An Ongoing Conversion of Heart
When Al and Beth Budelier met at a Lenten noon Mass nearly 20 years ago, they had no idea how profoundly God would use that moment to shape their lives. What began as a simple encounter soon unfolded into a story of ongoing conversion—conversion to one another in marriage, to deeper trust in God’s plan, and to a life-giving openness through Natural Family Planning. For the Budeliers, NFP has been a method of fertility awareness and a catalyst for transformation, drawing them into greater love and mission.
Q: How did you first learn about NFP and what role did it play in your marriage preparation?
Beth: We were only required to take an overview class, but we knew we wanted the full program. I had seen my mom chart quietly and consistently growing up, so I was familiar with the idea. But learning it together was so eye-opening.
Al: My mom also practiced NFP, so I knew about it from her. I had also discerned the priesthood at one point, so I already knew the Church’s teaching on sexuality. But learning as a couple was a whole new level.
Q: What stood out to you as you began charting and learning the method?
Beth: I’ve always been science-minded, so I was enthralled. I remember thinking, So, this is what’s going on every month!
Al: Finding an out-of-town teaching couple gave us the space to learn deeply and privately. Seeing NFP lived out in another marriage made it all the more real.
Q: At what point did you decide to go from students to teachers?
Beth: During my third pregnancy we realized our area only had one NFP teaching couple. We just looked at each other and said, “Let’s be part of the solution.”
Al: That one decision turned into years of teaching—welcoming couples into our home or parish, even babysitting their kids so they could focus. It was never just an obligation; it became a joy.
Q: What has teaching meant for you?
Beth: Nothing but blessings. We’ve met the best couples and watched their communication and teamwork grow.
Al: And now with online teaching, our reach has multiplied. We’ve had up to 16 couples in one class. In-person is special, but online makes it so much more accessible. Couples can join from anywhere—no babysitter needed—and still make real connections.
Q: You’ve also become fertility coaches with CCL’s Fertility Science Institute. How is that different?
Beth: It’s very personal. Coaching helps couples in unique situations—those marrying overseas, those short on time, or who suddenly find out they need NFP training before their wedding. We started with a bang and now see couples every week from all over the country.
Al: What I love is the ongoing support. Couples can follow up with us, send charts, ask questions. It’s not just instruction—it’s accompaniment.
Q: Have you seen couples’ lives change through this accompaniment?
Beth: Absolutely. One couple conceived sooner than they had planned, but the wife emailed me saying, “It’s just all the love. I’m so happy.” That’s what NFP fosters—openness to love and to life.
Q: How has practicing and teaching NFP impacted your own marriage?
Beth: One of the biggest blessings has been communication. Because of charting, we had conversations we never would have had—about being overwhelmed, about family size. One of those talks led Al to start taking the kids on Saturday mornings so I could rest. Those moments strengthened our relationship.
Al: For me, NFP is a pearl of great price. It’s deepened our trust and drawn us closer to Christ. The most satisfying part of teaching is knowing we’re not just sharing information—we’re helping couples grow in love and faith.
Q: What do you hope couples take away from your example?
Beth: Sometimes a couple will send in a flawless chart, and I’ll write, “With a chart like this, you’d make a great teaching couple.” That’s exactly what our own mentor once told us. You never know when you’re planting a seed for someone else’s mission.
Al: Ultimately, we hope couples see NFP not just as a method, but as a path to deeper love, trust, and holiness.
From a chance meeting at Mass to teaching and coaching couples nationwide, Al and Beth’s life together reflects the conversion that NFP makes possible: a turning away from control and fear toward trust, generosity, and love. Their witness joins the stories of so many other couples who, through NFP, encounter Christ in a new way and find their marriages renewed. For those willing to walk this path, NFP is not simply about planning—it is about ongoing conversion of heart, and the joy that comes when God’s design is embraced.
Written by Martha Haenni. Martha is a wife and mother of four adult children. She enjoys the variety of her work at CCL as Marketing Events Coordinator, Content Editor, Family Foundations Assistant Editor, and PeakDay Podcast host. She has come full circle with CCL having learned the CCL Sympto-Thermal method 35 years ago.
This article first appeared in Family Foundations magazine, a benefit for donors to the Couple to Couple League. For engaged couples, find CCL’s NFP for Marriage Prep here. Find CCL’s PeakDay STMethod for married couples here.