Beall and I are pleased to announce that God has given us our seventh child, expected due in December. From the depths of our hearts we give thanks to God. We actively prayed for this child, and rejoice that God gave us the child. We are so happy!

When parents discover that they have conceived a child through the blessing of God, the first question they ask themselves is, “When should we announce the exciting news?” Some, especially those who have suffered the tragedy of miscarriage, understandably prefer to wait to see what will happen. Some years ago I was influenced by a comment made to me by my friend Scott Sommerville, one of the attorneys at the Home School Legal Defense. Scott pointed out that, because the unborn baby is a complete human with a soul from the moment of conception, the primary issue is not even the fears of the parents, but the living reality of that child who deserves our prayers and that of others from the moment we know of his existence. The sooner we announce, the sooner that human being benefits from the prayers of others. This is all the more true where there is a history of miscarriage. I found that reasoning persuasive.

From Doug’s Bookshelf: On matters of sociology, I find it very helpful to read the “enemy” scholarship. While their interpretations are usually horrific, the data presented is often enormously helpful to understand history from a biblical-covenantal-patriarchal perspective. One example is a volume I picked up entitled Childbearing in America 1650-1850, by Catherine M. Scholten. New York University Press. 1985. The author traces changes in the experience of motherhood from the colonial period to the industrial revolution, and makes the feminist argument that motherhood became more sacred as a result of fewer births. The exact opposite was true.