I Am Woman: A Testimony of Truth

Natural. Family. Planning.
First off, allow me to tell you a little something about myself up front. I am not "crunchy" and I don't even like granola that much. Yes, I prefer organic, co-slept w/ my babies, and breastfed past a year but I don't consider myself "hardcore." Although I love me some tie-dye and Indian food, I also color my hair and wear high heels. I also am not a super devout Catholic. I mean, I'd love to be and hopefully am getting there but I don't see myself ever wearing a lace head thingy...I mean, I don't even know what they're called. Brace yourself...I still wear a bikini (and yes, I've seen this video). Also, I have been married for 10 years and only have 3 children. Duggers we are not (not that there's anything wrong with that).

It's important to know these things because I think people generally believe that NFPers fit a certain stereotype. This couldn't be further from the truth. I am blessed to know a broad spectrum of all natural married lovers and their reasons for doing so are also quite varied.

Before my husband and I got married, he knew up front that I would never use contraceptives. My reasons were both spiritual and physical while he just simply did not want me to put that "crap" in my body. Love that guy. In my youth I was...uh...not such a good girl. I used the Pill and later Depo-Provera. I believed the lie that this was the responsible thing to do and most definitely felt like it was a rite of passage. Sure, my mom encouraged abstinence but our culture (ahem, the devil) had a strong hold on me. Furthermore, I believed the lie that a person cannot control their body and that hormones are stronger than one's will. Now, the verse 1 Corinthians 10:13 comes to mind, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." I had a way "out" but never called upon it.

Women are told to embrace their inner strength and that we can be and DO anything. True dat. Awesome words and empty words. We can be CEOs, soldiers, doctors, lawyers, and firefighters. But can we control our bodies? Laughable. Well I'm here to tell you, you can. Birth control does not just control birth, it controls your body. One of the many side effects of hormonal contraceptives is that it lowers a woman's sex drive. Romantic. Sex can also become less enjoyable for women because it changes the cervical mucus, therefore, vaginal dryness is a common complaint. Sexy.

There is a reason it is called BIRTH control and not conception control. "Hormonal contraceptives can also prevent pregnancy by making the lining of the womb inhospitable for implantation." WEB-MD. Yes, you read that right. All hormonal contraceptives are abortifacients. Basically, the fertilized egg starves to death because it cannot attach to the nutrient rich lining of the uterus. The dead blastocyst (new life w/ separate DNA) gets flushed out with the woman's next period and she had no idea she was even pregnant. How often does this occur? There is no way of knowing. I wept when I learned this truth.

The organic food industry is expected to grow by over 12% in the U.S. by 2014. I personally find this very exciting...and confusing. I'm happy that people are starting to wonder why 9 year old girls are starting menses and why breast cancer is at an all time high. Hormones in our foods can create havoc in our bodies. I'm unhappy that most women are not aware that hormonal contraceptives are class 1 carcinogens: "Estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives (combined) (Note: There is also convincing evidence in humans that these agents confer a protective effect against cancer in the endometrium and ovary)" American Cancer Society. In that same list you will find: Arsenic, asbestos, formaldehyde, ionizing radiation, coal-tar pitch, plutonium, and tobacco smoke. Do smokers disgust you? Do you assume that they don't care about their health? What if they took their tobacco in a convenient pill form?

If knowledge is power then the pharmaceutical companies along with Planned Parenthood want us to be weak. After all, Planned Parenthood was commissioned to write the original curriculum on modern day sex-ed programs. I don't seem to recall learning any of the above in health class or getting a full explanation from my OBGYN. Planned Parenthood's website omits the fact that the IUD (even the hormone free copper IUD, Paraguard) affects the lining of the uterus, thus making it an abortifacient. A supposedly "facts-based" website for teens gives a one sentence explanation on how the IUD works, also hiding its potential abortive mechanism and the fact that sterility is a side effect because the IUD can create endometrium scar tissue. They must think teens are stupid and can't read more than one sentence.

Everything about how I was created is perfect, including my reproductive system -even when my cycles are irregular and my PMS symptoms are horrendous and if bottled could be used as a biological weapon. Most importantly my fertility is not a disease that needs medicine. Isn't that what true feminism should be? Truly accepting who we are? I have chosen to embrace who I am and in turn embrace my Creator. My deepest prayer is that you will allow God to be in control of your life, every area, and no longer be a slave to our culture of death. All that I have written may seem like an inconvenient truth but the truth shall set you free! "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32


Below is a video where I highlight my personal testimony about NFP. I start at 33:25. Be kind, it was my first time giving a speech :)

National Offend a Feminist Week 2011

Being that I'm a "homemaker advocate", this Suzy Q. must do her part in offending feminists around the globe. Will I picket on the roadside with angry eyebrows as they do? No. Will I decoupage my vehicle with hateful bumper sticker propaganda? No. I will simply go about my day as planned and stick to the original mission...fulfilling my purpose on this earth. Allow me to brief you on operation "Trophy Wife":
I'm going to put my apron on, make a delicious dinner (possibly even dessert), fold laundry, take our children to the playground, work out (so that I look good for my man and feel good about myself), serve my husband a cold beer when he gets home from work, and also give him some sweet lovin' when the kiddies go to bed.

The word "trophy" is defined as:

1. Anything taken in war, hunting, competition, etc., especially when preserved as a memento; spoil, prize, or award.
2. Anything serving as a token or evidence of victory, valor, skill, etc.
3. A carving, painting, or other representation of objects associated with or symbolic of victory or achievement.

How can a woman not smile when she is considered a symbol of a man's achievement? His successes are mine and visa-versa; a true companionship. Our daughter is only 2 but when she's old enough she'll be taught that she can do anything that a man can do, but if he wants to do it for her, then let him. Why women wanted to be taken off of their pedestal is beyond my comprehension. My husband serves his family by working hard and bringing home a paycheck and I serve by managing the home, finances, children, and so much more. Each job is equally important and essential to marriage and family life.
When pleading the cause of the stay-at-home mom, you'll often hear women say, "But what about MY career?", or, "I need to have a life of my own". Here's the thing ladies, YOU are not your own. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:20 that, "For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Not only that, if a woman is married and has children, she also belongs to the greatest people on earth...her family. And with that comes the great task of raising children of and for God in a world that seeks to destroy their precious little souls...and of course the diapers, laundry and dishes. By those standards, I have the most fulfilling and draining career in the world.

Matthew 23:11 says, "But the greatest among you shall be your servant". Now I'll be honest, I don't always feel so great when I'm the 1st one to rise and the last one to go to bed and look and feel like Quasimodo from picking up toys all day, just so that the Mr. doesn't have to come home to a mine field...but "great is my reward in heaven", right? There are of course the earthly rewards as well. To realize that, all I have to do is look at my beautiful family and look forward to planning my 50th wedding, because if we continue to follow God's will for our life, there WILL be a 50th wedding anniversary! It's possible that one or both of us could already have passed away but there will be celebrating, nonetheless.

My heart truly goes out to these mislead women because they're missing out on so much...other than just their bras. My prayer is that they will put away their pant suits and picket signs and discover their true femininity and embrace it. I don't think anyone has ever been truly fulfilled by only serving themselves. To the mommas who are super moms who work full-time and still have the energy and time to "do it all", please tell me what vitamins you're on because this lil' lady just couldn't do it....so maybe I'm the weak one. You no doubt serve your family in love but also financially. Your sacrifices are eternal as well. I just sincerely believe in one truth and that an "ideal" in this life still exists. Maybe I'm wrong. There is so much importance in why we were created...to glorify His name and we do that by fulfilling our purpose, "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." 1 Corinthians 11:9. 
Now, for your enjoyment, a funny article about today's festivities...
http://theothermccain.com/2011/05/02/national-offend-a-feminist-week-2011/?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dbec6c7947e4072%2C1

P.S. I'm also going to continue NOT using birth control...that should really eat at 'em!