IF "Therapy"

Recently, one of the other IF bloggers was talking about how doing art projects or other craft projects helps her to deal with her sub/infertility.

I find that creating is therapeutic for me, too.  I mean, I've always enjoyed doing that kind of stuff.  I am not particularly gifted in painting or drawing, but I do enjoy it the process of it.  I also enjoy sewing and knitting.  Although I realize that procreating isn't truly the result of my husband and I "making" a baby (because God "makes" people), we clearly play a big role in the process.  That's one of the reasons I think sub/infertility is so devastating for many; the urge to help in that creation process feels squelched.

Fortunately, I can flex my creative muscles with those artsy projects.  Additionally, I can completely overcompensate for my seemingly lack of procreative results by keeping a huge garden!  Last year, I began to joke with my husband that I felt the garden helped me deal with my frustrations of us not being able to "reap our harvest" with children.  He was like, "I know, hon."  So, it was that obvious.  Interestingly enough, the previous owners of our house also struggled with sub/infertility and later adopted a child.  One of the things that attracted me to this house was the large yard, flower gardens, and vegetable/fruit garden.  I wonder if they chose this house partially for the same reason.

Do you engage in any creative activities, such as art, knitting, sewing, jewelry making, gardening for your IF "therapy?"

St. Philomena Novena

Today is the first day of the St. Philomena novena.  She is the patron Saint of many different "hopeless" cases, and one of them listed is sterility.  Expectant mothers and those having problems with children have also called on her for help.  I have copied and pasted the novena prayer from D.rew M.ariani's FB page for your reading convenience.  Here is an alternative novena prayer from EW.TN's website, as well.

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Today begins the powerful novena to the martyr St. Philomena and it ends on Sat. Aug 11th. If you have a special need, ask this miracle worker to help.

Novena Prayer to ST. PHILOMENA

O FAITHFUL VIRGIN and glorious martyr, St. Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity , O great Saint! Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I now humbly lay before thee ...

(Here specify your petition.)

I am firmly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the Passion and death of Jesus, thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of thee, and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in His Saints. Amen.

Saint Philomena, Powerful with God, Pray for us!

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St. Philomena has been successfully invoked by her supplicants in every sort of need, such that she has become another patron of "hopeless" and "impossible" cases, like St. Jude or St. Rita, but she is known to be especially powerful in cases involving conversion of sinners, return to the Sacraments, expectant mothers, destitute mothers, problems with children, unhappiness in the home, sterility, priests and their work, help for the sick, the missions, real estate, money problems, food for the poor and mental illness. But truly, as her devotees have discovered, no case, of whatever matter, is too trivial or too unimportant to concern her.