The Open Door Pregnancy Resource Center

Parenting It's Not Easy Being a Parent No matter how prepared you feel you are, being a parent is not easy. Providing for a child is a constant responsibility that can be stressful. But we feel this way because we love our children wholeheartedly and are determined to make their lives right. As parents, we have years of dealing with diapers, daycare costs, sick babies, meltdowns, teenage attitudes, not to mention judgment from others; and some of us have to go through this with multiple children! I’ll be the first to admit that I feel ashamed and embarrassed when I feel like I can't handle my kids, and it's taken me years and a kid or two to realize that it’s okay. Kids are kids. They are not born with manners, and they certainly can’t read minds. Children are supposed to be silly and loud, have meltdowns, and ask a million questions. But by no means does that make it any easier as parents. Another thing I learned is that I am not alone, and it’s okay to ask for h...

God Can Mend Your Union It’s no secret that being in a healthy relationship has positive benefits emotionally and mentally. We, as humans, have an inherent desire to connect with others. This can occur in romantic relationships, friendships, or familial relationships. Being in a good relationship can also have a keen effect on our physical well-being and put us in better health as well. These close connections can be long-lasting for both of you. People who are in a healthy relationship love, support, and encourage each other. They also make time for each other, respect and trust one another, communicate, and engage in healthy activities together. A few benefits that a supportive and loving relationship can add to your life and the life of others. Some benefits can be reduced stress, help you become a better person, establish healthier behaviors, help you live longer, and give you a sense of purpose. It’s only natural for us to want to feel needed and be a part of something. De...

Love In Action Giving a loved one a greeting card on Valentine’s Day is nothing unique. Millions of cards are sold during this holiday, and the sale of cards, chocolate, and flowers goes through the roof. While thousands of couples spend the day giving flowers, chocolates, cards, having romantic dinner, and passionate intimacy, there are other ways to express love. Traditionally, Valintine’s Day is meant for those in love or who has a crush on another. But this day doesn’t have to be about expressing love to those you are in love with. Or celebrate it with the typical candy and flowers either. Valintine’s Day can be a day to show love through action. You can show others you care for them by extending a helping hand. With another Valentine’s Day gone, here are a few undercover ways you can express love to others you care about, even to those you don’t know all year round. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 . A sim...

Studying  Working Towards Getting Your GED The General Education Development, or GED, test is an option offered to adults who were either unwilling or unable to complete high school in the traditional way. The tests are a group of four subject tests and, when passed, provide certification that the person has high school level academic skills. It measures the skills and knowledge similar to a four-year high school program. Since 1942, the General Educational Development has changed millions of lives for the better. How It Began The GED was developed in 1942 to help WWII veterans who were sent overseas to fight the war before they could finish their high school education. The United States Armed Forces Institute asked the American Council on Education (ACE) to develop a battery of tests. Passing these tests gave returning soldiers and sailors the academic credentials they needed to get civilian jobs and gain access to post-secondary education or training. The test has gone t...

Holiday Blues Psalms 9:9 – The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. For most, the holiday season is filled with happiness, celebrations, rejoicing, and social gatherings with friends and family. And for others, it can be a time of sadness, loneliness, and finding ways to cope with it. The holiday can trigger these sorrowful emotions for a number of reasons. You may not be able to visit family, you might have gone through a separation, a loved one has passed, or you’re in a tough financial situation. For whatever reason, seeing others in joyful moods can be tough to see. It could also be tough feeling like you are going through it alone. Depression during the holidays is more common than you think and it’s important to know you are not alone. There are ways to manage your depression and get the help you need.  Where To Start It’s no fun feeling overwhelmed and not just during the holidays. Finding ways to deal with the holiday blues and ...

Be Giving Giving During Thanksgiving It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Many of us will come together to be thankful and celebrate the blessings in our lives. But during this time of year, there are also people and families that are in need. We all get busy during this time, so it can become easy to forget about helping others. Crosswalk.com has a few ways to help you show God’s love and blessings to others this Thanksgiving. Getting Started Help A Friend With Make-Ahead Food Preparations - Get together with a good friend and do some make-ahead food prep. Roast and bone both your turkeys or make your pies together. Not only will this cut down on stress on the holiday, but you can also spend some quality time together. Invite Someone With No Family To Dinner - If you know someone who has no family or has a family that is far away and isn’t able to make it home, invite them to dinner. If you have a friend who is going through a hard time...

Volunteer Now Volunteering Makes a Difference Volunteering can be broadly defined as donating your time for a good cause, whether to help a non-profit organization and an individual. This good cause can be hundreds of different things, so many that it can be hard to choose how, when, and what cause to volunteer for. Volunteering is a meaningful way to help individuals and communities in need. With our busy lives, most of us think we don’t have time to offer our help. But the great thing is you don’t need a lot of time to make a difference. Sure some programs take weeks or months, but giving an hour volunteering in a soup kitchen is a good start. Volunteering is essential as it offers crucial help to people in need and the community as a whole. Many of these organizations and charities rely on the generosity of volunteers, as many companies depend almost solely upon teams of volunteers to help them thrive and do their work. So how do you decide what you want to volunteer for? ...