Beginning the Natural Family Planning Journey

   Natural Family Planning//Fertility Awareness// Rhythm Method... but not really//

Heard of it?  I hadn't really until my premarital counselling and while I never planned on doing it, I really loved the idea.  It kept popping up around me in both secular and Catholic situations.  I think the grand finale was when I read the Carrots for Michaelmas blog and a series they ran on NFP.  The women made it seem so possible and so, well, not insane.

Check the blog out... You will love it!

Now I actually work with many active Catholics.  However, as far as I know, none of them practice Natural Family Planning.  Some find it absurd, some find it unreliable, some outdated.  I am now definitely in the minority.

I should add a major disclaimer... my practice of NFP is not wholly responsible.  If you are charting to avoid you are supposed to avoid a little extra time during the first few months until you have an idea of how your cycle works.  I so not that good.  I have been married for four years, and if I get pregnant it wouldn't exactly be a bad thing.  That said, after some prayer we just don't think it is time hence the charting to avoid.  So here is the deal so far - 

   

My tools:  

• Vicks Digital Thermometer - It was cheap and shows the temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit and it remembers the last read temperature so I can take it without completely waking up.  Extremely important as I am not a morning person, and I am currently on vacation so I don't actually have to get up early.  Seems to be accurate. 

Fertility Friend App for Android - So I tried OvaOva which was pretty but not too detailed.  Currently I am using the Fertility Friend App pro version.  While is specifically says not to use for avoiding pregnancy, I like the charting details.  I just ignore their recommendations and use my own brain.  Seems to be working.  

My First Cycle Experience: 

   

    So this month has been interesting.  I have never paid attention to my cycle before, and always assumed it was like a monthly thing although it always seemed to hit a bit late.  It turns out that my cycle is a long one... this month it was 37 days!  That explains why it always seemed a bit late each month.  

   I only tracked for half the cycle and I think I missed my ovulation.  I am finding the cervical fluid thing pretty tough and I am hoping it will be easier once I start from the beginning of the cycle but we will see.  Temperature wise I was pretty much the same except on the mornings I forgot to wake up on time... Darn it is tough to wake up early on vacation!

What can we not find in this world?

   Recently The Christian Pundit put out an article hypothesizing the reasons Evangelical Protestant millennials are moving away from their church and back to a liturgical based "High" denomination such as Anglicanism, Conservative Lutheranism, and of course Catholicism [insert famous Ferris "ism" speech here ;-)].  Why?  

The kids who leave evangelical Protestantism are looking for something the world can’t give them. The world can give them hotter jeans, better coffee, bands, speakers, and book clubs than a congregation can. What it can’t give them is theology; membership in a group that transcends time, place and race; a historic rootedness; something greater than themselves; ordained men who will be spiritual leaders and not merely listeners and buddies and story-tellers. 

   To be honest, one of the greatest things I miss about my former (Evangelical Protestant) church are those worldly things.  I liked the good music, the entertaining homilies, the activities that weren't just for retirees.  I belong to a small Catholic church now, and it is very traditional, and although I adore the theology, I crave the engagement.  I miss how in love people appeared to be with Jesus, with Scripture.  I know many of the large Catholic churches have found a balance between worldliness and theological depth and tradition, but mine has yet to, and they aren't even at a place where listening to a twenty-something married but without children woman is a plausible scenario.

   Back from my tangent:  Read the article, "Young Evangelicals are getting High".  It is well worth the few minutes!