As I study midwifery and practice as a doula, I am filled with awe. Birth is so amazing.  It is amazing for the baby who enters this world and begins a new life outside of the womb. Who will he become? Who will he bless? It is amazing for the mother who realized how strong she is. She birthed a baby! She is now a mother.   The births of my own children are the most precious days of my life, whether the births went good or bad, they are forever engrained in my memory. It is a huge day for a family, another new little member of the family to love.   As a doula, it is my goal to be helpful, but not in the way of this huge event. It is about Mom, Dad, and Baby.  I want them to have wonderful memories of this day, even if things didn’t go “textbook” I hope they will have fond memories because they felt loved and ...

For the last week I have been really praying hard about midwifery. What started as a spark of interest 13 years ago turned into a roaring flame and I knew I needed to seek His will. Was this His will? Just a desire on my part? If it was His will, when would I start? How would I pay for the education? Wrestle and wrestle some more I did. Well, until Friday. Chris got a Father’s Day Card in the mail from his parents with a nice sized check included – one that would more than cover the cost of the program I want to do. Nice… But, this was Chris’ parents and his card, not mine. I didn’t feel like I could ask him if we could use that for my dream, so I remained quiet. He went out to mow and I prayed. I prayed that if God had that money earmarked for my midwifery education, HE would tell Chris. And, if Chris didn’t see it that way that I would not be b ...

Today I am thinking. Thinking about how much I love my kids and how awesome they are. I am SO thankful for them. Man, I am so blessed. To tell you about each one would take a book, I will spare you. I can not imagine life without any one of them.   Twenty-three years ago, if you had told me I would have eleven children, I would have said “No way!” I would have imagined the pregnancy aches and pains, the labor pains and the sleepless nights with tiny babies. I would have imagined all the dirty diapers and potty training. Not to mention all the work as they grow older and worrying when they are teens, and even after they move out on their own. But, I am afraid, I would not have realized back then all the joy I would have.  Our house is always full of laugher. I get hugs galore and ...