Who We Are:

We are women, we are wives, we are mothers, and we are open to life. This is our way of standing by one another, learning from each other, and leaning on Christ our Savior.



Jan 30, 2012

Meet Melissa

Melissa was my college roomate. She has a contatgious laugh and was always in a good mood. She married this awesome guy named Peter, who comes from an amazing family. I love this couple dearly! She has four stunningly beautiful children, 3 boys and 1 girl.

Tell us about yourself:
Melissa Hickson (30),  Peter Hickson (30), kiddo’s- Sean (5 ½), Grace (4 ½), Aidan (3), and Thomas (1 ½).  We have been married 6 ½ years. I grew up in Naperville, Ill which is a suburb of Chicago and Peter grew up in Marshall, Virginia (Near DC).  We now live in New Bern, North Carolina because Peter is stationed at the Cherry Point Marine Air Base.

When did you first hear about the Church’s teachings on NFP and contraception? Did you always know about it or was there a time that you heard about it for the first time?
Well we both grew up knowing that contraception was wrong and knew the alternative was NFP but didn’t quite know what it was until college.

Likewise, was there a moment when you decided that you would use NFP in your marriage or was it just understood that that is what you would do?
It was never a question that we would be open to life in our marriage, we both went into our marriage knowing we would never use contraception.   We were so excited to start our family.  So excited in fact that when I had my first period right after we were married I got worried thinking I was never going to be able to get pregnant…. Little did I know;)

Did you have any fears about using NFP? If so, what were they?
Well we didn’t really use NFP with Sean and Grace because we didn’t feel it was necessary.  After Grace I wanted a bit of a break. I have pretty miserable pregnancies (I am sick for 5 months, throwing up at any strange smell or if I don’t have something in my stomach and I also have this extra silivia problem. It is a pretty rare symptom in pregnant woman, I always have to have something to spit in or mints that help me not to gag the extra siliva down.  Needless to say I just needed to feel “normal” for a bit.  So we began doing NFP for a couple of months when Grace was about 6 mths old.  It didn’t last long during that period because I just couldn’t justify wanting to wait  and I couldn’t wait for another little one! However, Peter and I were always open to whatever the Lord had in store for us.  I just always wanted to be happy if I got pregnant so our mind set was (and still is) we would like a little break but if God blesses us even in our desire to control  we would always put our trust in his plans and not ours.  Sometimes I do get a bit scared thinking of how many kids we could possibly have…  But again God is in control and I know he won’t give me more than I can handle.


How has using NFP positively influenced your marriage?
Yes in many ways.  One of the ways that is has really helped our marriage in communication.  I just feel like it has helped us to understand each other better and for Peter to understand woman in general more.

What has been the greatest challenge?
The biggest challenge for  us is just being able to trust and to surrendering to God’s will and not ours.  (Peter never worries but I do especially when he is about to deploy and worrying about taking care of the other littles ones while having morning sickness…)


How do you handle the topic with family and friends? Is it ever an issue? How do you handle criticism about the Church’s teachings?
All of our good family and friends know that we don’t use birth control but they all are very respectful and supportive.  They always joke about it. Like when are you guys going to buy a “church van”.  We just laugh and try to show that having many children is not a burden but a blessing.  Sometimes it can be hard with people we aren’t very close to or random strangers that make their comments when I have all four kids in tow.  But then I look at all their cute faces and think if they just could get to know each one of my kiddos they would think differently.


Could you share a happy moment or memory that you have of your children? As well as funny story or incident that was difficult?
Oh my gosh just one?! Ok well a positive one just happened recently.  I had all the kids with me at walmart.  The kids go with me everywhere so they are pretty good in the store.  Anyways, we were checking out and I really wasn’t paying attention to anyone around me, I was just focusing on paying and leaving the store.  Well apparently the cashier next to us thought my kids were just so well behaved and just could not believe it… She kept going on and on saying all of these really nice things about the kids.  It was so nice of her  and it made me feel like some of my parenting/disciplining was paying off. (I was used to them cooperating with me for the most part in stores because they have been so used to just being with me …).  So she whispered to me “can they have a piece of candy?” I was like “oh sure.“ Well she pulled out her wallet and let them pick out a big pack of candy each.  I just thought that was so generous of her (even though I didn’t want my kids to have a whole bag of m and m’s.., it was so kind of her) Anyways, it was good reward for the kids and a good lesson for them as well.  That good behavior pays off and that a stranger noticed their good behavior and mommy was very proud of them!
The hardest part of having lots of little ones is when they all get the flu and then in turn I get the flu… Last winter there was this weird flu going around where they would have a series of throwing up for like an hour and then be fine for two days and then throw up a few times a couple days later… well they ALL got it and they ALL got 3 rounds of it!!! Cleaning up throw up is aweful especially when it is all stuck in the carpet and so random! Gosh, that is never fun. 

Thanks Melissa! Please keep her and her family in your prayers, as her husband Peter is currently deployed!



Jan 27, 2012

On Fetal Cells

LifeSite News posted this article on the amazing way your baby's cells stay with you and in many cases heal and repair your own cells. A baby gift from your baby! Fascinating and very typicall coming from  out creator ;)

One kind of fetal cells that enter into the mother’s body is the baby’s stem cells. Stem cells have what Pinctott calls “magical properties” in that they can “morph” into other types of cells through a process called differentiation. The baby’s fetal stem cells can actually become the mother’s own cells that make up her liver, heart, or brain.

Genetics specialist Dr. Kirby Johnson of Tufts Medical Center, Boston, and professor Carol Artlett, a researcher at Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson University, back up Pinctott’s ideas. Their research shows that when a woman becomes pregnant she acquires an army of protective cells - what might be called a gift from her child - that remains with her for decades, perhaps till the end of her life.



If you have time, read the article at length, it will leave you amazed!

Jan 23, 2012

Thank you Women...

"One thing is certain: When the time has come, nothing which is man-made will subsist. One day, all human accomplishments will be reduced to a pile of ashes. But every single child to whom a woman has given birth will live forever, for he has been given an immortal soul made to God's image and likeness."
- Alice von Hidebrand, The Privilege of Being a Women


Thinking about all those marching for life today in D.C. and offering my day for the unborn. (hhmm...maybe that's why I got hit with a killer sore throat...a meager suffering to offer for life).

In the news lately...is this outrageous law being imposed by the goverment regarding birth control:Read Here.

On a more positive note, was THIS ARTICLE, all over facebook from the National Catholic Register, "To The Mom Caring for Only One Child". It's a great perspective and source of encouragement.

And good heavens...ALL or ANY of these posts on being a wife and mother.

Jan 15, 2012

Spousal Speech

Always a good reminder, THIS ARTICLE, and sheds some light on the difference between"letting off steam" or being degrading towards your spouse.

To happier and holier marriages....

Jan 8, 2012

Post Promise

So, I'm not blog savvy, or consistant, or creative....BUT.... I do promise to garner some new writers and interesting posts for the coming year. I'm so often reminded of why we started this blog when I run into friends or women who are frieghtened at the thought of another child, don't understand nfp, who suffer from the affects of birth control, feel alone in their fight, or those who are trying their very hardest to be faithful to God.

For me, sometimes just getting on here and seeing all the faces of those striving to be open to life, knowing I'm not the only one, is encouraging in itself. So, I hope it can be the same for you!

If you know of some great nfp women who want to share their stories and thoughts...let me know!

Biggest Highlight of 2011 for me:

Avila Maria

Cheers and blessings for 2012!

Maria

Birth Control and Abortion

This is short video on the connection between birth control and abortion by Pastor Mark who is a popular evangelical preacher. Watch here. 

I know this is known in the Catholic circles that instruct Natural Family Planning, but it's good to know they are starting to talk about the issue in other Christian faiths as well.

I must confess, I didn't know until a couple years ago, that most birth control pills will actaully say "abortificiant" on the box! 

An old friend of mine shared this video on her facebook wall...and I had to share. I hope the word gets out there because so many women aren't told the real truth about birth control.