“Is it a girl or a boy?” the girls asked again and again.

“It’s a mystery!” was the answer.

We’ve done this event several times, so now only newcomers don’t know what to expect. Just the same, this is one of my favorite parties and I’d like to keep doing it each year.

In blues and pinks, the room is decorated for a baby shower. One table has a display of abstinence and pro-life materials. There are gifts for the girls, such as awareness bracelets and pins.

The girls bring an item of new baby clothes. The first year, we wrapped the gifts as our opening activity. Since then, we’ve just piled the packages on a pretty table. We begin with an ice breaker to get things going.

The highlight is a sanctity of life presentation, which sometimes includes a video. The year we watched Bella together, one young guest, who had just learned that she was pregnant, was moved to not abort her baby.

The clothing and other gifts brought by the girls are donated to a crisis pregnancy center to encourage women who have chosen to not abort their pregnancies. One time, the girls made cards to include with the gifts. Sometimes the party includes a Bible study.

Although our schedule is tighter than ever this spring, I don’t want to skip this event. Perhaps we can work it in on a weekend or during Holy Week. (The girls usually don’t even notice when snacks are “fasting.”) If you’d like to volunteer or have questions, please contact me.

(To read and leave comments, click on the title of this post.)

One reader suggested including fasting recipe ideas on the blog. Here is a simple one: blend together with a spoon roughly equal parts of your favorite peanut butter, honey and vinegar for a salad dressing. Adjust the vinegar to get the desired consistency. (I prefer this on salads without tomatoes.)