BIRMINGHAM MARCH FOR... !!!!!!

 

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it

Life is life, fight for it.”

 

 

This Sunday I took part in the 2nd ever Birmingham March for Life. Hundreds of people young and old,  from England, Scotland and Wales, took to the streets of Birmingham to proclaim the dignity of each human life. The March for Life marks the half-way point for the Birmingham 40 days for Life campaign and was inspired by the American March for Life which last year saw around 500,000 witness to the inviolable right to life of each human being from conception to natural death.

 

It was an epically freezing day and my bright yellow coat was appropriate in colour but not the best protection against the Artctic winds! "The Beast from the East" as this weather spell has been named however did not dampen (or rather freeze!) the spirits of those marching nor of the fabulous speakers who adressed us including the wonderful Eve Farren of the Alliance of Pro-life Students, Rob Coloqhoun of 40 days for Life, Isabel Vaughan Spruce (the 40 days for life co-ordinator in Birmingham) and Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life. All the speeches were inspirational. What came across most strongly from each speaker was the desire to heal our country from the culture of death with love and commitment.

 

 

Abortion hurts women

                                                                 
                                                     YELLOW pro-life umbrellas!!!

 

The moment that we watched hundreds of our yellow ballons drift away on the icy wind!

 Me looking slightly manic- Defrosting in Starbucks!!!

20 weeks and counting- a life to be protected.

So I am half way through! A scary thought, in 20 weeks I will be be able to hold my baby for the first time! Argh, I don't even know what babies need. Milk, warmth and love, right?! Hopefully the hubby and I will have it sussed by then.
This mile stone got be thinking, what if I changed my mind? I can completely understand why women is situations different to mine would consider it. I've had to suspend my Master's degree for a year, have  to take maternity leave (which I only get because I'm on a permanent contract) and my body is doing crazy things. The lack of control I feel over my own body is a real struggle, everyday I look in the mirror and my tummy has grown, my face is chubbier and my breasts are swollen (no complaints from Boy there!) Although this pregnancy is wanted and welcome, I really did not anticipate how much I would struggle with the changes to my body. And, it's only going to get worse. During the spring I would usually love getting my spring dresses out but now, due to the lack of any waistline, I'm stuck in drab pregnancy clothes.
Obviously the reasons women chose to abort are more complicated and far less shallow than their waistline and spring dresses, but I do think that the complete lack of control over her own body is a key issue. I can totally understand why a woman would feel utterly overwhelmed- I do.
So, I'm 20 weeks, it's pretty obvious I'm pregnant. This photo I pretty close to my belly size.

What if I wanted to opt out now? Well, I have another four weeks to decide. Perhaps it isn't clear to supporters of abortion how far gone I actually am.
My baby is the size of my hand:

I can feel my baby move, this has been occurring for almost a month now. The movements are so strong that my husband can feel them when he holds my belly.
It's mental! Research suggests that my baby can even hear and recognise my voice (poor thing, I do talk a lot of nonsense!)
When I was prochoice I viewed a foetus as just a clump of cells, a special clump but a clump nonetheless. Now, as a mother, I am totally convicted that this child in me is a life to be protected. 

 Katie xxx

New Wave Feminists: Who Really Benefits From Abortion THE MOST?

I recently discovered the blog- New Wave Feminists. I love their gutsy attitude. This video is a short intro to the different players who profit from the abortion industry; it sure isn't women.
Abortion cannot be the best we have to offer women.


New Wave Feminists: Who Really Benefits From Abortion THE MOST?

This photo is from here

A heart in a heart.

So, amazing news, the hubby and I are expecting a baby in July! How exciting is that?!
So here's baby chicken (as we've named the bump!) chilling out with legs crossed, not a care in the world.

I have to say that experiencing pregnancy first hand has cemented by pro-life position. When we saw our child at 12 weeks it just confirmed the conviction that this is indeed a human being with independent rights. At 12 weeks we could see the heart beating, pumping blood around the little body. (The dark shadow you can see is the heart) This miracle is why we called this blog, 'A heart in a heart', because pregnancy is the only time the miracle of growing and protecting another heart occurs- it blows my mind just to think about it!

Katie x