The Baby Bottle Campaign is winding down, with just a few churches running late campaigns on our behalf. Our most sincere and humble thanks to everyone who supported this fundraiser.  We will be sending out results letters with the church totals very soon.  We were happily amazed at the response this year - which is on track to be bigger than last year!!!! God is SO good!
                     Now we are deep in preparation for the annual banquet.  This year's featured speaker is Mayra Rodriquez, a darling of Planned Parenthood until she wasn't.  Then she was wrongfully fired.  Why?  For questioning shady business practices that were often dangerous for the women who trusted the abortion giant with their bodies.  This will be an encouraging evening for all our battle-weary friends.  We're attaching a copy of the invitation - please let us know if you are able to attend and we'll get you registered!  Thank you all again and may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

​This past Saturday evening, the Knights of Columbus helped Dick and Sally Pepin put on a wonderful roast beef dinner for our benefit. This one event brought in over $7000 to help us help others! We are so grateful for the knights who worked tirelessly for several days to set up the hall for over 200 people, prepared the meal and served, then served some more.
But this event wouldn't have happened without it being the dream idea of Dick Pepin and helped bring to reality by his helpmate Sally. We are so blown away by their love for the little ones and how incredibly hard they worked to secure donations of food, money, and items for the silent auction. There were several women who worked hard to help set up with everyone, keep things cleaned up and pies cut as well, but they didn't want their pictures taken! We appreciate each and every one of you. God bless you all!
From Left to Right: At St. Mary’s Parish Hall in St. Albans, Vermont: KofC Milton’s Grand Knight Gille Thibault (10417), A. Garibay (297), Tim Downs (10417), Chairman and Team Lead Dick Pepin (10417), Trustee Peter Allard (297), Ed Malila (10417), and District Deputy 1 Mike Patnode (7669). Photo taken by: Council 297 Grand Knight Valdemar Garibay.

​A big Thank You to Pam Garcia for what we're going to call "Pam's Pouches"! She creates lovely zippered pouches, large enough to stuff with all sorts of care items for women.
Including wonderful key fobs, which we love!
Then what did she do? She came back with one for each staff member at Aspire! I love mine!!! We have the bestest friends!

Today is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day and the theme is With Us, Not For Us. The theme may sound a bit odd until you think of how we might unconsciously "other" those with Down Syndrome.  According to Down Syndrome International: 
"The message of With Us Not For Us is key to a human rights-based approach to disability. DSi is committed to moving on from the outdated charity model of disability, where people with disability were treated as objects of charity, deserving of pity and relying on others for support." 

Did you know that children born with this syndrome usually lead full, healthy lives averaging 60 years? In spite of that fact, since the pre-natal screening for birth deformities has been available, many mothers with a positive test result are aborting their babies. The screeing is only 85% accurate, leading to false positives.  We personally know of a few moms who were told that their baby would have Down Syndrome.  They rejected the idea of abortion and their babies were born perfectly fine.  

Here at Aspire, we salute the moms and dads of Down Syndrome children and pray for our society to see ALL of God's children for what their are: a blessing from God Himself.  

​Tomorrow Wednesday, March 8th has been designated International Women's Day. The banner below is from the United Nations website in "honor" of this day. Notice one BIG glaring omission? Every single woman is on a device. Where are the children? Not one of these women is holding a child, baking bread, feeding her family, or is even shown as having a family or husband!
This is what those in places of power want for us women: fighting to climb corporate ladders, or being absorbed in social media instead of doing what we were designed to do! We were created to nurture, create and care. Tomorrow, let's let go of what the world wants us to do and celebrate all those who love life, care for family members and others, do the tough work of raising families and being married, or being celibate until marriage. Let's celebrate what the Lord has said is "good"!