Wednesday, February 16, 2011

pep talk

Can't say that I'm almost caught up on my to-do list. I don't think I ever will be! I am of the persuasion that by the time I start to feel like I have things under control, I will simply acquire new ambitions to keep me on my toes! So.....when I think I might be taking on more than I can handle, I must simply stretch my abilities to accommodate! Ha! I can do all things through Him who gives me strength!
So that was just my own little pep talk.
We are getting ready to go to Abbotsford for our second and last education seminar for our home study. I won't pretend that it is effortless to make the arrangements necessary to take a trip like this. The kids will spend the time in Kamloops with family with the exception of Eden. She has a zone tournament for basketball and needs to have a sleepover with someone from her team Tuesday night. I ought to call a few of our city friends and find a spot to sleep while in Abbotsford. I will still need to find someone to stop by the house to check up on my farmy animals, though they will have adequate food and water for the duration. So glad my cow doesn't need to be milked yet! That would ad an unusual complication! Sigh.
Once we have finished this step, we can complete the rest of the home study from home, aside from a few trips to Prince George.
I think that I am a home body, for the most part. I could embrace a lifestyle of puttering around the yard/farm, playing with my children, cultivating our family, making cheese and cookies. At least that is, I like to stay home when we are not out chasing a family adventure or spending time with friends, or pursuing the kingdom of God in the ends of the earth! I guess that makes me a delinquent home body. I am one big contradiction, ha!
Never the less, I have peace. Life is not boring and I am blessed.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

In vitro?

What I can say today is that God is faithful to complete a good work in me! I am challenged every day with the question of God's will. Is it really God's will for us to adopt embryos? Is it just my will backed by determination and stubbornness? I know that sometimes the people close to us form an opinion on the answer. We obviously have a certain assurance, but sometimes I am discouraged by other peoples' opinions.
Having said that, I want to bring up an area that for some may also be a topic of opinion and judgement. In vitro means "in glass." It is the fertilization of an egg in a lab, the process of conception with the help of a specialist; performed in the event that conception cannot or has not taken place due to infertility. I have not experienced infertility in my lifetime and though I have recently read a lot about the physical and emotional causes and effects of infertility, I will never fully understand. For this reason, I do not feel qualified to have much of an opinion on the viability of choosing in vitro as an option to having a child. I do know that it is a big deal. I do know that if I were faced with infertility, I would be compelled to consider in vitro. I don't know what I would do, but I'd like to believe that I would make the right decision.

Let me talk about in vitro for a minute; and please, if you know someone considering it at this time, pray for them. Pray for wisdom, that God will help them to make the right choices along the way. Life begins at conception. Psalm 139:13-16. Every genetic detail is determined at conception. In the case of in vitro, conception takes place in a glass dish in the lab. At this time I do not advocate for or against in vitro, but let's be clear that we are talking about human beings at their unique moment of conception. When we think about families choosing in vitro, let's remember that they are facing infertility; Pray that they are strong enough to make the most ethical decisions possible.
My thoughts on in vitro are limited to my scope of understanding. I do know that God is love, that He created us in His image and that His grace is sufficient; sufficient for those facing infertility, for embryos conceived but not born, and for those of us who need to focus on God's love when we consider these situations.
For today, I have faith in God's workmanship. He is the potter and I am the clay. Today I may be a lump, but He is working on a masterpiece! May I also have eyes to see the masterpiece in you!