I got this in my email today. “Army Princess” gave me permission to share it, so long as I removed the names. I hope it gives you a fraction of the joy it gave me! ❤
Dear Mom,
Hello! I have a question/favor to ask. I’m working on a case study/proposal for one of my classes to show how an existing non-profit operating in Kosovo could add a Life Center to their portfolio – why they should, how it could happen.
For my final I’m working on a presentation. I’m thinking about opening the presentation by humanizing the issue. Kosovo doesn’t have any life centers in the country and the number one client for abortion tend to be young mothers who already have 1-2 children, and are struggling financially. Kosovo has the highest rate of unemployment in Europe and the lowest GDP. Culturally pregnancy issues are not spoken of. Only healthy pregnancies that happen within a marriage are acceptable to discuss. There are approximately 10 Life centers in all of the Balkans providing counseling to women in scary pregnancy situations.
This encompasses unplanned pregnancies, post-abortion trauma, miscarriages, and infertility grief. It seems these centers are one of the only places women in the Balkans know they can really go and talk to someone about their fear. Unless they seek out an abortion facility – also quiet and not discussed. My current thought to open and close with – is to show how important it is to have someone to talk to about your fears, and someone to help you through the hard times and know that there is someone there who will listen, take your concerns seriously and help you find solutions.
Doing the research made me think of you and Daddy when you found out you were pregnant with [our baby sister]. If you’re comfortable with it, I was thinking about showing a family photo of the four of us before she was born and introducing the family and stating two small children, financial concerns and then added to that – the health concern. Highlighting how important it was that you had people to support you, to pray for you, and to help you through. And then show a photo of her in her Marine uniform and mother of four. That the support you received when you were pregnant, didn’t just result in a baby. It resulted in a life that impacted many, a life that supported the future of the country and a life that continues to add goodness and hope into the world.
That’s my idea. But I realize it is really personal and while it is anonymous – I wouldn’t want to do that without your permission. If you’re okay with it, could you send me some photos from that year? Love you! And thank you for raising us with such great awareness on Life.
“Army Princess”
PHOTOS:
- May 1985 – Army Princess, me, Dearest when he (finally) finished his B.Arch. degree. I am extremely hypersensitive to progesterone, which is 8x higher during pregnancy; I am also Rh-sensitized, so my first two were Rh babies. We were not supposed to have another child, but God had other ideas. When we found out I was pregnant, Dearest had just embarked on his third try at finishing his degree; he was working full time and his very generous boss had not only granted him time to go to classes, but had paid half the tuition! For months of the pregnancy, I was in a tremendous amount of pain and wasn’t able to walk further than the bathroom. Our two little ones (born November 1981 and October 1983) were in full time day care until Daddy got home from work, then he had to do all the household and child care everything while trying to finish his degree.
- June 1985 – #3 hit the danger zone for Rh disease at around 22 or 24 weeks, so I had to have 7 amnios. The irritation in my uterus caused premature labor; the drug I had to take made me sicker. We had to take C-section classes, because they were certain I’d never be able to deliver naturally, but I’m also allergic to narcotics, so post-operative pain was a big concern.
- August 1985 – God be praised and chalk it up to a whole lot of help from relatives, friends, and loving strangers … our bills got paid, Daddy got his degree, Mommy survived, and baby thrived. She went full term, was born without surgery, and was healthier afterward than her previous sibling had been … which just does not happen with Rh disease! Our doctor said, “You can call it a ‘miracle’ if you want to. I sure can’t explain it.”
- September 1985 – (l to r) Army Princess, Mama Buzz, and Dearest at the picnic we had after #3’s Baptism.
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