As heard on NPR: “Several states, including Kansas and New Jersey, are debating so-called “wrongful birth” laws that would prevent parents from suing a doctor who fails to warn them about fetal problems.”

I immediately wrestled with the issue in my head because, you see, I’m pro-choice. Yes, and I’m a Christian. I get it. It’s a precarious situation and a slippery slope in itself. I do not believe that any abortions should be performed beyond the first trimester.

Anyway, this news report, though, deals with parents who, had they known about the disease/condition that their child would be subject to, would have aborted. Because the doctor didn’t warn them ahead of time they feel that they wrongfully gave birth.

My question is thus: At what point does a life become not worth it?

I mean, should parents be allowed to test an unborn fetus for the breast cancer gene? I mean, what if their child had to suffer at the age of 30 and would die after years of painful treatments? Should those parents be allowed to abort because, well, their child shouldn’t have to deal with that suffering?

Another report talks about a family and their child with down syndrome. This pains me. There are many people with mental retardation who go on to live wonderfully full lives. I believe that children born with health issues present us unique circumstances that we can use for the good.

I also read a good counter argument this morning (yes, it’s from a Christian perspective but not overdone). There are many folks with disabilities who go on to lead wonderfully full lives and their parents go on to say how grateful they are for this child and the unique situation and how their lives have changed for the better.

Anyway, feel free to talk among yourselves on this issue but be kind. For me, I just feel sad about this world we live in. It never ceases to amaze me what people today think is important. Our priorities are way out of whack.

I understand that we are all faced with unique challenges and that each person knows what is best for them and their family but suing for “wrongful birth” is just upsetting. I wonder where we head to next down this slippery slope.

YAY. (seriously how cute am I in this picture?)

Craig is taking me to a lovely dinner tonight and we’re having a celebration at the house this weekend that should be nice and having dinner with both his parents and mine one night. I’m so very blessed. Anyway, I started thinking about March 28 and knew of several celebrities with my birthdate and wondered who else was born then so I did a little research on Wikipedia. Turns out there are a lot of awesome things (and not so awesome things) that have happened on my birthday in years past that I felt the need to share it with y’all…

37 – Roman Emperor Caligula (3^rd Emperor of the Roman Empire) accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate.

364 – Roman Emperor Valentinian I appoints his brother Flavius Valens co-emperor.

1776 – Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco. (Where I visited last October)

1802 – Heinrich Wilhelm Matthäus Olbers discovers 2 Pallas, the second asteroid known to man.

1854 – Crimean War: France and Britain declare war on Russia.

1920 – Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1920 affects the Great Lakes region and Deep South states.

1930 – Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara.

1942 – World War II: In occupied France, British naval forces successfully raid the German-occupied port of St. Nazaire.

1946 – Cold War: The United States State Department releases the Acheson–Lilienthal Report, outlining a plan for the international control of nuclear power.

1959 – The State Council of the People’s Republic of China dissolves the Government of Tibet.

1978 – The US Supreme Court hands down 5-3 decision in Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, a controversial case involving involuntary sterilization and judicial immunity.

On the actual day of my birth in 1979 – Operators of Three Mile Island‘s Unit 2 nuclear reactor outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania fail to recognize that a relief valve in the primary coolant system has stuck open following an unexpected shutdown. As a result, enough coolant drains out of the system to allow the core to overheat and partially melt down.

And also in 1979 – The British House of Commons passes a vote of no confidence against James Callaghan‘s government, precipitating a general election.

2005 – The 2005 Sumatra earthquake rocks Indonesia, and at magnitude 8.7 is the fourth strongest earthquake since 1965.

2006 – At least 1 million union members, students, and unemployed take to the streets in France in protest at the government’s proposed First Employment Contract law.

In addition, number of important people share my birthday including several musicians, most notably Lady Gaga whom I had absolutely no clue was an Aries but now it makes perfect sense why she is the way she is (don’t hold it against me y’all)…

1472 – Fra Bartolommeo, Italian artist (d. 1517)

1515 – Teresa of Avila, Spanish Carmelite nun and saint (d. 1582)

1652 – Samuel Sewall, American magistrate and best known for the Salem Witch Trials (d. 1730)

1793 – Henry Schoolcraft, American geographer and geologist (d. 1864)

1806 – Thomas Hare, English political scientist (d. 1891)

1818 – Wade Hampton III, American soldier and politician from South Carolina (d. 1902)

1836 – Frederick Pabst, American brewer (d. 1904) (although I don’t care for PBR)

1842 – William Harvey Carney, American Civil War officer (d. 1908)

1892 – Corneille Heymans, Belgian physiologist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1968)

1899 – August “Gussie” Anheuser Busch, Jr., American brewer and baseball executive (d. 1989)

1905 – Marlin Perkins, American zoologist and television host of Wild Kingdom (d. 1986)

1930 – Jerome Isaac Friedman, American physicist, Nobel laureate

1946 – Henry Paulson Jr., American economist

1955 – Reba McEntire, American singer and actress

1962 – Jure Franko, Slovenian skier

1969 – Rodney Atkins, American country music singer-songwriter

1970 – Vince Vaughn, American actor

1973 – Matt Nathanson, American singer-songwriter

1975 – Matt Reis, American soccer goalkeeper

1975 – Kate Gosselin, American TV personality

1976 – Dave Keuning, American guitar player (The Killers)

The actual day of my birth in 1979 – Crystal Cox, American track and field athlete and reality television contestant on the show Survivor (plus, she’s from Virginia y’all)

1981 – Julia Stiles, American actress (my sister’s fav)

1986 – Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and dancer (and overall eccentric)

Anyway, thought that was an interesting list and felt like I should record it somewhere for posterity. Hope that y’all are having a wonderful week and I hope that this year is as wonderful to you as it is for me! God bless.

XOXO

This year I’m going to add instead of subtract. I plan on making sure I incorporate quiet time into my schedule each and every day even if it means that I’m going to bed later than I would like. I’m going to take the time to pray and really focus on my time with God and ask for his direction and divine providence in my life.

Tonight we have the Ash Wednesday service at church to begin the time of repentance leading up to the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ Jesus. Tonight we will pray and remember the temptation of Christ in the wilderness and ask God to come into our hearts as we repent of our sins.

-MissCaron

Do you participate in Lent? Are you giving something up? Are you adding something new? Will you do any fasting?

Craig loves me so much y’all, and goodness gracious do I ever love him. Words cannot express how glad I am that God has blessed me with this man. He’s so sweet and so very good to me. We have our arguments like any other couple but he’s committed to working through them and coming out on the other side and that is the difference. He’s thoughtful and always considers “us” in his decisions. He makes me want to be a better person and I’m learning to not be so selfish.

I love when we just lie on the couch in each other’s arms and talk about life. I love that he’s one of the most intelligent people I know. I love that he never hesitates to kiss me and often. I love that he remembers the kind of food I like and will make a special portion of the salad just for me before adding the stuff that he likes. I love that he goes out of his way to make room for me in the house and genuinely wants me to feel like it is my home, too. I love that he finds me incredibly sexy and can’t keep his hands off me. I love that he encourages me to be healthy and work out and not because it’s a physical desire of his but because he knows that it’s important to me and he wants us to have a long life together.

I cannot imagine my life without this man. He’s open and honest and hardworking. He’s loving and caring and compassionate. He’s grounded in his faith and fun to be around. He’s the yin to my yang. On this Valentine’s day I say a prayer to all those out there who were where I was for so long. Stick to your guts and don’t settle and don’t listen when people say that you’re too picky and don’t overlook something because you don’t think that initial spark is there and really trust that God does have a plan for you. It will work out for the best. It’s okay to doubt. It’s okay to wonder if it will ever really happen. That’s what makes us human.

For those of you who have a significant other I ask that you look very seriously at your relationship and that you work hard to make sure that you are both committed and are actively engaged in the relationship for better or worse, in sickness and health, as long as you both shall live. For those of you who do not have a significant other I ask that you continue to pray and that you continue to work on yourself to make sure you are the best you can be in preparation for your future spouse. I know that I am definitely not the person I was even just 5 years ago and I know that I needed this time to really work on myself and my self-esteem and to become confident in my ability to be a good spouse. You have to love yourself before you can truly love someone else. I pray that you find the one your heart desires and I know that eventually you will. Cherish every moment y’all. I wake up every day and thank God that He has given me Craig.

Take time today to love someone and to love yourself. St. Valentine was arrested and imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at that time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Today is the day we honor this Saint and remember that we were created with love in mind. Not only did God design us to experience love with each other but He designed us to experience love with Him. “For God so LOVED the world that he sent His only Son…” John 3:16.

Much love you y’all!

-MissCaron

I’ve started a pinterest board full of ideas and we’ve nailed down the venue. I think that we know what colors and what the bridesmaids/groomsmen will wear and what kind of theme we want.

Here are some of my ideas:

Possible bridesmaid dress

Suits for the men and calla lily boutonniere

Wedding colors

Baby’s breath on tables and as other decoration

Also using mason jars in the decoration and at the ceremony site

Simple table arrangements using burlap

Orange napkins as the accent color

Possible use of luminaries

Of course, once the elements start really coming together it all might change. I know that the men will definitely be wearing chinos and white shirts and Craig will be in a chino suit (or something like that). This means that the bridesmaids (my sisters) will be in beige most likely, unless they can find something that’s orangey and will work well with what the men are wearing. Also, I know that the men will have calla lily boutonnieres and we’ll have calla lilies in our bouquets but outside of a few other touches of those colors I think I’m going to utilize a lot of baby’s breath. It’s cheap but it looks pretty in a big bunch and will go with our rather rustic theme. I especially like the use of burlap. I can get a giant roll of it fairly cheap and I plan on cutting equal squares for the tables and using the burlap in the bouquets and on the serving stations, etc. Simple Casual Elegance. At least that’s what I’m aiming for. I’ll share more details as we progress.

SOURCE

I know that I’ve been absent from this here blog. I’m not the best at sticking with this thing. I’ve felt like I thought I had things to say but then real life got in the way. I really need to just make time to do this. I enjoy writing and sharing my  story with y’all so I’m going to make a better effort. Besides I need some place I can share all my thoughts about this impending wedding.

SO EXCITING.

I really wondered at times if it would ever happen for me. I wondered if I was going to find the right person that I really enjoyed being with and who enjoyed being with me. I will say that, in my case, eHarmony actually worked. It really was a great vessel to introduce me to Craig and I’m so thankful that Jeannie talked me into giving it a try.

Craig and I really enjoy each other’s company. We ride bikes and take walks on the beach. We have great conversations. We watch the news and debate the issues. We make time every Sunday evening for Downton Abbey. We go to church and are currently doing a bible study every night to help us set this marriage off on the right track.

We’re very blessed.

-Caron

God bless! XOXO

Anyway I hope y’all are doing well and that y’all had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Craig made some fabulous dinners this past week so I thought I’d share. First up is this pork and black bean and corn combination.

Then he made this awesome salmon dill pasta dish that was super yummy! I’m very lucky that he loves to cook.