By Emily Martin
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING
Editor’s note: Emily Martin recently interviewed Larry and Kelsey Durchholz about their decision to practice Natural Family Planning. They are members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Haubstadt.
Submitted photo
Q - When did you come to an awareness/knowledge of the Church's teaching on openness to life and NFP, and how did it become a desire to learn more about this for your life?
Larry: I learned more about natural family planning during college. I figured that, when I got married, it would be something we would learn about together.
Kelsey: I’ve always known about natural family planning as both my parents and siblings used it. NFP became more relevant to me as Larry and I began discerning marriage. I utilized birth control for many years to combat heavy periods. Shortly before we got married, I was ready to better understand my body and fertility without the use of birth control. We knew NFP was something we desired to use as a married couple to bring us together and equally share in the decision of having children.
Q - How have the Church's teachings on marriage and openness to life appealed to you over the years?
Larry and Kelsey: The church’s teachings have oriented us to a truth that our bodies are not our own but, instead, for each other and future children. We use our bodies for the love of the other and for the love we will show to our kids. God meant for us to be open to life and the possibility of having children. Our biggest desires in life were to be married and to cooperate with God in creating life.
Q - What have been the biggest benefits to practicing NFP?
Kelsey: One of the biggest benefits is the communication it has fostered between us. NFP has helped both of us understand the signs of my cycle with the ability to better meet each other’s wants and needs, not just in our sexual lives. NFP also helped us identify some health issues that could impact pregnancies. By charting, I was able to quickly realize I was pregnant and begin consulting with my OBGYN.
Q - What were/are the biggest challenges?
Kelsey: One of the biggest challenges we faced is, even though you may be showing fertile signs, it doesn’t mean you will get pregnant or that your body is ready to be pregnant. Shortly after we were married, we became pregnant by practicing NFP. Sadly, we did miscarry; it was one of those times where my body wasn’t ready to be pregnant. It was really difficult to begin charting again after that loss; however, Larry and I always knew the importance of remaining open to a family. I am not going to lie; it was extremely painful to chart after my miscarriage, so I didn’t. But I did continue to mentally track my fertile symptoms and soon after, we were blessed with our beautiful daughter, Corrine. Without the knowledge of NFP, I would not have known how to identify fertile signs and truly be open to life.
Q - How would you describe this teaching of our Church to those who are most skeptical or indifferent to it?
Larry and Kelsey: NFP is freeing because you are in charge of your body. You are reading the signs your body gives you and understanding what can impact your fertility. The most important thing is, you do not have to rely on testing or luck. You are simply taking charge of your ability to be open to life and trusting God in the process. We are hand-in-hand partnering with God, using the tools he has given us.
Q - What are you most grateful for in regard to this particular teaching of our Church?
Larry and Kelsey: We are grateful for the communication skills we have learned along the way. This teaching has helped us build our family, including our angel baby, Thérèse Rose, and our daughter, Corrine Marie. We look forward to what God has in store for our family.