The Open Door Pregnancy Resource Center

  Dads Dads Need Support Too Fatherhood can be hard and pretty lonely, even when you have people around you. Knowing that you are not alone and have a group of people who understand what you are going through is great support. Many parents don’t like to ask for help; we think we can do it all. But we all need that outlet to escape or even ask questions. Everyone parents differently, and sometimes we question ourselves. No guide or rule book will give you the perfect answers. But some people have dealt with fatherhood before or have some tips and experiences that can guide you. That’s why you should join a dad's group. When joining a dad's group, you meet new fathers and possibly make new friends, you get support from others when things get tough, and you get new parenting information. Basically, fathers can talk shop with other fathers, share best practices that work, share successes, and even vent frustrations. No matter how many children you have, if you are single or in a re...

  Life Skills Learning and understanding life skills is an essential part of our lives. Let’s face it, it can be hard being a grownup in the “real world.” We’ve spent our teenage years in school studying up on academics. But many feel like we did not focus on many important skills that would have made our young adult lives a little easier. Don’t get me wrong, I'm sure some of you remember going over a few of these topics, whether from a relative or at school. But what I’m getting at is that these skills were probably not taught in-depth or taught at all and students should be taught a few of these important skills before handed a diploma and set off into the world. Students should be learning life skills through everyday interactions, even at a young age. But it can become a problem as students become busy with extracurricular activities, in school and at home. We, as parents do what we can to prepare our children to be able to function on their own when that time comes. Life skill...

  Make It a Simple Christmas That time is upon us, and while there is nothing better than being with loved ones making memories, somehow, there are moments of stress. If your December calendar is like most, filled with holiday parties, music concerts, parades, and shopping, then you understand. We want to get everything done and make everyone happy in such a short time. But your to-do list is longer than your kid’s Christmas list, and you have no idea how you’re going to get it all done! Does your Christmas seem to be shaping up to be more of a hassle than a Christ-centered holiday? Do you feel like you are becoming distracted from the true meaning of the holidays? Doing less and keeping it simple can mean more time for family, more room for traditions, and the true meaning of Christmas. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. —Proverbs 17:22 (ESV) Your family and friends can appreciate the simplicity of Christmas by following these helpful tips an...

  The Best Foods to Donate During the Holidays Many people rely on food from local food banks to feed their families. Unfortunately, one in seven Americans struggles with not knowing when they will get your next meal. While we are about to embark on the holiday season, several of us are thinking about making food donations to our local food banks or churches. But several questions come up such as what types of donations help most or what kinds of food should you avoid donating? We have come up with a list to help you help others this holiday season and the rest of the year. Where to Start During the holidays, it’s nice to make donations to help families make their Thanksgiving special. Making donations of items like canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, and stuffing mix can help make a family still enjoy some of their favorite holiday meals. Here are some other ideas: Donation Suggestions Canned pumpkin Canned yams Cream of Mushroom, Onion, etc. Cranberry sauce Boxed stuffing Dried maca...

  Healthy Communication Means a Healthy Relationship No relationship is perfect, and we all know that. But what we should also know is that we all deserve a healthy relationship. Healthy relationships should bring out the best in you and the other person. There is a lot of advice people would like to give for a long and happy relationship or marriage. But it would seem that that advice is what works for them. To keep it simple, the first thing to a healthy relationship is communication. But why is it important? This may sound like a silly question, but it is amazing how many couples don’t realize that the lack of open dialog is the reason for their troubles. Open and honest communication is fundamental to make sure you both understand each other’s expectations and needs. Lack of communication can cause unwanted problems in your relationship, so how can we communicate better? First off, don’t attack the other person. When you become aggressive or harsh by pointing the finger and usi...

Heartbeat International On November 1971, Dr. John Hillabrand and Lore Maier formed the Alternatives to Abortion in an effort to help women escape the temptation and pressure to abort their babies. These efforts included hotlines, good people opening their home to young girls, then grew pregnancy help center and medical clinics. Hillabrand, an obstetrician, and Lore, a refugee from Nazi Germany, had a heavy feeling that legalized abortion would spread worldwide and so they soon became Alternatives to Abortion International (AAI). After about 75 original contacts grew to about 200 affiliates, AAI changed their name to Heartbeat International and became the go-to for Catholics and Evangelical Christians. People looked to Heartbeat International for start-up manuals, model programs, leadership training conferences, advice, and prayer. They serve over 2,700 affiliated pregnancy help locations, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies in 62 countries on all 6 inhabited cont...