Making Whole: Illustrate a Quote

by Diane Steinbach

The written word, whether it is a particularly significant song lyric, bible verse or famous quote, can sometimes resonate so deeply with something within us that we grasp onto it like a life raft in times of trouble or sorrow.

Write down whatever quote or verse that reflects your current mood.  Illustrate it through the abstract use of color and lines, or a more representative image. Think about the words while you work, and how the words relate to you and your own feelings and situation.  Take your time and develop the image fully.

When you are done take a deep breath and release all the emotion you have tied to the words, be them sadness, loneliness, regret or anxiety. Release those emotions and deposit them into the drawing. Walk away feeling lighter and more at ease.


Diane Steinbach is the author of: Art As Therapy: Innovations, Inspiration and Ideas:, Art Activities for Groups: Providing Therapy, Fun and Function and A Practical Guide to Art Therapy Groups

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South Dakota Screens Women for Coercion Prior to Abortions

South Dakota is taking an important step in preventing abortions beginning July 1st. Although abortions are still legal, they are holding abortion clinics responsible to screen women for psychological factors that may indicate that they are being coerced to have the abortion by someone else.
Please check out this link from After Abortion.org:

Pre-Abortion Screening Law to Take Effect in South Dakota

Posted on June 29, 2012 by EI

A federal court has dissolved an injunction against enforcement of a new law in South Dakota that requires abortion doctors to screen women for coercion and other factors that increase the risk of psychological complications after abortion.
Beginning July 1, physicians must screen women for coercion and other risk factors for psychological complications before scheduling an abortion.
The law contains elements of the Elliot Institute’s model legislation, which was the first in the nation to create civil liability for abortionists who fail to screen women for coercion and other risk factors.
“This is an important step forward in protecting the rights of women who are facing unwanted, unsafe, and unnecessary abortions,” said Dr. David Reardon, a leading researcher in the field of abortion complications and director of the Elliot Institute.

Read more...

Treasuring Grace BookClub Discussion Questions Chapter 1 and 2

Hi Friends,
We hope you have enjoyed the book club thus far. Below are the discussion questions for chapters 1 and 2. If you have gathered your friends together to enjoy the book as a group, begin your discussion!

If you are reading the book for a second time, you'll appreciate the notes from the author in the second "SPOILER ALERT" section of the posting. Here you will find Rob Plumley's discussion questions (same as in the first section) along with his insights ... but be warned! Reading the second section may give away some of the secrets of the book if you haven't discovered the treasures of Treasuring Grace already!

Discussion Questions for Chapter 1 and 2

1)       What is the pin?  If you’ve read to the end, you know what the pin is. 

2)       What do you think the voice of Liz’s grandfather represents?

3)       In Liz’s journal entry at the end of Ch 1, why won’t Grace ever wear the sweatshirt? 

4)       Describe the relationship of Liz and Scott.  Has it changed?  

   

SPOILER ALERT:  QUESTIONS WITH AUTHORS INSIGHTS

1)       What is the pin?  If you’ve read to the end, you know what the pin is.  Look at the back cover of your book.  Do you see how it might be mistaken for an angel’s wings or a butterfly especially if you didn’t want to believe what it was?

2)       What do you think the voice of Liz’s grandfather represents? Throughout the book his voice represents her conscience trying to guide her to the truth.

3)       In Liz’s journal entry at the end of Ch 1, why won’t Grace ever wear the sweatshirt?  As Liz falls asleep, she’s still mourning the loss of Grace.  But notice that she’s deluded in her sleep and has already convinced herself that Grace is alive and needs a swimsuit for the trip.  Scott accepts it as meaningless sleep talk.

4)       Describe the relationship of Liz and Scott.  Has it changed?  They were probably newlyweds for a long time.  Their relationship is still pretty good.  They laugh together.  They love each other.  Liz makes cookies, leaves notes, and recognizes the goodness in Scott.  Scott worries about Liz being taken advantage of on the trip.  He credits her with their wonderful kids.  But there is a gap growing between them.  Neither knows the origin, but both recognize it.  For example, it might have been nice for Liz to wait up for Scott, and maybe she would have if he’d called.

  

Start reading Chapters 3, 4 and 5! 

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Great Message Supporting Fathers: California Billboards Campaign

Check out this article from Lifenews.com about an ad campaign that was promoted in California. A quote from the article is perfect for this weekends Father's Day Holiday " When a child is conceived, a Father is born...

Fatherhood Begins in the Womb, New Pro-Life Billboards Say

by Steven Ertelt | Sacramento, CA | LifeNews.com | 9/14/11 10:55 AM

 A new pro-life billboard campaign in California has a clear message for the African-American community:  Fatherhood begins in the womb. That’s what a group of black pro-life advocates want people to know.
Walter Hoye, a pro-life African-American pastor, teamed up with Radiance Foundation founder Ryan Bomberger, a LifeNews blogger who is a black pro-life and adoption advocate, for the new professional billboard campaign.
The Radiance Foundation, partnering with the Issues4Life Foundation, announces a powerful new billboard/web campaign to illuminate the crisis of fatherlessness. The new TooManyAborted.com billboards, “Fatherhood begins in the womb”, have been placed in Sacramento, California, the state that has aborted 214,190 of its children in the last reported year, Bomberger says.
“When a child is conceived, a father is born,” Bomberger told LifeNews.

Follow this link to the full article on lifenews.com : http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/14/fatherhood-begins-in-the-womb-new-pro-life-billboards-say/

Men's Rights: Pro Life Resources for Men

Although the pro life cause is often thought of as a woman's issue, men's rights and emotions are equally complex and important. Whether it is post-abortion healing that needs to be addressed, or help planning a discussion with a girlfriend or mate, there are numerous resources for men to help. In honor of the upcoming Father's Day Holiday, I thought a list of some of the available resources might be useful.

Life Issues Institute offers a listing of articles, bible studies and books on the subject:
http://www.lifeissues.org/men/resources.html

Guys For Life is a comprehensive website that offers mentoring and plentiful resources for men in need.
http://www.guysforlife.org/

Men and Abortion Network offers help and healing for men who have lost children to abortion


http://www.menandabortion.net/

The Unchoice has a good listing of resources focused on the needs of men affected by abortion.

http://theunchoice.com/men.htm

Pro Life Men of America is another website that provides resources, links and information relevant to men.


http://www.prolifemen.org/

This list is not comprehensive, but will give you a good start if you are looking for help.  Know of a good resource you'd like to share? please comment here.

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Summer Time is Time to Commit to the Cause

Finding time for the causes you have a passion for is tough, but summertime is a good chance to re commit yourself to the pro life cause, and get your youth groups more involved as well.  Lifenews.com has a great list of ideas of Pro Life Youth groups can do this summer to get involved and spread the good word.  Internships, "training camps," prayer groups, pro-life tee shirts and fundraising car washes are just some ideas in this article that can help get a sleepy-group of teens active and involved.  Check out the full article here and get inspired!
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/25/top-ten-things-pro-life-youth-can-do-this-summer/


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Coming Soon.... Can you Read Between the Lines?

"Treasuring Grace" is a great read with a message we want to share... we have an idea of how we can make it fun and easy for you to get involved! ... Get your copy now and get ready for a fun summer .... Stay Tuned!

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Mother's Day ~ a day to celebrate life, a day to celebrate Mothers!

This day may bring mixed emotions for many.

Maybe, it is approached with unfulfilled expectations, sorrow over past mistakes, but also joy in the present.
The could haves and should haves linger in our mind.

It is best said in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, "Perhaps he might have spent the rest of his life in weeping over this one fault; perhaps he might have made this one sin the subject of constant repentance; he might like Magdalen, like Augustine, have made the memory of this fault a motive for more fervent love."

We can let go of the could haves and should haves to embrace the future with faith, hope and love!

"This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

Happy Mother's Day!

Tracy


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Mother's Day and Healing

Mother's Day can be a particularly difficult time for women who have had abortions. Although they must live with the decision to abort every day, the Mother's Day holiday rubs salt in the wound for many, and reminds them of the regrets and what-might-have-beens had they made better choices.

There is no going back, and many have used their mistakes to help other women avoid the pitfalls of what can seem like an "easy"choice in a time of desperation. However, if you talk to any post-abortion woman, chances are she can tell you how old her baby would have been, had she carried it to term.

 The unsaid things are all the imagined girl scout meetings, trick or treating and sporting events she wishes she had gone to.

No matter what your political point of view is, there is no understating the number of victims of abortion...both unborn children and those who may have been great mothers had someone believed in them or supported them.

 Promoting healing is one of the things we believe in here at Treasuring Grace, and Mother's Day is just another opportunity to encourage those with broken hearts to reach out to any number of resources to finally heal your wounds and become the whole person you were meant to be.

Whether you choose one on one counseling or online support, private journaling or working through your pain in other ways, please do something that brings love and light into your heart. Ignoring your past does not work, and will not help you avoid the inevitable reminders of the love you were meant to share with the world. Share your love - now- in some way and forgive yourself, and heal.

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Mother's Day Letter: a Touching Testimony

Hi Friends,
I found this letter on the Priests for Life website, and wanted to share it with all of you in honor of the upcoming Mother's Day:







Dear Friend:
Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I am 48 years old and every Mother's Day since I aborted my two children has been painful. Some years, and most of the days in between, I muted the pain by listening to the cultural messages around me that there had not been life present anyway. I tried to talk to my female therapist about what I was feeling after the first abortion. She told me that women who give up their children for adoption suffer trauma but women who have abortions generally do not. So, in addition to feeling regret and sorrow unlike anything I had ever known, I then felt there was something wrong with me for being as affected by the abortion as I was.

I stopped talking about it. What I did was what some of us do after having an abortion… I got pregnant again the very next year. Even then, I understood my unconscious wish to undo what I had done.  I thought about carrying this child to term, but my cowardice and shame overtook me once again. I chose to stop the process of life for a second time.

Often during the last years, I would think, "How old would my children be now if they had lived?" But last November, at a Project Rachel retreat, I let myself realize the full truth ...that they are alive, that they exist today. I met them in my heart and did what I never thought in a million years I would be able to do -- I named them. Rachel and David. I finally began my relationship with them six months ago. I acknowledged their eternal existence, and I love them.

I have heard it said that our children are the ones who keep after us, pushing us on toward healing and reconciliation. I think this is true. I was led to the retreat which was the single most powerful, profound and life changing event of my life. I knew I had been reconciled with God before the retreat. Nine years ago I returned to Him and received His forgiveness through one of His priests. But I did not feel reconciled to myself, or my children. God's love flooded me during the retreat and led me to the reconciliation and internal peace that had always been out of reach.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. In my church on this day, the priest asks all the mothers in the church to stand at the end of the Mass for a blessing. It has always been agony for me; as women all around me stand, and I sit. You see, I never had a pregnancy again, I have never given birth. And until last November, I never let myself know that I have two children, that I too am a mother. So when the priest asks tomorrow, I will kneel for my blessing. The women who gave birth deserve to stand -- I am at peace receiving my full blessing from a more humble position.

Friend, please try. Trust your heart, trust God and your child to lead you where you have always needed to go. For my part, I will pray for you and will ask Rachel and David to look out for your little one until we join them there, surrounded by God, who is Love.
God Bless You,
A Mother

originally printed:  http://www.priestsforlife.org/postabortion/casestudiesb/casestudy2110.htm

Abortion Laws Around the Globe...

Have you ever wondered what abortion laws look like around the world?  You can do a quick Google search or you can go to this site http://www.pregnantpause.org/lex/world02.jsp.  There’s a wealth of information, but it’s presented as a color-coded table which makes it very easy to read.

Brace yourself.  We are the most permissive, along with human rights abusers like China, Cuba, and North Korea.

Mark Steyn wrote an interesting but terrifying book a few years back called America Alone which discussed how many countries were in decline because they weren’t maintaining their populations.  From the chart, many of those countries also have some of the more permissive abortion laws.

Do you know what’s even more interesting, though?  Our recent enemies, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya have some of the most restrictive abortion laws.  I don’t pretend to understand what’s driving these laws, certainly a combination of tradition, religion, and culture.  But how is it possible that countries that sponsor suicide bombers and terrorist acts against women and children can hold unborn babies in higher regard than we do?

 
~ Rob


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A Message from Rob: Co Author of Treasuring Grace

I think it’s important to start by echoing what Jake says in Treasuring Grace.  “There are two victims in every abortion.”  That’s our belief.  Our greatest hope is that the story may lead victims to understanding and forgiveness and help others to avoid the heartache completely.  No strong words on this site will ever be directed toward a woman who has suffered through an abortion.

However, on occasion, there will be strong words.  There are forces within our society that have an agenda that is abhorrent to the cause of life.  They are deceivers, and more of us need to be aware of them and their lies.

Take care,

Rob


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Pro Life and Healing After Abortion Blog Hop

Hi Friends,
A blog hop is a way for related blogs to network and link together so that readers can easily "hop" from one site to the next and read and learn quickly and easily all the wonderful content that is out there. Since starting this blog, I haven't been able to find such a thing for pro life or healing blogs such as my own, so I decided to start one! Its all part of my mission to help spread the truth and awareness and make it easy for people to find the information they need. If you have a blog and would like to join, simply go to the "click here, your next" link below this post to join...