Pro-Life Shock Value and the Miscarrying Mom

 I have a unique perspective.  Maybe it's not really that unique, considering 1 in 4 women have a miscarriage at some point in their lives.  I've had 3 miscarriages, all in the span of one year, so the emotional impact of this hits me pretty hard, and I think that is understandable.  

I am Catholic and I am also 100% pro-life.  You would think those two things would be synonymous, but it is sadly something I must clarify due to current leadership who loudly wave the Catholic flag and yet fully support abortion.  But I digress.  

Around this time of year, there is much talk about supporting life, as the March For Life (was supposed to) happens at this time.  Lots of people do good things such as post their support for the unborn on social media, images of the unborn and the like.  It is good to support good things.  

But by golly it stings.  Seeing images of newborn babies, ultrasounds of the unborn, talking about making "the womb into a tomb" for those who have abortions, etc...freaking hurts.  It hurts my raw emotions.  My brain knows that my dead children are not the same as dead children lost to abortion.  But seeing those ultrasounds and all the macabre shock value pictures...yowza.  It's like a gut punch to someone who isn't your intended victim. 

I am a mother begging for God to give me just one child to hold.  Just one to somehow survive the horror house that is apparently my womb.  There are so many like me.  Please think twice before you hit send on that noble pro-life post that is meant to shock and shame those who support abortion.  There are silent ones who get caught in the cross fire.  

New Orleans and Merry Christmas!

 After singing a ton on Christmas Eve, and attending church on Christmas day, we went to New Orleans to see our Jesuit friends there.  Though Texas is next to Louisiana on the map, it's about an 8 hour drive from Dallas to New Orleans.  That's why we haven't gone sooner.

I always have the first Wed/Sunday after Christmas Day off from church choir, so we took the opportunity to go on Sunday, Dec. 27th.  We made it in time for mass at the Baronne Street Jesuit church where my friend Fr. Sean Salai was saying mass.  I've been spoiled to not having to wear a mask at mass (I LOVE that my church takes advantage of the mask mandate exceptions!)  People in NOLA seem to love their masks, indeed.  

We ate a ton of good food while there, as you can imagine.  I heard an accent which I thought sounded like it was from Brooklyn, but was told that it was a "Yat" accent which is native to NOLA and slowly dying out among the younger people.  Very strange. After that I realized I don't understand much about New Orleans at all.  It seems like its own thing - its own country.  And that's okay.  America needs to hold onto the dregs of culture that mainstream conglomeration tries to squeeze from it. 

Hunter made a new friend.  My friend who I met in Berkley, Fr. David.  He and Hunter hit it off :)  David is truly one of the smartest people I know, and one of the few who will discuss St. Thomas Aquinas and then practice the sword dance from Brigadoon with me in the span of 10 min.  

We saw some beautiful churches which always makes me think "why can't we have nice things in Dallas?"

One of the best things was how this Catholic city still has all their Christmas decorations up!  They understand that Christmas is still going (and going...and going...)  I loved it!  We drove through a light display in the park and went and saw this elaborate train setup at the mall.  

It was depressing to come home and see that most people here had taken down their Christmas decorations even before New Year's Day.  Come on, people!  We will be that annoying Catholic family on your street with our house decked out until February.