Mary Bruno Category

How To Love Your Infertile Friends

By Mary Bruno A common question on the hearts of many fertile women is, “How can I help, or love, my infertile friends and acquaintances?” There are many ways, but I want to share one that is most helpful for me. Infertility provokes the loneliest crevices of our hearts. It recognizes the desire to create […]

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The Gift of Fertility

By Mary Bruno In a culture where girls are often unintentionally and intentionally pitted against their periods/fertility, what were some of your first few thoughts about it? I, personally, had no knowledge of the thing other than the fact that it caused us to talk about something rather uncomfortable. When my pain began even before […]

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It Is Me Who Makes My Motherhood

By Mary Bruno As I passed through those first several years of infertility, glimpses of pregnancies and conversations about motherhood grew increasingly painful. As a 20-something year old, you tend to be surrounded by people growing their families and obsessing over the details. I was obsessing over surgeries, blood draws, ibuprofen and wondering about God’s […]

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God’s Creativity

By Mary Bruno One of my favorite things about God’s creation is the incredible array of colors he has given us. Stepping outside during different seasons gives us a front row view of thousands of hues and vibrancies that are pleasing to both the eye and the spirit. The diversity and beauty of God’s creativity […]

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Beauty Blooms from Murky Waters

By Mary Bruno It only took one dose of not-so-tasty medicine for our 4-year-old daughter to cringe and run away screaming at the site of the next 29 doses. Thank God for chocolate syrup! But that antibiotic finally started to heal her from an aggressive sickness. A good friend of mine has had three very […]

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Pray Both Sides

By Mary Bruno One of the hardest things about being infertile is being surrounded by women who achieve pregnancy so easily. When my struggle was at its worst, I became very bitter and had to create some distance so that I could begin to heal and learn to love myself just as I am. Time […]

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Love Letter from our Creator

By Mary Bruno When you hear “NFP,” what do you think of? Is it Catholic birth control or a waste of time? Is it something that has been healthy for your marriage or helpful for your health? Maybe you don’t think of it at all. Regardless of your present perception of natural family planning, I […]

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Three Non-Faith Reasons Why We Never Considered Artificial Reproductive Technologies

By Mary Bruno There are many reasons why Chris and I have never considered IVF or IUI, artificial reproductive technologies (ART). Some are a direct reflection of our deeply rooted Catholic faith and our respect for human life from conception to natural death. But the truth is that we don’t need our religion to tell […]

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Fear Has Nothing to do with Discernment

By Mary Bruno Couples frequently choose to grow their families by adding a child. Sometimes that new bundle of joy comes through the gift of a pregnancy, and sometimes it comes through the gift of adoption.  Both require incredible self-sacrifice and are incredibly rewarding. Both require thorough discernment. Neither are superior, but many couples find […]

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I Saw Jesus at Mass

By Mary Bruno We all know Christ is present at Mass, but it’s quite special when we are able to see such a striking resemblance of him in the congregation. My husband Chris and I moved to the northshore several years ago and began to notice a doting father caring for his handicapped daughter every […]

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Marriage is worth it

By Mary Bruno Chris and I watched our wedding video with our daughter on our qnniversary or “mersary,” as she calls it, a few weeks ago. We can’t relive the joys of that special day enough.

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