Not My First Rodeo, but I Could Use an Intermission

Pregnancy number two is 10 weeks in, and while the symptoms are familiar and nothing new, it doesn't make them any more fun to go through. There are many women in the world who relish in their pregnancy. Some even never feel morning sickness. I am not one of those women. Now I respect and love the life in me, I just hate the growing process.

True Story: For one of my baby showers last time, the hosts played a cute little question/answer game. They asked Kevin a bunch of questions about our pregnancy and I had to guess the answers. They asked "What would Mary say the best part of being pregnant is?" And bless his heart, he said "I don't think Mary would say she likes anything about being pregnant, except that it will be over soon and Clare will be born." Ding Ding Ding. He was correct and I guessed his response on the nose.

I'm making the bold prediction that this little one will be our first little boy. I say this because I don't feel like my hormonal emotions are on a roller coaster like last time. No unexplainable weepies and no arguing with Kevin in Wal-mart over shampoo. When I asked Kevin if he's noticed my lack of huge mood swings, he smiled, shrugged, and plead the 5th. To which I swiftly slapped his arm like any non-hormonal, non-moody woman would do!

I'm looking forward to a few weeks down the road. Not only will the all-day sickness be gone, but I'll also be getting on a boat to go cruising to Mexico with Kevin. I'm sure I'll be super homesick for Clare, but I think this couple's-only-vacation is an opportunity we can't pass up. Watch out naive college students on spring break, this pregnant, mom-of-one is taking her stretchmarks and bikini and hitting the beach!

Silent No More

This picture immediately brings tears to my eyes for many reasons. I am proud of my mother's courage, impressed at her leadership skills, joyful to see how far she has healed from when I was a kid, and thankful that I am alive because of her. This photo was taken at the Texas Rally for Life in Austin. My mother is standing on the capitol steps showing people what really happens to women after an abortion. She came to show support for Cathy Kerr who was giving a testimony for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. The silent no more campaign is an effort to make the public aware of the devastation that abortion brings to women, men, and their families.

As many of you know, my Mom has worked for years with the Rachael's Vineyard retreats for the Lubbock area. These retreats are for women and their families to finally come to grips with, find peace, and heal from their abortions. As a pro-life person, most of us feel anger and sadness over the lost lives abortion brings, but many times we stop there. We forget to see that along with every abortion is a wounded, broken, and hurt woman who deserves healing, peace, and forgiveness like all of us. God asks us to hate the sin, not the sinner, and that's what my mother strives to do.

I sometimes think about my half-brother, Samuel. Would he look like me? How different my life would be if he lived. Even though he never made it birth, his life matters. His life changed my Mom, which then changed my life, and is still changing the way I am as a Mom. His life, though brief, has sent ripples of change throughout my whole family's life. You must know that one life does matter.

You can not imagine how hard it is to stand in front of friends, family, and strangers telling about you painful past, all for the hopes that it will bring healing to someone who needs it. My Mom needs all the support, love, and encouragement she can get. If you're proud of her like me, you should let her know.