a better choice newsletter november 2016
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Contact Us
Director: Vallarie Eades
3007 E Central Wichita KS 67214
316-685-5757
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“Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into His presence with thanksgiving.” Psalm 100:2
A Better Choice Newsletter November 2016
“To resurrect a culture of life
in society.”
A Better Choice is a Catholic
ministry, providing Christ-like
counseling in a dignified and
respectful atmosphere
concerning pregnancy issues,
abortion alternatives and
healthy lifestyle choices.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Volunteer Training Nov 7-9
Trees of Hope Fundraiser Dec 3rd-17th
See articles in newsletter for more details
ABC is closed for Thanksgiving November 23rd, 24th, 25th
Vallarie Eades
Thank You. These two little words
are pretty sweet regardless of when they are shared or how they are shared. You can whisper them, hand sign them, write them or shout them from the roof tops. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they are said. Each
young woman who reaches out to us for help will hear those words. And it’s natural for our volunteers to graciously thank these women for the opportunity to serve them. Many times when something is given away there is a feeling of loss. But, giving a sincere thank you fills our hearts instead. Our Heavenly Father also rejoices when we are grateful for the many blessings and miracles He gives us each day. This Thanksgiving, all across this great nation, families will be traveling to gather around their tables to say, “Dear God, Thank You”.
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Volunteer Update Tammy Lies
This year I have a great deal to be thankful for.
God has blessed me with five children who have
given me fourteen grandchildren whom I love with
all my heart. Together they have given my
husband and me a wonderful family. God blessed us with a nice home in the
country west of Andale. We have wonderful friends and a great Catholic
community to live in. This summer He blessed me with a wonderful new
opportunity to work with great women and men at A Better Choice. He has
blessed us with good health, plenty of food to eat, and many opportunities .
Yes, this year I have many things to be thankful for.
In this time of thanksgiving please count your blessings, and remember to thank God for them.
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“Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into His presence with thanksgiving.” Psalm 100:2
A Better Choice Newsletter November 2016 Page 2
Being Thankful for the Bad Molly Bogner
“Thank you, God, for my
family, my friends, my possessions, my happy times….” We will all pray a similar prayer, this month, but I want to challenge you to include even more in your “list” of thanks.
At a Steubenville conference in high school, I heard a talk by Jackie Francois, and she introduced me to a whole new type of thanksgiving. She told us about a 54 day rosary novena, in which you pray 27 days asking a special favor, and then you pray 27 more days of thanksgiving - whether your request was granted or not. Jackie’s first experience of this novena ended with a breakup, and she had to thank God for her broken heart for 27 days. I had never heard of being thankful for the bad things in your life. Should I thank God for my suffering, drama, and challenges?
One of the basic truths of our faith is that God makes everything work towards good. Our world is not perfect - it contains lots of suffering and disorder - but God has promised that He will cooperate with our freedom to bring the world to perfection. The suffering and pain we experience is not directly from God - however, He permits it to happen, and He brings good out of it. He sees the big picture of our lives and knows that these trials will ultimately lead us to heaven. (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 302-324 beautifully explain this concept of Divine Providence further.)
It's hard to be thankful for our struggles. But if we take this Thanksgiving as an opportunity to be thankful for EVERYTHING - good AND bad - we truly acknowledge God’s love and power, and we deepen our trust in Him!
Client Services Update Tammy Alford As we look forward to Thanksgiving Day, I am reminded of all the stories that bring us joy at A Better Choice. Yes, we see women who have very difficult lives, and have made decisions that break our hearts. We must remember that for every dark case, God showers us with light. This is true for the ABC client who is pictured below: she asked that her name and the babies’ names not be used. This client came to ABC for a pregnancy test. She was 40 years old, and couldn’t imagine being pregnant since she had 3 children ages 17, 11, and 9. Imagine how surprised she was to find that she wasn’t just having one baby, but two! The sonogram picture below was taken at ABC. This mom delivered two healthy baby girls, and rejoices at their birth. We too can rejoice and can remember this bright light from God when other cases seem so hard.
May God bless you with a thankful heart as you serve.
4th Annual Trees of Hope
A Better Choice has been chosen as one of the non-profit organizations to participate in the Kansas Star Casino’s Trees of Hope. Each organization will decorate a 10 ft. Christmas tree. The theme we have chosen for our tree is “A Child is Born.” The top 3 trees chosen by votes from the public will receive a cash donation: 1st place prize is $5,000, 2nd place is $2,500, and 3rd place is $1,000. We vote for our tree at the Kansas Star Casino between December 3rd—17th. In the coming weeks we will be giving you more information on how you can vote, and if you can vote more than once. We are rejoicing that ABC has been chosen for this fundraiser.
Dillons Rewards 3rd Quarter
A Better Choice received
$405.41.
Thank you for supporting ABC
when you shop at Dillons!
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Birthdays May God bless your day!
Amy Fitzpatrick Nov. 19th
Rosemarie Mistretta Nov. 27th
“Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into His presence with thanksgiving.” Psalm 100:2
How You Helped in October
Total Tests: 121 Positive Results
63 (52%) Negative Results
58 (48%) Sonograms
25 New Born Gifts
24 Referrals
Treehouse 49
St Anthony Pro Life Outreach 17
Center of Hope 2
“Spend the day
appreciating every little thing that comes your
way, and you’ll end the day feeling deeply
grateful for your life.”
A Better Choice Newsletter November 2016 Page 3
Sweet Pumpkin Whip Submitted by Cheryl Schechter
Ingredients: (Serves 6) 1 (3.4 oz) package instant sugar-free, fat free cheesecake flavor pudding 1 Cup fat free milk 1/2 can (15 oz) solid pumpkin– not pie filling 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 container (8 oz) sugar-free whipped topping cinnamon sticks (optional) Instructions: 1. Combine pudding mix and milk in a medium bowl. Whisk until well blended. 2. Stir in pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add whipped topping and mix
thoroughly. 3. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days. 4. Optional serving ideas: spoon into favorite dessert dishes and top with
whipped topping and cinnamon sticks.
Thank You, God Prayer Catholiconline.com For all You have given, Thank You God. For all You have withheld, Thank You God. For all You have withdrawn, Thank You God. For all You have permitted, Thank You God. For all You have prevented, Thank You God. For all You have forgiven me, Thank You God. For all You have prepared for me, Thank You God. For the death You have chosen for me, Thank you God. For the place you are keeping for me in heaven, Thank You God. For having created me to love You for eternity, Thank You God.
Shockers Pro Vitae Meggie Schafer
I am a volunteer at ABC, and I also serve as president of
the Shockers Pro Vitae, a Pro-life Group, at Wichita
State University. On November 15th we will be having a
Students for Life of America representative bringing a
display about Human Rights on campus. This display will
ask, “When do you think human rights begin?” We cannot wait to start this im-
portant dialogue and to spread the Pro Life movement on campus. We are so
thankful for the support from the community and ask for your continued pray-
ers for our fight for a voice at Wichita State. If you would like to learn more in-
formation about our group please email: [email protected].
VOLUNTEER TRAINING: NOVEMBER 7TH, 8TH, 9TH 9AM –1:00 PM Please let your friends and families know. This would be a great refresher for
current volunteers too. Please contact Tammy Lies at 685-5757.