The power of a choice.

This past week my Pastor wrote a blog in regards to a day that forever changed our American DNA. Forty years ago this week, Roe vs. Wade made headlines as abortion was legalized in the U.S. I know there are a lot of opinions and beliefs that have come from this decision. Instead of posting rants and raves of being on a side, I want to share two stories with all of you.

In the late 1980's, there was a young, carefree woman who was enjoying life and doing whatever she wanted. Melanie was living like any mid-twenties woman would be. She had a job, a place of her own, and a boyfriend no one knew about. In the months that they dated something happened. Melanie began to notice something happening in her body. By chance, her sister and close confident took her to a clinic to get her checked out. Over the course of the next hour, Melanie's life changed forever.

Some people wait years to hear, what should have been exciting news that Melanie was told. Unfortunately, Melanie wasn't given her news in a way that she should have been. Instead, the doctor looked over the results, looked at the chart, then looked at Melanie. She was a single, 25 year old woman from a very small town. She had no husband and no expectations of getting married. The doctor informed Melanie that, "we need to get you to San Francisco today to terminate the pregnancy". No options, no asking Melanie what she wanted. Just abortion. End of story.

Jump ahead about 10 years, Angela was a senior in high school and loving life. She had friends, rule of the campus and a boyfriend. Times were much different from the 1980's. However, Angela found herself just like Melanie. She discovered she was pregnant. She knew without a doubt that aborting would not be an option. When Angela told her boyfriend though, he had a different opinion. His first response was, "I will pay for the abortion".

See both of these women faced something that many women face every day. A choice. Now most of the world would give them a pass. It was an accident. They have the rest of their life ahead. Abortion isn't wrong here...I beg to differ. And am beyond thankful that these two women did too. See Melanie and Angela aren't just two random stories I picked to share with all of you. Melanie is Sallie Smart and Angela is Shanna Oliveri. My mom and my cousin. Both of them faced a choice. A choice that was not easy. They gave up their personal freedom. They gave up life plans and dreams and had to put themselves second. If you ask either one of them right now if they regret any moment of it, they would answer without hesitation "No".

This nation believes a life that is unborn doesn't matter. If Shanna or my mom shared in that belief, Kenzie and I would not be here. I am blessed to have such strong women in my life to model standing up for their moral beliefs even if no one else does.

There's a tid-bit for you

100.

At exactly 1:19am on Wednesday morning, something so gripping happened, I am afraid to even share it with you. Those that are pregnant or may be, or those who have any persistent heart conditions should consult their primary physician before proceeding with this intense story.

Done consulting? Dare to continue? Like I said, 1:19am, the most drastic, heart-wrenching epidemic happened Wednesday morning....I woke up and had to go to the bathroom. Yes I know what your thinking, "Seriously Ashleigh? That's what was 'so gripping'? You have lost it!" But believe me, those who have been awoken from a deep sleep to have to go relieve themselves in the dead of night, know it is a drastic ordeal. However, it wasn't just that call to nature that made this morning wake-up frustrating, it was what happened before it.

I am not one to have nightmares, maybe the occasional dream, but nothing like I experienced the other night. I had a full on panic attack in my dream that I could not escape from! It was awful. There was no bright highlighted EXIT sign for me to run to, just me in this unending nightmare. In my dream it was two weeks before my wedding and the invitations hadn't been sent out! I don't why I picked that specific item to dream about, but for some reason they hadn't been sent out. They really are like the one solid thing I have going right now for my wedding. My aunt is persistent on getting the guest list and constantly checking with me about how I want them to look and I already sent her a replica of what I want. Invitations=under control. But my dream captured me and would not let me go as I woke up in a wide-awake panic.

I don't know what could have caused it. I am sure it's not the fact that Wednesday marked 100 days until my wedding. And I am definitely certain it wasn't the fact I had just watched Zero Dark Thirty that night in celebrating 8 months with my fiance. I am absolutely positive that it was not the fact my boss likes to "help me" keep on track for my wedding, by reminding me that I don't need to eat cookies because if I do they would just turn straight into fat, so it's better that he eats them in front of me. I am 100% sure that it wasn't the salmon I had for dinner or the annual business meeting coming up.

I guess it's just normal nerves of starting this new exciting part of my life. So here is to the next 99 days of nerves, no sweets, and wedding invites.

There's your tid-bit.

But of course...

So it would happen like this. All the moments of denial and complete assurance that I was right...it would happen just like this. What do you ask? That unforgettable moment you have when you not only have to admit, but you can't help to agree that your mom was right all along. 

See it happened when I moved down here. My mom's first visit to my apartment. I had boxes everywhere and was beginning to unpack my life and start a new chapter. Lo and behold, my mom bought a housewarming gift- a box of tissues. Seriously? Chocolates or flowers or anything else to say "Welcome home", but no. She brought a box of tissues. And every visit after that, I would notice when she would leave how I somehow magically acquired another box. There was one on the side of the couch. One in the bathroom. One in the spare room. On the kitchen counter. They turned up everywhere! Then I got to move again, so through the cleansing process of getting rid of old things the tissues vanished...or so I thought.

My mom walks into my house carrying her purse and....you guessed it a box of tissues. I had to put my foot down...
"Mom, why do you always bring a box of tissues in?"
"Well you need a box in every room."
"No, I don't.
"Yes you do and these ones have a cool feeling when you blow your nose."

Because my nose needs to feel cool when I am blowing out all the lovely mucus inside. Over the year I was in that house, my decorating atmosphere was overpowered after every visit with brightly colored tissue boxes. When I moved again, this past Fall, I had brought my tissue box count down to two. Praise Jesus! I was on my way to removing any overwhelming amount of tissue boxes from my life. 

Then this morning I wake up sick. My nose is clogged, my eyes are watering and I have no tissues. I scoured my room and hall closet for a small sign of any kind of a tissue box. Nothing. So I sit here with my tea and toilet paper roll writing to all of you that my mom was right. 

Moral of the story: You may not always agree with parents, but for the most part they do have your best interest in mind. It puts a whole new perspective for me on the verse Ephesians 6:1 "Children obey your parents..."

There is your tid-bit.