Sept. 6th, 2011: Our Story

Our story was written in our wedding program and on http://chineaandshawverbaby.ourbabychannel.com/. Here is how it was written:

We would like to thank God for bringing us together almost three and a half years ago on June 5th, 2008. We truly believe that God was preparing us for each other. We believe that through God we found our life companion and true love in one another. Many of you know our story...but for those of you who don't...here it is:

In early 2008 we both independently signed up for a summer trip sponsored by Maryknoll to Peru & Bolivia with other campus ministers from all over the country. Rosie was the director of campus ministry at the Newman Center in Albuquerque, NM and Mike was a campus minister at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. Rosie sent an email to the group and asked if any of us wanted to extend the trip for some personal vacation before we met up with the rest of the group. Mike gladly signed up along with another young woman named Becky.

In the midst of planning our vacation to Iguazu Falls in Argentina, we (Rosie & Mike), started emailing each other and found out that we had a lot in common – graduate degrees in Theology from Jesuit Universities, passion for social justice & service, strong Catholic faiths, love of travel & running, etc., etc., etc.

We started talking on the phone and had many 3 and 4 hour phone conversations. We agreed to meet up early before joining Becky on our way to Argentina. We laid a very solid foundation in the month of emails & phone conversations, so when we met, it was love at first sight!! One funny thing about this..prior to Mike coming to Albuquerque, Rosie mentioed to him that she generally was only attracted to Latinos and she didn't like facial hair. Mike had facial hair for over five years. Upon hearing that Rosie was not generally attaracted to non-Latinos and did not like facial hair, he changed what he could...he shaved.

We had a few days in Albuquerque then Miami, FL and finally Argentina. After going to Peru & Bolivia with the group, our first date of 35 days came to an end. By that time, we were totally in love and we decided that Mike would move to Albuquerque in August of 2008. We got engaged to be married on February 4, 2009.

This past year may be one of the most exciting in our lives, as we got married on June 5, 2010 and now are a little more than half way through our first pregnancy with Sofia Rose, who is expected to be born on April 18, 2011 (actual birth date, April 1, 2011). We like the name Sofia beacuse it means wisdom and is one of the names in the Bible that refers to the Holy Spirit. We like the middle name Rose because both of Rosie's grandmothers were named Rosa, Rosie's aunt was named Rose, and Mike's grandmother is named Rose.

We are just in awe at the gift of God's creation of a little life inside of Rosie as a result of our love for each other. It is so amazing how Rosie's body has naturally been adapting to make room for this little baby. We saw our first ultrasound image of Sofia at 12 weeks and the next one was at 21 weeks (early December). It is just so amazing to hear her little heart beat (151 beats per minute), to see her organs, and her head and hands and feet. We are very excited for her delivery into this world.

It has been a wonderful year, full of many blessings, and graces. We are truly looking forward to the marvelous plan God has laid out for us. Please pray for us and the arrival of our new baby girl, Sofia Rose, later this year.

Sept. 6th, 2011: Rosie & Sofia's Pregnancy Journal

When Sofia was in my belly I kept a journal on another website, http://www.thebump.com/. Now that Sofia is born the website will not let me update anything. It's actually quite annoying. Anyway, I am going to transfer all of that information into this blog so that I consolidate and don't loose information.

Also, for now, since I am busy raising Sofia Rose with Mike, I am going to do very short posts. They will mainly revolve around things Sofia Rose is doing. I will include pictures. Occasionally, when inspired, I will include longer posts.

http://chineaandshawverbaby.ourbabychannel.com/ This is the journal I wrote on http://www.thebump.com/.

Rosie & Sofia's Journal:

01/10/11: She is kicking often. Last night she woke me up about four times with her little kicks and punches. At this point I am adoring and in awe of every kick, punch, twist, and turn. Mike has felt her kick at least four times in the last few weeks. Every time he feels her move it fills me with joy. Yesterday at mass Mike made announcements from a microphone. Sofia kicked, hard, three times while he was speaking! She heard her dad and was excited. This upcoming weekend Mike, Sofia and I are headed to California to visit with my very sick Titi (aunt) Rose (Sofia Rose's namesake). I hope Titi Rosie gets to feel Sofia move!

01/12/11: Sofia's an active baby today! I actually felt her hiccup for the first time. It was funny to watch my belly move up and down in a rhythmic fashion.

01/16/11: Sofia has kicked 10 times in less than 1 minute! We have been in California for my aunt Rose's services, she passed away on 01/14/11. We will miss her dearly. Sofia will hear a lot about the aunt whom she is named after. My mom felt Sofia kick on 01/14/11. My dad is still awaiting to feel her kick.

01/17/11: Sofia kicked 10 times in 3 minutes today. She definitely is a mover. :o) My Papi (dad) felt her move today!!! What a great Birthday present for him. Today at Costco my dad told a random stranger that his daughter was pregnant with a baby girl. Ito (Grandpa) Rolando is very excited for Sofia to come into this world! We also bought Sofia's crib. She will get a DaVinci Emily Convertible Crib in Cherry. It received high ratings on Consumer Reports and it was a decent price! Mike and I are very excited.

01/18/11: We flew back from CA early today. As the plane was descending into Albuquerque Sofia kicked like crazy! The altitude must cause babies to squirm.

1/21/11: Mike put together Sofia's crib!

1/28/11: My parents purchased Sofia her crib bedding and Mike's parents purchased her the stroller/car seat! Our next few steps include purchasing a washer & dryer and painting Sofia's room! We are thrilled. My belly grew 4cm since our last doctors appointment 3 weeks ago. She is growing and moving. The registries as of today are pretty much done...everything on them are things we need/want...so they are ready to go. You, however, can be sure that in the next few weeks you will see more items added. :o)

1/30/11: Sofia is very active today! She is kicking a lot! A active baby is a healthy baby.

1/31/11: Sofia & I were up this morning at 3:30AM and I did not go back to sleep until 5AM. She was kicking and hungry. I think I am feeling both her movements and more hunger because she is growing. On average babies at 29 weeks weigh about 2.5 lbs. We snacked on yogurt and 1 liter of water...yes...at probably around 4AM! Today she has been active doing her water aerobics again. This weekend was a bit rough for me. I am starting to feel third trimester nausea. No fun. But it will all be worth it when baby Sofia arrives.

2/1/11: Sofia & I got to sleep in today! It's a snow day in Albuquerque! I wrote a blog on being a mother and a mother's sacrifice on this website: http://catholic-in-the-city.blogspot.com/. Sofia kicked 10 times in 3 minutes today. She's her usual active self. Yesterday we put the sheets on her new crib. It looks adorable. We decided on bright colors because it helps with her sensory development. Plus, Sofia will share these sheets with her brother and sister whenever God graces us with another child. You can see pictures on this site under the photos tab.

2/4/11: We had four snow days in Albuquerque! Today is probably the last snow day of the season. Sofia has been relaxing, moving, and doing her water aerobics. Tonight let's see how she reacts to watching Wicked, the musical. Update: The whole show (Wicked) Sofia was kicking like crazy! She must like the different instruments and voices of musicals.

2/6/11: Sofia kept me up this early morning (5AMish). Her kicks are getting harder! Tomorrow she will be 30 weeks! Time is flying!

2/8/11: Since we are in the third trimester we are now meeting with our midwife every other week. Today we found out that my belly grew 5cm in two weeks!!! It is so amazing. She is growing so quickly. Early this morning Sofia woke me up at 3:30AM...and I have not fallen asleep since. Seems like tonight might be an early night for Sofia's mother. :o)

2/9/11: Today is the day I feel the most pregnant. Sofia is growing quickly and the weight is making me sleepy, I am beginning to waddle, and well, I just feel very pregnant. Although I am grateful that last night I slept for 7 hours straight without waking up!

2/11/11: Our stroller and car seat came in! Thank you Mary & Mike for the wonderful gift. Mike put it together last night and was rolling around the house with it saying he was "practicing" for when Sofia arrives. Today Mike is looking to purchase a washer and dryer for our home. And Sofia...she is kicking often....sign of a healthy baby.

2/15/11: We received a baby blanket from a dear friends mother and some small baby items from Rosie's parents this last week. Sofia's feeling the love. Sofia spent Valentine's Day enjoying the food her mother prepared, BBQ Pulled Pork and sweet potato fries, while spending some good quality time with her parents. Mike set up the washer and dryer at home...now all we have to do is actually be adventurous and try it! Sofia's still moving! She is going to be active when she comes into the world.

2/17/11: Today was our first birthing class! Sofia did not stop moving the entire time. She is getting excited to enter our world!!!

2/18/11: Sofia learned how to place her foot right on my belly and put pressure. During dinner tonight she held her foot on my belly for a good 30 minutes. Strange feeling, but at least I know she's moving around. Later on in the evening I fell asleep while Mike had his hand on my belly. He told me afterwards that he felt her jabbing often while I slept. I am grateful that Mike can feel her often, now.

2/20/11: I had my first Sofia dream last night!!! The dream was shortly after her birth. She was so tiny, cute, and in a pink onesie. She was very giggly and happy. It was a very cute dream!!! Later at mass, for the second week in a row, Fr. Rafael preached and Sofia kicked a lot during the homily.

2/21/11: We purchased the baby room paint today! Soon Mike will start painting the baby room! Yay! Today we also watched the new Harry Potter movie. Sofia was kicking a lot during the whole movie.

2/24/11: Sofia is growing and moving. Yes...that is the update. This morning I woke up feeling about 5lbs heavier. I think she had a growth spurt last night. Haha. The kicking is still not hurting. And I think she is head down (good position for birth) because most of the movement I feel is in my upper belly. Her feet are pitter-pattering!

2/26/11: Mike painted Sofia's room yesterday. Pictures will be posted when the room is complete. Hopefully we'll have things ready within the next two weeks. We are both getting so excited for Sofia's arrival. Her kicks are getting a little stronger. I think she has grown since last night!

3/3/11: Today Mike & I interviewed our first pediatrician potential. I think finding a doctor for baby Sofia is going to be hard! We loved this first doctor. He actually is from Australia and did international pediatric care! He met his wife while doing international work. We really enjoyed conversing with him. We'll see. Baby Sofia's doctor is in God's hands. We have two more potential doctors to talk to! Tomorrow, Ita (Grandma) Gloria is coming to visit! We are excited (all three of us)!

3/4/11: Last night Mike & I worked on a frame for Baby Sofia's room. Today Mike put up a wallpaper border and he'll hang the frame. For now...the baby room is done! We are still missing a dresser and a baby changing table...but that will come....soon. At least the decorating is done! Pictures are up on our site. My mom, Ita Gloria, is coming tonight! 8PMish!!! Yay!!! She gets to see how much Sofia has grown.

3/5/11: Baby shower (1 of 4) was amazing!!! Ita Gloria had a blast. Sofia was moving the whole time. She got a lot of new clothes. Sofia will be way better dressed than her mami and papi! Oh...how much we love her....and how much friends and family love her already is so wonderful.

3/7/11: Baby shower (2 of 4) was so much fun! It's great to be supported and taken care of at work also. Sofia loved the food they served. She is quickly becoming a spoiled baby.

3/9/11: Sofia has been kicking a lot today. At about 3:15PM she kicked so hard it actually hurt for the first time. We are excited that she's coming soon! Tonight mami and baby are getting a prenatal massage. Yay!

3/10/11: Last night Sofia kicked her mami's rib for the first time. She is truly running out of space in her mami's belly. The rib hurt a little...but luckily the kick was not super hard. Oh....the things you do for love.

3/11/11: Third day of hiccups for our dear Sofia. They are the cutest thing. You see my belly moving up and down rhythmically!

3/21/11: Sofia is moving and growing! 36 weeks today!!

3/22/11: Read this blog on Sofia and her new arrival date! http://catholic-in-the-city.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-22nd-2011-sofias-arrival-trusting.html/

3/23/11: Sofia is moving a lot today!!! I am playing Spanish music in my office...I think she loves it.

3/24/11: Again, Sofia is moving a lot today. Tonight Mike & I have our last birthing class. We will learn how to feed her, bathe her, and basically how to take care of an infant. Perfect timing....since she is coming next week! We are very excited about having Sofia with us. We are also enjoying our last week as a married couple without children.

April 3rd, 2011: A Letter from My Mom Thanking You for Your Prayers

Dear Friends and Family:

I just want to take a minute to thank you for your prayers and support given the journey that we have gone through in birthing Sofia Rose.

Prayers were asked and on Friday April 1st, 2011 we witnessed an epiphany. Sofia Rose Shawver Chinea was born vaginally at 6:49 PM in Albuquerque, Mountain Standard Time, her weight was 5 pounds 15.2 ounces, 19.75 inches, Apgar 8-9; she even latched on immediately to the breast. Sofia was delivered to Michael and Rosie. It has truly been a manifestation of God's love to us via Sofia's Life. Truly Sofia Rose is a gift from the Lord to all of us. Thank you Lord for again being a witness of love.

We had an AHA moment in the delivery. Rosie fainted and loss consciousness due to the loss of too much blood in her fast delivery of 40 minutes...her blood pressure came down very low and we became a witness of an emergency and my adrenaline spiking off of the roof...We reacted very well and I can truly say... that I am a well trained mother and health care professional. Immediately my mind was in prayers and asking again for help from the Lord.

Today, Rosie and Sofia were discharged from Lovelace Women's Hospital (LWH) in Albuquerque...LWH experience was superb and where I only have praises for the care and for allowing and respecting the body and process of birthing and Rosie's birth plan. I am amazed on the services they offer and how they deliver the services and how they maintain the dignity of family members in the most important journey of life...giving birth to a child.

I really want to take this moment not to forget YOU.... for all the prayers, Masses, prayers group meetings and personal prayers that you included Rosie.... I can't forget all the emails, text, voice mails and your positive energy provided through another big journey that I have had this year. I know that is why I have hold up and is because your prayers, your love and you being there for me. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and my family heart.

Love Always,
Gloria

March 25th, 2011: The Newman Center at New Mexico Highlands University Engaging Catholic Charities and the local Albuquerque Community

(This article was written for the People of God, the Archdiocesan Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. It will possibly be published in May.)

When one is an undergraduate in college, sometimes, the world one lives in is similar to living in a “bubble”. College students tend to focus on their school work, outside work to pay the bills, their social lives, and maybe their families and religion. Thinking about issues of social injustice in our world is something that is merely beyond their view. I know these are generalizations and there are always exceptions to these generalizations. However, for the students that this does characterize exposure to social injustices both locally and globally are essential to broadening their minds and hearts.

From Sunday, March 13th to Wednesday, March 16th, two students from Highlands University’s Newman Center in Las Vegas, New Mexico, their campus minister and staff advisor came to learn about and volunteer with Catholic Charities and other Catholic organizations around the city of Albuquerque. This was Highlands Newman Center’s first time engaging in a spring break trip. It was four full days filled with learning, praying, and engaging the Albuquerque community. One of the young women on the trip indicated that by Wednesday, “her eyes have now been opened”.

The four days were bookended with the students engaging in the Catholic community in Albuquerque. On Sunday, they volunteered at Immaculate Conception's meal for people who are homeless. Beatrice, from Catholic Charities’ housing center, then came out and spoke to the group about housing and homelessness in Albuquerque. This was followed by a guided reflection on the experience. Later that evening, after a young adult mass, they listened to two guest speakers’ talk about Jesuit Volunteer Corps, a national volunteer program for post-graduate students wanting to engage their desire in social justice. On Wednesday, they volunteered and observed projects such as feeding people who are homeless at the Good Shepherd Center and visiting both Catholic Worker homes in Albuquerque, Trinity House and Casa de las Communidades.

On Monday and Tuesday the group learned and spent the entire day at Catholic Charities. Monday they were at the Bridge Street location, Southwest Albuquerque, where they learned about Catholic Charities’ Centers for Immigration and Education. During the presentation from the Center for Education, children from the early childcare center came and sang a few songs to the group in English and Spanish. After the presentation the group planted flowers at Hibernian House, a housing unit for low-income seniors. This brightened the day for the seniors. Following the planting they went back to the bridge location where they cleaned around the entire building, picking up over six bags of trash and debris. On Tuesday the group was at the Marble Ave. location, Northeast Albuquerque, where they learned about Catholic Charities’ Centers for Refugees, Housing, and Community Involvement. After these presentations they worked with refugee youth on starting to paint a mural of a world map in the youth classroom.

Jesus’ calls us to take this scripture passage to heart in both thought and action: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25: 35-36). By the end of the trip the groups’ hearts were open to compassion towards the people and programs they encountered; this compassion has empowered them to look into issues of social injustices that are occurring in their own backyards in Las Vegas, NM. With the strength and vision of the Holy Spirit I hope that this group uses their experience with Catholic Charities and the Albuquerque Catholic community to engage their community so that peoples basic needs are met and that the dignity of all peoples is preserved.

March 22nd, 2011: Sofia's Arrival & Trusting God

Rosie & Sofia (36 weeks)

The last few weeks have been life changing. On Thursday, March 10th, I received a phone call from a doctor asking for me and my husband to go Lovelace Woman's Hospital for a follow up appointment (following up on an appointment I had on Tues. March 8th) as soon as possible. Because my fluid levels in the amniotic sac have been consistently in the normal-low range they wanted to do another follow up ultrasound. The day I received the phone call I was thrown for a loop. Just two days before my midwife had told me not to worry. She said the fluid was in the normal-low range but that we would just wait things out. I was in a total panic when I received the phone call. I felt a rush of anxiety and stress. I cried and I apologized to Sofia for not producing what she needed. What I do naturally in a time of distress is turn to God, I went to mass with my husband. We prayed. We asked God to watch over our little Sofia. After mass I felt somewhat relieved. At that moment I knew I needed to just trust God. I had done all that I could do. I watched what I ate, I have been drinking about 10-14 liters of water a day, I am walking every day...and the list goes on. The day after I received that jarring phone call from the doctor at Lovelace Woman's Hospital, my midwife called to reassure me that this was for mere monitoring purposes.

The following week I went in for my appointment at Lovelace Woman's Hospital. The water level was again in the normal-low range. The reason there is concern about the water level being so low is because towards the end of pregnancy the water level in the sac does lower due to her growing. The fluid level (AFI) is measured with ultrasounds. Attempting to not be naive, I have been doing some reading and I have come to learn there is some controversy as to if ultrasounds are the "best" way to check the fluids...but at this point...it's the only way to check the fluids. One of the other major arguments against this method of measuring the water fluids is that we have had about 5 different technicians look at the fluid levels on different machines. One technician read that we had a significantly higher fluid level than the other four. There is human error and variance, especially if there is more than one technician. Anyway, besides the fluid level being in the normal-low range, our little Sofia is measuring a little bit small (but not dangerously so). Again, the measurements are not 100% accurate. Ultrasounds are good technology but when our little Sofia is curled up in a ball, how truly accurate can they weigh her in utero? Anyway, due to the water level being low and her lower than average birth weight, the doctors have concluded that there could be a potential placenta issue. The placenta is the lifeline for Sofia from me. If Sofia stays in me and the water levels get too low then her lifeline will not work effectively and she may not receive the oxygen or food that she needs. That being said, to err on the safe side, Mike and I have decided to agree with the doctors and midwives and we will be induced on Wednesday, March 30th, week 37.

We also have had 2 non-stress tests done (monitoring her heart beat externally for 20 minutes) and she passed those with flying colors. Also when they look at her movements on the ultrasound she is moving a lot and she passes those exams with perfect scores. All of her organs look great. Sofia overall is doing fine. I just ask for your prayers as Mike and I make the final preparations for her arrival into this world. Please pray for a good labor and delivery and a healthy baby Sofia.

Yesterday I was driving on the freeway. In front of me was a huge pile of big white boxes on the ground taking up the whole lane I was driving in. It seemed as if a truck had accidently dropped them on the freeway, creating a hazard on the freeway. I didn't know what to do. There was a car behind me at the distance of about 5 car lengths away. There was a car to my left and my right. I could not swerve. I pushed the brake. I took my foot off of the brake. I pushed the brake again. I did this oscillation of the brake to signal to the car behind me that there was something in front of me. The car to my right finally passed me. I swerved to the right and hit the boxes with the front left side of my car. Nothing happened. I was safe. The car did not have a scratch on it when I got off of the freeway. God was watching over Sofia and myself. This is what I need to hold on to...God is watching over and protecting us through the bumps on the road. God will help Mike and I prepare to become the parents Sofia needs, even three weeks earlier than her anticipated due date. God will be with us when I am in labor. God will be with Sofia as she comes out into the world and as she grows and learns throughout the years. God loves us so much that God is continuously watching, loving, and caring for all of us.

March 4th, 2011: Lenten Calendar 2011

A few months ago, Mike and I, took a drive to Las Vegas, NM. I had an appointment with the campus minister at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM for my job at Catholic Charities. I had decided to ask Mike to join me because at that point I knew I was already pregnant with baby Sofia, it was the first trimester, and there were times during that trimester where I was feeling nauseated. Anyway, during this trip there were two goals for me when meeting with the campus minister: 1) to listen to their, the college students and the local communities, needs, 2) to tell them what Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe already does. In the end I was eagerly surprised that there were many things that came from the brief one hour meeting.

In Albuquerque, from my experience of living in Albuquerque (five years), there are several social justice issues that are prominent: poor school system that translates into poorly educated people, immigrant rights, lack of housing for low income individuals which then leads to homelessness, and working with people who are homeless to get them the services they need to get them into a home. (Homelessness occurs because of a variety of different reasons; lack of affordable housing being one of them.) In Las Vegas, the needs, from the people I spoke to sounded similar yet different. According to the people I spoke with the city does a good job of providing people housing, so much so that, they rarely see someone who is homeless. Even though people are not "homeless" many people in Las Vegas don't have money for utilities and for food. When I came back to Albuquerque after that trip I did some research and found some local Las Vegas, NM, food pantries. I gave this resource to the campus minister to share with her college students so that they can distribute this information to those struggling to feed themselves and their families.

The campus minister was wanting to integrate social justice and Catholic Social Teaching with Lent and the students she works for and with. Together her and I came up with a Lenten journey that students and others can partake in that includes the pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. As you can see from the image on the left hand corner of this blog, the idea was formulated in Las Vegas, NM to come up with a resource for people to use on their Lenten journeys to bring them closer to God. When I came back from Las Vegas, NM, I created a the Lenten Calendar resource that can be found on the Catholic Charities website: http://www.ccasfnm.org/ Besides fasting and praying, what the students and community members that are involved at the Newman Center in Las Vegas are going to do is use these calendars to collect cans of food for a local food bank (almsgiving). Each time the person uses the calendar they will fast and give a can of food to a box they have laid aside for the food bank. By the end of Lent each person participating on this Lenten journey will have gathered at least 13 cans to give to their local food bank, directly impacting their communities.

After the creation of this calendar the Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Jim, loved the resource so much he made sure they were inserted in all of our Lenten appeals. Also I have distributed over 600 copies to local parishes.

If you would like a copy of this Lenten Calendar please feel free to contact me and I can either mail you a copy of it and/or I can email you a copy (I still have about 1,400 copies sitting in my office). I hope that this resource can be used by many so that everyone has a fruitful Lenten season.

Feb. 27th, 2011: 40

Last night as I was laying in bed the number 40 struck me. As many people know women are pregnant for 40 weeks. In the Bible the number 40 is repeated several times; it rained 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the world and start over (Gen. 7:13), the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness (Ex. 16:35), Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before starting his public ministry (Matt. 4:1-2), and Jesus' ascension to heaven occurs 40 days after the Resurrection (Acts 1:3). These are only some of the examples in the Bible where the number 40 is referred to. While our Catholic faith teaches us that numbers in the Bible should not be taken literally but symbolically, it's an interesting comparison, for me, that the number 40 in the Bible could have some connection to the number of weeks a woman is pregnant.

In the Bible the number 40 denotes a time period when God made major changes so that transformation could occur. Usually it's a time period of testing, probation or trial in preparation for a period of restoration, revival, or renewal; essentially the 40 days/weeks/years is a period of time in preparation for a special action of God. For a pregnant women, naturally, the special action of God is the birth of a new life, a creation of God. In my opinion, the time period which the number 40 denotes, while can be perceived and feel like a time of trial and tribulation, is a time of grace. It is a time of grace because we are able to reflect upon our lives as God's beloved and we are given the opportunity to change our ways so that who we are as God's beloved can more clearly be reflected in our actions, hearts, and words. Those 40 days/weeks/years prepare us to see and feel God more "nearly, clearly, and dearly" (St. Ignatius, Godspell, and Richard of Chichester in the 1200s).

As we approach Lent, a period of 40 days, we are to recall the traditional pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These pillars, if practiced, renew our baptismal promises, bring us closer to Christ, and help us to grow into the people that God called us to become. The number one way to get closer to God is to pray. If we cut off our communication with God and we don't pray there cannot be a two-way relationship. During this season it is of utmost importance that prayer is central. Fasting is a practice of self-discipline and self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, in that pangs of hunger help us to recall our pangs for God. The fasting that we observe during Lent should call us towards transformation. If we fast, merely because we have to, and the fasting does not cause any internal or external changes in our lives, then this is not the type of fast that God is asking of us. Fasting also helps us to recall those in our world who do not have food at their tables. It brings us closer in solidarity with them. Almsgiving, in the form of money and/or time, is a sign of our care for those who are in need. It is also an expression of thanks to God for all that we have been given in our lives. As we all know, Lent is a time of preparation for Jesus' resurrection. If we are proactive in our faith lives, these forty days can be very grace-filled. Ultimately, this preparation helps us to become more present and alert to God and Easter when it comes.

What about the 40 weeks of pregnancy? The connections one can draw between the Biblical notion of 40 and the 40 weeks of pregnancy are many. Pregnancy is a time of trial in that your body is pushed to many limits, one gets little sleep, feels nauseated, swollen, bigger in size, has less energy, gets leg cramps, has bloody noses...and the list goes on. Beyond the physical aliments there are also the emotional and spiritual struggles one experiences: Am I ready to be a mother? Why is God asking me to be a mother now? How am I going to raise a good Catholic child in a world that is full of evil and sin? Yet, while all of this is going on during these 40 weeks my husband and I are preparing for what is to come (similar to Lent). We are preparing by asking God daily for the grace and the strength to be good parents, researching what we can in preparation for her arrival, and setting up a home where she can grow and mature into the wonderful young woman we hope she becomes. These 32 weeks and 6 days, while there have been some challenges, have been so grace-filled. This time period has brought me closer to God, my husband, my family, friends, community, and myself. I enjoy every movement I feel within me. Each kick is a sign of health and vitality. Every ultrasound has brought me either to tears or close to tears in recognition of the grace of God's creation within me. God is very present and it is awesome to know that this child within me is also God's beloved.

In some sense prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, for me, started to occur more intensely the day I found out I was pregnant. I began to pray for God's graces during and after the pregnancy. I began fasting from coffee, certain cheeses, deli meat, other foods, and other things such as my more intense workout schedule (due to my body being so tired). And I am giving of my time, all of the time, to a life, within me, that is in need of nourishment and love. I have also grown even more passionate about the anti-abortion movement. I have always truly believed that life begins the moment the egg and sperm meet. After seeing my first ultrasound I feel that every woman who is about to have an abortion should be required to see the life that is within her in an ultrasound before any procedure takes place. After seeing their child I bet their minds and hearts will be challenged. Our first ultrasound was at 12 weeks...and our little Sofia was fully formed...arms, legs, head...everything! My husband and I heard her heartbeat and we both cried. Anyway, in the sense of almsgiving, I know that this period of pregnancy has brought me closer to those who are vulnerable, the unborn.

I think our mindset has a lot to do with the way one experiences pregnancy and Lent. I have chosen to relish these 40 weeks of pregnancy as a time period that is grace-filled. I have chosen to enjoy this pregnancy, at every stage, no matter how challenging it may seem to be. How often in one's life is one pregnant? How often in one's life does one feel the pitter patter of little feet tapping the inside of one's belly? How blessed are Mike and I, that we are fertile and we can have children? We are abundantly blessed and even though pregnancy is not easy it is a time of relishing God within and around.

As can be sensed from what I have written, Lent is a period of time that, in my opinion, is very similar to pregnancy. One can dread Lent as a time of mourning, pain, and giving things up. However for me Lent is one of my favorite liturgical seasons, in that it is a time that God has given us to grow closer to God while also growing closer to whom God has called us to become. Lent is a time of preparation and anticipation, struggle and grace. As the season of Lent approaches, Wed. March 9th, how will you prepare for Easter? How will you use the opportunity God has given you, during the season of Lent, to grow closer to God?