interblog interview

(I’ll post a link to her responses once they are up):

1) You job seems (from the outside, of course) to be very fulfilling, since you have a very personal, up-front view of creation on a daily basis. What do you like the most about being a midwife?
The personal, up-front view of creation, of course! Seriously, I like to think that I can make a difference in how parents, especially moms, view the precious gift of life and sexuality. In my current setting, it is bittersweet, since the majority of my English speaking patients are not married and don't intend to marry the FOB (father of baby). I see many single moms struggling to do a good job raising their children, without the help that God always intended mothers to have. I also see a lot of women who I think do not realize that they are being sexually abused by men who 'love them and leave them". I try to help them, especially the younger ones, to realize that sexual abstinence is not as much of a burden as the irresponsible sexuality that they are experiencing. I try also to do this with love not condemnation - many of them have never seen a healthy marriage in their family or peer group.

2) Typically a blog fulfills some objective for the writer. What is the main purpose you have for your blog?
It gives me a chance to talk to people about things that I would get laughed out of the office for at work. It gives me a support group, people who I am proud to call my friends and prayer partners, and I also think I can minister to others here. Plus, it is lots of fun. (This from the kid who hated writing papers in school!)

3) You’ve been blogging since early January this year, what have you learned either about your readers or your writing that has affected you the most?
I have learned that a blog has a life of its own, and that a blogger has a responsibility to the readers to post regularly, be honest, and be interesting. I am a teacher by birth, but I am more of an androgogue than a pedogogue, and blogging has helped me with that.

4) Why did you choose “Fructus Ventris” as the name of your blog?
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesu.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
What other name for a midwife's blog beside "Fruit of the womb"?

5) Who would you like to see as the next Pope?
My choices include Father Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Andrew Apostoli, and Fr. John Corapi. I think that we would benefit from pope whose first language is English (the international vernacular at this time) and who is orthodox and inspired. I doubt that any of them will be in serious consideration, but hey - they could be elected and then consecrated Bishop.