It's been a stressful few weeks. I've been stressed out about school, about changing schools as a junior in high school (next year), and just about life in general. I've always been a high-anxiety person and I get frustrated really easily. It's not always easy for me to relax and just let God be in control.
But last night I was able to get away from it all. My mom and I went out to dinner with my boyfriend and his whole family. His baby brother is my favorite little one in the world. My mom loved him too. It was really nice to just be together and laugh and just have a blast. I felt relaxed, loved, and it was amazing. God is good. He is always present in others.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
PAVE-ing The Way To Life
Pray
Act
Vote
Educate
This weekend was the Cleveland Right to Life Symposium. I've never seen so many pro-life activists in one room at the same time. It was a truly incredible event. As an adopted child (Whoohoo!) the pro-life movement has always been close to my heart. Most of the people emphasized how important education was. There were a lot of talks on different ways to spread the message we were fighting for.
One of the most interesting speeches was about abstinence being the number one way to cure abortion which I thought was interesting because I feel like so many relationships (speaking here of unmarried couples) today are only focused on sex and things that aren't holy. A real relationship, however, will focus on God and His Grace to keep the relationship going. It showed how any sexual actions before marriage only effect the relationship for the worse. I really thought it was something teens today needed to hear. Perhaps the most shocking thing about that talk was the way Planned Parenthood defines abstinence. I'm not going to go into in on this blog, but it was appalling and honestly wasn't even close to what abstinence really is.
The second talk that I found extremely intriguing was given by Reggie Littlejohn. Her organization "Women's Rights Without Frontiers" works to abolish the one child law in China and free Chen Guangcheng, a man (and his family!!!) who is under house-arrest and starving to death (he is very near death, and no one in his family is allowed to get food) simply for standing up against the forced abortions in China and the one child law. This man is a hero. But he is being beaten down, physically and emotionally, in the most brutal ways possible. There are so many horrible stories about women being violently dragged from their homes or from the streets to places that aren't sterile or safe half the time and FORCED to abort a child regardless of whether they want the child or not. As a woman, I can't even begin to imagine the terror, grief, savagery, and outrage they must feel when they or a loved one is forced to abort their child or be sterilized against their will. These women have died in this process. Men have been murdered for defending them. So many lives have been lost that this whole thing seems almost unreal. But it IS real. This is our world. This is what our generation is living with and this is what our generation has to stop before this happens in the United States.
None of this going to stop unless we stand up and fight for life, fight for our freedom and the rights of the unborn. Things have to change and they have to change now!! Pave the way to life. Pray, act, vote, and educate. These are the things we absolutely have to do if we want our nation to stay free. As it is now, it can't last much longer.
For those interested, here is Reggie Littlejohn's website: http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org
Sign the petition to free Chen Guangcheng and stop the one child law and forced abortion in China. God bless you all and God bless America!
Act
Vote
Educate
This weekend was the Cleveland Right to Life Symposium. I've never seen so many pro-life activists in one room at the same time. It was a truly incredible event. As an adopted child (Whoohoo!) the pro-life movement has always been close to my heart. Most of the people emphasized how important education was. There were a lot of talks on different ways to spread the message we were fighting for.
One of the most interesting speeches was about abstinence being the number one way to cure abortion which I thought was interesting because I feel like so many relationships (speaking here of unmarried couples) today are only focused on sex and things that aren't holy. A real relationship, however, will focus on God and His Grace to keep the relationship going. It showed how any sexual actions before marriage only effect the relationship for the worse. I really thought it was something teens today needed to hear. Perhaps the most shocking thing about that talk was the way Planned Parenthood defines abstinence. I'm not going to go into in on this blog, but it was appalling and honestly wasn't even close to what abstinence really is.
The second talk that I found extremely intriguing was given by Reggie Littlejohn. Her organization "Women's Rights Without Frontiers" works to abolish the one child law in China and free Chen Guangcheng, a man (and his family!!!) who is under house-arrest and starving to death (he is very near death, and no one in his family is allowed to get food) simply for standing up against the forced abortions in China and the one child law. This man is a hero. But he is being beaten down, physically and emotionally, in the most brutal ways possible. There are so many horrible stories about women being violently dragged from their homes or from the streets to places that aren't sterile or safe half the time and FORCED to abort a child regardless of whether they want the child or not. As a woman, I can't even begin to imagine the terror, grief, savagery, and outrage they must feel when they or a loved one is forced to abort their child or be sterilized against their will. These women have died in this process. Men have been murdered for defending them. So many lives have been lost that this whole thing seems almost unreal. But it IS real. This is our world. This is what our generation is living with and this is what our generation has to stop before this happens in the United States.
None of this going to stop unless we stand up and fight for life, fight for our freedom and the rights of the unborn. Things have to change and they have to change now!! Pave the way to life. Pray, act, vote, and educate. These are the things we absolutely have to do if we want our nation to stay free. As it is now, it can't last much longer.
For those interested, here is Reggie Littlejohn's website: http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org
Sign the petition to free Chen Guangcheng and stop the one child law and forced abortion in China. God bless you all and God bless America!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Serenity...
On Friday I went into Mass really upset and angry. It was one of those days where everything just went wrong- my teachers were being completely ridiculous, all the people that bother me were being especially annoying, my boyfriend and I were both stressed about a few things so we snapped at each other a few times (but that was fine after a few minutes since we try not to stay mad at each other and to help each other instead.), and on top of it all, I was sick. It was just a bad day. As I was sitting in Mass, I prayed that God would calm me down and let me focus on Him and on the Mass, but it didn't seem to happen. I kept trying to pay attention and focus of the readings and such and not on why I was upset. The Gospel was just what I needed. "But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison." (-Matthew 5:22-26) That got me to think about the people I was annoyed with and stop feeling sorry for myself. Everyone around me is here for a reason, and everyone is made in the image and likeness of God. Since He can not make a mistake, He can not make anything bad or evil. I have to stop getting so upset so quickly and focus on seeing Christ in everyone around me, no matter how hard it may seem. Even though I may not have seen God answer my prayers the SECOND I prayed, He showed me that He is there and that He is always listening and moving in my life for the good. He is amazing!
I love You, Lord.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Love and Loss
If you live/have lived around Cleveland, I'm sure you heard about the tragedy that Chardon High School suffered this week. Everyone has been praying and supporting the students that attend the school. I know a few people who go there, seeing everyone wearing red to support the school and how touched they all are by it just gives a sense of community and friendship that is missing so many other times. Even though the circumstances of our pulling together as a whole aren't the most desirable, it just shows that humanity hasn't died out. So many people say it has. It gives me hope to see the support system we have and all the love circulating lately.
God rest the souls of Russell King, Jr., Daniel Parmertor, and Demetrius Hewlin. You will never be forgotten. May the Lord give consolation to your friends and family and may you be eternally happy with Him in Heaven.
God rest the souls of Russell King, Jr., Daniel Parmertor, and Demetrius Hewlin. You will never be forgotten. May the Lord give consolation to your friends and family and may you be eternally happy with Him in Heaven.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
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