October 2015

Chastity, Math, and Mumford & Sons

A song from the new Mumford & Sons album Wilder Mind got me thinking about chastity. The song Ditmas is about a relationship in crisis. The chorus goes like this: This is all I ever was This is all you came across those years ago Now you go too far Don’t tell me that I’ve…

Nature Cycles For a Reason

I haven’t come across too many people who don’t like the autumn season with its beautiful changing leaves and crisp, cooler air. And because the changing scenery is so vivid, I can’t help but be reminded that nature cycles — it moves from one phase to another and repeats. And as a woman, so do I.…

The Modern-day Lancelots

Last weekend I attended one of my favorite events of the year: The Ohio Renaissance Festival. No, I didn’t dress up. But as anyone who’s ever been to a Renaissance Festival knows, a lot of people do, and seeing the costumes they come up with is probably the best part. As I walked through the…

Grey’s Anatomy and Family Planning

If you’re anything like me, a fan of the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, you may have also attained what I like to call the “Grey’s Medical Degree.” Now of course this degree comes with no actual merit, but after being loyal to the show for many seasons’ worth of viewing brain, heart, general, pediatric, orthopedic, plastic,…

Pope Francis’ Talk on Families

Since Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. in September, he has still left quite a “buzz” throughout the country, and I continue to be amazed at how such a short trip has made such a large impact. His welcoming and friendly demeanor truly encompass everything that is great about the Church, and even secular people…

Coffee Battling with Your Waking Temperature

Wake up. Take temperature. Make coffee. In that order. Perhaps this is the beginning of your morning routine since you’ve started practicing NFP. Coffee may be a matter of survival for you. We understand. It seems like Starbucks has succeeded in convincing us to rely on caffeine more and more to get through our daily…

NFP Orients Couple to Each Other

By Bennett & Trish Rawicki Teaching Couple Bennett & Trish Rawicki share this witness talk with their students in Dallas, Texas. Bennett: When we got married we could have been the poster couple for needing contraception. We were both one year into grad school, with me in law school and Trish in medical school. We…

CCL at the World Meeting of Families

Since I started work at CCL this summer, it seems like the news and excitement has been nonstop! From the new logo, revamped website, and launch of the self-paced course, we have been up to our ears in news. Now there’s another accomplishment on the list: World Meeting of Families! Several staffers became pilgrims a couple of…

Starting Out, Awkward Much?

When you first learned a thing or two about NFP did the word “mucus” make you feel uncomfortable? Did the thought of learning the intimate intricacies of human reproduction in a room with other people make you want to find an NFP DIY book on Amazon ASAP? You’re not alone. CCL recently welcomed new teaching…