After a Long Absence

Life has been such an adventure in recent months! I believe that I have adjusted well to my job with SFLA and finally feel more confident in what more I can do in this position. It's hard for me to believe that I have been living in St. Louis for nearly 6 months... wow, time flies! I have been so blessed - making great new friends along the way and learning SO much.

It's amazing how God works. The last couple of weeks were busy, tireless and jam-packed - but, ended with an incredibly successful weekend. All of the hard work paid off and 1,800 students were trained at the SFLA national conference; 6 brilliant pro-life leaders and organizations were given Life Prizes; thousands of students attended the first-ever national pro-life rally; and hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers marched in DC for the right to LIFE.

I can't wait to see what these next few months hold. I know there will be more adventures on the horizon and I can only hope that I will continue to have the faith to tackle whatever challenge comes up.

Life is good, the pro-life movement is making headway and the joy is contagious!

God's Providence

I can't sleep, so I figured that I might as well write down what's running through my head.

I am in complete awe of God's loving mercy and incredible grace. I have had some of the biggest challenges of my life in the last 6 months. Yet, I still know that I am profoundly blessed by God's grace. Even through the struggles and the hardships - God has revealed His glory and brilliance.

I have always believed that the devil attacks those who strive to do God's work. The devil especially attacks those who are in close communion with God. I have always believed this to be true. However, after being exposed to the devil's attacks... I KNOW this to be true. I did believe before, but it has become SO real.

Ever since I began my new job, there have been ups and downs all throughout. I know that successes and failures will come and go all the time; but, knowing something doesn't always prepare you for living through it. I found myself allowng the rollercoaster of successes and failures to determine my emotional state. This is not healthy. So, lately, I have tried my best to detach myself from those works and keep in mind that I have been called here to do God's work to the best of my ability, and delight in that work, no matter what the outcome. This is quite a challenge, but worth the effort.

Amidst attempting to keep myself detached from particular outcomes - I am also trying to detach myself from being discouraged by major roadblocks along the way; and working to discover the positive side of these things.

Most recently - I have had relentless issues with my car. It's funny because, every time, I think to myself... oh wow, it definitely could be worse. I just hope and pray that if I keep saying this - it doesn't continue to get worse, haha. It started with my breaks rusting out in a parking lot and basically exploding break fluid all over the place. I had to get it towed and all that fixed. But, praise God it happened when (and where) it did - because I was headed on a 12 hour trip in just a few days. Next, my car gets backed into by another person. THANKFULLY, no severe damage was done, just a dented bumper. I may still look into getting it fixed. However, just today... my tire went flat. I knew I needed to get new tires and was planning to get them looked at soon - but apparently they really couldn't wait one more day. (The latest I was going to have them checked out was going to be Monday.) Once again, praise God it happened when (and where) it did. I was on my way to a (nearby) discussion group. Thanks be to God that my friends were able to help me out and this did not occur on my 4-5 hour trek back from Kansas City. My guardian angel certainly has a rough job and is doing it very well.

After all this (and more), I have learned so much. I have learned about myself, how I deal with things -- and more importantly, how I can better deal with things. If anything, all these transitions in my life are allowing me the opportunity to better myself. I'm discovering new ways to cope through the trials of life and methods to help enrich the opportunities laid before me. I have discovered that it is better to embrace the suffering granted to me instead of despairing in it. I have taken this time to better develop my spiritual, social, physical and emotional aspects of life. I'm on different levels with each one, of course; but am granted the opportunity to grow in each area. I am very blessed and for that I am thankful. Praise be to God.

Sunday Reflections

I've been trying my best to be a little bit more reflective and analytical of what has happened in my life lately. I have had a massive swirl of changes that all occurred within a very short span of time. In all reality, I have been abundantly blessed. I need to learn more of how to appreciate that fact.

I'm realizing that every challenge that has been thrown in my direction has been an opportunity. When I recount my experience of first moving to where I am now... I am astounded at how God guided me through that journey. The first challenge was the incredibly long drive. I was fortunate to remember that two good friends live approximately halfway through the 10 hour drive. So, my sister and I stayed at their place and had a wonderful time catching up and spending some time with them. Many good things came from that decision. Then, once my sister and I got to my new apartment, I was given an opportunity to embrace patience with the staff of the complex... and perseverance in dealing with the humid 106 degree temperatures and the flight of stairs that stood between my 2 carloads of stuff and my new home. The challenges that immediately followed included time constraints, gate changes for my flight and a severe lack of sleep.

Even though it was a very time-pressed weekend moving in, I appreciate how God eased me into my new life. After that weekend, I spent a week of training in DC and met lots of great people. It gave me the mental and inspirational support I needed. Once the week was over, I was exhausted... but in a way that made me realize what was to come. It was only the beginning! I got back to my region and jumped in head-first. Started going off to schools, making meetings and appointments and working as hard as I could. My first week was not as productive as I had hoped. However, I was able to reflect, look at the mistakes I made along the way and work to improve.

The next challenges that came were a bit more unexpected. Dealing with a bit of loneliness and frustrations with those who disagreed with the work I do has been difficult. Fortunately I am slowly meeting people, found a great young adults' group and a small discussion group to attend. All the people are great and it's so good to be back sharing the faith with others. It is so important to have fellowship to help keep you on track and feel like you're not alone in this journey. I know the challenge of loneliness will fade with time, but I just need to get over the obstacle now and press on. Facing the opposition is a whole different story. It's necessary to learn strength and not let attacks touch you at such a personal level. That is one aspect I don't believe I prepared myself for very well. It will take some learning and strategy, but I know it can be overcome.

All in all, things are good... I just need to take these challenges and use them as opportunities like I previously stated. The only direction I can move is forward, the past is behind me and I only see better things lying ahead. For, "if the what you did yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't done much today."

New Beginnings

In under a month, my life has done a 180. I went from a state uncertainty in nearly every aspect of my life to where I am now. I have an amazing full-time job, an apartment of my own and a bright future ahead of me. This is not to say I wasn't happy or trusting that through God's grace things would work out... only that I couldn't see any stability in my near future. Now, praise God, stability is unmistakably present and prominent.

My experiences in the last 4 months of my life are ones that I never expected, but would never take back. I enjoyed every challenge, every joy and every opportunity.

As I adjust to my new surroundings, I'm realizing that living alone may not be the worst thing ever (as I previously had imagined). I have been blessed with an opportunity to get to know myself and focus more on my work and my relationship with God. I can budget my own time, prioritize and more easily navigate my life to allow for greater efficiency. However, I am still learning the challenges of living by myself. I have to be more of a self-starter than ever. I have to push myself to keep my priorities in line and not lose track of where I spend my time and where keep my focus.

Last night I attended a wonderful young adults' group in the area. I realized that fellowship in the faith is undoubtedly something I cannot live without. There are reasons that "faith community" and other similar phrases are emphasized upon discussion of growing in the faith. Personal growth and reflection is definitely important -- but sharing that faith with others is essential as well.

The discussion last night also made me realize how much I need to keep intellectual reading and conversation a part of my life. Discussing philosophy and theology invigorates me and I really miss having classes and regular discussions on the topics. However, keeping up on pro-life literature and other books in my library will certainly help. =) All in all, life is good and is looking better all the time.

It's not over

After the initial shock of the passage of the healthcare bill, I tried to think logically and reasonably. Yes, I was still unbelievably upset and disappointed... however, what good does it do to merely be upset- that only makes it seem that nothing can be done.

Something CAN be done. Does anyone know what happens in November 2010? Yep, all the congressmen who voted in favor of this bill better be ready to face the consequences of their actions. The majority of the American people did NOT support this bill being passed. What is the job of our *REPRESENTATIVES* in Congress??? To *REPRESENT* the American majority. It seems to me, that is failing to happen.

Secondly, this bill is not set to go into effect until 2013. What does this mean? The next presidential election is also pivotal. The bill could likely be overturned if Republicans take back the House and a solid candidate is elected president. This could be a long shot... but, if the American people truly read up on what is actually in the bill- there could be more of a revolt than expected.

I would love the chance to understand what is going through the heads of political leaders. What happened to the America I know and love? What happened to a country built on freedoms of LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?? There are a few things that I carry around with me on a daily basis- among those things is a pocket Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

I wrote something on this a while ago and it seems to definitely apply now:

Unalienable rights? What does this mean? This simply means that these rights cannot be given OR taken away. They are simply regarded as rights that any and every human being is endowed... not by man, no... but by their Creator. In many cases this means God. This is not necessarily to bring about a discussion of whether or not God exists - but to explain that every human being has these rights, whether or not they are stated by another. Now, to explain further, there is a difference between having these rights and having a "right to" these rights. A man who chooses to murder another, for example, has given up his rights to liberty. He chose to inflict on another person's right to life, therefore he shall be put in jail. Choices we make in life will certainly have an effect on what rights you will have a "right to have." As I have said in the past... not all freedoms are awarded to those who bear ignorance. If you do something stupid, there will be a consequence.

The referenced original post I previously wrote can be found here: http://lavidadesheri.blogspot.com/2009/06/epiphany.html ... or here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=95966911244

I mention this because of the misguided reasoning of those endorsing nationalized healthcare. Will this help some people? Yes. Will it accomplish what it is SAID to accomplish? Most likely, NO. The government will be taking OUR tax dollars to pay for something that will minimally cover a great number of people and inflict on ALL of these aforementioned UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. This bill will also restrict care to those who are truly in need. All you need to do is reference countries who already have nationalized healthcare- are they better off? NO. Canada and England are two good examples. Life expectancy for people who have life-threatening disorders, diseases or conditions is DRAMATICALLY less than it has been in America. There are so many problems with this bill and I don't think I could even begin to describe them here... and I haven't even mentioned the problem that I fight for every day of my life- defending the life of the unborn. I am outraged and ready to take action. Whatever it takes, I will fight for the America that I know and love. I will fight for the right of every human being to have LIFE from conception to natural death, LIBERTY to live in a country of the free, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS- so long as it does not impede another's God-given right to the same. I stand for what this country was built on and will NOT back down.

I will leave you with the words of Ronald Reagan:

"There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right."

Update #3 from DC!

Hello All!

Life in DC has become one crazy ride… in many senses of the word. I still absolutely LOVE it here! I wish I would’ve posted last week; but ever since I began working on the Hill, I have had so much less spare time! Today was the first day in weeks that I got home before 6 p.m.

So, to pick up where my last update left off: My last week in the SFLA office was kind of sad, but fun. I really enjoyed working there every day. Wednesday (June 24) I worked on a lot of the same stuff in the office and it was also Rachana’s birthday (one of the SFLA interns) so we went out to dinner that evening. Thursday, the 25th we got to meet up with Congressman Spencer Bachus of Alabama. Due to Congress being in session that day, our meeting was interrupted twice because of voting. So, we talked briefly, got a picture and left. Friday after work, all of the SFLA interns went out to see The Stoning of Soraya M., from the producers of The Passion of the Christ. It was an extremely powerful film. The movie tells the story of Soraya M. and the injustice that took place. It is extremely relevant in light of recent events in Iran. I highly recommend seeing it. It was only playing in select theatres when we saw it, but I’m hoping it will be more widespread in the coming days. Also, while we were walking out of the movie… somewhat emotionally drained… we ran into former senator Rick Santorum! It was pretty cool – we talked to him a bit, got a picture and left. We later went to dinner and discussed the film… at least those of us who were able. It was a fairly hard film to watch and absorb.

On Saturday one of the SFLA staffers (Lucy) took us to Great Falls for an incredible hike. It was a beautiful day and we ended up running into other pro-life interns on our hike! We saw some interns from the National Right to Life and heard that there were also interns from another organization walking around. I guess it was just the day to hike. Sunday, the 28th was our day off – we just relaxed and…….. slept in! (Aaaamazing) Later that evening, Kate and I went to visit my friend, Rich, who lives just down the road from our host mom’s house. We had a fun game night and met some new people. It was a nice end to a very eventful weekend.

Monday the 29th was my last “official day” at the SFLA office. I was very sad, yet excited to start something new. Monday nights are now volunteer nights at the office and that night we stuffed envelopes while watching 22 Weeks, another extremely powerful film. This one was a short film – but very difficult to watch nonetheless. I advise caution with both movies that I have mentioned. They are good, but powerful. (It was quite a lot to take in within a few days time.)

Tuesday began my internship in Congressman Paul Broun’s office (of GA)! I was quite nervous, but the staffers are so great! Congress was not in session due to the holiday, so I eased into the swing of things. It probably was a bit less overwhelming than if they had been in session my first few days. But, I did get to go on a Capitol tour to learn about it, so that was exciting.

I got my intern badge on Wednesday and got to learn more about the office – sorting mail, answering phones, etc, etc. In the evening I had the privilege of going to listen to Grover Norquist, the President of Americans for Tax Reform. He was a very humorous and interesting speaker. I was very happy to learn so much about the organization.

Thursday was a lot of the same – learning more about the office and whatnot. Sadly, it was the last day of the other intern in the office, she was very nice and fun to work with. That night I went to go see the movie “Away We Go” with John Krasinski. It was a bit disappointing… I don’t normally like movies that are that crude. It had some good messages, but the crudeness kind of overpowered the message for me.

Friday we had the day off on the Hill due to the holiday, so many of the other SFLA interns went to the SFLA office to work for the day. Later that night we all went to Screen on the Green for a second time in Rosslyn. They play movies from the 80s and that night they played Top Gun. They also have a bean bag contest with 10 winners. I won! On my first try too, haha. It was kind of cool, I got a t-shirt with “I love the 80s” on it and the movie schedule on the back.

The 4th of July in Washington D.C. is incredible. Saturday morning we met with the other SFLA interns on the National Mall. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual thing that celebrates many different cultures on the 4th. After the festival, we watched the fireworks and enjoyed Independence Day in DC… quite an experience.

Sunday, once again was our day off to just relax and recuperate. Monday began my second week on the Hill. This time, I was the only intern in the office – so I was truly tested!

Tuesday we got a new intern. So, I got to help train him and ‘show him the ropes.’ It felt good to actually know what I was doing and be able to help someone else out. That evening I went to see a film called 33 minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age, another one that I highly recommend. After the film, there was a presentation and discussion. I recommend checking out the website to learn more about it.

Yesterday was my last day at the office this week. I got to visit the Capitol a few times, learn where some of the offices were and found myself giving directions to passers by… wasn’t sure when that day was going to come! In the evening I found out about a “small” (100+) gathering of interns for AIPAC’s Summer Seminar Series. I didn’t discover until I arrived that John McCain was to be there! It was interesting hearing him speak about Israel, Iran and other critical Middle East issues. The event was closed to the press.

Today I went to the Eagle Forum Collegians Leadership Summit. There were many congressional speakers and discussions. It was a full day of learning, no doubt! I enjoyed it a great deal, especially the discussion on nationalized healthcare. This is a big concern of mine that I hope to address in a future post. I have been doing extensive research on the topic and suggest that others do the same. Hopefully in the coming days I will put together some of what I have learned and pass that on to all of you. Tomorrow will be the second day of the summit and I am excited to see what I will learn!

The more I think about my time here in D.C., the more I believe that I could work here a year from now. I am going to stay open and take every possible opportunity! This internship has been so thrilling and such a learning experience. I can’t wait to see what is still yet to come. I hope all is well back home.

For Life!

Sheri

DC Internship Weeks 2&3

Hello Everyone!

I apologize for not writing earlier. SO much has happened since I last posted.

The remainder of my first week in the office was a lot of the same - projects and whatnot. But, I love what I do! Over the weekend we went to Rosslyn to watch The Breakfast Club on the lawn which was a lot of fun. Then on Saturday I was able to visit Mt. Vernon with the other interns and staff - which was incredible! I had so much fun walking around the plantation and visiting Washington's Mansion. We had an interesting encounter with one of the actors on the plantation. He was an intriguing fellow from Scotland. :) After our visit on Saturday we took a walk in Old Town Alexandria.

On Sunday most of us interns went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It was Corpus Christi Sunday and they had a gorgeous procession. I loved Mass... after Mass we went to have lunch/dinner at the Capitol Brewery outside which concluded our weekend... so much fun!

My second week was very hectic (which is the reason I was unable to write to you all....). Monday and Tuesday I was in the office doing the same old same old :). Then Wednesday was.... fun... haha. I got to drive to work in the morning which is always interesting. DC traffic... I don't know how I would describe it. Let's just say - it's always an adventure. I stayed at work for half the day, then I drove to Winchester, VA to meet up with Kristan (my boss) in order to leave for NC to attend the National Right to Life Conference. Once I met up with Kristan we drove with her baby, Gunner and her mom for 6-7ish hours to Charlotte. The drive seemed to go by quicker than expected. We arrived at the Blake hotel around 9:30pm or so. The conference was excellent. I got to work the booth for Students for Life of America - and meet LOTS of new people from all over the US! I had the privilidge of having dinner with Fr. Frank Pavone and Wesley Smith the second night we were there. It was great... so wonderful to meet all these people that are making such an influence in the pro-life movement! For those of you who don't know - Fr. Frank Pavone is the Director of Priests for Life and Wesley Smith is big into Bioethics, Eugenics and Euthanasia. Two very prominent people in the pro-life movement. Throughout the conference I got to introduce some to SFLA, explain the organization and what we could offer students. We successfully found 10+ groups that needed help... which was very exciting! The third night we were there we had dinner with 20+ students from all over the US to discuss and network. It was a good time. Saturday we stayed for half the day and left around noon to head back to VA. The whole trip was incredible and an experience that I will fondly remember.

For the remainder of the weekend (aka - Sunday) I went with several of the interns to the International Spy Museum... I LOVED it! We did the brief tour and are considering going back for the interactive tour. After the Spy Museum we went to the Nationals Baseball game which was thuroughly enjoyable... I think the highlight for me was when Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt raced around the field. The game itself was moderately disappointing as the Nats lost to Toledo 9-4. However - the company of the staff and interns was great! I am loving the people here... we have all bonded so much and I truly enjoy spending time with all of them. After the Nats game, some of us went to Mass at St. Mary's in Chinatown. It was a very solumn Mass with no singing. It was peaceful and a good end to the day.

Yesterday was my first day back in the office since the NRL conference in NC. I did a lot of catching up and trying to do as much as possible. Then... as some of you may have heard - there was a very horrific, deadly metro crash. Praise God I was still at work when it happened. The crash was on the red line - the line I take every day to and from work. The crash happened at approximately 5 p.m. We found out in our office between 5:05 and 5:10. This crash is said to be the deadliest in DC metro history. You can read about it here. So, please, if you would - pray for all those involved and affected by the crash. The death toll is up to 7. The injured number is continually rising. I had a 2.5 hour commute this morning, as opposed to my normal 1 hour commute. I have never seen the metro so overloaded... It is such a sad day in DC. But, thank goodness for all the very dedicated metro workers. They have been working so hard and have made traveling go as smoothly as possible. I have also noticed that those commuting have seemed to embrace a more caring and sympathetic attitude during this tragic time. It will be a rough week in DC. Once again, please pray for the injured and all those involved.

I will try to keep on a weekly update - I hope all is well. Thank you for all your continued support. This internship is truly one of the best experiences of my life thus far. Take care.

For Life,

Sheri

Week 1 in D.C.

It has been quite hectic ever since I arrived in D.C. a week ago today. So, here is my first update!

I first arrived in Wheaton, MD to my host family’s house last Wednesday night. It was a very long drive, but the hours seemed shorter than expected. Fortunately, I didn’t run into any serious traffic issues, though a great deal of construction. As I was stuck in a traffic jam at one point, I was listening to Family Life Radio. It was a morning program and they were talking about some positive pro-life efforts. I was happy to hear so many good things about the pro-life movement on air. So, I decided to call in. I wasn’t expecting to be put on air; I merely wanted to thank them. However, after speaking with them, I heard the interview aired about 10 minutes after I hung up the phone. I was pretty excited.

Once I arrived in MD I had a good amount of time to settle in and get to know my host mom, Doris Gordon. She started Libertarians for Life and has quite a story! I recommend you visit her website at: www.L4L.org. There are many interesting articles on there that would be very beneficial to read.

I had a nice opportunity to visit with an old friend Thursday night and we watched the Red Wings game. Hopefully it won’t be a one time thing in the coming weeks!

My roommate, Kate, arrived Saturday night. It had rained the first few days I was there, so I was anxious to get out of the house. So, I ventured out with Kate and her friend, John who lives right off of Capitol Hill. It was a fun night on the town.

Sunday truly began the craziness of the week. Kate and I went to noon Mass at one of the local parishes: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. To our surprise, it was a graduation Mass for the parish school 8th grade class. So, that was an interesting experience… J Later that evening we went to the SFLA (Students for Life of America) BBQ in Arlington at the SFLA office courtyard. We had the privilege of meeting many of the people we would be working with: the SFLA staff, the other interns and some of the staffers from Feminists for Life and some other organizations.

Monday was our first day “on the job.” We did not venture out to our respective offices, but instead met up at the SFLA office for training. We had some very… rigorous… training for the first half of the day. In the afternoon we went to Capitol Hill for the Conservative Leadership Seminar at the Capitol Building. There were some very interesting speakers such as Bay Buchanan, Congressman John Shadegg and Liz Cheney. While the final speech was being given, a Capitol police officer entered the room. He began looking around for the person in charge and told us all to evacuate the building immediately. He gave us no reason, just that we all had to leave right then. We later found out that there was a suspicious package in the entrance of the building. After our evacuation we went out to dinner at an Italian Bistro several blocks from Capitol Hill. It was a quaint, privately owned restaurant. It was a fun, but exhausting first day.

Tuesday began our internship rotations. I start out with SFLA for the first three weeks. Two other interns start at that office with me while the other interns are at places such as the Susan B. Anthony List, Feminists for Life, and Congressional Offices on Capitol Hill. My first day I worked on several different projects, learned a lot and felt very productive! We then went to dinner at a pizzeria in the Ballston Mall. It was a lot of fun.

Today was my second day working in the SFLA office. I continued some of my projects from yesterday and had a great opportunity to be interviewed on National Pro-Life Radio. I also got to go to another speaker event from noon until 1pm. Professor Mike Novak spoke about Social Justice – its roots and how society has skewed the meaning to conform it to a liberal society. He referenced the encyclical “Rerum Novarum” by Pope Leo XIII. He also referenced Pope John Paul II on Social Justice. It was overall a great talk and I’m very glad I took my lunch break (and then some) to go listen to him. The rest of the day at the office went smoothly and I went out for dinner with the two other interns that work with me in the SFLA office, Rachana and Billy.

Overall it has been a good first week in Washington. I have not gotten lost on the metro. I have accidentally gotten off early on the bus… but I learned from that right away. I have gotten lost walking through D.C. twice, but quickly found my way – either by asking a random stranger or calling a friend… once again, I learned very quickly from that and won’t be making the same mistake twice. I am learning my way around D.C. and am starting to truly settle in. I now have the confidence that if God ever ends up calling me to live here, I wouldn’t be too upset about it. J I am really looking forward to all that D.C. has to offer this summer. Intern seminars, speaker events and dinners pop up all the time. My weeks are steadily becoming very busy, but I certainly don’t mind! This weekend I may be a bit of a tourist and visit Mount Vernon, the Spy Museum and the Basilica. That is my agenda so far… which is of course always subject to change – as is life in D.C.! One thing I find quite humorous though is that I have acquired the ability to decipher the tourist from the resident. It seems that if you are wearing a t-shirt and jeans on any weekday – most times you are deemed a tourist… I have never seen so many people in business clothes in one city – myself included, haha.

Now, with that, I think I should probably head off to bed. It will be another long day at the office tomorrow! Tomorrow night is our SFLA volunteer night, so we’ll be there until at least 9 p.m. I will try to send out updates at least once a week. I hope all is well back home!

For LIFE!

Sheri

Epiphany

So, last night I prayed the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. Immediately thereafter I fell asleep. I then had this crazy dream... I don't remember all of it - but the main thing I do remember is that I was being chased by wolves. This morning I was sitting down at breakfast sipping my coffee and this thought just popped into my head. I, of course, am no dream-interpreter... however, it is almost as if this dream was a sort of metaphor, if you will, for where I am currently at in my life. I am in Washington D.C.... not the "safest" place for most people... especially if you are pro-life and actively working for the movement. The imagery came across to me as "I am being fed to the wolves" or "I am fighting the wolves of abortion." It was an interesting thought... This is one of the greatest wars of our time. Yet, some don't even recognize it as a battle. I am here to stand, to fight and to show that many people DO care. I am here to demonstrate the ideals and moral values that I believe this country was built. Every human life deserves a chance to live. How is it possible that some people still do not understand that it is bluntly obvious when life begins? It begins at conception - the reason being, alongside many others, is that a new, growing, developing life starts at the moment of conception. A sperm cannot grow into a human being on its own. An egg cannot grow into a human being on its own. However, once the egg is fertilized by the sperm, it becomes a zygote and develops - oh so rapidly - into a living, breathing human being. I believe the debate circles around "when does life begin" way too much. Science can show when life begins. The real question should be - when does the life deserve to live?

If you look at our Declaration of Independence, it says a great deal:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Unalienable rights? What does this mean? This simply means that these rights cannot be given OR taken away. They are simply regarded as rights that any and every human being is endowed... not by man, no... but by their Creator. In many cases this means God. This is not necessarily to bring about a discussion of whether or not God exists - but to explain that every human being has these rights, whether or not they are stated by another. Now, to explain further, there is a difference between having these rights and having a "right to" these rights. A man who chooses to murder another, for example, has given up his rights to liberty. He chose to inflict on another person's right to life, therefore he shall be put in jail. Choices we make in life will certainly have an effect on what rights you will have a "right to have." As I have said in the past... not all freedoms are awarded to those who bear ignorance. If you do something stupid, there will be a consequence. I must credit a lot of this reflection to Doris Gordon, Founder of Libertarians for Life. I had a good conversation with her the other day about this... you should read some of her writings. Her website can be found here: www.L4L.org.

Wow

I just came to the realization that in 4 weeks and 3 days I will be in Washington D.C.

Wow.

It's funny because I have known that I was going for a while now... but it is just now becoming more real. I don't know if I can put my excitement into words.

This opportunity is something that I have only dreamed about. Who knew it would actually be happening? I am going to D.C. to work for the pro-life movement. Ahhh!

God is so good.

This isn't really related, but is totally worth sharing... I have been reading the book "Captivating." It has become one of my favorite books. I wish everyone had the opportunity to read it. It truly speaks mountains of truth regarding relationships between men and women. There are so, sooooo many sections of the book I would love to pass on. It took me a bit to get started on it just because I don't take enough time out to read - but once I finally did... wow. Once again, SO worth it.

Something that it speaks volumes about is the idea of loneliness. It is the root of many problems between men and women. It often drives a desire in us to seek out another person. Some people can't control that desire... they just keep searching and searching. This does not always allow God to step in to guide the individual. Sometimes it is best to just sit back and not see every person of the opposite sex as another "potential candidate" to date. I suppose this is putting it a bit harshly - but really... it is true. Many of us are guilty of this. I know I have been.

Honestly, the most important thing is to pray. If you find yourself on a constant search... don't worry - it is not intrinsically bad. It's just that you need to give God some room too. Don't try to push your plans on God... pray to be guided by His Will for your life. Pray that you will choose to follow His way... nothing but goodness can come of it. God is a loving Father that wants for you to be happy. There may be struggles along the way, but it is a learning process and we cannot expect the journey to be easy.

Chalk for Life!

It's Respect Life month and Students for Life of CMU are making sure that everyone is aware. On Sunday, October 21, 25 students chalked 4,000 hearts around Central Michigan's campus. These hearts represent the 4,000 lives lost every day in the United States alone from abortion. The main goal of chalking is to create greater awareness and provoke thought regarding abortion. Among the hearts were quotes and statistics. Some examples include:

"Any country that accepts abortion is the poorest of the poor" – Mother Theresa

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you live as you wish" – Mother Theresa

"Everyone who supported slavery was free. Everyone who supports abortion was born. That's how oppression works." – Anonymous

“If you can read this your weren’t aborted. Call your Mom today and thank her!” - Anonymous

“A person’s a person no matter how small.” – Dr. Seuss