In a world with change being the most constant companion, we sometimes flounder for something to hang on to. Then we may be surprised where we find it, or marvel at the simplicity or find humour in its source.

I am reminded of a four-year-old boy who enjoyed the company and attention of an out of town visiting family friend who was taking a course. When it came time for the friend to leave after the course, the family commented that it was such a pleasant experience, perhaps they should consider having someone else come and stay. The father in the family had been very busy pursuing his own course of study, and frequently was away or came home late. Upon the mother’s inquiry as to who they should invite to come and stay with them for awhile, the little guy said, ‘Why don’t we ask Daddy?’

If you are researching family planning for yourselves, please be assured that Serena Manitoba will be your companion to teach, counsel and nurture your decision. We will be your companion to give you confidence. Eventually, you may even have the opportunity to join us to mentor others. The only place we are going is to help others just like you.

Life is about changes and flexibility.

We may decide to change our diet to better power the vital high voltage mechanism that is our body. My 2-year-old granddaughter may change into her ‘piggy’ socks as she giggles -  just because.  Light bulbs sometimes need changing. A teenager’s interests  may change to the extent that he decides to sell some of his ‘tech toys’ because of the demand on his time for his re-focused goals that involve intense study. A couple may discern that their life situation has changed to the extent that they now pay more attention to the wife’s fertile times in her cycle. A baby’s diaper needs changing, and someone will be very flexible with their schedule to make sure that happens.

At Serena we were given breaking news this morning that will change details for over a hundred people. For months we have been organizing a fun Cruise & Brunch event on the “M. S.” Paddlewheel Queen riverboat. Ordinarily, the boat docks at the Alexander Avenue Docks. However, due to the high water levels on the Red River, the Paddlewheel Queen will be ’sailing’ from the Dufferin Avenue Dock in Selkirk, Manitoba on Saturday morning, June 13th. (More details, including menu, are available on our Events page.) This change is rather an exciting one, as we will get to see the river-side of Lower Fort Garry as we cruise south of Selkirk. Then as we head north, we may just get to see some curious wildlife at the river’s edge. Another exciting change is that they have extended our ticket deadline date to the morning of June 11th. Join us – for a change.

For some other interesting changes of a different dimension, check out the information on our next NFP class on June 24th.

A current exciting event in several countries, including the United States and four Canadian cities, is the 40 Days for Life campaign. Supporters of life in the womb are praying and fasting for the protection of life in its most vulnerable state in its most safe environment.

Some meanings for the ‘womb’ from mini aboverubies.org include the following: house of life, nesting place, palace of a child, sanctuary, the secret place, cradle of the unborn, and God’s creative workshop.

It is God Who opens and closes the womb, Scripture says. For those called to the awesome role to be ‘co-creators’, Serena is here to teach and counsel you in your particular situation. Whether you are looking to space the birth of your children or are wanting help and hope for that little one in the house of life, we have accredited teacher-couples to walk you through your circumstance and need.

Contact us through the Events page for the next class instruction in natural family planning. It’s the reason we are here.

Is your New Year’s Day a day of challenges that you set up for yourself for the rest of the year? At Serena Manitoba Inc. we challenge you to have a good look at your relationships, health, reflect on what you can do to help the environment, even challenge yourself to live as your Creator meant for your body to operate, etc. If He made you a Lexus, don’t go to a scooter manual for directions.

If Natural Family Planning is a strategy you decide on, we are here to help you carry through your resolution…for all of 2009 and beyond – afterall, we have already been around for over forty years. We’re not leaving our resolutions anytime soon. We’ll make sure we are around to help you with yours. Contact us to get started.

Here’s a resolute conviction made by an African clergy who was martyred in 1990. Looks like you can’t go wrong with a list like this – in life or death!

I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!

Wishing you and yours all the best for 2009!

As the Christmas season approaches, the media and businesses are doing a great job with their promotion budgets to convince us of the best and most affordable ‘deals’.

In September 2008 the CCCB issued a letter entitled “Liberating Potential“. One of the main points was to promote one of the best deals for couples. They are encouraged to take another look at Natural Family Planning.

There are very few things out there today that can truly claim to be very effective in its purpose, economical and easy to learn and use. That’s us!  That’s what Serena is about!

Besides, many studies show that NFP is also healthful for the woman’s body and psyche. Add to that the value of enriched relationships. These are all important issues for today’s society. (Now, if we could only claim that it is organic…) Actually – practicing the sympto-thermal method of NFP as taught by Serena Manitoba is also good for the environment (no additional hormones entering our water ways).

If you are interested to find out more about the season’s best deal for you, you’ll find us on our Contact Us page.

This past week I received an invitation from a motivational speaker to host his Life’s A Party presentation. Knowing the health challenges this person has faced doesn’t really bring visions of brightly coloured balloons and bubbly champagne to mind.

At the last natural family planning teaching session an observer might have wondered about the spectacle of 21 people offering an enthusiastic round of applause to a couple who just took two hours of their time on a lovely summer evening to tell them that their fertility is something to be respected. And the overhead and transparencies weren’t even surrounded by balloons. ( Overhead projector?! I know – we are looking forward to the day we can offer the good message of NFP with a laptop and LED projector…) Neither was there champagne at the end of the class. Just coffee, tea, juice and water.

Nevertheless, if you had peeked into the room, you would have seen couples who visibly appreciated the freeing news of the sympto-thermal method of NFP. Beverage in hand, small groups formed after the class instruction to share stories. Others counselled with the teacher-couple with regards to coming off contraceptives, NFP after childbirth, or preparing for marriage. Laughter filtered through into the adjoining hallway as couples-in-training to become teachers of the method encouraged one another.

Life is a party. Join us for the next motivating, life-giving session (to your marriage) on Monday, September 8/08. Contact us on the EVENTS page. To life!

Several days ago a family member was part of an ancient marriage service where the bride and groom are crowned to be King and Queen of their newly established family. The service is actually referred to as the Mystery of Crowning.

The ‘crowns’ were wreaths made from the myrtle plant. These fragrant crowns of fresh green myrtle leaves are a symbol of the continuity of life, and in some traditions also of prosperity and success in life. Traditionally, the wreaths are of the same size, symbolizing oneness and respect for each other.

It was a picture perfect wedding day. The rain clouds had spent several days doing what rain clouds do best – watering the thirsty earth while raining on any parade out there. On this day the sun shone forth gloriously, accompanied by a gentle breeze.

The church was fragrant with flowers. An aunt lovingly shared beautiful tulips, peonies, columbine, irises, anenome, red and white bleeding heart, primroses of every kind, grape hyacinth, daisies, blue bells, lily of the valley and the lovely blue forget-me-not. Large vases of roses added to the picturesque setting of joy and love.

Lovely strains from the violin and viola wafted through the air as the church was filled with loving family and friends, young and old, who had gathered to support and witness the public declaration of commitment and blessing. The singing offered by dear friends throughout the service added to the beauty and solemnity of the moment.

At a certain point in the service the couple shared a common cup of wine, symbolic of the mutual sharing of every aspect of their future life.

The beautifully attired bridesmaids and handsome groomsmen, the adorable ring bearer and flower girls – all complemented the picture of the proud groom and the radiant bride.

If you are looking for something to add to the love and mutual respect a husband and wife have for each other, contact us for information on natural family planning. Share the good memories again and again, and look for new ways to build up your ‘couple-ness.’ NFP has enhanced many a relationship with confidence, deeper commitment, and shared responsibilities.

Serena offers a dynamic approach presented by qualified volunteer teacher-couples. We hope to help you build a relationship that can be even more than ‘picture perfect.’

Contact us for our next class on July 14, 2008.

I was recently involved in co-ordinating a bridal shower for a university student. The date and location were secured. The invitations went out. The toast to the bride-to-be was lovingly compiled. Food was prepared. The location was adorned with streamers and helium balloons. Tables were covered with tablecloths and colourful edible sprinkles. The head table was lovingly adorned. Smacking lips approved the punch. The centre pieces of tissue paper covered jars were filled with kitchen utensils of coloured silicon spatulas, collapsible picnic plate covers, tongs, etc. A towel ‘cake’ was adorned with Christmas strands. What fun we had preparing for a lovely event for a much-loved person – imagining her delight, while also keeping in mind the practical use of items for many happy years to come.

The day arrived and so did the guests, carrying pretty and practical gifts alike. This young lady was showered with love in the form of gathered relatives and friends, along with thoughtful gift choices made with her in mind.

Fast forward…The joy and busyness of a wedding day. Life planning decisions to be made. Family planning decisions to be made. Mother’s Day. Father’s Day. Possible infertility. A new life to nurture. Family planning after childbirth. Eventual premenopause.

Where is the party? Where is the support? Surely, some seen and unseen hands and hearts will still remember and reach out.

To be sure, Serena Manitoba will be here to help and support, educate and counsel every step of the way. Put us in your planner right alongside your daily notes, investments and future planning. Because that’s what we can be for you. Always there.

The next ‘investment’ session for your future happiness and fulfillment is being offered on Monday, May 26. Serena Manitoba – promoting and teaching natural family planning. Contact us on the EVENTS page.

Resolutions, diets and over-indulged credit card accounts abound at this time of year. Strangely, they have something in common – it’s so fun to participate in their initial introduction! The ‘carrying through’ part causes us more pain.

Unlike the above, ‘carrying through’ the practice of natural family planning just gets more exciting the longer you practice it. If you change your mind part way through the year about what you want the results of practicing NFP to be, you could still have rewarding results! (If the last statement doesn’t make any sense to you, just contact us for clarification.)

We won’t guarantee that 2009 will see your 2008 New Year’s resolutions carried out. We can’t be with you to offer you healthy diet choices. We can’t even promise you a weekly visit from St. Nicholas to cause your over-indulged budget to burb a bit! We certainly hope that when you review your situation at year’s end, any and all noble intentions will have become a positive part of your year.

To get a happy, healthy start to 2008 contact us at Serena Manitoba. We will help you get started in practicing natural family planning, we will give you information that will empower you to make healthy choices, we will supply healthy resources, we will provide follow-up sessions, we will coach you with expert counselling, we will make available excellent tracking resources to monitor your progress, and we will rejoice with you when you achieve the results you choose by your plan of action.

The next starter class is scheduled for Monday, February 4/08. Call us at 204-783-0091, toll free outside Winnipeg at 1-866-317-5362, or email us at serenamb@mts.net.

Happy new you!

As has become our tradition, once again as we gathered for our family gift exchange, before opening a present the recipient shared a ‘thank you’ for something that happened in the past year. We have moved past ‘I am thankful for this present’ to many thoughtful and specific messages of gratitude for someone in our life, for work situations, for good health in challenging situations, for new life, relationships that were enriched, etc.

After the last affectionate goodbye, the door was closed to keep out the winter air that was eagerly swooping across the floor. The Christmas lights were turned out, and one more note of thankfulness poured from my heart. This was indeed a time of shared hope in a sometimes dark world that comes swooping into our lives. We were left with a warm glow and a legacy of hearts that spoke life-giving messages perhaps not heard enough throughout the year. We were all recipients of the wonderful hope-filled message that there is much good and light in our world. Small acts of kindness did make a difference. Hope in our Creator permeates and can renew all situations. That’s a gift we are thankful for and wish for everyone.

Anytime thankful hearts embrace others is truly the most wonderful time of the year.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Serena Manitoba!