love each and every one.

I offer the suffering of my loss in solidarity with all mothers who are victimized by abortion. I pray that they may find healing, consolation and forgiveness through the lives of their heavenly children.

Other Miscarriage resources:

Pregnancy Loss