Matt and Ginny Mooney's blog is here.

[Hat tip: Dawn Patrol via Br. Francis]

Wow. Isn't it amazing what joy even a few months a child can bring his parents? What a beautiful, beautiful, testimony!!

I dont know about you, but I cried through the whole video.

What was his condition called?

Trisomy 18

That was seriously one of the saddest things I have ever seen in my life. I am sitting at work bawling and my boss is looking at me like I am crazy.

My husband and I cried and cried watching this. Wow.

Jill:

It's amazing what God can do with His intent if we would just get out of the way and let Him do it.

Jesus, my Lord, thank you for this baby.

Eliot Hartman Moooney, you are my hero. Looking forward to meeting you someday.

Matt and Ginny Mooney.....you have done all things through Christ who stregthens you. I'm sure you will hear someday, "Well done, good and faithful servants, enter into your rest".

Jill,
given you're stand on IVF, your preoccupation with these trisomy situations, and the fact that most of em die... It looks like you should be campaigning to keep older couples from even procreating.

What a beautiful baby! Eliot, You have the most beautiful parents in the world! How special they are. Thank you for sharing your story. I too am crying.

Cameron, you do realize that the parents of this child are about 25 right?

Do you have anything to add to this post?

Cameron,

Can't you just once, show some heart?

Are you that callous?

There's so much buried anger and hatred. Get it out man.

As I have asked you before, what in the world happened to you to make you so hateful towards innocent, defenseless human beings. Did a goldfish eat one of your guppies or something?

We would do well to realize that it is not what we can give the child, but what the child can give us.

We are the ones that grow. We are the ones that become. We are the ones that learn.

Babies, in any shape, size, form or stage of development are not leeches, not parasites, not diseases, not products of conception, not burdens.

They are gifts.

And they are our teachers. What could possibly be more important in this world, what selfish need could possibly take precedence, what earthly reason could you possibly have to end one of these little lives.

The fault does not lie with these tiny ones.
The blame is not theirs.
If you cannot allow one of these wee creatures to experience life because you place yourself first, then you are the one that is the problem. Not them.

God Bless this Baby Boy.
Bethany, you just know that Elliot and Blessing are sharing a bowl of popcorn, watchin' that video and thinking about the day they will be with their parents again.

What are the 45 million abandoned ones doing?

Cameron,I have the same question for you as His Man. Quit spewing all that venom! It seems like you hate everything just for the heck of it. You couldn't even muster up any kind words for this family? Cameron you need prayer. I am going to start on you TONIGHT!! I promise I will pray for you.

Cameron,

A couple has just shared one of the most private and intimate moments of their lives with us.

Is nothing in this whole world reverent to you?

Do you not realize that these people will probably stop by here to read the posts and possibly be comforted by the things they read? And what will they find?

You...in all your insensitve, crude, raunchy glory.

Aren't you proud?

Heather,

Prayer won't cut it for him. He needs a full blown exorcism...

MK, You may be right. This is one of the deepest soul sicknesses I have ever seen! Cameron,you really need some serious help!

I didn't bother watching the video. Just thought I'd start a discussion, and I don't see what's so flipp'n irreverent about putting words in Jill's mouth, other than it's a break from the vacuous tripe preceeding it.

Alright believers, we must come together in prayer for our friend Cameron. He is half dead spiritually. We can choose to see his death (as the levites saw the man in the ditch) or alive (as Christ saw the afore mentioned man). Through prayer all things are possible.

Cameron, I know that you think we are idiots. That's fine. We havn't given up on you, and more importantly, God hasn't given up on you. Where there is breath there is hope, and you are breathing.

Cameron, do you feel what you say? Sometimes it seems as though you do, but others you come off as nothing but a troll. I wonder why you get joy off the suffering of others?

We love you, Cameron, even if you hate us.

Cameron,

You use that word vacuous a lot. I remember you calling one of my pots lazy and vacuos. I think a prof used those terms in grading one of your papers and now it's stuck in your empty head.

Don't tell me, your stuck in the basement of some college building grading papers? That's a hoot.

Show some class man or get off the site.

Cameron,
watch the video. then comment if you must...

"I know that you think we are idiots."

Actually sometimes some of you bust me when I put my foot in my mouth... not all idiots... just a weee bit psycho however.

"I wonder why you get joy off the suffering of others?"

Humor at other's expense does not necessarily mean they're suffering, and if they are, they should either get off the computer or try a little harder to not insult the intelligence of others.

"We love you, Cameron, even if you hate us."

Unfortunately, that's the nicest thing anyone here has ever said to me... and that sad reality sez alot about you all more so than me. You all amuse me.. so not hate, at least I'm not loosing any sleep about anything... not yet at least.

Hey enough about me though... what do you think about maternal age and cut'n off reproductive rights?? Not any different that forcing them gestate in my opinion.

Mr. and Mrs Mooney:

Please excuse the distraction. Cameron always comes in like a bull in a china shop if he's not the center of attention and attempts to make himself so by making off topic comments and raunchy statements for the sole purpose of shock value. It's rather disgusting. His behavior is beyond immature and rude and borders on psychopathic. The Lord commands me to pray for such as him as the horror of his fate apart from repentance is unimaginable.

We honor you and your child. The courage you have shown in bringing your heartache before the world is extraordinary.

I have five, healthy children that are champions in life and will all go on to make a mark. Somehow, you have been more blessed by Eliot than me. You must be very special, special people as God only gives us what we can handle. That says a lot about you. I can't say that I wouldn't be bitter if this had happened to me. So, I ask you to pray for me, earnestly.

My prayer for you is that God continues to bless you beyond what you can ask or imagine. This is one of the most powerful videos I have ever seen.

Lauren, I'll join you.

Thank you His Man!

Lauren and Bethany, I will join you too.

Cameron, Well I'm glad you don't hate us, that's a start! I think we all can do better about being nicer to one another. It's easy to get caught up in debate and forget that there is a person behind the words.

As for advanced maternal age:

I don't have any qulams with older women having children. Of course, that is contingent on my feelings about IVF. My mom has several friends who had children in their 40's, and I see nothing wrong with doing so. I do, however, see prenatal testing that is often associated with these pregnancies as something that can be very abused.

Mr. and Mrs Mooney:

Please excuse the zealots here for trying to craft political capital from your loss.

"I see nothing wrong with doing so. I do, however, see prenatal testing that is often associated with these pregnancies as something that can be very abused."

Interesting you should say that... I do agree that abortion is abused, but I don't think banning it is the answer.

Cameron:

And you're making a lot of friends?

A lazy and vacuous statement.

OK class it's time to ignore Cameron.

Cameron, I know it might seem strange to you, but we are hurt by comments that demean the unborn. I believe it was Ayn Rand who said something along the lines of "no one could ever care about a fetus". Perhaps it was true that she could not, but we can and do.

We are sensitive because we know the destruction of abortion and can not make lite of the situation. We see suffering of not just the children, but their mothers and father's as well and it breaks our hearts. I do not know anyone who joined the pro-life movement because they wanted to hurt women. Most of us joined when we realized the horror and could not ignore it in good concious.

This video speaks nothing about the politics of abortion, but rather the beauty of human life. It is such a testimony! I am so thankful to the Mooney's for sharing their son's story.

I'll say a prayer for Cameron too

I think alot of the post-testing abortions are the results of lazy doctors. It's much easier for a doctor to abort the child and be done with it than to deal with the complications of carrying a disabled child to term. We have not been honest about prenatal testing, and it is very frustrating.

To me it has a lot to do with deinstituitionalization. We shut down the horrible places, but left people with no other option. Instead of stepping up to the plate with innovative ideas, we decided that killing them before they were born was a better option. I believe the saying goes "two wrongs don't make a right".

I'd like to add my prayers to the lot...

Somewhere there's a saying about the Lord looking out for fools and drunks. Well Lord you've got your hands full with our Cameron. Surely, one drop of your blood, one ounce of your mercy, and his demons will flee, showing us the true Cameron. There's a lot of folks here that would like that. But it won't be easy. However, while ,i>we can't do a thing with him, we know You can. Perhaps you will.

If so, we'll be here ready to celebrate. If not, then I graciously offer up the suffering I endure dealing with Him for any cause you see fit. We thank you in advance. Your will be done.

Amen.

I think Jill clearly intended to capitalize on this for the purposes of making a statement, particularly considering her down syndrome post yesterday. That, in no uncertain terms, is morally unconscionable, but not surprising coming from her.

Also, you seem to be suggesting that prochoice = insensitive??

Is it really all that sensitive to force a woman who is psychotically fearful of pregnancy and delivery to go through with it??

BTW... what have I said that demeans the unborn?

So far, I've only demeaned those who hold them above all else.

"but we are hurt by comments that demean the unborn"

I'm not saying that pro-choice = insensitive, just not sensitive to embryos. Just a matter of how we see things.

As far as a woman being psychotically fearful of pregnancy, I believe we need to have lots more counseling for such women. Real counseling. There is so much stigma about mental illness, and I really hope it can be worked through. In fact, doing so should be part of the pro-life cause.

MK,

I'll add to that prayer.

Lord, as you have so many times taken foolish men and brought them to their senses before it was too late as you did for me, I ask that you do the same for Cameron. He's obviously hurting Lord as the only way for him to cope with his pain is by hurting others with words.

Lord, Cameron either forgets or does not know that you are the Creator, the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega, and the very Giver of life.

Lord, if you don't chastise Him then surely you have given up on him. So Lord I ask that you chastise him before it is too late. But please Lord do it in your infinite wisdom and mercy so that he will know that it is You. He's begging for it God as a child begs for attention just to know that he is loved.

In Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Little Eliot is a blessing. I bet the parents don't regret 1 day of his short life.

Very nice prayers all.

Cameron, it's just a general attitude. When you make statements that attack an article supporting the pro-life cause, it feels like an attack on those whom we support.

I can't explain things very well, but it is more of a tone than anything. I'm not describing it well, because it's a bit abstract. Do you understand what I mean?

Is it that hard to imagine that someone, otherwise normal, might be scared to go through birth?

And, relatively speaking, how meaningful is it to be sensative about something that is not self-aware?

Also Cameron,
I'm not saying that every statment you make falls into this catagory. I think you probably know which ones I mean.

I know that we have been guilty of the same tone with you at times. It's just that snarkiness demeans the gravity of the subject.

"Cameron, it's just a general attitude. When you make statements that attack an article supporting the pro-life cause, it feels like an attack on those whom we support. I can't explain things very well, but it is more of a tone than anything. I'm not describing it well, because it's a bit abstract. Do you understand what I mean?"

Allow me to help you... I'm arrogant.

That however does not excuse all those responding to my antics to project any and every character onto whatever to facilitate whatever... for example, responding to my questions with accusations about me personally. Seriously... this is a rare exception where it's not just attack cameron attack cameron... but we've somehow managed to include a bit of discussion too.

"I know that we have been guilty of the same tone with you at times. It's just that snarkiness demeans the gravity of the subject."

LOL.. yes.. we certainly bring out the best in each other ;-)

Yes, but we all have things that take us outside of the norm. Post-partem depression is a good example of this. There are certain life circumstances that we need support to get through. There's no shame in this.

As for having sensitivity to those who aren't self-aware:

Infants aren't self aware til 18 months, and there are few people in the world who would claim not to care about their wellbeing.

Good point Lauren.

Ah..arrogance. Honestly, Cameron I usually think that you aren't being serious. When you post something off the wall I just ignore it and move on.

It's a shame to, because I know that you DO have something to say. Sometimes I'll read a post and think "hmm that was well thought out and good" and then look and say "WHAT IT'S CAMERON?!?! WHERE ARE THE INSULTS?!?" I think posting more of *those* posts would garner much more respect from the pro-life community in general. As we know, respect inhances debate. :)

Sesativity is not an all or nothing thing. I said "relatively"

Curiously... prolife is pushing for a post-abortion depression research funding bill... but nothing of the sort for the far more abundant and deliterious problems of perinatal/postpartem depression. Is that sensative?

We're pushing for the post-abortive depression bill because the perinatal/postpartem bill is already in the works. Were it not we would be fighting for it as well. (well *I* would, and I'm sure FFL)

"WHAT IT'S CAMERON?!?! WHERE ARE THE INSULTS?!?"

I think, scrolling back through the threads, you'll be hard pressed to find any insults on my part. I mean, there are a few there, and I'm definately no angel, and, like in one of todays thread, I'll engage in a retort upon being clearly insulted, but typically I start off with some sort of critical evaluation of Jill's blog and I'm showered with personal attacks in response. However, It's not like I don't expect to get dogged-down in a pro-life forumn.

Go ahead and look back. I think HisMan and Gestator of 3 have me beat by at least ten to one.

"perinatal/postpartem bill is already in the works."

I went and looked for such a bill but couldn't find anything. Could you provide a source/link?

See *Gestator of 3*.

Lauren, That's what he calls me.

Gestator of 3/mother of 3

That's not exactly insulting, unless of course you're desperate.

Lauren, sadly, he's well aware of why people respond to him the way they do. He purposely trolls this site waiting to see who'll take the bait.

Unfortunately, I do take the bait much of the time, even though I know this.

http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2007/05/postpartum_depr.html

Admittedly I do not know if this bill includes perinatal counseling. If not, we should work for its inclusion.

Cameron my love and my wayward child,

Try to understand this from our point of view. This video post sums the whole thing up pretty well.

Two people pour their hearts out and trust us with the most intimate and painful thing they have ever gone through...something we will never have to go through, God willing.

Most of us cried, all of us responded with our prayers, well wishes and admiration. We respected their grief, we shared their joy. They shared their son with us...

Your response to this highly sensitive and very emotional moment was:

Jill,
given you're stand on IVF, your preoccupation with these trisomy situations, and the fact that most of em die... It looks like you should be campaigning to keep older couples from even procreating.

and then:

I didn't bother watching the video. Just thought I'd start a discussion, and I don't see what's so flipp'n irreverent about putting words in Jill's mouth, other than it's a break from the vacuous tripe preceeding it.

Now what reaction would you expect us to have?
What reaction were you going for?
What do you want from us?
We're listening...

mk

Heather, I know it's what he calls you, but it's also not exactly a respectful term. If you have no issue with it, then I don't but I thought I remembered reading that you did.

Bethany,

Did you get any Uggy Uggies today?

Ha

Awww LOL Jasper, at first I had no idea what you were talking about but then I remember you have been to my blog! Yes, I have gotten several uggies! I love uggies!!

You don't even need to try to understand my point of view MK.. just try to critically evaluate this...

Jill posts a blog about rampant abortion of down syndrome kids. Next day she's got gut wrenching 7 month old vlog here of trisomy 18 shor-term survivor. What's Jill saying here? It'd kind of a little belated to be emoting for the parents... don't you think?

"Now what reaction would you expect us to have?"

The vacuous tripe comment came after your reaction. e.g. "Are you that callous?"

Again... there was nothing particularly callous about the initial post. Just don't like me pointing out motives and such when you all are having a good time declaring your virtues.

Wait, what is Jill's positon on IVF? And what exactly does that have to do with abortion?

Cameron, it is my understanding that this video was just discovered by Dawn at DawnEden. It seems purely coincidental that it was featured shortly after an article on Down's Syndrome.

Also, I do not think it makes any sense to assume that the motive of posting this video had anything to do with limiting the reproductive choices of older women. In fact, you admit that you made such a claim without watching the video.

Jill thinks IVF should be banned because so many mbryos are consumed. One of the reasons/problems why so many embryos are consumed is because it's older couples seeking the treatment and there's a high rate of trisomy problems with gametes from older couplse. I was tenuously stretching Jill's notions to suggest that she should probabably oppose older people having sex all together because of the increased likelihood that they'd have trisomy infant that would die before or shortly after birth. Saving babies proactively!!!

I don't even think he means half of the things he says. I really don't. If I did, I'd be pretty offended, but I think he's just full of crap.

He says things purely to get a rise out of people. Kind of like SOMG does.

Cameron, can you see how this would rub us as insensitive in response to such a heartbreaking post? Please, watch the video. Perhaps then you will better understand why we felt upset by your statement. We care for this family, and your words belittled their suffering.

Wait a minute? IVF is bad? My mother tried that for two years and she was 27. She only had one fallopian tube & three "specialists" told her she would *never* have a baby naturally. So she tried IVF for two years, and still no pregnancy. She couldnt adopt b/c her husband left her b/c she couldn't produce him an heir or some bull like that. What is her stance on test tube babies? are they bad too?

(I was finaly concieved on a *very* drunken New Year's Eve of 1983, lol, she was single and I am the product of pre-marital sex. She tells me I am the *best* mistake she ever made, lol.

"Also, I do not think it makes any sense to assume that the motive of posting this video had anything to do with limiting the reproductive choices of older women. In fact, you admit that you made such a claim without watching the video."

No limiting reproductive right of older women was my putting words in Jill's mouth, and I've said as much now over and over again. However, you're casting a straw man now with respect to the motives I have very clearly outlined, and I think anybody who doesn't think she's got political reasons for posting this here is just a little foolish.

Not to mention, she had me @ 27, and had to have hysterectomy (sp?) @ 30. If wasnt for her "oopsy" she would have never had children.

Cameron,
Perhaps you are incapable of understanding. We didn't all jump on you for our own sakes...we did it in honor of The Mooney's and their son, Eliot.

I remember when you guys ripped into Terri Schiavo and her brother came to the site. I can't imagine what it must feel like to hear people refer to your sister as a vegetable or your son as that trisomy kid. It can't feel good.

This post was not about IVF, it was not about older people having children. It is about the worth of a human life at any stage and in any condition.

The belief in this simple concept, that ALL people, no matter how young, how intelligent or how feeble, have inherent dignity, is what keeps us putting up with you. The fact that we believe all of us are brothers and sisters is what makes our heart break for the Mooney's, our tears fall for the Terri Schiavos, our concern for the unborn, and our tolerance of Neanderthals. You are the perfect example of what it means to love everyone, even the most unlovable.

And quite frankly, I have spent enough time on you. You either can't get it because you are morally bereft or you won't get it because you enjoy being the butt of everyones jokes and the bane of our existence.

I know they say that bad attention is better than no attention...but honestly, don't you get tired of people thinking you're a horse's bum?

@Midnite: I'm an IVF baby...and 9 months after I was born my mom got pregnant with my little brother. They people at my dad's work didn't know I was technically an IVF baby, but when my parents were moving, they gave my mom and dad a gallon of Prairie du Chien, WI water that said "Don't drink unless you wanna get pregnant!" :D

Midnite-We believe that certain methods of IVF are morally wrong, but not the process itself. (To be fair there are some who do believe that the process itself is immoral, but I don't think anyone here shares that belief)

That's too funny Rae

*wink*

Lauren:

Why would certain methods of IVF be wrong? I dont understand. These methods are for women who can not concieve a child naturally & obviously want to have children. What is wrong with that?

I'm down in another lab where there are no speakers on the computer.. so I can't hear what's being said. None the less, to come here, Jill Stanek's blog, and find such a video, and be called insensative for not humoring the antics resulting from it.... I don't need a video of such suffering and bunch of politically emotive friends to make myself feel like I understand the value of life. It really makes me feel kind of sad that you all do.

well, i

Midnite-often (though not always) more embryos are created than needed. These are either killed or frozen. Of course, for those who are pro-life we see this as immoral.

Cameron, I don't need a video of suffering and politically emotive friends to make me feel like I understand the value of life. I, like the others in this blog are simply moved by the video.

While abortion is political, disability should not be.

Just got back. Lauren, that name doesn't bother me. It was really the content of his posts. However, I am starting fresh!

Midnite,

Quite frankly I am too tired to get into a knock- down-drag-out tonight, but I am probably the only person on here who believes the process itself is wrong.

I honestly don't think that if I explained from now until Christmas you'd have a clue what I was talking about, but once again it has to do with the union of a man and a woman, the creative process, allowing God to run the show, being subservient to His will, obedience and valuing the natural law.

That said, the reason most people here find it wrong, is that as a general rule many babies are created, some implanted, some frozen, and then if any of the implanted children survive their number is reduced so the woman doesn't produce a litter.

Many children die in this process and we find this as morally objectionable as abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

While I believe it is morally wrong, if there was a way to use only one embryo at a time I would'nt fight to make it illegal. But I still think that it is morally wrong.

And before you go there, I am thrilled that Rae is here no matter how it happened!

*tear*

This video....*sad sigh*

That's perfectly fine MK. I just didnt know that (some) pro-lifers had a problem with it and was curious to why someone would be. Now, I am not in a mood for an all fists throwing argument either, but I think it is a good thing if the mother can not naturally concieve and she wants children, but alas, that is mu opinion.

There is a chance I might not be able to get pregnant naturally either. As I said earlier my mother was born with only one fallopian tube and we dont know if have two or not. All of my ovarian cysts have been on the left side, not to mention I have to have surgery in two months to remove part of my ccervix. If that was the only option I had to concieve naturally, I'd take. But once again, that is my opinion.

Cameron,

I am 54 years old. If my Dad were still alive he would be 110 years old. He was 56 when I was born and my mother was 43. He actaully fought in WWI, that's right Word War One.

Now to have it your way there should have been some testing done to see of I was some how genetically deficient in the womb? And had the test been available and showed some sort of abnormality, I should have been aborted because my parents were older and therefore, according to you should have had this test?

What if the test was wrong, just once in a million? You gonna take responsibility for that before a Holy God? You are eugenicist my friend. You play God and nothing, no nothing, not one thing, ever, ever, ever, justifies the killing of an unborn human being in the womb.

By the way, out of 8 kids I have the highest IQ of 165, have an engineering degree, a masters degree in theology, own three businesses and have raised five champions. Thank God my parents had the love and courage and simple faith to just trust God that all would work out and yes that abortion was illegal at the time and so such coward choice was available.

As hard as you may try, we will never, ever, change our minds about this.

Here are some more beautiful stories about children who were born with Trisomy 18:
http://www.prenatalpartnersforlife.org/Stories/Trisomy18StoriesIndex.htm

"abortion was illegal at the time"

abortion has never been a crime designated by the federal government, it was left to states.

it is likely it was illegal in that state, but there was certainly the option of going out of state for the procedure

Baby Zeke

I personally don't think age matters when you have kids, as long as you are willing and responsible enough to care for another human being than so be it. I am sure there are some excellent teen mothers out there just as I am sure there are excellent parents who aren't exactly "spring chickens".

@HisMan: Where did your father serve in WWI? My dad's father did "clean-up" in the Philippines in 1945 and my mom's father was in Korea. My grandfather was 34 when my dad was born and my dad was 33 when I was born, so they weren't exactly "young" parents either...heck, my dad was 40 when my littlest brother was born.

Ok, this is the second time I've cried today. Not good

"sometimes miracles arrive
so tiny that we cannot feel
the weight of them –
and yet we are still changed,
and we are blessed none the less…" - unknown

With you on the crying thing, Midnite....*hug*

*big ole bear hug back*

Hey Rae, my papa was in Korea, well kind of, he was stationed in spain and germany. my father served in vietnam. he's a special forces ranger/green beret

Baby Kia

Baby Jorge

Children living with Trisomy

Bethany, you're killing me here (I havent cried in like three months, I dont cry easily). But these stories are just heart breaking, and I cant stop crying.

Beautiful Marie

Simon Andrew King

Jason Aaron Turner

Juliana

Abigail

Claire
Many, many more

I'm sorry Midnite...they make me so sad too. I've just been finding them all over the place.

I've had to draw memorial portraits for so many children and babies who died, due to disease or stillbirth, and some from car crashes and other types of things....it's so saddening reading their stories too.. I have some of them posted on my site. It's very difficult to separate yourself from the fact that you're drawing a baby who has died...I sometimes have to trick myself into believing they're alive in the pictures to be able to emotionally handle it....but knowing what the portrait will mean to the family you are drawing it for, it makes it worth it.

No matter how long or short a child's life is, it always has meaning.

@Midnite: My grandpappy was in Korea-Korea...he was stationed in Japan for training, which he liked a lot. He said Japan was beautiful and the people there were hella nice and friendly (only he didn't say "hella" of course...). However, he HATED Korea because according to him, "The weather was awful. One day it'd be 80 degrees with 95% humidity, the next it would be barely 20 degrees and windy."

My grandpa who served in the Philippines was on a boat for like...3 weeks to get there and he made $200 from playing poker (he owned at poker...though he only had an 8th grade education, my grandpa would totally kick my bum at math) which he sent back to my grandma. :) However, he also hated the Philippines because it was really scary since he was there to "clean-up" the leftover Japanese guerrilla fighters who were still hiding out in the jungles.

Rae,

My Dad was a medic in the Italian Army for 4 years in WWI. He received the equivalent of the Purple Heart saving other people's lives and being wounded in the process. Most people today have no idea of the hardship many of our parents and grandparents had to endure. I think if they did they wouldn't be so self-centered and would see that children are a blessing and a gift.

He then came to this country and raised 8 very wonderful children in a 55 year marriage that even endured the Great Depression. He loved kids and was a morally wonderful man, not perfect, but better than most.

I get a lot of my fire against injustice from him. He would never dream of killing an unborn child in the womb. He would just work harder to support whatever God gifted him with. I miss him deeply.

The people of the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's were a different breed. I wish more of us were like them. Yes they had faults, but I think to a higher degree, their morals were higher.

@HisMan: I'll have to agree with you on the fact that people born in the 30's-60's were different. I don't think their morals were necessarily higher, just different?

I honestly don't know much about my dad's father as he and I weren't close because I was afraid of him. He began getting really sick when I was 5 years old or so with emphysema due to smoking and so he was always really cranky and it scared me, so I never really got to know him well. Though unfortunately, the one thing I do remember about him was that he was VERY racist but he loved watching Tiger Woods play golf...and that always puzzled me.

I'm glad you had such a good father. I love my vati, as I call him, very much. He works very hard to support my mutti and my brothers and I to be sure we are able to have a good education and what not. Sure, he's not terribly religious, but I don't think that makes him a less moral person.

*shrugs*

But that is very interesting, so you are a second-generation Italian, eh? That's neat. :D What part of Italy is your family from, out of curiosity?

Ah, HisMan, thank God for Italian heritage. (I'm not being sarcastic, or rude, because I am part Italian, and in my opinion it's the best part.) Mangia mangia! :)

@Alyssa: My cousin married a half Irish, half Italian man she calls her "Italian Stallion".

My mom had originally wanted to marry an Irishman so she could have red-haired, green eyed babies...instead she marries a Dutch man with dark brown hair with 1 brown eye and 1 blue eye.

Though my dad does (or at least he used to) have a red beard for some reason...as did my grandpa.

Mom married a half PA Dutch, half Italian man. Grammy (paternal grandma) was as southern dark-skinned Italian as one could get (absolutely beautiful woman, I've seen pics of her when she was young). Mom was afraid she'd have "short, stocky Italian babies". *giggle* (She was joking, of course, she didn't really care.) But the entire Italian side of the family went nuts when my brother and I were born...two platinum-blonde, blue-eyed, tall kids. Especially since both of my parents have very dark curly hair and dark eyes. :D

Rae,

My dad wasn't religious either but I believe he was as close to God as anyone. He carried a picture of Jesus on the Cross in his wallet, all old and crumpled, and used to bring it out once in a while and would say with tears in his eyes, "The Savior of the World" in broken English. I loved that man.

Hisman, how can you say a man who carried a picture of Jesus on the Cross in his wallet, who would say that Jesus was "the Savior of the World" was not religious? Sounds religious to me. And sounds like a very fine man.

Now my father, he's NOT religious. Never saw him in a church, or heard him mention Jesus. Taught me much about right and wrong, however.

wow, sorry! Don't know how I did that.

my computer must be tired.

Bethany, thank you for all of the other stories.These mothers and fathers are the greatest! I cried at every story.

I was struck by the beautiful glow on every one of these mom faces. Such love. Such peace.

How many of us would have been broken by a story like these. How many of us could have found joy amidst the sorrow?

The one thing that each of these families had in common was their faith. The sure knowledge that their children were gifts. Not property. But little souls left in their care for a short while.

Isn't that what all of our children are? None of them are actually "ours". They belong to the father. The fact that He trusts us enough to watch over them, guide them and love them only makes sense when you realize that our final goal, is to give them back to their rightful owner.

And when they find themselves in His loving arms, isn't it comforting to know that they will tell Him, "Thank you for placing me with people who understood. Thank you for giving me to people who told me all about you. Thank you putting me in a home where you were welcomed"

And when I too meet my Father, I hope I can hear the words "You have done well by my little ones. I trusted you with the most precious of my gifts, and you did not let me down. Come in. Come in."

To see those innocent faces juxtaposed with the baby Malachis of the world is almost too much to bear...

You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them. (Isaiah 6:9-10)

"Isn't that what all of our children are? None of them are actually "ours". They belong to the father."

yes MK, you explain it so well as usual. I have learned alot from the commenters here from their insights. Thanks.

MK, How true. One of my favorite sayings is: God couldn't be everywhere at once, so he created mothers/fathers.

Great! Show the sad stories to the pregnant lady...she'll recover eventually!

But in all seriousness, those were all so beautiful. It's amazing what we can learn from a tiny child.

That was a really sad story. =( I'm glad the couple was able to spend three months with their baby before he passed. They are really strong.

Must be the environmentalist in me, but I couldn't help but shudder when they released the 99 balloons in the air. That's SO bad for the environment. 99 Roses or something biodegradable would have been much better.

Yeah, but actually the environmental damage done by the manufacturers (and their material suppliers) for the landscaping equipment used by the cemetery's at least six orders of magnitude worse than even a thousand balloons would be. ;-)