I might look polished when speaking in front of an audience, but this is the reality behind the scenes when photographing 4,000 students. School and sports photography may be glamorous for the subjects, but not for the photographers!

Thankfully, with the support of family and friends, whether a photography project or speaking engagement the goal is "fruitful" and "abundant." It's all connected to the heart of my book, Choose Zoe, and the legacy my parents instilled in me—the unwavering care for all life.

Highlights

When my siblings realized I was going to be at the Care Net conference in Aurora, CO, they all planned to meet up before the conference. Although all eight of us see each other every year, I figure it was 1963 the last time we all slept together under one roof. What a blessing it was to see all of their beautiful faces.

As you can see my parents were very fruitful.

The Big Picture

I was standing in the kitchen, wearing a smock top with cherries on the pockets, looking out of our big picture window. My dad was out on the lawn, taking pictures of my two sisters and my sister-in-law’s pregnant bellies, and I remember thinking I should be in that picture. I was filled with hopes and dreams for my baby, and I also hoped my dad wouldn't kill me—even though he had never laid a hand on me.

I’ll never forget the night my mom told me she was going to tell my dad that I was pregnant when she picked him up from the airport. I did what any other responsible teenager would do—I called my boyfriend to come pick me up, and we hid in the church parking lot. As the radio played, I kept hearing my father’s words: “A baby is a blessing. A baby is a blessing.” These words gave me the courage to go home.

It was about 3:30 in the morning when I walked up that long driveway of shame. I put my hand on the doorknob, made the sign of the cross, and prayed, “Please, God, let my daddy be asleep.” But when I opened the door, there he sat in his green velvet chair, with his pop bottle glasses on, reading the Bible as usual. I just burst into tears. My dad got up and walked over to me and he put his arms around me, and said, “Mom told me that you’re going to have a baby. We’re too old to raise another child, so all I ask is that you pray every day what's best for your baby—whether you place the baby in adoptive arms or parent with our help. Now get to sleep; you have school in a couple of hours.” He kissed me on the forehead and said "I love you!

My parents exemplified the pro-abundant life message, where families are celebrated and children are welcomed with God always on the forefront. My mom was a crisis counselor in the pregnancy center at the time and they decided it was best for me to move me away from my boyfriend to live with my sister to deliver my baby. My sister (who volunteered at a PRC took me to a center, where a woman named Nell showed me a photo album of families wanting to adopt. Although adoption is a very noble option, I chose to parent with my parents’ support.

Now I understand that not all parents respond like mine did. Many suggest abortion and say you have your whole life ahead of you. But my life was far from easy. I was kicked out of my parochial school, and my boyfriend got another girl pregnant, who had an abortion. And just a few months after I had my daughter, I found myself pregnant again. After a fight at the park, when I caught him rolling around in the grass with another girl, I went home and went into labor in the middle of the night, and in the bathroom, I delivered a baby boy at just 22 weeks. While miscarriage and abortion are different, it breaks my heart to think about the young girls who are given the abortion pill and sent home to endure the pain, the blood, and the trauma of seeing their baby—all alone. Seeing my perfectly formed miniature baby also drove me to protest late-term abortion and the sale of baby parts and organs in the Bay area.

Yes, teen pregnancy and parenting were challenging, but my baby made it all worth it. When the community turned their backs on me, it was Jesus who stood by my side, and today that baby is my sidekick in life and ministry and is a Social Worker for Child Welfare and for a time was a Client Services Director in Napa. I stand here today as a client of a PRC as a living testament to their life-saving work. Many argue teen pregnancy will ruin your future. With my beautiful life, I am happy to be a "ruined woman". I am a business owner, published author, and a grandma of 13. My story is proof that choosing life brings blessings beyond measure. If you noticed, everyone who helped me was a volunteer at a pregnancy resource center and this is why I’m so passionate about urging more people to support them and protect the unborn, support moms and dads, and share the gospel. All of you who volunteer or work in a PRC please give yourselves an applause. I want to thank you for being the hands and feet of God, bringing hope where it’s needed most. You are my Pro-Abundant Life family. May you be empowered and strengthened by the Lord’s saving work, overcoming evil with good.

Care Net

I was encouraged by the speakers and honored to be one in the Ambassador Speakers spotlight.

I also wanted to highlight Roland C, Warren, President and CEO of Care Net - A Pro-Abundant Life Ministry.

​Steventhen Holland is an author, recording artist, passionate worship leader, motivational speaker, national pro-life speaker, and founder of the non-profit organization, Broken Not Dead Ministries.

You must hear his amazing story of what God is doing in his life after being conceived in rape! It is always nice to make like-minded friends and he was just an all-around nice guy.

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Of course, you can't have a conference about pregnancy without a live ultrasound in the exhibitor booth. It never gets old watching mom's faces witness new life within!

Horizons

On September 27th I will be speaking at the Pregnancy Health Center of Manteca, CA. I will be sharing my story of being pregnant at 15 as a keynote speaker.

On October 17th I will be speaking at the Cowboy Boot Gala which will feature Alan and Lisa Robertson of Duck Dynasty.

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