final draft of letter to priests about mother's day blessing

Okay, its final unless someone has huge problems with the few sentences I've added.  The new additions are in green.  Our parish is a Newman Center so I thought it would be important to acknowledge women who are healing from post abortion.  Also, I moved a sentence and changed just a few words.  Thanks for all the support with this.  I'm a little nervous about sending it but, we have 3 priests and I'm not sure which one to go to with a face to face conversation.  Plus, I want to make sure the message is conveyed in a coherent and charitable way and I think I'd be too nervous/emotional to do that in person.  No doubt, my friend who just had a miscarriage will be at Mass that weekend so I'm offering up my nervousness for her and her hubbie.  If you have any concerns about the letter, please let me know!

Dear Fathers,

I am writing this letter in regards to the annual blessing given to mothers on Mother's Day and fathers on Father's Day.  Over the past few years, I've become active in an online support group for Catholic women who are experiencing the cross of infertility.  While I myself have one child, I suffer from secondary infertility.  I'm in the unique position to receive the blessing and yet have a heavy heart for the children that are my heart's desire.   I also hear stories every year through this support group about how hard Mother's Day and Father's Day Mass is for those who are experiencing infertility, for those who have had miscarriages and for those who are single waiting to be married.  It's especially difficult when you strive to* follow the teachings of the church regarding sex and birth control, are open to life and for one reason or another are not able to conceive.  It's even more painful when miscarriage is involved. Although I haven't personally read anyone's struggle post abortion, I would assume women who are at Mass on Mother's day and are healing from abortion would also be in pain.  While many of the women and men I know accept the cross of infertility and are open to God's will, the journey is hard and can be lonely. Would you prayerfully discern making the blessing more inclusive of all women and men in their unique vocation as mothers and fathers, including spiritual motherhood and fatherhood? The blessing can be an opportunity to help heal those who are suffering, acknowledge those living out a vocation as a single person and also support mothers and fathers in the thick of parenting living children.  The spirit of this letter is not meant to be one of complaint nor entitlement.  I am only attempting to bring to light a painful issue that can potentially marginalize the faithful.  I trust that whatever decision you make about the blessing will be in our best interest.  If you would like more information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Please know you are in my daily prayers!

God Bless You!

With love,

made for another world

*didn't want anyone to assume I'm perfect in this area

First draft of letter to priests about blessing

Here is the first draft of the letter.  Please give feedback on content and grammar.    Be honest!!I wanted to keep it short and I didn't want to make a recommendation of what to say unless they ask.  I figure the Holy Spirit will guide our priests in writing the blessing if they so choose to change it.  Thanks in advance for your help!

Dear Fathers,

I am writing this letter in regards to the annual blessing given to mothers on Mother's Day and fathers on Father's Day.  Over the past few years, I've become active in an online support group for Catholic women who are experiencing the cross of infertility.  While I myself have one child, I suffer from secondary infertility.  I'm in the unique position to receive the blessing and yet have a heavy heart for the children that are my heart's desire.   I also hear stories every year through this support group about how hard Mother's Day and Father's Day Mass is for those who are experiencing infertility, for those who have had miscarriages and for those who are single waiting to be married.  It's especially difficult when you are following the teachings of the church regarding sex and birth control, are open to life and for one reason or another are not able to conceive.  While many of the women and men I know  accept this cross and are open to God's will, the journey is hard and can be lonely.   It's even more painful when miscarriage is involved.  Would you prayerfully discern making the blessing more inclusive of all women and men in their unique vocation as mothers and fathers, including spiritual motherhood and fatherhood? The spirit of this letter is not meant to be one of complaint nor entitlement.  I am only attempting to bring to light a painful issue that can potentially marginalize the faithful.  I trust that whatever decision you make about the blessing will be in our best interest.  If you would like more information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Please know you are in my daily prayers!

God Bless You!

With love,

made for another world

Help with Mother's Day Letter to Priest

Hello all.  I kinda fell off the blog world last week.  Thank you for all your prayers for my friend.  This little blogosphere is a God send.  The support and understanding is amazing.

I want to write a letter/email to my priests about the Mother's Day blessing.  They usually have mothers stand and have the family put their hands on them as the priest says a prayer.  I know a few years ago there was a letter floating around on the blogs that others had written asking their priests to prayerfully discern a different blessing.  Do any of you remember it?  Links? Copies?  I'd hate to reinvent the wheel, but I will if I have to!

God Bless and have a glorious day!

Sad News

Thank you for all of your prayers for my friend.  Her numbers are not increasing.  It's a sad day.  I don't know many details because our conversation was all about loss and grief, not why or how.  I feel like I've been punched in the gut.  I can only imagine how her and her husband feel.  Your prayers are what is going to help her to carry on.  Miscarriage is insidious and from the devil.  Only God can make something beautiful out of this  pain.  And He will.

Prayer Warriors Needed- Update

One of my closest friends just found out she was pregnant last week.  She's 40 and her and hubby have been actively TTC for 7 years.  They had just recently given up hope and began accepting their lives as they were.  They are a beautiful example of humbly accepting God's will.  Now she's spotting.  Has been for a week.  They go to the doctor tomorrow so there will be some answers then hopefully.  Will you please lift them up in prayer?  I'm so scared for them. 

St. Jude pray for us.

St. Gerard pray for us. 

St. Gianna pray for us.

St. Joseph pray for us. 

******Update*******
She went for the ultrasound yesterday and the doc saw a sac and took blood to check numbers and she'll have more taken Sunday to compare.  There wasn't a baby in the sac so the doctor said maybe she's earlier than she thought.  She doesn't chart so ovulation and last period aren't known for sure.  I'm still holding out hope....She is the perfect mixture of concerned and calm.  I'm not sure she's up for tons of intervention- I don't think she's 'there' yet if you know what I mean.  Here last words to me were, "it's in God's hands."  I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your prayers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Guitar Man's Birthmother

We only know her last name from legal papers we received a few years ago.  His adoption was finalized well before open adoptions were an option.  Even though he was born before Roe v. Wade, I'm sure abortion could have been an option for her.  She gave her baby to an agency to decide who would parent him best.  Every once in a while I whisper 'thank you' to her.  After reading AIHPT's harrowing adoption story, I am moved to do more for her.  Really, all I can do is pray for her where ever she is.  That will have to be enough.  Guitar Man has no desire to search out his birthparents.

Adoption is such a beautiful gift.  Like most gifts from God, it is born from pain.  I have no idea what she went through- her thoughts, her feelings, her fears.  Did she hold him? Did she want to keep him?  Was she relieved when they took him away?  Whatever it was though, her courageous actions resulted in me being able to share my life with this precious man.

Thank you for trusting.

Thank you for carrying him.

His life wasn't perfect.

But, he's okay.  He's more than okay.

He's a beautiful person who does beautiful things for God.

We are obsessed

The Hunger Games have taken over our household.  I've had bronchitis so I had the opportunity to lay down and read Mockingjay in one day.  Then, I had the opportunity to google like crazy all kinds of reviews and interviews.  In a twisted way, I was happy to be sick so I could get lost in this world.  Hunger Games is the first book that AJ has enjoyed reading enough to read outside his 15 minute mandated daily reading time.  Guitar Man is tolerating this obsession.  He's more of a literary guy- right now he's reading Moby Dick.  I just heard him call our dog Cookie, Cook-niss.  HAHAHA!!!