Newsletter October 2025

For our organization, 25 years ago was when we first opened our doors, started to offer our services to families in crisis, and took on managing and growing our crisis pregnancy centers. For my family, 25 years ago was when they started sharing their mom’s time and attention with the mission of ABB.

It’s been 25 years for my family and me to start, manage, and grow crisis pregnancy centers. For my kids, they had to deal with a mother who was not able to volunteer to be their coach, run a school fundraiser, or serve in a role at our church community—really anything other than being a leader of A Baby’s Breath for the last 25 years. For my husband, I depended on him many nights to entertain our children while their mom was away, sitting in board meetings or managing crises for ABB. The sacrifice for the work of ABB was as much for my family as it was for me. Over the 25 years, I frequently ask God:

Has our family’s sacrifice benefited others?

I have heard uplifting testimonies from our former clients from time to time, and ABB volunteers have lauded the mission of ABB with great zeal. Despite these affirmations, my question is still largely a mystery to me because “souls are not statistics, and only God knows who has really benefited from all that any of us give.” As a wise priest once said, “When we get to heaven, we will find out!”

As I look back at the time I shared with my family, I can only think of the fruits. One of my motivations for doing this work was in gratitude for my children, who gave me the joy of my life in serving God, but also in thinking about the poor souls who, for whatever reason, chose Planned Parenthood in their solution to a crisis pregnancy. The sorrow that they must feel is unimaginable, and it has carried me through many of my struggles on this path.

The first fruit is that all of my children still practice their Catholic faith. They all support their own Catholic churches and schools now, and it gives me great joy to see them carry on the Faith. Of course, our example as Catholic parents can only go so far, and the rest is their choice. We continue to pray for their faith every day with a Rosary for each child.

The second fruit was to firmly establish the idea of being pro-life. While we supported pro-life candidates, our children learned respect for life through our actions. Their sacrifices, like mom’s time, were repaid with appreciation for how to be part of the solution by directly helping mothers, fathers, and families in crisis pregnancies. They are all involved in some way.

Josh, my oldest, is the CFO of A Baby’s Breath. He helps manage the seven gateway processors and oversees the large volume of online donations. His technical skills enable him to communicate with volunteers and donors about online giving processes. My daughter, Victoria, served as our Volunteer Coordinator for several years. As she transitions to a full-time Speech Therapist career, she will still support her mom occasionally with the time she can offer.

My second son, Jared, was so inspired by his first child that he wants to create a podcast to help explain the concept of a volunteer-based, Catholic social service. He has been interviewing attendees of key events to better understand A Baby’s Breath’s structure, which is detailed in my book, Creating Compassionate Places.

My third son, Tom, has been the most hands-on with his leadership position as Director of Jeffersonville. Being a good advocate is not something that can be taught; it’s a gift. Tom has that gift of hearing from our clients and being a good, compassionate soul who listens to their needs. He travels from Maryland once a week to attend client visits, drop off donations, and train new volunteers. I am hopeful that he will be able to carry in the valuable lessons he has learned to his priestly vocation.

“By their fruit, you shall know them,” and God has answered my question in some way. My family’s sacrifice, allowing their mother to build upon the mission of ABB, has built a desire of faith and heart for pro-life work within our family. These 25 years of ABB have been so fruitful for my family that my children want to continue the mission of ABB in any way they can.

Over the past quarter of a century, I have become increasingly thankful for those God has surrounded me with, who sacrificed for their families as A Baby’s Breath volunteers. Thank you to all who inspire me to be the leader that I’m supposed to be. Your dedication is one of the truest gifts—fruits—of doing God’s work.