He didn't carefully knit them together to have them thrown away

We like Sundays for a number of reasons. One of the reasons I am especially thankful for at this moment is that all three boys must nap on Sundays. It is just one of our rules. On the other 6 days of the week K does not nap. He is a great big 6 year old and has quiet time instead. But on Sundays it doesn't matter what your age is or how tired you are - you go to your room and even if you don't sleep you are very quiet for at least a couple of hours. Dave and I used to get some rest during that time but now, busy as life has become, it is precious time to get some much needed things done with out the busyness of tending to little ones at the same time. Usually in amongst the tasks at hand we try to have some relaxation. That is where I find myself at this time. Quiet music playing, boys sleeping (or pretending to), Dave out working in the garage, soft couch, warm blanket, and the new laptop. Is life sweet? So much. Today I am sitting here thinking about life. In our country this is sanctity of human life Sunday. It is a day where we contemplate and celebrate the sanctity and dignity of human life. Of course not every one feels this way or recognizes this day. But I do.

K's foot prints at birth

God created life and it is an amazing gift. It is his to give and take away. I don't have any unrealistic hopes that some day this will be the universal belief. No, in fact I believe it will only get worse before things get better. And I believe the only way things will get completely better is through Christ's coming and our home going. Once a week I leave the comfort of my home and come face to face with women who are making life and death choices. I walk up the steps to the crisis pregnancy center and whisper a prayer that God will speak through me. Because most of the time in and of myself I have no idea what to do or say. I put on a caring, but objective persona. I don't want to push or beg. I want them to see that I care about them. I care about their feelings and what they see as a terrible dilemma. Although my stomach lurches when they mention that they are seriously considering abortion I simply nod my head, maintain eye contact and quietly ask them if they have thoroughly thought that through. I want to scream. I want to fall on my knees and sob through our stories of loss. I want them to know how much our babies meant to us and how wanted they were. Instead I gently tell them about the incredible opportunity they would have to make an adoption plan. How there are so many couples out there who desperately desire a child. We discuss the different kinds of abortion procedures and how harmful they are. We don't use scare tactics and we will not lie to these women. We offer them a free ultra sound. Eighty percent or more of the women who choose to have the ultra sound also choose life for their child. One day a very young looking 15 year old girl came into our center. We'll call her "Jane". Jane looked confused and scared. Her mom had been shocked to find out that her young daughter was pregnant and had quickly come to us, thinking we could perform, or at least give information on, an abortion. Our director sat down with these two women and talked with them for a long time. I was not in the room as I was not yet fully trained, but I was in the room right next to them with 3 other volunteers. That afternoon I was a part of some thing so beyond me. So powerful and beautiful. The 4 of us gathered in a circle and petitioned God for the life of the child who's mother and grandmother were convinced was a problem that must be eradicated. Our tears were wiped away and the smiles replaced to our faces as we bid farewell to the women who had agreed to come back for an ultra sound the following week. It was a tough road for them. Jane was scared and didn't know what to do. She had high school ahead of her. Her mom was appalled that she would even consider any thing other than abortion. But they went to the ultra sound. They saw the baby clearly on the screen. Jane was already over 3 months along. It was a boy. When they saw that precious little boy all talk of ending his life ceased. All of the glory goes to God alone for this amazing change of heart. I began prenatal and parenting classes with Jane. I saw her every week. She was very quiet and it took months for her to begin to open up to me and the other volunteers. But let me tell you - when I saw that sweet, tiny baby boy five months later I could not even pretend that I was not overwhelmed with emotion. He was perfect. Perfect. He had this little button nose and gorgeous dark hair. I still get chills when I think about it, because this life was so close to not coming into existence. Jane continues to faithfully take parenting classes through the center. she earns "mommy dollars" which can be used in our store to buy formula, diapers, wipes, baby clothes, toiletries, etc. This is only one story of so many. Sometimes it seems kind of hopeless to see the enormity of the problem; those who see human life as disposable, compared to the minute and some times faltering solutions. But I can't let hopelessness steal my effectiveness. All I can do is change my little corner of the world. One Jane at a time. "For you created my inmost being; you knot me together in my mothers womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13 and 16

I know that ultra sounds can be very difficult to decipher. This one in particular is not very clear, so I don't expect you to be able to really get it the way I do. Nevertheless, it is very special to me. This is K and J.D. ten days before they were born. It K's head resting on J.D.s leg.