From Top Model to Role Model?

You may be familiar with the show "America's Next Top Model" with host Tyra Banks, but are you familiar with season 3's "America's Next Top Model" contestant Leah Darrow?

Leah is a beautiful woman who tried her hand at modeling. While struggling to find the happiness within the industry, rather the lack there of, Leah quit modeling and has since become a Chastity speaker for Catholic Answers. She gives an amazing personal testimony delving into the life behind the scenes of "America's Next Top Model" and everything that led up to her coming back to her faith. Leah went from top model to role model and has since been speaking around the country hoping to inspire young women, and men to be modest, chaste and respectful to themselves and others. How can you not listen, she is beautiful and fashionable!

Below are 2 trailers for her DVD which is on sale now.

The DVD is wonderful, she is animated and fun so it doesn't feel like you're just watching someone talk.

Pope Benedict XVI "tweets"!

How awesome, our pope tweets!

Jason Evert on "Green Sex"

This past weekend my husband and I, along with our friends, went to the latest Jason Evert talk, titled "Green Sex", at a local parish. This talk was about NFP (Natural Family Planning) vs. contraception; and let me tell you, if I had been for contraception before (which I wasn't), I am definitely not now.

I highly suggest you watch his talk, which was filmed and will be available in the upcoming months for purchase through Catholic Answers. There are only a few things I want to highlight that really stood out to me.

In society today there are lots of negative feelings towards the Catholic church due to their stance on contraception, which is of course, don't use any form. When contraception is used it is inhibiting life, and God created man and woman to join together in love to create life in an unselfish act. So, when the Church says not to use contraception, people's reaction is "The church is trying to control us."

Actually, the Church is doing no such thing. Contrary to "popular" belief, the church is saying, "Have sex, love each other, enjoy it! But...just do all that when you truly love someone, when you are ready to make a commitment, when you are ready for a family. If you are not ready for any of that, then you are not ready to have sex."

In his talk, Jason introduces a very important thought by St. Augustine. St. Augustine pointed out that the cross is the marriage bed of Christ, where He gave Himself to His bride, the Church. What a beautiful example of married love. Christ gave Himself to His Church, to us, fully because he loved us, and in doing so created life in His Church. We should all strive to love as Christ loves, and then will we find eternal happiness.

God is great!

Tips for young newlyweds

Now, I have been married less than a year, but in that time I have learned a few things. To anyone getting married young it is important to remember:

1. Keep God in your marriage. He is the most important even before your own spouse. If you trust in him, you have nothing to fear.

2. Keep your friends close. I am married to my best friend, but every once in a while, it is important to get out of the house and spend time with other friends. They keep me sane.

3. Go on dates. Very seldom do young newlywed couples have tons of money, so find stuff to do that is inexpensive, or free such as hiking, beach, walk in the park, library.

4. Keep in touch with family. I talk to my mom on the phone everyday, sometimes more than once. You don't have to call or fill in family everyday, but parents and grandparents want to

know how you're doing, and may offer much needed advice if asked.

That's all I have for today, it's the weekend go out, have fun or stay in, relax and read a book.

I love "I Love Lucy"

I have recently developed a liking, well, a loving for "I love Lucy". Today after a long day at work I came home a flipped on an episode and just died with laughter. I found a clip from the episode that brought on this laughter and thought I'd share it with everyone, something to close out the long work week!

Ethics vs. Justice: Les Miserables review

The other night my husband and I sat down and watched "Les Miserables", starring Liam Neeson. I have to say, I was a little skeptical to see it, but I really enjoyed it. A very well done film. It is not a great film just because of the great performances by actors such as Liam Neeson, or Geoffrey Rush; it's "amazingness" stems from the moral/ethical dilemmas the Characters face throughout every turn in the film. I was on the edge of my seat formost of the film, will Valjean do the right thing, or the wrong thing?

For those of you who have seen or know the story, Valjean is a criminal who is given a second chance at a good and honest life. He takes this chance and runs with it, becoming a kind, honorable and forgiving man. No sooner does his "new" life begin, he is suspected and must once again run, until he finds out another man is accused of being Valjean and will be sent to jail in his place. At the same time, a woman who is in his care, on her deathbed asks Valjean to look out for her young daughter. What a dilemma! If he chooses to run, and take the girl he ruins an innocent mans life, if he confesses he is Valjean he leaves a poor child orphan; either way he will stray from what is ethically sound. You must see the film (or read the book) to see how he solves this ethical dilemma.

To see a film like this in today's society where people think only of whats best for themselves and not for others, is a breath of fresh air. It makes me want to be a better person, to always think, "am I doing what is ethically right?" If we start each day thinking that, we will be rewarded greatly, maybe not here on earth, but by our heavenly father!

Google image

Pathway to heaven?

The ultimate goal in life is to get to heaven, right? The pathway to heaven is not paved in gold, there are rocks (or boulders), there are puddles and holes, but there are also railings and helpful hands and most importantly there is God.

As a soon-to-be parent, how do I make sure I am helping my child to eventually, after a long long life, get to heaven? The culture today is filled with violence and vulgarity and as hard as my husband and I may try, we won't be able to shield our children from it forever. So the question is, how do we, how does anyone help guide our child(ren) to make smart choices, to choose the good in a world filled with so much evil?

1.) Attend Mass every weekend as a family (and weekdays if possible), not only will children hear and feel the presence of our Lord, but will see other families and celebrate with them.

2.) Spend time as a family away from electronics such as the television, computer, cell phones etc. This means that the attention is on one another, not on things. (My siblings and I loved game nights)

3.) Volunteer, whether at a soup kitchen or by donating old clothing or toys; it will show kids the value of helping others. (Every Christmas morning my family and I get up at 5:00 a.m. and feed the homeless).

4.) Share meals together, if you have a busy schedule, at least sit down for dinner as a family, talk about one anothers day.

5.) Pray together. Set aside time once a day, a few times a week and say prayers. God is the most important part of a family so talk to him as a family.

These are just a few suggestions, things that I have grown up with that have had a positive impact on me. These suggestions are ways that I feel I can help lead my children in the right direction, so they can walk the pathway to one day enter the gates of heaven.

Planned Parenthood instead of parenthood?

One of the most troubling things in our world today is abortion, the killing of innocent lives. I find it appalling the amount of people, Catholics and non-Catholics who are okay with this. As a soon-to-be young mom I cannot imagine how women, whether by their own choice or by the forceful suggestions of others, can take away the life of their child. How can they go from one day feeling that precious life moving within them, to a painful emptiness?

I remember the first time I went to a silent protest in front of Planned Parenthood, my naive 16-year-old self went to be with friends not really knowing what was being protested. I remember standing there with my youth group thinking, "Why are we protesting a place called Planned Parenthood? It sounds like they help couples plan to be parents." Wrong.

I have since found out what Planned Parenthood does. It saddens me that so many people choose Planned Parenthood instead of parenthood. The argument that I hear the most is "Planned Parenthood offers so much good for women, abortions are only a small portion." In 2009 Planned Parenthood preformed 332,278 abortions. Regardless of the "good" Planned Parenthood does, any amount of abortions exceeding 0 is to much, and everyone should be fighting to save the lives of our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, daughter-in-laws, son-in-laws and friends that may never be if we don't fight for their lives.

^Ultrasound at 6 weeks^

heartbeat is as clear as day, and has been beating for weeks at this point!

The heart starts beating at 22 days after conception.

...and away we go

I am a young, Catholic, married mother-to-be sharing the ups, downs, ins and outs of life as we know it now. With a "crashing" economy with sky-rocketing prices things are not so easy, but with God, my husband and I are finding our way. This blog is meant to share with others thoughts about happening in our world today, with the occasional posts about my growing family. Let the fun begin!

...and away we go