You Carried Me

I had the opportunity to read You Carried Me a daughter's memoir this past month. It greatly touched me. It is the story of Melissa Ohden and her mother's botched abortion and how that affected both of their lives.

I am a sucker for memoirs. I love to read about real people and their real lives. It is who I am. As a teen a friend thought I was overly snoopy so as an adult I have tried to moderate that, but I am sure that plays into my love for memoirs as probably my favorite form of literature. So now let me tell you a little about this book.

Melissa grew up in a good home knowing she was adopted but not the details surrounding her birth. How would you tell your precious child that their biological parents had tried to kill them. Not something most of us are equipped to deal with nor sure on how to share. So as a teen she abruptly found out and consequently did not deal with the information well. She lived a very destructive lifestyle while at the same time holding it together enough to finish high school and enter college. At some point she started trying to find her biological parents to find out their story and the why to what happened to her. Through searching for them, being disappointed and finding bits and pieces she began to find forgiveness and peace in her history. She discovered that forgiveness is not just for the offender but also for the offended. It releases some of the pain and hurt you are bearing.

We live in a nation where abortions are encouraged and made to seem insignificant and harmless and that just isn't the case. There are serious negative repercussions to all involved in an abortion. This book isn't preachy but does point those consequences out.

Something I thought was sad and interesting is that people often doubted her story and tried to discredit it. Making her feel as if she was the sinner in the situation. Abortion survivors often don't share that part of their history because of the way they are received when others know.

This was a very well written book with a lot of thought provoking details that will make you think. I highly recommend it!

I received my copy from Plough publishing to read and review the book here on my blog.

Family Times

     This fall we got to take a little trip up the Mississipp to visit Bemidji and see family. Always a good thing!
     One evening we hung out at the Cobb's home right on the Mississippi. Eating and fellow-shipping. Ephriam learned he really liked fried purple onions when Uncle Luke feeds them to him. And Travis shared some Red green episode he thought was funny to some of the guys. I guess they thought it was fun as well.

     It was deer hunting season while we were up there so when anyone was out beyond the yard they needed to wear hunter orange. We aren't too supplied on hunter orange clothes so I brought along the home depot aprons. I thought I was pretty clever. Mostly we just stayed out of the woods and worked around the house and garage. No one was supposed to be hunting in the pasture but it is better to be safe than sorry.

 Eph thought Bea's pink hair was a little overwhelming
;)

 Grandma's love to hold sleeping babies.
Sleeping babies love to be held by Grandmas.

     Several trees were cut down. This one was particularly close to the house so we all came outside and watched from a safe distance. Travis did good and the tree fell just where it was supposed too. Dad was on the skid loader giving it a pull in the right direction as well.

      The night we came home was the super moon. It was so pretty. When we got home we got out the telescope and gave it a viewing that was a little more up close and personal. You could really see the details of it through the telescope's lenses.

          That morning in his sermon Mathew used James 3:17 & 18.

      But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Those words really struck me as who I want to be. Can I be less greedy, more pure in my intentions? More peaceful than grumpy, gentle in my response rather than critical? reasonable rather than jumping to conclusions? Merciful rather than impatient, leaving a trail of good memories rather than angst? Steadfast rather than giving up? all of that without being hypocritical?

 I think I can but I have to try. I want to try. I will try.

     Then, my Uncle Leland died and we took a trip to Wisconsin to celebrate his life.
Uncle Lee was a great guy with a lot of great traits but what we will most miss and we remember about him is his music. Him sitting at the piano, beaming with joy as he played and sang songs of praise to Jesus. Family reunions are not going to be the same with out his presence. He didn't have to be the one making the music he was quite happy listening to others and clapping along. Music was his peace.

 At the Johnson's house with cousins.

Until next time,

~Anna