Mommy of Five

Another Victory for Adult Stem Cells!

2010-07-13T19:40:00.006-04:00

"Stem cells reverse blindness caused by chemical burns"

http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_15360504
I love how this article actually acknowledges that adult stem cells are the ones that show promise for cures, while the dead baby stem cells have not had any successful results.

Cedar Point: Vacations are Useful

2010-07-09T16:53:00.003-04:00

Our trip to Cedar Point was a truly energizing vacation that gave me renewed vigor for completing our family goals.

Laci Peterson: Pro-Life Angle

2010-04-30T08:38:00.007-04:00

I recently listened to the audiobook "For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice". So many thoughts struck me regarding how the Laci Peterson story is a modern day Greek tragedy that exemplifies the Culture of Death that so much of our society has embraced. The murder of this pregnant woman and child is a perfect illustration of what the abandonment of our traditional morals and values has brought to our children and grandchildren.

A common theme throughout stories of the Peterson saga is disbelief that Scott Peterson could so callously kill his own son and dump his wife and son’s bodies in the ocean. Yet, everyday thousand of mothers and fathers slaughter their unborn children through abortion, and the outrage is nowhere near as universal.

So many promising young women have bought into the birth control mentality that was falsely marketed to bring freedom to their lives, but instead so often ends in slavery to the sexual whims of men. Because it is assumed by so many that sex does not have to result in children, men like Scott Peterson apparently feel that a child produced by the marital act is somehow an anomaly and an interruption in his carefree lifestyle, as opposed to a beautiful gift from God originally intended to result from the sexual union. When women do decide that they want to have children, this is sometimes viewed by their husbands as some unusual and game-changing event, instead of the natural result of the marital union. In the Peterson case, it is surmised by many observers of the case that Laci would have stayed alive had she not gotten pregnant. Then Scott would have been free to carry on his duplicitous life in which sex was recreation, not procreation.

Oh, and did I mention my surprise to find out that Scott Peterson’s religion is supposedly “Catholic” and that he went to a Catholic high school? But I suppose that is another day’s blog.

The typical way that the Peterson case is linked to pro-life issues is through Laci and Connor’s Law, which gave federal recognition to the fact that an unborn child is a separate life in homicide cases. But to me, the real story started long before the separate second degree murder charge for Laci’s child, Connor, with which Scott was convicted. The underlying story is that our culture produced a man who thought that a child resulting from the marital union of a man and a woman was an inconvenient interruption to his lifestyle. But why shouldn’t he think this? That is the daily message that young people receive from the media and from some parents and teachers who encourage “safe sex”--and then recommend "the procedure" if safe sex accidentally produces an inconvenience. And apparently Peterson never received (or accepted) any message to the contrary from his “Catholic” high school.

Lent

2010-02-27T09:40:00.001-05:00

Meredith and I are giving up meat for Lent. I thought it would be rough, and it is a little bit. But I have enjoyed getting out my old vegetarian cookbooks from high school and college and trying some new and old recipes. Plus I think I might lose a little bit of weight! It is actually easier than Meredith's other suggestion would have been: Giving up watching the TV show "Lost", one of my few remaining indulgences these days! So we are still watching Lost, while eating veggie burgers!

Farewell Mrs. Lois Greiffendorf

2010-02-16T17:40:00.004-05:00

This picture shows Lois as Meredith's confirmation sponsor last year, even though she was in the middle of chemotherapy treatments.
Today, I am sad to say that Lois passed from this world due to brain cancer. Her joy for life and her tireless work on behalf of unborn children were an inspiration to me and to many. I know that she will be with her Father in Heaven. Her husband shared that one of her last requests was that more people get involved in the Pro-Life cause. Many memories are being shared on Facebook at the Pray for Mrs. Greiffendorf group.

Pray for Mrs. Greiffendorf

Miss Meredith goes to Washington!

2010-01-25T09:43:00.001-05:00

These are some of my daughter's photos from this year's March For Life:

My daughter at the March For Life 2010 in Washington DC with "Obama"

A few people (over 300,000!) came to Washington that day, although you wouldn't know it if you watch NBC News, et al!

Youth Mass at the Verizon Center

Meredith said everyone cheered loudly when the "Personhood Now" banner was marched in to cover up the few pitiful pro-aborts that were on the Supreme Court steps.

Happy Pro-life face with sign explaining the horror of the Culture of Death

Apparently Newsweek magazine thought there weren't any young women there! Newsweek is on the wrong side of history again!

FDR: When America Abandoned our Heritage

2009-03-18T11:10:00.000-04:00

The link below gives a great explanation of how FDR changed the fundamental nature of our country by sabotaging the principles of limited government and private charity. It ends with a message of hope:

"Is it possible to recapture the principles of freedom on which America was founded — to end the welfare-state, planned-economy way of life — to return to a true free-enterprise system — to regain the moral principles associated with individual liberty and limited government? You bet it is! But it will take a willingness to confront reality and to free our minds — and those of our children — from years of political indoctrination ... a readiness to fight for what we know to be right and true ... a faith in freedom and the caring nature of others ... and a conviction that man, not government, should ultimately control his own destiny. "

http://www.fff.org/freedom/0891a.asp

Self-Imposed News Blackout--Highly Recommended

2009-03-17T20:18:00.000-04:00

My self-imposed news blackout is doing wonders for my state of mind. I do occasionally watch the weather forecast, and my family lets me know of any major events. But as a former political junkie, I have to say I am much happier ignoring all of the cable news networks and talk radio. I don't have to waste time on the mostly pointless "News Alerts", which usually involve some irrelevant comment made by some politician in response to another irrelevant comment.

I have more time for family pursuits and for my more entertaining obsession: the Lost television show. Escaping into science fiction is just what the doctor ordered. Our country is going down the tubes, and the Constitution is a fading memory; but here in our home things are happy and healthy. Our recent election cycle showed that the American public as a whole is woefully undereducated, but I will do my best as a mother to make sure that at least three junior citizens in my home understand the principles of individual freedom and limited government upon which this great country was founded.

New Year, New Life

2009-01-06T09:28:00.000-05:00

I have focused more on improving my own spiritual life and making my home a beautiful place for my family. I feel it is time for me to become more devoted in my faith.

Are Children Blessings?

2008-10-13T17:08:00.000-04:00

It is so rare to find people in the world today who rightly view children as the blessings that they are. Our culture that is so focused on pleasure so often promotes the attitude that children are burdens or hurdles to overcome. The attempt to separate intimacy from procreation through contraception and abortion is the main driving force behind this sad state of things.

40 Days For Life

2008-09-30T15:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I was praying the rosary in front of Planned Parenthood with three other ladies. We were near a large university, with lots of youth going by and unfortunately many cars driving in to Planned Parenthood. We were right by a stop light.

A car stopped at the red light while we were in the middle of the rosary. The windows were down. At first I just saw the two young women chattering, laughing and looking at us. Then I heard the driver clearly say "It's funny because I just had an abortion." As soon as she said that, the other girl got quiet, looked at us, and made the sign of the cross. I made the sign of the cross back to her. The girls then sat there quietly at the stoplight for maybe a minute more. The passenger looked right into my eyes for several seconds after she made the sign of the cross. It was like a lifeline into the chaotic world of college partying.

I prayed so hard while the two young women were there. It was an incredibly intense feeling. I felt like definitely the passenger was reached at some level to realize the horror of abortion. I pray that the driver who killed her child also realizes the gravity of her act and begins a healing process.

I had my two little boys with me (one is a baby), and my boys were just watching the cars go by while we prayed. I stopped on a whim, because it was a different time slot than the one I had signed up for. But I know my boys and I were meant to be there at least for these two girls, maybe for others.

Anyone who has considered participating, I encourage you to do so. You don't know who needs to see you there, witnessing for the Truth of God.

Abortion

2008-07-11T10:53:00.000-04:00

I don't understand how anyone can be in favor of abortion.

My seven-month old precious son is one of the joys of my existence and a gift from God. If someone had performed an abortion on me against my will (God forbid) when I was pregnant with him, he would clearly not be here as an intelligent human being developing into the wonderful adult that he will one day be. Fetuses have been shown to be very aware, have memory, and feel pain. Why can't those in the pro-abortion movement understand that a human life in potential is inherently valuable? How sad and evil.

I truly do not understand how people cannot see that abortion is clearly murder. Even when I used to be a radical leftist environmentalist, I always knew abortion was wrong. In fact, the most unusual thing about the whole debate is how many anti-war, pro-environment, pro-animal rights people are also pro-abortion. These positions are inconsistent.

Have you ever temporarily lost your child at an airport or other large, busy place?

2008-06-27T10:29:00.000-04:00

What do you think of child leashes?I am wondering because on Wednesday we were catching a flight. I saw a woman who had lost her son in the Atlanta airport. She was desperately calling his name (Gabriel) and crying out to God for help. She had three security personnel helping her, all of them running the opposite direction from us. Her small daughter was running behind them , terrified and crying hysterically.

They had gotten off of the subway-type train, not realizing that the son was still on the train. I have never seen a mother more distraught or terrified. I started praying for her and her son and daughter immediately.

It made me think that next time we are in an airport, I will get one of those child leashes for our two-year-old son. I know some people think they are wrong, but I bet this mother I saw wishes she had used one. I am assuming that the child was found or it would have been on the news. I couldn't stop thinking about her and hoping I never, ever have to experience that kind of terror.