Blank Covers?
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: January 4, 2012
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A short time ago I attended a concert in which a group of 4-year-old children delighted parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles with songs and activities. Likely even the teachers were happily surprised at how well things went.
Each child had been given a copy of the programme. They were told they could draw and colour whatever they wanted on the blank front and back covers. One eager little princess showed me her copy. On the back was her Daddy, carrying presents. Appropriate for the season, I thought. On the front cover was her Mother, also carrying what were described to me as presents.
There was one more detail that needed explanation. What was that inside her Mommy? Well, of course, this was the young lady herself as a baby inside her Mother! How could I not know that?
Later on a further explanation was given. With a tilt of her head, and intense sparkling eyes that held mine the brilliant young artist explained that she drew the pictures of her Daddy and her Mommy and herself because Joseph and Mary and Jesus are invisible. But that’s really who she was drawing.
From a four-year-old to you and me, let’s remember what this season is really about. Christmas over you say? My blog is too late? Maybe we need this message now more than ever. Now that things are “getting back to ho-hum normal.” Now that the invoice copies are showing up in our mailbox. Now that the Return Merchandise lines are long and too long…
Something tells me this little girl lives this “Christmas thing” year round. Your calendar may say it is time to move on to a new year. Yes, we will all do that. But the spirit of creativity, love, hope, joy and sharing will march across our calendar pages until next year’s class gets to depict their own version of what is meaningful to them on their programme covers.
We have a whole lot of blank pages ahead of us. What images and colours and interpretive treatises will we use in December 2012 to give meaning to what is inside our year end programme?
We can give you a good start. Good health, a strong loving relationship, perhaps a message of new life, mutual respect and understanding, a spirit of giving. A Serena Natural Family Planning class will do just that for many in 2012. Give us a call. 204-783-0091 or 866-317-5362. We’ll also respond to your email at mbserena@gmail.com. And if you colour outside the lines for awhile, we’ll help you get back on track. Happy imaging!
NFP Has Helped Thousands
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: January 6, 2011
The very first inquiries for the year 2011 came from couples who had just heard about Natural Family Planning (NFP). There are a myriad of sites with information about NFP on the Net. Basically, NFP is a healthy alternative to contraception with regard to family planning.
- It involves no chemicals or negative side effects for the woman.
- It is one of the “greenest” members on the green scene with regards to lack of surplus hormones entering our waterways with resultant detrimental effects on our environment.
- It is economical. You may have to replace a thermometer, and you will need to update your supply of charts, but other than that, the cost of the initial course may likely be your only financial expense.
- The practice of NFP involves both members of a couple in a unique communication, hence, it is one of the strongest relationship building tools. Statistically, the percentage of marriage breakdown for those couples using NFP is minimal.
- With quality instruction and dynamic motivation on the part of the couple, NFP is an effective method for family planning. Scientific studies report competitive results for avoiding pregnancy with the Sympto-Thermal Method (STM) of Natural Family Planning. When pregnancy is the chosen option, the practice of the STM increases the likelihood of conception.
- NFP is a morally acceptable method of family planning.
As I mentioned, all this information is readily available on the Net. However, for practical application of all this information for you in your family planning, Serena Manitoba has certified teacher couples who give NFP class instuction. This two-hour session will get you well on your way to a healthy family planning lifestyle. The follow up, approximately six weeks after the initial class, will give you an opportunity to review your charting one-on-one with the teacher-couple to build your confidence.
Serena Manitoba has a lot to offer you, regardless of your circumstance. Are you planning marriage? Are you pregnant? Are you nursing an infant? Are you opting to give up other family planning methods that you are currently using? Are you approaching menopause? Are your cycles irregular? Would you like to increase your likelihood of conception? Are you on medication that calls for avoiding pregnancy?
We have helped thousands of people since 1964. We look forward with anticipation to serve the needs of many more couples in family planning in 2011.
Feel free to pass along this information. The most frequent inquiry at the Serena Manitoba office or classes is: How come we didn’t hear about you before now?!
Check our Events page for current class schedules at Serena Manitoba.
First Steps
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: December 1, 2010
Recently I watched an eleven-month-old take his first steps. We watched with delight as his little legs haltingly took him on this short journey to the safety of his mother’s arms. Then, encouraged by our obvious delight in this milestone, he practised the art of walking in the light of support and love that surrounded him. In a matter of a few short weeks, he is zooming around carrying a book or toy, making sharp turns, and squealing with delight as we clap our hands. He even joins in the congratulatory applause with a huge smile on his face. Yes, there are times when it is painful to realize that the floor is coming up too quickly to meet his bottom! He gets up again with persistence and enthusiastically carries on. Who knows where those little legs will take him? But he is sure to give them some adventures as family and friends assure him in many ways of their love and support.
Last evening I visited someone in the hospital. Twenty years after first experiencing pain in her knee, she had a new experience. Thirty hours after going in to knee replacement surgery, she haltingly (and with some pain) shuffled from her bed to a nearby armchair. Manoeuvering that new knee and landing safely on the chair was a huge milestone! Staff and family alike congratulated her on her persistence and real success. She chose to stay in the chair for a whole hour, and again amid congratulatory overtures, made her new knee take her back to the safety and comfort of her bed. She is learning about the valuable assist of a walker and the invaluable aid of a circulating pump cold pack to control pain and swelling in the surgery site. The cards, flowers and gifts in the room are a silent testament to the support she is receiving. And she can count on and bask in the love and encouragement that will continue to surround her as she takes that new knee on who-knows-what adventures.
When we receive notes and calls of gratitude at the Serena office, I see much the same pattern. Couples may venture haltingly into the practice of Natural Family Planning, but as they gain confidence and their expertise grows in interpreting the wonder of the woman’s cycle, enthusiasm and joy become the standard. Accredited Serena teacher couples may have taken counselling calls, the couple may even have come back for a refresher class, but the result is unmistakable. Practicing the Sympto-Thermal Method as taught by Serena with all the support and resources that a couple needs brings confident, loving relationships. For your “First Steps” down this road of adventure in effective family planning decisions, contact us at 783-0091, 866-317-5362, or at mbserena@gmail.com.
Thanks-giving
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: October 15, 2010
I was privileged to be part of several gatherings during the recent Thanksgiving weekend. At one of the family gatherings in a rural setting three generations of 60 people caught up on family news, sang their praises for the many blessings, helped out with caring for babies, heard about health issues, visited while washing dishes, groaned about aging knees during the scrub football game, gathered eggs, tumbled and bounced on the trampoline, and of course, tried to eat their way through the mounds of food that had been brought to share. A Thanks – giving time indeed!
Our gracious hosts indulged the many young (and young at heart) by loading a few straw bales on a tractor-drawn long trailer and to the delight of all proceeded to give a tour of some farther reaching spots on the farm away from the house and yard. Three generations bounced along the sometimes deeply rutted trail brought on by the excessive rains of the year. Young and old gleefully watched the antics of the cows and calves, donkeys, chickens, geese, pigs, goats and the llama. The farm dogs running along side the trailer, sometimes being convinced to ride along, added to the children’s fun. The sunny sky and the spectacular foliage on this awesome mild autumn day certainly added to the joy of the event.
Babies slept, children shouted happily, adults added their admonitions for safety, the tractor droned along, singing erupted, cattle mooed – the sounds of life and its activities were all around us.
In all of your life’s activities and cycles Serena Manitoba is here to serve you. The “road” of Natural Family Planning will sometimes appear to have ruts, other times you may only be aware of the sunshine on your face. We are here. Call us.
Come and See!
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: September 28, 2010
Several days ago, a five-year-old asked me if I would like to come to her wedding. Delighted at the prospect, I questioned the young bride-to-be who the lucky groom might be. Without batting an eye, her quick answer was, ‘Well, you will find out at the wedding.’ I love her confident “Come and see!” attitude.
Serena is a Christian organization – for which we make no apology. In the Christian realm, we also hear the words, ‘Come and see!’ At times, that is the only injunction one can give, because the message cannot always be explained to a mind that does not yet have a grasp of the truth that we try to convey. Although we would not even imagine that the truth that Serena teaches could be equated with the early message of ‘Come and see’ in relation to the love of God, we do uphold and teach a truth that warrants ‘Come and see!’
We would like to enlist your help in proclaiming the message of Serena Manitoba and Natural Family Planning. Quite often we are asked, ‘Where were you when we needed you in the early years of our marriage?” or ‘What are you about anyway?!’
Perhaps you are a parent, or another person involved in teaching and counselling young people, or preparing couples for marriage. Perhaps you are preparing for marriage, wanting to conceive, needing to postpone a pregnancy, having health issues with other forms of family planning, breastfeeding, going through perimenopause, or concerned about effects on the environment.
Our next class will take place on Tuesday, October 26th. Contact us to find out more about our message. 204-783-0091, 1-866-317-5362, serenamb@gmail.com. You will find more information on the Events page.
Come and see!
Winners All!
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: September 21, 2010
The room was aglow with tables adorned with autumn yellow tablecloths and sunflower and chrysanthemum floral centrepieces. The pouring table was resplendent with a unique floral centrepiece, beeswax candles, and autumn patterned cups and saucers at-the-ready for the tea pourers. Volunteers had spent many hours preparing fancy sandwiches, pickle and veggie dishes and platters of dainties, folding serviettes to form graceful crowns, dismantling raffle ticket books and setting up the auditorium.
The guest speaker spoke courageous and encouraging words for the work of Serena Manitoba in teaching and promoting Natural Family Planning – a cause, Metropolitan Archbishop Lawrence Huculak noted, that is totally contrary to the current social mindset. Metropolitan Archbishop Lawrence Huculak, OSBM then lit the candles that graced the pouring table, and the very first Serena Manitoba Fall Tea was officially open!
Youthful servers streamed forth to escort those we were honouring to their stations at the pouring table, others made their way among the tables with cups and saucers of tea for the waiting guests, replaced sandwich and dainties plates, processed Mom’s Pantry orders and sold raffle tickets. Capable hands worked in the kitchen to refill emptied teapots, filled and re-filled the dishwasher, manned the bake table and greeted guests at the entrance table. Keyboard player Adam Lowe and violinist Sarah Hayek alternately offered their talents during the afternoon, providing lovely background music.
Congratulations to the raffle prize winners: $25 cash donated by Adam & Amanda Lowe – Luke Deptuch; Oil, lube and filter from Birchwood Automotive – Raina Siminig; Oil, lube and filter from Birchwood Automotive – Erin Harms; Family pak of books and video from Stephanchews – Elvira Ferraro; $50 cash donated by Martha Gawiuk – Suzanne Mondor; $50 cash donated by Dr. Paul & Louise Adams – Isaac Cotter; $50 Gift Certificate from David Everett Photography – Rose Dobson; $75 Gift Certificate from Tre Visi Restaurant – Cécile Roberts; $100 cash donated by Ron & Leann Smith – James Burnett; and $200 cash donated by Bill & Linda Skromeda – Aline Caron.
James Burnett won the floral arrangement on the entrance table donated by Fran Everett and prepared by Macyk Florists. Rose Dobson won the centrepiece on the pouring table donated by Knysh Funeral Chapel and prepared by Floral Elements. Tamara Lisowski won the Mom’s Pantry basket. (This event also served as a kick-off for our Mom’s Pantry Products campaign. Be sure to contact us for your order form.)
Thank you to our 2010 Harvest Thanksgiving Tea pourers: Dr. Paul Adams (Founder of Serena Manitoba), Dr. Lydia Derzko (Medical Practitioner in Northern Manitoba and NFP presenter to Marriage Preparation groups), Lydia Firman (Business Manager Progress News), John and Irene Hudek (long-time board members and teacher-couple Serena Manitoba), Jean Lafrance (together with wife, Janelle – Serena Manitoba board member and teacher-couple for Serena Manitoba, President-Couple Serena Canada), Dr. Larry Rados (Medical practitioner at Misericordia Urgent Care Centre and presenter of Natural Family Planning), Maria Slykerman (Campaign Life Coalition Manitoba), Rev. Fr. Richard Soo, sj (Chancellor Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy Winnipeg), Valerie Wadephul (League for Life Winnipeg), Heather White (Development Officer Life’s Vision), and Marie Woods (former Executive Director Serena Manitoba).
At the end of the Harvest Thanksgiving Tea an announcement was made that our 2011 Tea would be opened by the founder of Serena Manitoba. Dr. Paul Adams and his wife Louise Adams started a group in 1964 that evolved into what is now Serena Manitoba. The theme will be “The Way We Were in ’64!”
Winners all! And winners all those who have taken a Serena Natural Family Planning class. To join the growing list of “Winners All” contact us at 204-783-0091, 866-317-5362 or email us to register for the next class.
Tempests & Teapots
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: August 31, 2010
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All around us we are hearing of excessive rains and wind storms that are wreaking havoc with this year’s crops, basements, treed areas and roadways. We found out a couple of weeks ago that in some urban communities in Saskatchewan it is nigh impossible to get a hotel/motel room because of all the extra insurance adjusters and labourers that have been brought into the area to deal with damage claims and the clean-up required after floods and wind damage. Some families have also had to re-locate temporarily into public facilities. Many are thankful that they were kept safe, that they are together with loved ones, and that there are able-bodied workers to mop up after the storms, remove felled trees, etc.
Amid the storms of life we invite you to take a breather and come out for a moment or two of reprieve. Serena Manitoba is hosting a Harvest Thanksgiving Tea on Sunday, September 19th from 2 – 4 p.m. We are happy to have long-time associates, as well as some doctors and newer friends of Serena to help out at the pouring table. Plans are underway for platters of fancy sandwiches, the favoured pickle dishes, delectable desserts, and a bottomless cup of tea for all. Please join us for a relaxing afternoon basking in the goodness of life and love. More information is available on the Events page at http://serenamb.wordpress.com.
In every time of life and circumstance, Serena is here to serve you. Give us a call. 204-783-0091, 866-317-5362, or email us.
Forever Young
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: July 13, 2010
The most common remark we hear about Serena and NFP is that using the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning revitalizes a couple’s relationship. Really – how many honeymoons can one couple have??? I guess the answer is that each couple gets to make that decision.
You may not choose to be forever young, but forever in a relationship that is life-giving to each person in the couple? Now that is something that is much sought after. It is also within your reach. We encourage you to come learn more at one of our revitalizing sessions.
Check out Serena Manitoba’s next life-building classes on our Events page.
All Aboard!
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: April 28, 2010
Thank you to the gentleman who called our office to point out that details for Serena Manitoba’s Cruise & Brunch event on the ‘M.S. Paddlewheel Queen’ Riverboat are embedded in this site, and not up front.
We wouldn’t want you to miss out on an opportunity to cruise the Red River on a lovely Saturday morning on June 12th. In the past, people have used this occasion to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. It has even been a time for an early Father’s Day gathering, an organization’s end-of-the-year outing, or a fabulous ‘just because’ Saturday morning.
After 41 years of providing a unique setting for an outing on Winnipeg’s waterways, Steve told us after our last year’s Cruise & Brunch that he is docking the boats.
Be part of Winnipeg history on Saturday, June 12th. Join us for a fabulous buffet brunch of leg of ham, beef sausages, hash browns, scrambled eggs, tomato slice, fruit cocktail, assorted muffins, orange juice, coffee, and tea. The menu is good enough to book right now by contacting Serena Manitoba, but wait, there’s more.
The barbershop quartet Noteworthy will be entertaining us, and Mrs. Clown will have a station for face painting and animal balloons. The Truth Booth will be onboard to display 3-D and 4-D images of babies in the womb.
If that isn’t enough, we will also have bake table and perogy sales, silent auction, and ‘gang plank’ prizes for several age categories. No, you won’t have to walk the plank, you just need to be on the Paddlewheel Queen with a ticket for Serena Manitoba’s 5th Cruise & Brunch event. Then, shortly after the ship’s horn sounds (a mournful blast to those who didn’t get their ticket on time), the door prize draws will be made.
To those of us on board, the sound of the ship’s horn will just add to the excitement as we watch the shore receding, sipping on yet another cup of coffee, visiting with friends, listening to the travel commentary, browsing the silent auction table, shopping for the best items at the bake table, maybe catching the silver flash of a fish, etc.
If you purchase six or more tickets we will even save a table for you. All tickets must be purchased in advance. What a fun way to support Natural Family Planning in Manitoba – part of the green scene.
Well, this blog was just to let you know to go to our Events page to get details on the Cruise & Brunch event on the Paddlewheel Queen on June 12th. You’ll find more information there.
I hope to meet you on June 12th. Boarding at the Alexander Avenue Docks at 8:30, returning to shore after a wonderful morning onboard the ‘M.S. Paddlewheel Queen’ Riverboat at 11:30 a.m.
And GL, thanks again!
Earth Day and Serena – How Heavenly
Posted by: Serena Manitoba on: April 22, 2010
Early this lovely bright morning the media proclaimed that it is Earth Day today. Among other programs, groups are busily cleaning up trash in the downtown areas. I am not sure if there is a program afloat to clean up the waterways.
They tell me Earth Day has been celebrated for forty years on a global scale. Serena Manitoba began its program of stewardship of the earth and its waterways over forty years ago. In 1964, Dr. Paul and Louise Adams introduced a program of Natural Family Planning (NFP) in Manitoba. NFP is a way to avoid adding unnatural amounts of hormones to our waterways. Packaging and other excessive materials to landfill sites are also avoided.
If you are considering alternative methods of family planning and reproductive awareness, you should be happy to know there are even more benefits to NFP than ‘earthcare,’ as important as that is. The method of NFP taught by Serena is ethically and morally acceptable.
On our Events page you will find information on our next class session in our ‘Earth Day forever’ program of NFP. From puberty to perimenopause, we have earth-friendly information for you. Earth – here’s to your health!♥
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