Together for Life 2013

We once again made the annual trip to Hot-lant-er for Together for Life, a memorial service for those lost to abortion and a call to a renewed commitment to protect the sanctity of all life - from conception to natural death - after 40 years of abortion on demand in our country.

40 years?!?!? 56 million lives ended. Destroyed. Trashed. Slaughtered.
I can't even imagine that number.

After sending out an invitation for any and all to go with us one young lady took us up on our offer. Thank you Mrs. B for standing bravely in honor of those who cannot.
I guess a crowd of 11 isn't so bad.


The Franklin County Crew

 We took a part in the service and until "our turn" we stood behind the stage area. Here's our view.

Some of the crowd.

 For a little while I was standing next to the beautiful Dr. Alveda King. Until she gave the opening prayer. If you've never gotten to listen to this lady - your missing out.
On the other side of me was the group of State Representatives and their aids. Then it was their turn.

State Reps get attention

 About Noon-thirty it was our turn. We all held signs with the year (or close enough to the year) we were born. Gene and I were near the front of the line.

He is really a year younger - but we got years 1976 and 77
and there is no way I was going to act a year older.

On each sign was the year and a big number (like the 1,179,300 on Gene's sign) representing the known number of lives taken by abortion that year. (In 2010 there were almost 35,000 just in our state of Georgia).
After several went, the lady to the other side of Gene helped me hold his sign so that he could go get Josiah - he was NOT at all happy about being awake or not having "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" instead of his sweet biggest sister.

 

Then Dan Becker, President of GRTL introduced the Keynote speaker Doug McKillip.

 

Dan

 

Doug.
This was the second time I've gotten to hear him speak.
I'm looking for a written version of his testimony to share with you. Remarkable.

 A few more talkers. Like the amazing Cathrine Davis.



Ms. Davis

Then somebody from the Arch Dioceses of the Southeast prayed a wonderful prayer, and we walked.





 

That's the top of me walking. My little gaggle did most of the walk with those sweet sisters back there.
What a wonderful smile that one in the middle (next to the priest) had. I'd love to go walking with them again sometime.

Normally we don't have many, if any, opposing protesters. We did this year. A little band of rebels - who have as much right to speak as we do - some of whom were costumed (as female genitalia) and all of whom were spouting ugliness. Most of which I can't repeat and was embarrassed to hear. (Plus, I was walking with children, other families, several Nuns and a priest). Thankfully, as far as the children were concerned, these lost ones may as well have been speaking a foreign language - they understood very little. What they did understand, they, these little children, deemed "just didn't make sense" - and it led to a discussion over supper about illogical arguments.

On another corner a nice looking man of color who seemed to have just been minding his on business until this quiet parade went by, gave us a thumbs down and called our mixed group racist - the kids chuckled over that comment. We laughingly admitted to being racist against abortionist - but we think they may also be racist against us.
We do believe we have the upper hand - we know God still loves them and offers them hope and a way of escape - they just have hate, violence, and ugly words.

Here's one more - the yearly group picture on the capitol steps.

(well, there should be a picture here - I'll work on it again later)

We normally take the train (Marta - $6 each) into town but this year we drove on in and parked nearby (only $5). However, we will have to find a time to ride Marta around Atlanta - I mean, how dare we deny the children such an experience (every single year)? (They kinda missed it and let us know of their displeasure.)
But they did get to eat Chick-fil-a (in Duluth - the one with the little dwarf door) so they'll live.