“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.

"Pooh," he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw,

"I just wanted to be sure of you."



I'm so blessed to have friends that I can be sure of.
They don't need to say or even do anything.
Just having them beside me is more than enough!

My Wedding Songs

A couple days ago, Carin came over and I was showing her my wedding songs.
I got so excited about them all over again, I thought I would show you all!
Yahoo!!!
(click on the song titles to hear them)


Bridesmaids:
Rawlins Cross 'Wedding Gift'

Me & My Dad:
K's Choice 'Favorite Adventure'

Signing the register/Candlelighting:
Shaun Colvin 'Never saw blue'

Back down the aisle:
Star Wars: 'Augie's Great Municipal Band'

First Dance:
Shaun Colvin & Ernie 'I don't want to live on the moon'


I'd love to hear your wedding songs!!
So, come on and share em with us! :)

'Don't ask God to bless what you're doing.
Find out what He's doing.
Its already blessed!'
-Bono



'Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy'
Psalm 82:3

'He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap'
Psalm 113:7

'I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
and upholds the cause of the needy'
Psalm 140:12

He is changing our focus;
Turning our eyes to something of great importance.
He is breaking our hearts for the things that break His.
He is with the poor.
The poor are not just in Africa or India.
They are around us.

They are people we see everyday.

Do we walk by, pretending to be fixated
on a piece of lint on our shirt, so as to not make eye contact?

God wants us to be very aware of the needs in our city.
What are we doing to make a difference.
I want to do something....ANYTHING that will change a life.

In our home group, in the summer,we usually do lots of fun activites...
BBQ's, outings to the lake etc...But this year, we want to do
things that will make a difference. We are going to be doing some
pretty cool stuff. And I'm really excited for it!

'You have taught children and infant
to tell of your strength'

Psalm 8:2a (NLT)

Yesterday, I went to a friends house for a meeting. Before going inside, I visited with my friends 2 older boys. I mentioned in our conversation that I had been sick for a few days and that my ears had been severely plugged. I said that I had tried everything to make them unplug....heat, oil, hydrogen peroxide, hanging upside down...everything!
My friends oldest son came up to me and almost whispered into my ear,
'Did you get someone to pray for you?'

'Pardon me? What did you say?'

'I said, "Did you get someone to pray for you?"
Because usually people say, "I've tried everything!"
But they haven't tried prayer!"

I was totally floored by this. A twelve year old boy is
keeping my faith in check. He was confirming that I still
believe God is who he says he is.

I thought about this more as I drove home.
How often do we underestimate the capacity of a child to understand the power and strength of God.
I felt a bit embarassed. Not because I was reprimanded (unknowingly to him).
But, because I was shocked that those words came from that source.

I want to be one that expects to be challenged by children. I want to look to them for example, encouragement and inspiration, not be confounded when they speak with wisdom beyond their years.

Step by Step, Oooh Baby!!

These are all the steps I have to take:


Birth:
1. Verify that you are a current member of DONA International
2. Pay your Certification Application Processing Fee
3. Read 5 Books from the Required Reading List and the International Birth Doula Position Paper.
4. Complete the Basic Knowledge Self Assessment Tool
5. Observe a Child Preparation Series (12 hrs. minimum) or attend an Intro to Childbirth for Doulas (7 hrs. minimum)
6. Verify completion of a Breastfeeding Requirement.
7. Attend a DONA Approved Birth Doula Workshop of (16 hrs minimum)
8. Submit Client & Care Provider Evaluations from all three: Mothers, Physician or Midwife and Nurses present at births.
9. Document at least 3 births (must include components of step 8 for every birth; labor support hours must for all 3 births must total 15 hrs. minimum; doula must be present from the beginning of active labor or birth is not included in total births)
10. Birth Record Sheets (click here ) from every birth
11. Birth Essays: each birth must include a 500-700 word essay.
Must include:
- brief descpription of labor
- your role as doula
- description of mother's emotional reaction to labor, birth and early postpartum
- what you learned from the experience
12. Develop and submit a resource list that includes at least 45 resources from at least 30 different categories.
13. Write an essay (500-700 words) on The Purpose and Value of Labor Support:
Must include: The benefits of labor support to the mother and her family, the purpose behind providing labor support, the doula's responsibilities, the doula's role.
14. Sign the DONA International Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice Forms
15. Provide Character References on Application
16. Write Essay on 'Why I Became a Doula'


Postpartum:
1. Verify completion of a breastfeeding requirement: Proof of completion of an on-line lactation study program.
2. Read at least one book from each of the following categories: “Becoming a Mother,” “The Newborn,” and “Breastfeeding”
3. Attend a DONA International approved postpartum doula workshop of 27 or more hours.
4. Receive good evaluations from at least three mothers to whom you have provided a minimum of eight hours each of postpartum support after attending the DONA-approved postpartum doula workshop. At least two of the three mothers must be breastfeeding during the time you are working with them.
5. Receive good evaluations from at least three spouses, partners, or other adult support people of the above clients. The doula must have spent enough time with the partner for them to feel comfortable filling out the evaluation form.
6.Write Essay (300-500 words) for each certifying postpartum experience, covering the following:
• The age of the newborn when you began
• The starting and ending dates and approximate total postpartum hours of service with this family
• The doula’s role with the mother
• The mother’s reaction to the support she received
• The doula’s role with the father/partner/adult support person
• The father’s / partner’s or other adult’s reaction to the support they received
• What the doula learned from this experience
7. Three signed copies of the DONA International Confidentiality Release Form, one for each family submitted for certification
8. Write Essay (500-1000 words) on “The Value of Postpartum Support.”
9. Develop and submit a resource list that must include at least 45 resources from at least 30 different categories.
10. Receive Health Care Professional Recommendation Form or letter of recommendation from a healthcare provider.
11. Complete Skills Self Assessment Form
12. Provide Character References.
13. Verify current DONA International membership
14. Sign copy of DONA International’s Postpartum Doula Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice
15. Read the DONA International Position Papers: The Postpartum Doula’s Role in Maternity Care and The Birth Doula’s Contribution to Modern Maternity Care.