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Curious about Life’s Choices? We can answer your questions! Whether you are visiting us for a pregnancy test, an ultrasound, an STD test, or for parenting resources, we’ll be happy to see you. Here are a few things you can expect to see at your first appointment! – A Clean & Inviting Space – At both of our office locations (Hamburg & Kutztown), we make it a priority to keep our space warm and professional. When someone new walks through our doors, they will be welcomed and comforted. Between comfy seating and cared-for spaces, clients will know that Life’s Choices notices the details and strives for excellence. Our goal is to give you helpful information and services to maintain your health. But in addition to that, we also want to make sure you know that we care about you. Our spaces are designed to help you feel protected and supported! – Confidential Care – Confidentiality is something that Life’s Choices is heavily committed to every day. When a new client is introduced to our system, we make sure that all of their information is secure and protected. We follow HIPAA guidelines with all of our client files, and we will not share any of your information with anyone besides yourself, unless otherwise directed by you. If you receive services that require a follow-up appointment or phone call, we have several measures that make sure only you will be notified or receive sensitive information. No matter what your circumstance is, we give you our promise that none of your information will be shared with anyone outside of Life’s Choices. – An Easy, Streamlined Process – We know that you have a life and that you probably have places to be after your appointment. Therefore we have made our check-in forms as easy and simplified as we can. When someone visits Life’s Choices for the first time, they will not receive hundreds of forms, just some very basic documents before we can begin the appointment. No need to worry about hours of filling out papers, we want to serve you as quickly and as efficiently as possible! At our office, your time and your schedule will be valued. We can be very flexible, which allows you to come at a time that works for you! Our goal is to share helpful information and provide healthy services whenever people need them. Life’s Choices is here to serve you! – Openness and Compassion – All of our staff and volunteers understand that life does not always go as we planned. We know that not every situation is squeaky clean. It is okay if you aren’t feeling as put-together as you want to be. At your first appointment (and every appointment afterwards), whomever you interact with will have a heart of openness and compassion. We just love people here and we want the very best for you! There will be no judgment or false information given to you. We will listen patiently and offer truthful information that you can trust. Our services come at no cost to you. We are a non-profit organization that is committed to cherishing the value of human life. Everything at Life’s Choices is done to uphold personal dignity and support those in need of our services. You will be absolutely welcomed and helped. – Simple and Speedy Communication – Even on days when our offices are not open, we make it a large priority to stay connected to our communication lines! Whether you send us an email or type out a text to us, you can be sure to get a very quick and helpful response! No one wants to be stuck waiting on a reply, especially if they are in need of some important health information. Whenever someone contacts Life’s Choices, we are immediately notified, and will begin working on a helpful response. In an age where thousands of messages/calls are made each minute, you can be assured that Life’s Choices values your communication. We make sure that clients find it very easy to contact us. Simply send us a text and we will respond very shortly! Life’s Choices is here for anyone who is interested in no-cost health resources. There is no need to be anxious because these things are what you can expect at your first appointment (and any following appointments with us)! If you find yourself in need of our services, please do not hesitate to contact us today! Contact Life’s Choices #pennsylvania #berkscounty #kutztown #parentingclasses #ultrasounds

It’s finally summertime! Time to enjoy the sunshine, maybe make some plans to travel, snack on some watermelon, and make some happy memories! But hang on, if you have a new little one in your world, you may need some of these helpful tricks for how to survive the summer season with a young kiddo! Here are 5 tips for how to have an awesome summer with a new baby! #1) Hats & Hydration With the higher temperatures and brighter days, a hat is a great accessory for your new little one. Keep them looking stylish and protected from those UV rays with some lightweight hats this summer! This is especially good to think about with newborns, whose heads have very thin skin and are very sensitive. Plus, tiny hats really make kids cuter, it’s just a fact. Along with a hat, make sure you are always packing some water for your little ones. We know, it’s often hard for you to remember to drink your own water throughout the day, but seriously, dehydration is never good for a baby. Try to monitor your child’s water intake as often as you take a drink of your own water! #2) Keep Some Warm Clothes Handy “When I had Julia (my daughter) in July- I was given a lot of summer clothes, but we spent a lot of time in air conditioning, so it was nice to have some warmer outfits too!” – Dawn Kurtz, Donor Development Coordinator When we think of summer baby clothes, our minds are focused on the sunshine and great weather. Parents can easily forget to include some warm pieces of clothing in the mix. Remember, not every moment will be spent outside on a sunny day! Make sure that when you are shopping/preparing for summertime with your child, your clothing stash has some outfits that will keep them cozy in the AC! It is always a good idea to have a few layers packed in your diaper bag so that your baby can stay comfortable no matter where you are! #3) Buy the Baby Pool This is a great way to keep your little ones cool while spending time with them outside! Inflatable baby pools are awesome to bring along on family outings or vacations because they take up very little space when packed-up. Make some fun memories and keep your baby occupied in a safe and controlled little pool. Our Social Services Director, Kolleen Long, spends a lot of her time offering helpful classes for parents of newborns. Here’s what she says: “A baby pool can be a lifesaver. They are inexpensive and you can set one up in a small yard or porch and it’s ready whenever you are. It’s fun to see your little one explore splashing and water toys.  Of course, you will want to stay with them the whole time to ensure safety, but the bonus is, you get in with them and cool off as well. (Hint – if it’s really hot, play the “who can get mommy or daddy the most drenched” contest with toddlers. They love it!).” #4) Test Out Your Sunscreen Another very useful tip from Kolleen: “Take seriously the idea to spot test products like sunscreen on your baby. We learned the hard way with our youngest that many kids are sensitive and our poor daughter had big welts for a few hours. (In her case, thankfully, a good rinse with water solved the problem . . . and no more sunscreen for some time. We used shade instead!)  It is important to shield their skin from the sun as they tend to burn easier than their parents.” Every child is different; a product that works for one may severely irritate another. Before fully using a sunscreen (or bug spray as well), have a little test on a small portion of their skin. Have water and soap handy to wash the area in case redness or inflammation starts to occur. As always, contact your physician if a serious reaction starts to develop. Better to test these things out beforehand than to be surprised in the sun! #5) Remember: Summer Happens Every Year Some parents may feel pressured to have the “perfect summer” with their new babies. Maybe you want the cute beach pictures, along with the fun summer day-trips, the large gatherings in the backyard with BBQ and corn on the cob, the pool days, the nicely tanned skin… pretty soon all these to-dos will make you overheat! Take a breath; it’s okay to have a low-key summer season. You do not have to do every single fun summer activity! Remember that the sunshine and the pool floaties and the sandy shores will still be around next year. Remind yourself to enjoy your time with your new baby, and to take it easy on yourself if your summer is more chilled-out than expected. Here are a few helpful words on this subject from Life’s Choices director, Joy: “My niece was in tears a few days after her first baby was born because she thought she would never be able to do anything fun again! The realization of just how demanding a newborn is can be overwhelming to a new mom. Be assured that while bike rides, eating out and other things you did as a child-free person or couple might be temporarily out of the question, there are other fun things you can do. Those first weeks and months seem long at the time but they actually go by very quickly. My son took up a new hobby after becoming a father – bird watching! He discovered it was fun to identify new birds and photograph them. And it was something he could do while carrying his son in the pack. Be open to new things!” Summertime fun is absolutely possible with a new baby! This year may be different than last year, but by no means will it be less meaningful or memorable. These are just a few tips for surviving the summer with a new baby, but we believe in you! New parents, you got this!

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” – Matthew 13:31-32 Each summer, Life’s Choices launches a mid-year giving campaign to maintain funding and support for our free community services. Sometimes, we will have a fun theme for this campaign and this year, we have named it, “Seeds of Hope.” This concept is that Life’s Choices persistently gives away small acts of love in hopes that they will sprout and grow to make a large impact in our clients’ lives. While a conversation, a pack of baby wipes, or a short Zoom class may seem as small as a mustard seed, we know sometimes those interactions can have an effect as influential as an oak tree. This “Seeds of Hope” attitude is shared among our staff, board members, amazing supporters, and especially by our lovely volunteers! These are the kind-hearted individuals who tirelessly donate their time and efforts to Life’s Choices. To capture the spirit behind our “Seeds of Hope” campaign, you should hear from a few of our volunteers: JoAnne “At my age, I have a lot of free time; I wanted to give back to the community. Here, I do a lot of clerical work, which I really do enjoy: office work, mailings, filings, printing, and phone work. I love all the ladies here, I love the atmosphere. It’s just a lovely place to come and feel like I am contributing to a cause I support.” “I prayed for some clients who were leaving here the other day; they needed prayer for their health this summer. I asked if they would like prayer right there. The girl had tears in her eyes.” JoAnne has been volunteering at our Hamburg location for a little over a year. Like in this example, JoAnne sows seeds of hope at our office through her kind and thoughtful personality. Even if it’s just giving someone a smile, she uses every opportunity to lighten someone’s heart. Whitney Whitney is one of our Kutztown volunteers, a lovely young woman who also attends Kutztown University during the school year. “I first heard of Life’s Choice through The Bridge Church in Hamburg. I typically do whatever is needed. I am open to whatever needs to be done at the office in order to lighten the load of work for my colleagues. I love their determination to help anyone who walks through that door.” We love to see how Whitney uses her time to sow seeds of hope in the lives of people here. Even when she is away from our office, Whitney lives with an attitude of hope and encouragement: “I made sure I bring a big smile and my warm personality to brighten anyone’s day even if it is my colleagues. I have been able to inform my college friends about Life Choices and the services they provide. I also am capable of coming to this location one day myself for parenting classes and preparing for my own children one day.” Life’s Choices has been immensely blessed by the energy, positivity, and hard work that Whitney always displays. Showing hospitality and creating friendly spaces is a beautiful way that Whitney sows seeds of hope at our office! Heather Finally, Life’s Choices would like to highlight Heather, our newest volunteer. Heather is a young woman with such a strong work ethic and an infectious smile. We asked if she can think of any “seeds of hope” she has sown while helping at the Hamburg office. Heather said she couldn’t think of any. But all of the staff who have interacted with Heather would soundly disagree! Heather’s brightness and warmth of spirit has sown seeds of hope into our lives. As with all of our volunteers, the fact that she is dedicating her time towards helping us is a blessing. Currently Heather’s volunteer work has included those odd jobs that us staff members just can’t find the time to do. We’ll give her random things like vacuuming the office, or cleaning/organizing children’s toys in our parenting room, and she accomplishes these tasks with enthusiasm and a smile. One can easily see Heather’s generous and loving attitude in these words of hers: “I want to be a part of that group of people who do good things in a world where people face difficult and bad things daily. Life’s Choices makes people’s lives better, and it’s an honor to be a part of that.” The hearts of these beautiful workers match perfectly with the heart of Life’s Choices. They know that no amount of kindness is wasted. Each interaction, every appointment, all hours of prayer and effort are opportunities to sow seeds of hope. These women are hopeful that the seeds they plant at Life’s Choices will one day grow into beautiful testaments of love and care. This is why we encourage giving during our “Seeds of Hope” campaign. Your donation (be it the small size of a mustard seed) can have an impact that no one can predict. Give Today! If financial support is not what you can provide for Life’s Choices, maybe you would like to volunteer with us! If your schedule only allows for limited visits, every volunteer is valued and appreciated! Your skills and passion can be used for spreading goodness to your community. Join JoAnne, Whitney, and Heather in helping out! If you are interested, please contact us today and start sowing seeds of hope with Life’s Choices! Contact Us! #berkscounty #hamburg #kutztown

We get it, relationships are a lot. They’re a lot to handle, a lot to think about, and they take a lot of work! Among other issues, Life’s Choices is extremely committed to helping people create and strengthen healthy relationships with the people around them. Building and cultivating healthy relationships will not only affect individual lives, but can also bring positive effects to entire communities! Humans are designed to be in relationship with each other, romantically, as friends, as families etc. Despite this fact, relationship health is one of the greatest needs in our world today. We are here to help you navigate the world of relationships and to be a resource for building health into your life. Here are 3 ways that Life’s Choices is here to help you have healthy relationships (for free)! #1 Relationship Mentoring One of the lesser-known services that Life’s Choices offers is our relationship mentoring. We would absolutely love to sit down and talk with you about the relationships in your life. Sometimes, you may just need someone to listen to your story and offer some insight. Our staff will encourage you, pray for you, and point you in the direction of some awesome resources! Life’s Choices sponsors a healthy-relationship education program for students throughout the school year. We have all sorts of lessons and materials from that program which can inspire some great conversations. No matter what your situation is, you are welcome in our office for a talk. We can be your advocate, promoting health, truth, and safety for your relationships! Text us today with questions, or to set up a time to chat with us! Text 484.660.3526 for a Hamburg representative and 610.683.8000 for a Kutztown representative!\ #2 STI Testing, Treatment, and Information When it comes to romantic relationships, we understand the need for sexual health and safety. Both of our offices offer free testing and treatment for our nation’s 2 most common STIs. We also can give you information regarding further testing and treatment at other healthcare facilities. Not every romantic relationship has to deal with this concern, but if you and your partner are sexually active, it is strongly recommended that you both are tested regularly. All of our services are free and confidential. We have trained medical professionals who will help you and offer education about how you can make healthy sexual decisions. You can be assured that when a client comes to our office for a test/result, they are always treated with absolute respect, care, and professionalism. It is our goal to inform, protect, and care for everyone who receives services from Life’s Choices! If you do not need a test, but you are interested in learning about STI prevention and how to stay sexually healthy, our office is open to you! Come for a visit and get some free materials and information that could be very helpful in maintaining your health! STI Testing Information #3 Parenting and Family Classes Parents, we see you! Working on relationships does not stop when kids enter the mix! Having a child (or children) can be one of the most rewarding experiences as a couple. But we know that not every step of the way will be easy. Kids can bring parents closer together, but sometimes the stress that comes with parenting can put some extra strain on a mother-father relationship. Our parenting classes are designed to relieve some of the stress and negative emotions that can spring up with parenting or a new pregnancy. We have so many class options that can be taken together or individually as parents. Our classes include tips for bonding with your children, how to parent as a team, ways to keep calm in your life, and so many other great topics! Spending some time learning how to parent well can not only affect your relationship with your child/children, it can also strengthen the respect and bond between you and your spouse/co-parent. Prioritize the relationships in your home and consider taking a parenting/family health class with us! We know relationships are a lot to handle, but that is why we’re here! Healthy relationships are our thing! Not everything is easy, but oftentimes the things that you work hard for can offer the best rewards. Let Life’s Choices be your first step when it comes to relationship help! “The giving of love is an education in itself.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Sunny days, warm evenings, great temperatures…it would be easy to just relax this summer, but boy, do we have some awesome things planned for summer vacation this year! This article gives you the inside scoop to our 2023 summer plans for Life’s Choices. Student Giveaways We started off our summer celebrations by hosting two student outreach events! On May 8th, our Kutztown office staff and volunteers hung out on our front porch and gave away free walking tacos to the students of Kutztown University to celebrate the beginning of their finals week. The students enjoyed their free food and a goodie bag filled with Life’s Choices promo gifts and snacks to keep them fueled-up for their exams and projects. Here are a few pictures from that fun day! On May 25th, our Hamburg office held a similar event for the students of Hamburg Area School District. To celebrate the last week of middle school and highs school, our staff and volunteers handed out free popcorn to the students! Both of these events were so much fun, and we were able to communicate the message that Life’s Choices is here for students! So many young people walk by our office every day and yet have no idea who we are. We just wanted to encourage these young people and let them know they’re loved by Life’s Choices! What else do we have coming up on our calendar? We are so excited to share our 2023 summer plans with you! Keep an eye out for these upcoming events and programs! Staff Training and Office Development Our staff will be taking advantage of two training opportunities this summer – one at the end of June and one at the end of August. We are always looking for ways to stay relevant and up to date as medical and cultural changes take place. As our culture grows and changes, we want to be able to meet peoples’ needs as efficiently and effectively as we possibly can. We applaud our staff for always going above and beyond to serve our clients well! Over the Christmas break in 2022, we worked hard to renovate our Kutztown location. Many rooms were completely re-done and lots of little changes were made to make our client experience more inviting and comforting. This June, we will be continuing those efforts by putting in new carpeting and furniture in the other rooms of the Kutztown office! Keep an eye out for pictures of these changes! Acknowledging & Equipping our Partners We say it all the time: Life’s Choices could not operate as we do without our supporters. This summer, we will be intentionally reaching out to our partners to grow those priceless relationships. We will be meeting with church representatives to thank, encourage, and equip them to share information about Life’s Choices with their congregations. We are also hoping to host some tours of the Kutztown office. We have recently renovated a few of the spaces, and we are constantly trying to make things as efficient and professional as possible. Offering tours of our facility will open our doors to the community and offer insight into our value as a free resource. Summer Student Education Our education team is excited to be offering some healthy relationship education programming to Kutztown Area School District at their summer schooling program. They will provide engaging and helpful lessons that will encourage students to aim high for their future, make healthy decisions, and choose the best for their lives. This is the first time we have been invited to participate in a summer school program. It will look a bit different than our normal school-year programming, but we are looking forward to the new experience! This education team is celebrating the fact that they were able to reach over 2,000 students in the Reading School District and Hamburg Area School District this past school year (2022-2023). They give a huge shout-out to the volunteers and contractual educators that helped to augment our team and make this amazing year possible! Client Encouragement We are giving out double points for parenting class participants from Monday, June 5, through Friday, August 25. This is for moms and dads both expecting and with kids and applies to in-person and zoom classes in both our Hamburg and Kutztown offices. We have classes with practical help for all ages and stages of parenting. Life’s Choices is also excited to host three Free Diaper Giveaways this summer! The first Monday of June, July and August, we will be giving away free diapers from our Hamburg and Kutztown offices. This allows us to share from the gracious donations we have received from our community and also connect with individuals and families that may benefit from our supportive services. If you would like to make a donation, please contact us to talk to a staff member. Free Workshops We are looking forward to a one-day workshop that is planned for Saturday, June 24, for parents on Sign Language for Babies. This concept is so helpful for parents with children who are still in the process of learning to talk! Moms and dads are both invited to this event; it will be so fun! Watch our social media for details or to sign up! @lifeschoices326 And finally, Dr Dad is returning! Last year was our first year for this four-session seminar, held by dads, for dads. Classes offer practical skills and discussion time for raising kids safely, from illness to accidents to safety and general health. Participants will enjoy snacks, win prizes and get to know other dads in their community! These classes were such a big hit last year that we had to offer them again! We encourage new dads or expecting dads to take these courses so that you can be more prepared in keeping your kids safe and healthy! This will be Tuesday nights in August – August 1, 8, 15 and 22 and is hosted at the Journey Cafe in Hamburg (320 Pine St). Please keep all of these events, programs, and plans in your thoughts and prayers this summer! We have quite a busy season ahead of us, which is both daunting and exciting! If you might like to help with any of these things, please contact us! We always welcome help and support! Contact Life’s Choices Thank you for supporting us and making it possible for Life’s Choices to offer so many different resources to our communities! #events #programs #summer

Six Questions to Ask an Abortion Provider (before scheduling an appointment!) The key to getting good information is knowing what questions to ask. Here’s some help! If you or someone you know is facing an unintended pregnancy, we understand that every choice you have is a hard one. In the state of Pennsylvania, abortion is a legal option for you for up to 24 weeks. However, there is a lot to research and learn before you confidently make that decision. It is your right to have access to safe, reputable healthcare. These questions are designed to help you screen abortion providers to help ensure the clinic, physicians and other medical professionals are operating according to state guidelines. There are many important facts and details that must be considered before scheduling an appointment at an abortion clinic. Remember: Right now, you are your own reproductive health advocate. Your health and well-being is in your hands. Do not hesitate to ask questions and find answers. Here are 6 questions to ask an abortion provider before scheduling an appointment with them. Question #1 Is the physician who will see me licensed in this state? Before any medical procedure, it is wise to research and verify the provider who will see you. Request the name of the physician who could be helping you at the abortion clinic and ascertain their licensure. This will help you know if you will receiving adequate services. Question #2 Will the procedures and risks be explained to me? It is so important to be educated on the details and risks of the abortion procedure. With both surgical and medical abortion (the abortion pill), there are so many vital things to know before you choose that option. Before scheduling an appointment, you need to know whether you will be given accurate and comprehensive facts. The truth is that there are risks, and there have been many negative effects recorded for women who have had abortions. Make sure you discuss all of this with them. If they are negligent in this area, know that they are not being truthful or transparent. If you would like some information, Life’s Choices has reliable resources that can help you stay educated about abortion. Question #3 Will I be able to view an ultrasound before the procedure is performed? This is a critical step that is designed to keep you safe. We strongly recommend any woman who is considering an abortion to have an ultrasound beforehand. This quick procedure gives you essential information that will be needed to maintain your safety, should you decide to abort. Among other reasons, an ultrasound will help determine the gestational age, which directly impacts the type of abortion you are eligible for. If a pregnancy is further along than you think, that will create complications, especially if you take the abortion pill (plan C). An ultrasound will also determine if the pregnancy is ectopic, which you need to know to keep yourself safe. An ectopic pregnancy will not be removed by the abortion pill and needs to be identified as quickly as possible to keep you safe. If you will not be allowed to view an ultrasound before your abortion procedure, that is a major red flag. You are your own health advocate and you should be able to access all the details of your pregnancy. Life’s Choices offers FREE ultrasounds and options-counseling appointments so you can know everything you need to know about your pregnancy! Learn More Here Question #4 If complications occur, will the doctor at your clinic provide follow-up care or would I need to see my own physician? This is an incredibly important topic to discuss before you begin to schedule your abortion appointment. Abortion is not always as effective, painless, or simple as many people think. You will need to know what to do if this should happen to you. Open conversations about the risks and possible complications of abortion will help you protect your safety. Feel free to contact us to talk about what sort of complications might arise from an abortion so you can stay fully informed! Contact Us Question #5 What is the full cost of the procedure? This is always a good question to ask, not just with medical procedures, but in life! Abortions can be costly, so you will want to know exactly how much money will be needed for your procedure. Unfortunately, as stated in the above paragraph, some abortions develop complications, which will add to your medical bill, should you need further care. At Life’s Choices, we are your Free First Step! All of our resources, information, pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and other services are completely free, 100-percent of the time. Not everyone has access to medical insurance, funds for medical care, or information about pregnancy options. We are here to be your first step in determining how to handle your pregnancy. No judgment, no lies, no cost! Book an Appointment Question #6 Will I be able to bring a support person with me to my appointment? An abortion procedure is a big choice, often with strain on a woman’s mental and emotional health. Having a support person in the room with you, to help you make your choice and advocate for your safety is something we strongly suggest. A support person can help make sure that you get the information and care you need. If the abortion clinic does not have this as an option, we consider it a big red flag. You deserve the ability to have a supporter with you during your appointment, so you can feel safe. Even if you take the abortion pill, please let someone know and have someone with you so they are there for support. These are just a few of the discussions that you need to be having with any potential abortion provider. We want you to be safe and to know exactly what is going on. You should have ALL of the information that you deserve to know. Use these six questions to ask an abortion provider to keep yourself educated and informed about everything to do with the abortion process. If you want to talk more about abortion, pregnancy, or anything relating to your reproductive health, our doors are always open to you! We want you to be the best health advocate you can be for yourself! Disclaimer: This post is not encouraging young women to seek abortions; Life’s Choices does not perform abortions nor do we refer clients to abortion centers. However, we do see many young women who are considering that option, and we strive to give them the most helpful information they need to make an informed decision. That being said, one of our free resources is a simple list of good questions to ask an abortion provider. These young women deserve to have the essential information needed before scheduling an abortion appointment. #abortioninformation #berkscounty #education #kutztown

Celebrating A Mom With Her Love Language – May 10, 2023 In just a few days, we will be celebrating Mother’s Day, one of our favorite holidays here at Life’s Choices! We love honoring mothers and the selfless work they do for their children and families. A wonderful way to show love to a mother is by learning how to speak her love language! Here are some great ideas for how you can celebrate a mom in your life this Mother’s Day! **Disclaimer** We know that Mother’s Day is not an easy or happy time for everyone. Life’s Choices would like to acknowledge everyone who struggles with this holiday for whatever reason they have. We sincerely apologize if this content pains you in any way; we would never intend to do so. A Little Bit About Love Languages… The concept of the 5 Love Languages comes from Gary Chapman, an author, speaker, and counselor for many years. Life’s Choices uses his books and content for a few of our classes that we offer. In his research, Chapman found that human beings tend to give and receive affection in primarily 5 different ways. He calls these our love languages and knowing them could help you interact well with the people whom you love. We encourage you to read through all 5 below and think of which one relates to the mother you want to honor this season. We will give you some good tips and ideas for how to speak to her in her love language. Learning and speaking someone’s love language is an incredibly effective way to let them know how much you care! Here is how you can start celebrating a mom with her love language Love Language #1: Words of Affirmation Someone who has Words of Affirmation as their love language is a person who feels the most loved when they experience kind and thoughtful words. They appreciate written notes and cards, and will remember compliments for years after they are given. These are the people who tend to be more sensitive to hurtful words and jokes, and they also tend to give love to others in the form of words of affirmation. How To Honor a Mother Using Words of Affirmation Hand make a nice card and write something special you appreciate about her. Write her a poem or a song Make an “encouragement box” filled with little notes of encouragement for her to open when she needs it Make sure you communicate your thanks for all that she does for you Speak well of her when you are in a group together Write a post on social media remembering a good memory that you shared together Love Language #2: Physical Touch Physical Touch people are ones who feel closest to you when you are physically communicative. This love language can be difficult to communicate with if you are not a Physical Touch person, but we encourage you to try! Someone with this love language really likes to know when someone is close by. They are affected by someone’s physical presence. This could look like: sitting close to them, holding their hand, etc. How to Honor a Mother Using Physical Touch Spend some time sitting with her over a cup of tea or coffee Give her plenty of hugs Gifting her a massage or a manicure Making sure you physically see her often, not just calling or texting her Be present when you are with her; look her in the eye and focus your attention on her Love Language #3: Acts of Service This love language will almost always be meaningful to a mom. Acts of Service is a love language to people who tend to be task-oriented, practical, or who are just plain busy! To show someone love using this love language means you are helping them with a task to ease the  stress in their life. Shortening someone’s “to-do” list and giving them your time and effort will speak volumes to them. How to Honor a Mother Using Acts of Service Perform a household task that you see needs to be done Offer to run errands with/for her Plant some flowers around her lawn Ask her if she needs any help with a project she wants to accomplish Plan a day to do some work together, then go out afterwards Always thank her for the hard work she does Love Language #4: Receiving Gifts We teach the 5 Love Languages in some of our healthy relationship classes at middle and high schools. The students always tilt their heads a bit when we mention this love language because it sounds a little materialistic and selfish. That is not what this love language is all about. Receiving Gifts is simply saying that this person really appreciates physical reminders of a loved one’s affection. The gift in question could honestly be something as small as an interesting postcard you saw at a gift shop, or a coffee dropped off at their place of work. To a Receiving Gifts person, it is not about the expense of the gift, just the thought behind it. How to Honor a Mother Using Gifts Bring her flowers of her favorite color Gift her something small but useful for her life Remember her favorite anything: candy, restaurant, movie, etc. and gift accordingly Make her a photo book of some of your good memories for her to keep Think of her favorite activity and get her something related to that A mug, a plant, or a snack is always a good idea! Love Language #5: Quality Time The person who loves Quality Time really just loves to be with you. It doesn’t even matter if you are doing something fun or interesting, as long as you two are spending meaningful time together, they are happy. Good conversations over a meal, taking a walk on a trail, even grocery shopping together are all great ways to connect using this type of love language. Just make sure that you are intentional with the time; ask good questions, listen, and try not to be on your phone too much! How to Honor a Mother Using Quality Time Plan an afternoon together doing a few things you know she enjoys Put together a puzzle or play some board games with her Go to dinner and a movie with her Intentionally have a meaningful conversation with her, and listen to her actively Get coffee and pastries together at a new cafe Invite her to come along with you on some errand you have and make it fun! This Mother’s Day, try celebrating a mom with her love language! You can love a mom well by observing her love language and then speaking it! Odds are, if you have a mom in mind, you can probably guess her love language just by knowing her. If you can’t seem to pin one down for her, that’s okay! All of these love languages are effective in showing someone affection. As long as you try, she will see your effort and be moved. To any mom currently reading this: Life’s Choices wishes you a very Happy Mother’s Day! You are amazing and we hope your day is filled with smiles and love!

How kind words & warm hearts make a difference… Not every day at Life’s Choices is easy. There are times when we feel utterly discouraged and exhausted. After a particularly difficult day, it can be hard to see whether the work we do is actually making an impact in our communities. It’s a tricky business, trying to quantify our idea of what success looks like for Life’s Choices. Are we doing things right? Is Life’s Choices actually helping people? Do the services we offer actually help to improve lives? Sometimes, it is hard to answer any of those questions. But then we will receive an email, a letter, a text, a response from a client…and those insecurities melt away. Because just one encouraging story can be enough to convince us that yes, we are here for a reason, and kindness is always worth it. Here are a few short words from a number of our clients that have encouraged us to keep going lately. “I just wanted to say thank you to you guys because if it wasn’t for that 1st appointment with you guys and hearing her little heartbeat, I don’t know what we would have done. But I’m extremely grateful that we decided to be parents, I honestly can’t imagine my life without my daughter. So thank you!” These clients came into our office full of questions. We are so blessed to know that we were able to help them work through their options and empower them when they decided to choose parenting for their child. It can be an emotional journey for our staff to counsel young people who are facing a potential pregnancy, but it is so worth it to know that with every appointment, we have the opportunity to listen and encourage someone who feels helpless. “Hello, we are so thankful for the opportunity to work with Life’s Choices. Life’s Choices has supplied us with so many resources to be able to provide for our family. We basically were starting from ground zero. We didn’t even have a place to live together with our baby. They prayed with us as we looked for housing and job opportunities, blessed us with so many baby items, and videos which taught us so much about parenting and how to take care of a newborn. We love working with Life’s Choices.” This is where we give a shout out to our amazing donors and supporters! Through your generosity and willingness to give, we were able to help this young family provide for their baby. Life’s Choices could not stay open and operational if we did not have an awesome network of individuals and organizations who support our ministry! When a mother or a family comes to us in need, it is our absolute pleasure to help them with their basic baby needs to relieve even just a bit of stress in their lives. “Life’s Choices is a literal Godsend to us. We were having our first baby and all the info and guidance from Kolleen and Sue helped to ease so much of my anxiety. Then, when I lost my job while on maternity leave, the resources that we were given like the grocery gift cards and baby essentials helped make ends meet with no income coming in. We are so, so profoundly grateful and hope one day to also be able to give back to pay the blessings forward.” That last line brings complete joy to our hearts every time we read it. After being open for over 35 years, we undoubtedly believe that our actions and words have a bigger impact than we realize. In every interaction with every client, we try our best to communicate love and respect.. Not only do we hope to make a positive effect in their lives, we also hope to see that spread to others’ lives, like in this client’s testimony. It is amazing (and humbling) to think that simple acts of compassion can have a domino effect. These stories are just a few of the meaningful words that we have recently heard from our clients. They help us keep our heads up while kindness is becoming rare to find in the world today. Our clients mean the world to us and we love to imagine the effect that our kind hearts and free services can have on the world. We are making a difference, with every act of love, with every bit of truth communicated, and with every word of encouragement we can give. To our clients, whose lives and triumphs bless us immeasurably. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12 Want to help us reach more clients? Your prayers and support are always appreciated! Donate Today #clienttestimonial #howwehelp #stories

A positive pregnancy test (including a home test) is an indication of pregnancy, but not a confirmation. An ultrasound can confirm your pregnancy and it can indicate how far along you are by using measurements to estimate the gestational age of the fetus. We offer limited ultrasounds to anyone who had a positive pregnancy test at our center. Our medical personnel will determine if you are eligible for a limited ultrasound after you have had a positive pregnancy test at our clinic. REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT What Does an Obstetric Ultrasound Do? At our center, in most cases, we can determine: how far along you are. if a heartbeat is detected. if there is a potentially life-threatening tubal pregnancy. if your pregnancy is developing under normal conditions. whether or not you are carrying a single fetus or multiples. If you are considering an abortion, an ultrasound should be performed to determine how far along you are and can also determine the cost of the abortion and if you qualify for the abortion pill. (The abortion pill at Planned Parenthood, an abortion clinic, or another online abortion provider could charge $300-$500.) If you are considering making an adoption plan or desiring to parent your child, an ultrasound may not be required by your doctor but it can be a crucial part of your prenatal plan. What Can I Expect? At your first appointment, we will provide a free pregnancy test at our center. Depending on your last known period (LMP) and our availability, we will either perform an ultrasound during your appointment or schedule one for a future date. Before your ultrasound appointment, the nurse may direct you to drink several glasses of water to ensure a full bladder. This can help our medical personnel see more clearly during an intravaginal ultrasound. If you are in your second or third trimester, an abdominal ultrasound could be performed. You can also talk about your medical history, pregnancy concerns, or ask questions about the abortion pill or the various types of surgical abortions. What’s Next? Find out if you qualify for a free ultrasound with us. Book now to come in for a free pregnancy testing appointment. If the test is positive, we will schedule an ultrasound and talk about all your options. Note: We do not perform ultrasounds to determine the gender of the fetus.

College Students, We See You! There is an intentional and strategic reason that Life’s Choices has an office on Main St. in Kutztown, PA. And no, it is not because we are within walking distance of The Bagel Bar cafe… We placed our office there because it places us less than a block away from Kutztown University. Why so close? Because we care about college students! Here at Life’s Choices, we absolutely love the younger generation, and we want to do our best by them. Which means the bulk of our efforts centers around how we can be the best free community health resource for students at KU and any surrounding schools. We know that college life looks different for everyone, but some struggles are universal. Here is how we can be your advocate during your time at college. To the student who feels alone: Life’s Choices has its doors open to anyone. We work hard to make our space as open and inviting as we can, so that we can welcome and encourage the young people who walk in. To the student who needs to talk to someone: One of our favorite things to do is have meaningful and helpful conversations with people. We know how easy it is to feel isolated, especially in college. You can come by our office any time we are open; we’d love to sit and chat with you! To the student who is struggling relationally: We get it. Relationships are tough, and sometimes we just need some help. Whatever problem you are facing in a relationship, Life’s Choices is here for you with resources, help, and guidance. To the student who might have an STD: No one ever wants to have that fear. We offer free testing and treatment for the most common sexually transmitted infections. No charge, no insurance needed, completely confidential. Click Here to Learn More To the student who is seeking health information: We have it! If you want to keep yourself healthy through college, we can help you do just that! There are tons of resources and services we provide that can aid you in being the healthiest you can be! To the student who might be pregnant: You have so many questions. We can provide some answers. Life’s Choices provides free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds that can help you determine what your next steps are. We want to help you feel less overwhelmed, so you can get the best information and make the healthiest choices for your life. Click Here to Learn More To the student who is also a parent: We see you! We have so many ways that we can support you and help take some stress away from you. Whether it’s parenting classes, baby items, or any other need, we can help you fill it! Explore Parenting Classes To the student who knows the pain of an abortion: There is no judgment here, only love. Abortion can have an extreme emotional impact on someone, and we want you to know that our doors are still open for you to come and receive love and care. We can offer help and healing to you. And for any other students who find themselves in need of anything, Life’s Choices is here for you. If there is something you need that we cannot directly provide, we can help you find where you need to go and refer you to trusted resources. College students: We See You!

6 Things That Are Important to Life’s Choices: A Look at Our Core Values Last Autumn, a few of our dedicated staff members met together for the day and discussed the direction, mission, and values of Life’s Choices. Among other things, a result of that meeting is this list of values that our ministry holds. These values show our heart. If you wanted to tell someone what Life’s Choices is all about, or if you are wondering that yourself, here are 6 things that Life’s Choices really values. 1. Faith Our faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation for everything we do. Life’s Choices’ mission is based on Christian truths and beliefs. We do not hide this fact to our donors or clients; however, we absolutely respect everyone’s freedom to believe in what they choose. We do not force our beliefs on anyone, nor do we require any of our clients to be Christians. Everyone is welcome in our offices, and our services are available whether or not someone shares our faith. In no way do we push a message onto someone if they do not want to discuss religious matters; Life’s Choices will always respect someone’s right to say no. 2. Compassion We understand that when a woman considers abortion, all her options are hard ones. We understand that waiting for an STD test result to come back is a scary experience. We understand that parenting comes with challenges every day. Anyone who walks through our doors will be treated with open arms and a gentle heart. Life’s Choices is not here to shame, or convict, or look down upon any human. We are here to support and love our clients. 3. Truth We commit to promoting biblical, scientific, and medical truths. In an age where truth is hard to come by, we promise to always provide trustworthy information and resources to our clients. Everyone deserves to have quality, accurate, and relevant information so that they can make the wisest and healthiest for their lives. We will not provide incomplete or tainted information about sensitive topics, but will give the truth with gentleness and tact. 4. Authenticity We are confident in who we are and in our value to women seeking abortion. We have no need to pretend to be something we aren’t or to hide the truth of who we are. Pregnancy centers are commonly accused of using manipulation or false advertising to bring in clients. Life’s Choices will never give out false information about what services we offer. We have been a supportive resource to women and young people for over 35 years, which is a testament to our value to our clients. When someone interacts with Life’s Choices they are always told what services we do or do not provide. 5. Non-Judgement We recognize that all have made mistakes. Our services are not offered from a position of self-righteousness. Many people who walk through our doors have come from decisions and situations that are less-than-ideal. We do not let someone’s past, present, or future decisions change our love for them. Whatever choices a client has made or is thinking of making, we are committed to being there for them in a non-judgemental way. While we may not always agree with everyone, our offices will show acceptance to anyone seeking our services. 6. Integrity We pledge to use integrity in every aspect of our ministry, from advertisement to use of funds. Our clients will know that we are trustworthy, and we will always safeguard their privacy and safety. Life’s Choices operates through funding from individuals and organizations who share our heart for the community. We will always work in a way that is honorable and upright, so that our donors know their money is doing what they pledged it to do. Life’s Choices will always remain trustworthy and transparent. We are proud to say that every board member, staff member, and volunteer at Life’s Choices is committed to promoting and protecting these values. #freeultrasounds #berkscounty #values #about #pregnancy

When the future looks overwhelming and impossible, what’s an expectant mom to do? I am the mother of three children and each one was planned and wanted. However, during my three pregnancies I clearly remember times of being completely overwhelmed about what my future would look like with this new baby part of it. With my body already experiencing the physical and mental exhaustion that comes from hormonal changes, I couldn’t imagine how I would have the energy to care for anyone else besides myself. And my second and third pregnancies brought even more overwhelming feelings, thinking about the many times when I couldn’t even manage the child/children I had! How would I take care of another one? Since I truly wanted to grow our family, I pushed through those feelings, trusting that I would have what it took to care for my baby, along with the partnership of my husband and the support of family and friends. And that is exactly what happened. When the new baby arrived, I did what I had to do and never looked back. While feelings of being overwhelmed are common for any expectant mom, when the pregnancy is unplanned and circumstances are difficult already, those feelings can drive a woman towards abortion. But what if, instead of feeling overwhelmed by negative fears and anxieties, a woman felt overwhelmed by things that are positive and life-giving? That’s what Life’s Choices is all about. We want a woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy to be overwhelmed by these things: 1. THE OVERWHELMING MIRACLE OF LIFE There is something about seeing that first ultrasound image on the screen that almost always brings a new mom to tears, whether she planned the pregnancy or not. Whether the image is a tiny flicker of a heartbeat at 6 weeks or the “gummy bear” stage at 9 weeks, the response is nearly always one of wonder and amazement. We often ask the new mom or dad what they are feeling at that moment. Here are some of their responses: “I feel good. It’s my baby!” At seven weeks pregnant the embryo was only the size of a coffee bean, but this mom understands the reality of her choice. It’s her baby. “I feel like I’m already a dad.” The truth is, this young man is a dad. And now he gets to make his first parenting decision. Ultimately this couple decided to parent, and their baby was born just a few weeks ago! “Abortion is no longer an option.” This mom was further along than she thought. Seeing her baby on the screen convinced her that she couldn’t go through with terminating the pregnancy. When a new mom or dad recognizes that they have created a brand-new human being, it can be life changing. It is our privilege to shine the light on this miracle through ultrasound services. 2. THE OVERWHELMING GENEROSITY OF A CARING COMMUNITY When we explain to clients that all our services are free due to the generosity of our donors, they are amazed and even a bit confused. Why would someone give so generously to someone they don’t even know? At Life’s Choices there is never a fee, whether someone comes for ultrasound services, STI testing and treatment, parenting classes or material resources. Our sister organization, THRIVE, offers healthy relationship education to middle schools and high schools, a free service to the community. This is all due to the generosity of those who want to share what they have so that someone else can have the resources they need to have a great future. A young woman came to Life’s Choices for a pregnancy test, suspecting she may be pregnant. To her surprise an ultrasound showed that she was 36 weeks along! She gave birth to a healthy, full term baby boy less than a week later. Since the couple had no time to prepare for this surprise, a Life’s Choices supporter threw them an online baby shower. Dozens of people purchased gifts from an online registry, and we delivered them to the door of the new parents by the time they came home from the hospital a few days later. There were so many items, they filled a minivan to overflowing! This gesture meant so much to the couple that the next time we showered another new mom in a similar way, they were one of the first to purchase something off the registry. They learned firsthand what an overwhelming blessing it is to be part of a generous community. 3. THE OVERWHELMING LOVE THAT COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO CARE Our clients recognize that there is something different about the service they receive at Life’s Choices. Here are some of the comments our clients have shared on their exit surveys: “They actually care about your well-being and it shows.” “Everyone who works here seems to genuinely care.” Many of our clients express that what they experienced at Life’s Choices was not what they expected, in a good way! There is something about the atmosphere that is noticeable from the moment someone steps in the door. Many mention a sense of peace in our office. Others comment that it feels warm and homey. There is a calming presence here that helps our clients find the space to sort out their feelings and identify solutions to the challenges they’re facing. If you or someone you know is in need of pregnancy or parenting support in 2023, remember that we are here to help. Find out what it’s like to be overwhelmed by a caring community! Contact Us #hamburg #kutztown #parentingclasses #pregnancy