NFP Stories
Willing to Follow God
by Deacon Adam Bowers
Years ago, when I served on our diocesan pastoral council, someone told me that our bishop said that when it comes to collaboration in ministry, one “works with the willing.” Although I have yet to have the opportunity to confirm this quotation, it nevertheless expresses wisdom and insight that is...
Reflecting on My Life with NFP
by Deacon Dave Gould
I first heard the term “natural family planning” when I was attending a Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend with my wife-to-be, Carlin, as we were going through the steps of our marriage preparation, way back in the day. Now mind you, I was just shy of turning 25, had attended Catholic...
The Heartbreaking Paradox of IVF
by Alison Zinkewich
In our five year struggle with infertility, the first suggestion from friends and coworkers was always, “why don’t you try IVF?”. These were well-meaning people, who understood the natural yearning for a child that a happy couple has. As a nurse working in the ER, my coworkers were especially perplexed...
NFP Has Been a Blessing
by Maryah Nunez
Practicing NFP as an unmarried, 24-year-old woman has been one of the greatest blessings of my early twenties. I wouldn’t describe myself as a very tenacious person. I am not motivated to complete tasks simply from the satisfaction of checking them off my list. My motivation comes from being able...
NFP Challenged Our Relationship
by Mariana Lopez
Our journey with Natural Family Planning (NFP) was far from easy. Carlos, a committed Protestant, and I, raised in a Catholic family, faced a significant hurdle as our wedding drew near. Carlos came to realize that I intended to use NFP, a method he disagreed with due to its abstinence...
NFP Worked in Our Marriage In Ways We Did Not Anticipate
by Loree Lippsmeyer
When my husband and I first got married we had no idea of the richness of grace our marriage would provide for us as a couple. Being Catholics we had an understanding that contraception wasn’t the way to go in terms of planning our family and that a moral alternative...
Questioning the Status Quo of the Pill Changed Our Lives
by Katie Smith
When my husband Zach and I married, like every one of my girlfriends, I began taking the birth control pill without hesitation. It was just something every young married woman did, like any other “to do” on the wedding planning checklist: book florist, select responsorial psalm, pick up birth control...
Twists & Turns in My Journey to Learn NFP
by Michelle Borba
As I reflect on my married life and think about all the extreme viewpoints I’ve had in regards to NFP, I can’t help but laugh at myself a bit. If I was truly honest, I’d admit I’ve been all over the place on this topic and have made it much...
How NFP Has Blessed My Marriage And Strengthened My Walk With God During This Struggle Called Life
by Bill Rodda
“The life of man upon earth is warfare.’ So said Job many centuries ago. There are still some easygoing individuals unaware of this fact” St. Josemaria Escriva I read a fascinating article a while ago about happiness. It seems the least happy times for most people are in their 40’s—with...
NFP: Plot Twists From the Great Director and Scriptwriter
by Kristy Tucker
“You know this is just a movie, right?” replied my husband Mark, as he graciously changed the channel. The movie had gotten too scary and depicted a scene that I know would give me nightmares. The only way I could control the movie was to not watch it. Sound familiar?...
One Guy’s Challenges
by John Brennan
My wife Cassandra and I were married May, 1, 1993. From the beginning of our marriage we wanted to understand and practice natural family planning as the means by which we could live out our vows to each other as well as the Catholic Church’s teachings on the beauty and...
Abraham’s Reward
by David A. Shaneyfelt
I never thought I’d have a big family. I certainly wasn’t opposed to it. It just wasn’t in my imagination. There were three of us in our family growing up and my mother, who very much wanted a big family, sadly, was deprived of it for health reasons that resulted...
