Monday, September 27, 2010

Just Curious.... Who's out there?




I am just curious about who is out there reading! Lurkers and newbies are as much a part of the Bubble as the "regulars," and even though it's not National De-Lurker Day, I would love for you to say hello! 

Also, for regulars and lurkers, how did you find the Bubble? Do you have a blog of your own? Are you Catholic?

I am allowing anonymous posts this time, so I can't wait to hear from you! 

Also, if you follow the Bubble regularly, click on the "Follow" button at the top of the screen. I don't post my followers publicly, so no one will ever know. And I won't "out" you!



92 comments:

  1. I'm here...and it's through the Catholic infertility circle! :)

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  2. A regular now... found you because you were commenting on Lauren's (Magnify the Lord) blog and I got curious about who you were. Then I demanded entrance into the Bubble! :)

    I have a blog, and I'm definitely Catholic. And, as you know, Leila, I'm often up late at night nursing and checking out my favorite blogs... and now during the last few glorious minutes of nap/quiet time!

    I like to use the Bubble to check in on the other girls and pray for them as so many of them deal with fertility issues, and as I deal with my own!

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  3. I forced you to start a blog. ;) Love Ya!

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  4. I came to you through another infertility blog (very recently), and while I was born, raised and still practice Catholicism it isn't the same as you. I find it fascinating to read about people who differ in opinion from my own. Much like you can't hold a conversation with liberals I can't hold conversations with conservatives and not walk away feeling agahst. Take care.

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  5. I started following...yesterday? I forget already who was promoting your blog recently, but I took a look through, loved it, and decided to follow!

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  6. I'm a Lutheran and have always been curious about Catholicism. There are a few issues I just can't get past, so there won't be a conversion in my future, but I like learning about our differences. I come to your blog because you're good at explaining them.

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  7. you know me...and i love it hear! it seems everyone always bashes the "bubble" idea when they're mad at you, but i see it as my refuge where i can find comfort in knowing i'm not the only one out there!

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  8. Found your blog through I believe Sew's who I found after I miscarried 3 1/2 years in to my infertility. I feel so blessed to have found such faithful Catholic woman and always learn so much from your posts, so thank you! :)

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  9. You know me! I love the bubble!!

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  10. I'm like ResplendentQuetzal, in that I was raised Catholic but these days find it hard to have a conversation with a conservative without walking away and saying "WHAT were they THINKING?"

    I added you to my blogroll recently because I was reading your comments in Sew's blog. Your complete certainty that your opinion on matters is absolutely correct, and that people who do not agree with you are simply not being logical, is absolutely fascinating to me. In my blogroll, I put you in the same category as the blog I read written by a young earth creationist who "believes" in evolution (as if it were a belief system). His reconciling of the earth being 6000 years old or so with evolution working in that short time period is similarly fascinating to me.

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  11. Oh, yes. And, like RQ, after this mild rebuke of your opinions, I'll close with a "blessing" to you -

    Take care. I'm sending positive thoughts your way in the hopes that you will eventually be able to accept that other people have valid belief systems.

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  12. hey there,
    I'm around too-checking in to see what the latest news is! I plan more of a post on how I ended up here but I see I'm not the only one who's curious about opinions that differ from their own : )

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  13. Mai, it's good to have you! If you stay tuned, you will eventually see a post where I will show where liberals are in fact quite logical. I have enjoyed the exchanges with Miss Gwen, our very friendly and intelligent resident liberal. :) Hopefully you can join in the discussions.

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  14. I realized I forgot to answer half these questions. :)

    Yes, I am Catholic - I converted this past Easter. I have a (newer) blog, although it's more factual - my boyfriend and I are out to visit all of the basilicas in the US to learn more about the history of our faith in the US. You can read it here: http://hereisthechurch.wordpress.com/

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  15. I can't wait for that post Miss G! We love having you in the bubble!

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  16. Me! I can't remember how I found you, through the IF circle probably.

    Being a people pleaser who grew up in the Deep South among oodles and oodles of Protestants, I did not learn to be a very good Apologist. Because of this, I have never actively done a thing to explain/defend the Faith. It's not for lack of understanding, but just fear. In an odd way, I have a foot in the Protestant camp and a foot in the Catholic so it's easy for me to "gloss over" a lot when attacked or preached too or just downright insulted b/c of my Catholic faith. So I don't get my dander up too much but I probably should:)

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  17. Hi, I'm a lurker and probably not your typical reader :-)

    I'm a 17 year old senior in public school. I'm definitely Catholic and love this blog because you teach me so much! I've been reading for a few months and think I found you from Sew (btw I miss reading her blog!)

    When I was confirmed I wanted to really know I was making the right decision so I read and researched a ton. I figured out that I couldn't learn it all but what I found out made sense enough for me to take the rest on faith.

    I love your blog because it has shown me how much I still have to learn about our catholic faith and has inspired me to want to take catholic studies courses in college next year.
    Sorry for going on and on! :-)
    -Kate

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  18. Kate! You are awesome! I am so glad you are here! Now, I am dying to know how you became a reader of Sew's blog, ha ha!! :)

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  19. PS: Kate, I have a very nice (and attractive) seventeen-year-old son. ;) Keep it in mind, sister, ha ha ha!

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  20. Always the matchmaker... :)

    You obviously know me, just telling the world I'm here and love your blog!!! (and totally Catholic and love it!!)

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  21. I am a practicing Catholic who follows the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church (to the best of my ability...fallen nature and all). I strive toward holiness and love reading about others seeking the same Truth!

    I found your blog through other Catholic IF blogs. I have suffered 9 years of IF and have recently been blessed with our first daughter, whom we adopted when shew as 2 weeks old (this past June). I do have a blog, which is andrewandjuliesadoptionstory.blogspot.com.

    I would love to meet you someday! I think we could have great conversations!!

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  22. Oh, and I have a spelling/typo problem...

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  23. Your first comment on my blog was on a post I wrote about how great my hubby is. You didn't have a blog yet-but you asked me if he had any brothers! Ha! Always the matchmaker!

    I'm ridiculously honored to have been here from the "beginning".

    Catholic and LOVE the Church!!

    Kate-you are one awesome teenager! Leila wouldn't offer her son to just anyone-you should probably take her up on that offer :)

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  24. I'm not a Catholic, but I'm interested in your perspective, even if I think some of the things you worry about (and your 'opposition' worries about) is small and unimportant. Like IVF.

    Sort of like Jews and pork. I'm not going to make them eat it, but I'm not going to worry much if I see one of them do it anyway.

    And I won't mind unless someone tries to keep me from my bacon.

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  25. Julie, that cracked me up. haha :)

    And Leila, you obviously know me too, but I don't think I ever shared how I found you. I started a blog about my family/kids, and I found Beth's sister in law's blog. Through her blog roll, I found Beth's blog, and through her blog, I found Jenny's blog, and I found you through their blog rolls.

    I have been blown away by you and all the beautiful and unapologetic Catholic bloggers most of whom were/are struggling with the cross of infertility. The faithfulness shown to the teachings of the Catholic Church among this group of ladies is inspiring and humbling to me!

    Beth who I know in person, facebook messaged me and answered some silly beginner blogger questions.

    Then Jenny, who I also know in person, emailed me and welcomed me to the blogging circle, and she took me under her wing. :)
    I then started my blog:

    http://heartofsaintmonica.blogspot.com

    To write all of my thoughts and reflections about things related to the Catholic Church and my faith life.

    Leila, you are fantastic, and I love your blog!

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  26. I'm Catholic. I have a blog. And I found this blog because one day, this crazy Catholic fertile woman started commenting on my blog, and then she stalked my friend Sew (another Catholic blogger) to get my email and emailed me. Finally, I could no longer ignore the crazy fertile lady, so I engaged in conversation and found out she was actually pretty cool :)
    Then, all us infertile folk ganged up on her when she least expected it and forced her to start her own blog.

    The end.

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  27. Hi Paul! I am glad you are here!

    As for pork and IVF, I guess your analogy would hold if we were talking about a pig embryo. But since we are talking about a human being, I don't get the moral equivalence. Unless you are in agreement with Peter Singer's worldview (a pig is a dog is a boy), and that is a different post. :)

    Look forward to hearing more from you!

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  28. Hi!

    Just recently starting to blog, but a very long time lurker.

    Catholic IF blogs guided me during the darkest hour of my IF and I found you through them.

    I am a Catholic woman that just recently miscarried after years of IF from Mexico City.

    My mother´s family is Catholic and I was raised in this faith as most Mexicans are. But my father´s family is mainly Protestant and a few are budists or belivers in New Age. My own father is a convert.

    I also went to a very liberal private school (international) with people from all religious affiliations so both due to my fathers family and my school I have always have had friends that differed diametraly from my faith and this made me decide to study what Cathlicism was about and make a concisous decision.

    This is why I love reading your blog and asking the big questions and I also like to listen to others when they speak with respect on what they belive and I like to read the journey of those who converted (C.S Lewis, John Cardinal Newman, etc).

    Also my IF has brought me to seriously read what the Chruch was saying regarding the sanctity of life and what I should and shouldn´t do to treat my IF (and find the cure to it!). Reading with an open mind the documents and writers made me more convinced than ever on my faith.

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  29. I just started reading your blog a few weeks ago. I found you through a guest post that you did at Feel My Love. About the time I checked your blog was when the atheist posts were going on and I got sucked in. :) I'm a Catholic and blog about Catholicism and the hodgepodge of my life at catholicmutt.blogspot.com.

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  30. Hello! Catholic, lover of Truth, a coward when it comes to controversy. :( I found your blog through Sew.

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  31. Hi! It's me:) I think you commented on one of my postings? Can't remember now, there are so many of us! I love to learn more about my Catholic faith and you are a great teacher!

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  32. Oh, I forgot to mention, yes, I have a blog. http://joybeyondthecross.blogspot.com and I am struggling with IF / recurrent miscarriage. However, my blog covers a bunch of stuff - well, not controversial stuff usually, but I think that is already established! :)

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  33. Hi Leila, I think I first saw you as a commenter on Abigail's Alcove. The name caught my eye. I received your e-mail of welcome, and I think you probably viewed my profile. No blog... and no plans for one, but I certainly enjoy visiting those of others who are of like mind that I think may enrich my life as a Catholic homeschooler.

    I love being Catholic... I love that it is a faith that engages all of our senses that I can live out each day with my children... so rich in tradition, so beautiful! I love apologetics, but I am not as articulate as you and even though it is all in my mind, I have trouble defending the faith. I find that very admirable in you and how easily you seem to dialogue with others. I am more of a lurker! ;) +JMJ+

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  34. Haha thank you Mrs. Leila I love your matchmaking! I'm honored that you would think a random commenter is good enough for your son :-)And thank you Kaitlin, thats so nice (I secretly lurk on your blog too) I know it's really random that I read blogs about infertile women, but I think I found Sew because someone else linked to her contraception post (before she became famous and controversial haha)
    -Kate

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  35. You know me. I'm one of the group that ganged up on you. You commented on my blog every once in a while and eventually emailed to ask to view my private blog (pretty gutsy considering you didn't even have a profile at the time). I let you in after I determined you weren't a serial killer.

    I do have a blog about infertility/recurrent pregnancy loss, but do not blog much anymore.

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  36. Ok, fine, Leila. I'll show myself. I found you via St. Joseph's Vanguard. I am a stay-at-home mom to our 7-month-old daughter, and though I am deeply grateful that we can afford the opportunity for me to be home with her, it is admittedly lonely at times. I find great strength and comfort in Catholic blogs, and particularly those that touch on parenting/family issues and joys. So, here I am.

    I was raised Catholic, and always loved it. My family went to church weekly, but we weren't overt in our faith. In college, I fell more in love with Catholicism and really claimed it as my own. I have taught 3 years in Catholic schools and now volunteer with our parish on a regular basis.

    And though I know yours is not a political blog, I will say I'm increasingly conservative. However, I simply cannot stomach the sarcasm and cynicism of the likes of Rush and Beck, etc. I prefer plain debate in charity, always charity. And so, I admire your approach and look forward to reading in the days to come.

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  37. Oh, Kate. I've seen pictures. He's a cutie, too.

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  38. @ Ruby-- I had to pop in again to say that YES, staying at home with kids CAN be soooo lonely! It's one of the reasons I started blogging (on a private blog). It gave me something "for me," and also helped me stay easily connected with friends and family. Stop on over at cheerfullychaotic.blogspot.com -- I totally get where you are now! And, I taught for 4 years at a Catholic school before going to grad school and getting pregnant!

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  39. Also, I would love for you to add me to your blog roll, as I am new to this group and would love to "meet" more Catholic ladies dealing with infertility and adoption and I know that you have lots of followers in that circle!

    andrewandjuliesadoptionstory.blogspot.com

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  40. @ Lisa, Thanks! It also doesn't help that my husband is currently on a travel schedule that is one week here, one week away for the last 3 months! :( I'll check out your blog!

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  41. I'm a "regular" ;)...I think I found you through Beth...I do have a blog of my own now! Still figuring out all the ins-and-outs-of-blogging... Born and raised Catholic, with a couple of challenging moments in my life and my faith. I love being Catholic!...And I am so grateful for this blog world!

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  42. You know me, Catholic and proud of it, but not near as eloquent at explaining it. I will say I learned a lot more about my faith as young adult and from there was clearly convincted on the harder teachings I stumbled on before. I know them, I just can't always articulate them that well. Of course, part of the Catholic IF group, and I think you found me! :)

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  43. I think you commented on my Catholic IF blog originally. Then when you started your blog, I came on over to the Bubble.

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  44. Hi Leila! I remember coming back from having surgery with Dr. H and desperately trying to find a support group for Catholic women dealing with IF. I couldn't find anything, but I did find blog-world and AYWH, then Sew, then you. Thanks Be To God! My dh and I feel like the only IFers in the pews every week, and since IF is still a taboo topic, no one wanted to talk about it with me when all I wanted to do was discuss it! The IF circle has been my support and I am soo grateful (although I am probably still more of a lurker than anything). Having you in this circle is a blessing - I love your blog. I love being Catholic and I love when catholics know their faith and aren't afraid to preach about it. You do such a good job teaching the truth of our faith - and I love that non-catholics are reading this! They are, whether they agree or not, are at least getting the truth!

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  45. Hi! I'm relatively new to the Bubble and I honestly can't remember how I found your blog (I think it was through Conversion Diary...)! I was a non-practicing cradle Catholic, but had a reversion about 4 years ago, thanks be to God. I don't have a blog, but I really enjoy reading yours! Thank you! :)

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  46. Leila, it's not like pork like that. It's like pork to me in the way Catholics worry about it. Jews worry about whether to eat pork or not, and good Orthodox Jews don't eat it. Good Catholics don't do IVF.

    But I'm not Jewish. I'm not Catholic. I want my bacon. And I don't see any problems with IVF (though, being a man, the IVF is a bit outside the realm of direct interest for more than the religious reasons).

    It has nothing to do with the pig, and everything to do with the rules. That's the common connector.

    What Leila said: "As for pork and IVF, I guess your analogy would hold if we were talking about a pig embryo. But since we are talking about a human being, I don't get the moral equivalence. Unless you are in agreement with Peter Singer's worldview (a pig is a dog is a boy), and that is a different post. :)"

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  47. I'm one of those bitter infertiles!

    Tee hee.

    I'm Roman Catholic and Canadian. Both things you already knew!

    ;)

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  48. I, too, am here. I've been following you for awhile now. You guest-posted on Rebecca's blog at Feel My Love and I guest-posted the same week!

    I am Catholic wife and mother to four (so far)...solidly on the Faithful As I Can Be side. I'm a cradle-Catholic, but having children got me going on REALLY learning and living my faith, Praise God!!

    I do have my own blog, over at Musings Of A Catholic Lady dot blogspot dot com. :)

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  49. Hi Leila,

    I am a Catholic stay at home mom with three boys. I don't have a blog of my own so I just lurk on other people's blogs.:) I found you through Beth's blog roll (she is a friend of mine from college). I think it was your post on "Why I am not green" that caught my eye. I was laughing so hard!! :) I looked through some of your other posts and I really enjoyed them. I like the straight forward, very elegant way that you explain the teachings of the Catholic faith. Thanks for doing what you do!! I look forward to lurking and learning some more!!

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  50. I'm a Catholic lurker with a relatively new blog. I love reading Catholic apologetics. I originally found your blog through one of the other Catholic infertile blogs but was too shy to comment. Somehow you found my blog and commented there...then you added me to your blogroll, which made my day. That's quite an honor. :)

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  51. I'm a non-Catholic, pursuing conversion, thanks in large part to my brother. I found your blog through my sister-in-law's blog roll. I came here originally to try to defend the liberal point of view... and failed miserably. :-)

    I do have a blog (2 actually, but only one gets kept up well), and as a SAHM, I agree with the others who feel like part of a larger community through blogging.

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  52. Hi Leila!

    I am a regular lurker! I don't remember exactly how I found your blog - I think I just jumped from random blogrolls and ended up here. I am a Catholic mother to four children, age range of 10mos-6yrs. I love your honesty and way of presenting Truth!

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  53. Hi Leila! I don't remember how I found the Bubble, but a read a few posts awhile back and added you to Google Reader. I love how matter of fact and logical you are with your arguements. Sometimes it feels like my husband and I are all alone, because we're trying our hardest to follow the Church's teachings. Even the hard ones, that are 180 degrees from the culture we live in, and I like reading about people who are trying to live the same way.

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  54. Hi Leila- I found you through the Catholic infertile blogs- thanks for your nice comment on my blog the other day & for following me! I am a Catholic and very blessed to have always known my faith and what the Church truly teaches (though I have fallen in my faith at times) My blog is http://timegivemetime.blogspot.com/
    I miss Sew's blog too!

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  55. Hello! Another regular lurker here....I came upon the Bubble (and many of the Catholic IFer's blogs) via Wheelbarrow Rider. I'm a cradle Catholic, and my husband and I both love to learn more about our faith so that we can explain it to others. I have been pleasantly surprised at how helpful reading these blogs has been for me (especially recently) in my journey of faith, and also in carrying the cross of IF. Thanks for all you do!

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  56. Catholic, have a blog and found yours from MatchingMoonheads (or More like Mary) ~ and am now totally hooked!

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  57. While I don't follow "Bubble" regularly, I do check in every week or so. I found you through the IF blogs...I found them through my favorite Catholic homeschool blogs. I first was very surprised to find the IF crowd bitter and ungrateful and was completely amazed that there were so many. I was glad to find a woman with similar fertility to mine when I found you, who also is sympathetic to the IF. I am due with our 8th child in 6 weeks. I am a conservative, cradle Catholic. My husband is a defender of the faith quite like you, while I prefer to "show" my faith rather than publically blog about it. I do have a blog, I don't have any posts yet and it's been 2 years since I started it. I do have a lot to say, yet I am uncompelled to have the world read it.

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  58. Hello,

    I found your blog recently through the "drama" that was going on. How I even found the "drama" I do not know. I am a cradle Catholic who is trying to learn more about the faith. I was married for 2 years before learning about NFP and the wonders it can do for your marriage. I have been off the pill for over 2 months now and I can honestly say it has been miraculous how much better our marriage is already! With this knowledge, I was wondering what else I have been missing out on! I am so glad that I have found your blog and hope to learn more about the Catholic Church from you.

    I do have a blog, but it has nothing to do with my faith. After a stint with breast cancer, I just needed an outlet in which to record the good things in my life. You are welcome to check it out if you want, but it's nothing too exciting!

    ~Caitlin

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  59. I believe I found you via Sew, and am so glad I did! I am learning a lot from you. Thank you. I am a newbie Catholic (converted in 2007), but you already knew that. :)

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  60. I have been reading your blog for a month or so now. I was hoping you had Anonymous comments because I'd prefer to leave them that way. I am a Catholic who did IVF and do regret having done it now. I guess I went a bit insane dealing with IF and didn't fully consider the consequences, though that isn't an excuse. On the other side, as grateful as I am for my children, I can see now the burden I must live with ... what I did won't "go away" even though I have gone to confession. So please know I've been reading along with interest and nodding and agreeing with everything you've said in regards to IVF.

    My one concern now are my 2 remaining embryos. The priest I went to confession with agreed that I need to go through FET, and I think that's what I need to do as well to give them a chance at life (well, life on earth, not in a freezer, how horrible, I know). I can't undo what I did and this seems to be the right answer even though it makes use of fertility treatments again. Would be interested to hear your thoughts in case I am incorrect here?

    Thank you for your blog helping me come to my senses and slowly back to good standing with the Church.

    -W

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  61. Anonymous, God bless you and welcome! You are like so many of us, who were "lost" but are now found! We all rely on God's great ocean of mercy! He makes all things new!

    My first instinct is to agree with your priest. Since those little ones already exist, and since they are yours, you should give birth to them, in my opinion.

    Here is a previous post that dealt with something similar:

    http://littlecatholicbubble.blogspot.com/2010/06/ivf-and-what-to-do-with-excess-embryos.html

    It's a difficult and tangled web that IVF has wrought. You will be an amazing witness for truth!! I am so glad you are here with us!!

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  62. Anonymous, this also might interest you... :)

    http://littlecatholicbubble.blogspot.com/2010/06/true-story.html

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  63. Leila--
    you are SERIOUSLY hilarious with your matchmaking (even on your blog!).
    ... so glad the pestering work and you have your own space on the internet now...

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  64. Leila tell Susan to start a blog! She is awesome! And Julie, you know we fly for free and our friends fly cheap. Want to go visit Leila next week? :)

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  65. Leila tell Susan to start a blog! She is awesome! And Julie, you know we fly for free and our friends fly cheap. Want to go visit Leila next week? :)

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  66. Leila tell Susan to start a blog! She is awesome! And Julie, you know we fly for free and our friends fly cheap. Want to go visit Leila next week? :)

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  67. Leila tell Susan to start a blog! She is awesome! And Julie, you know we fly for free and our friends fly cheap. Want to go visit Leila next week? :)

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  68. Leila tell Susan to start a blog! She is awesome! And Julie, you know we fly for free and our friends fly cheap. Want to go visit Leila next week? :)

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  69. What the heck? Don't know why That happened! Sorry!

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  70. Wow. Beth REALLY wants you to tell Susan to start a blog.

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  71. And I want to go visit with Julie!

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  72. I just found you recently. Honestly, I don't remember how. I think it may have been on one of the other pro-life blogs I read. I was so impressed by your "Answering Sophie" post that I mentioned you on my blog.

    I am a Catholic homeschooling mother of five. I converted to the Church about 12 years ago. I also teach 2nd grade RE (first sacraments class).

    I am whole-heartly pro-life and lock step with the magesterium of the Church on the marital sacrament (ie, birth control v. NFP, etc).

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  73. Thanks so much for those links, Leila. I wish I had read them before embarking on our IVF journey. In fact, I wish I'd found your blog and the other Catholic IFer blogs beforehand, too. I knew the Church's stance, but felt so alone ... perhaps had I known so many others were making the right decision it would've helped me make the right choice. But hindsight is 20/20 and who knows what I would have done. That's the thing of it -- I have learned now that I ought to just trust the Church's position because, even if I don't fully agree or understand it, the Church is right and I will come to agree with a little digging. Now I am dealing with all the unforeseen consequences of having done IVF (had I just LISTENED and TRUSTED I wouldn't be here). I thought things could be "controlled" to some extent (limiting egg fertilization, for example, and telling the doctor to keep all embryos regardless of quality), but then I just ended up with morally sticky situations even as I thought I'd considered every potential "issue" ahead of time. It's truly like listening to your parents -- you ought to just do what they say because they know what's best for you, but you just can't believe it could be true when what YOU want you want so desperately.

    I was also leaned on hard for selective reduction but did not comply, by the way. I was startled to learn that couple had unknowingly excommunicated themselves but then I guess I knew that but again wasn't thinking clearly.

    A lot to learn still.

    -W

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  74. I am Catholic, Blogger, was IF but have a baby now. :) I think you commented on my blog. Because of baby I'm not so good at keeping up with blogs anymore but still try to!

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  75. Beth you are hilarious (must be pregnancy brain setting in):P.

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  76. W-I just want to meet you...I undertand completely what this journey will do to someone...It really wasn't until being surrounded by these women that I understand now how to put into practice what the church teaches and why.....

    I just want to come through the screen and hug you...This is what I do not like about blogging....We find these great women and then can't even be able to meet them face to face....

    Praying for you...He has already poured His mercy on you.... ;)

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  77. I'm new here (although I already left a comment on another post).

    Leila, I just read your reversion story and so much of it resonated with me. I am a convert (became Catholic when I was 16) who was not well catechized and only really began to understand my Faith about 17 years ago. It's funny because Karl Keating's book was pivotal for both my husband and I. It was one of the first good ones out there I think. My husband was a baptized Catholic raised with pretty much nothing who came into full communion at 19 but like me was not well catechized. We have 10 children (only six at home still --one married) but no grandchildren yet (my d-i-l has pcos and fertility issues).

    I love my Faith, love talking about it and sharing the Truth with others. It's nice to be here!

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  78. Hi, I found you via a comment that interested me on another IF blog. I was raised Catholic, did as I pleased thru my late teens and 20's and reverted back in my 30's. The more I learn the more I know I don't know. I love and trust our Church to lead me in the right direction and do my best to be faithful. We had 4 yrs of IF, adopted, blessed to became pregnant 4 months later and have since adopted again. No blog for me.

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  79. Hi Leila,

    I've been a lurker for the past few weeks. I discovered your blog through Sew's and many others' in the Catholic IF circle. I do not have a blog, but have been really considering starting one. I have been a "circle lurker" for a while now and feel it is about time to make myself known! :) My husband and I have been struggling with infertility for the last year and I'm sure I would really benefit from the feedback of so many wonderful women.

    I'm so happy I found your blog! I love your posts!

    Brittany

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  80. Brittany, I love to diagnose! Love, love, love it! ;) In the past two years of blogging it has literally saved my life.....the girls were instrumental in helping me get what I needed to restore my fertility, because for the first 3 years, I had no idea what I was doing. :)

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  81. Sew, I'm so glad you love to diagnose! I definitely don't know what I'm doing. But I have been following your's and several others' blogs for a while now so I feel like I have had a little bit of information just from reading along. And I really wish I had a blog of my own right now so I could get your feedback! I will definitely have to start one now! :) I'll let you know when its up and running! ;)

    Brittany

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  82. I'm here, Leila! Enjoying every post - Keep up the awesome work you have going here!

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  83. Only recently discovered you, probably through another Catholic blog link ( Conversion Diary, or maybe Mommy Life?)

    I left the Quaker meeting I had belonged to for most of my adult life to go to a local Baptist church a couple of years ago, so not sure what they makes me denominationally :0)

    The reason I have bookmarked so many Catholic blogs is eighteen months ago my youngest son started Catholic high school. He was accepted because of his special needs, and I started researching Catholicism to help him understand Mass and his religious edcuation lessons. I quickly found the best way I learnt was not through information sites but by reading about the lives of real Catholics, and there are certainly some exceptional Catholic bloggers out there!

    I look forward to reading more of your blog,

    Sue

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  84. Sue, welcome! That is so interesting! I am so glad you found us! :)

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  85. My comment is a few weeks later than your original post, but I just found your blog today. I really like what I'm reading.

    I found your blog via another Catholic blog (although I can't remember which one). I am a Catholic, don't have a blog (yet), and will definitely be following yours. Great stuff, here!

    Julie

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  86. Just found you today, I Googled "what I didn't learn in CCD?". And then found your (our) story of your experience. Just started reading your blog, and you have answered many of the questions that I was seeking but afraid to ask. So Thank You for your Blog. -- Mary in NY

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  87. Julie, welcome!! And Mary (Anonymous), I am so very glad you found the Bubble! Perhaps God had a hand in that? :)

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  88. Hi Leila. I apologize for commenting on a post that is almost a year old, but I wanted to come out of lurkdom and introduce myself. I'm similar to you in that I really like order, so I've been going through your posts chronologically and just made it to this one. I found your blog a few days ago and I am hooked on it :) I'm a bit of a revert to Catholicism myself, but I am now absolutely on fire for Christ and I think He led me here! I have been enjoying all the debates and discussions from 2010 as well as getting to know you and all the regulars. I'm a bit younger than most of you since I'm 20 and still a college student. However, I'd very much like to join the bubble here. I love all of the features and I am learning so much especially from the quizzes. I even got inspired to start blogging myself since I have a lot to say about the Church and her teachings. I've even written my own reversion story that you're all welcome to read. Thanks so much for your engaging posts, Leila and God bless :)

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  89. Margo, I just read your wonderful story and I am so happy that you are here! Welcome!!

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  90. I just posted on another thread, and then saw this and figured I may as well introduce myself! Your article 'Why I Never Should Have Had 8 Kids' is circulating Facebook now, and after 'sharing' it to my wall, I decided to look into your blog. I am a convert to the Church, along with my husband and 4 children (ages 7, 5, 3, and 1) as of Easter 2010. I went digging in your blog hoping to find more encouraging mom-of-big-family type articles, and discovered that you focus more on apologetics, which I have a real passion for, so I am definately planning to stick around for more!

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