“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.

Miracles!!

Well, its almost hard to believe!! But I have almost all the books I need to begin!!!! WOWZERS!!

Starla purchased

for me!! Huge Blessing!!

Mark ordered:

for me...LOVE HIM!!!!

And today I went searching for this book:

And found it for $26.99....I went to the checkout and the lady says,
'Do you want to use your $10.00 credit?'
I was like, 'HECK YA!!'

I feel beyond blessed!!
Add the few that I found on my own bookshelf (who knew) and I'm almost all set!!

Sorry for another boring book post...I'm just getting really excited!!

Just a quick note....

...to tell you that I am now a sales rep for

and

I am anticipating the arrival of my first catalogues.
I LOVE Avon & Mark makeup and now they have cool bags and accessories!



Also, I am done nannying for good at the end of August &
will be focusing on my doula course full time!

Happy Earth Day!

'The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.'
Psalm 24:1

Today, be a good steward of God's creation!

1. Plant a tree in your yard or start a garden

2. Buy organic & support a local, organic farmer

3. Switch to cloth re-usable shopping bags

4. Buy energy-saving, compact-fluorescent light bulbs and other energy efficient products.

5. Recycle

Calling all Book Owners!

I am on the lookout for books on my whopping big reading list!

If any of the books below grace your shelves and you are wiant to get rid of them, let me know!
I would rather own the books than rent them from the library...for some reason, they don't appreciate highlighting and notes in the books;). I have had a few of the books covered already, thank to some terrific friends, but still have lots to get!
So, if you can help me out, let me know!

*Note: Thanks to all you ladies who have helped me out in the book dept. already! I am very grateful!*

The List:
1) Simkin, The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions, 3rd edition, 2008

2) Gaskin, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, 2004

3) Newman & Pitman, Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding, 2000 (Available in Canada)
4) Placksin, Mothering the New Mother

5) Klaus and Klaus, Your Amazing Newborn

6) Kennell and Klaus, Bonding

There is a list quite a bit longer that I might post later...they give you a choice of 3-5 titles that you can choose for each section. Eventually I would like to own all of them, but for now, I will settle for what is necessary.
Thank you!!! :)

This is one of my attempts at being disciplined. I'm going to follow it until I get a habit/routine out of it.

*Also*
Blog Ladies, its 'Confession Time':
I do not know how to meal plan /shop for groceries frugally!!!!
I am desperate to save money in this area! So I am employing your help/suggestions/links/tools/tips/counsel!!! PLEASE! I am desperate!
I need to meal plan (because I need to be accountable for everything I am eating calorically), but since I started meal planning, the cost of our groceries has sky-rocketed!!!
HELP!

I'm pleased to announce...

I'm going to be a Doula!
I'm so excited! I am going to get my Birth Doula & Post Partum Doula Certificate.
It is quite the process, but one that I've wanted to do for a long time!
Some reading this right now are scratching their head repeating to themselves,
'Doula? Doula? What the jiggers is a Doula?'

'Doula' comes from the Greek and literally translates 'mothers servant'
Also called a birth or labor coach.
A Doula is a mothers mother. Their job is solely to care for the mother during the birth.

Here is the description from the DONA website:

A Birth Doula

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
• Stays with the woman throughout the labor
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
• Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

A Postpartum Doula

• Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
• Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
• Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary

Here are some statistics.

• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in oxytocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

So, we are leaving for Montreal & Toronto May 12th and will be gone for 10 days. When I get home, I'm going to begin. The way that it works is you register with DONA and then you have 2 years to complete all of the requirements for certification. So I will be reading up a storm. Much of the requirements are a lot of reading...I have 15 books in total.

I'm really excited for the challenge and looking forward to finally having a career that I know I will love for a long, long time! :)

Back

Hi friends!
I'm back and full of things to share! I missed you terribly!
I have to tell you some things I've experienced, some funny stories and lots of pictures!
Its been a few weeks of contemplating life, career, goals, etc... (hence the above photo), but its been good for me. I will share more later

One thing I've learned these last few weeks:

'Don't you dare try to put a ceiling on who you can become!
When you do that,
you stop growing, learning, trying and eventually living!'


I'm glad to be back! Love you guys!

...I will be back, I just don't know when. I need some time away.
Thinking of you!
Thanks for sharing your lives with me!
I'll miss the stories, adventures, the updates, the beginnings!
Please pray for me while I'm gone. I need it!
I am walking in the valley right now.
I know His hand is on me, leading me, but its a hard road to walk.
I know in my head that this will make me stronger and
produce the character that I need to walk the valleys that are coming,
but right now, I just feel so alone.
Thanks for all your encouragement in the last while.
It has blessed me.
I love you!

"O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise,
your foundations with sapphires.

I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones...

In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
it will not come near you...

...no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD.

Isaiah 54

Today a friend sent me an email with a verse from 1 Peter 2 on it. So I went and read the whole chapter.
And it changed my day!!!
Seriously!!

These are the highlights:

"So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God...

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul...

...This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls."

(The Message)

Hi. I'm not in the spirit of blogging right now, so I'll make it brief. There is a lot going on right now in most areas of my/our live(s). Grappling with life (I'm sure I'm not the only one).
Just wanted to ask that you would pray for me/us. And I'll be back soon!
Love you all!!

Final Decision

Well, I've made up my mind and this is what I've picked.
Its going to be this cut...

and somewhere between that color & highlights
and this...

not this dark though. I'm going to go lighter for summer! :)
(Did you hear that summer? I'm doing something for you, now, you can do something for me! like, SHOW UP!)

Opinion anyone?

Well, 100% of the time, my hair does NOT look like this:


But it is getting pretty long & the ends are deader than dead.
So its time to revisit cut, color and such!
These are a few ideas I found, but as always, I need opinions!
So, help me out....please!!

I love this style of highlights...with the peek-a-boo (the right term evades me)
contrast underneath:



I also like this (minus the bangs, we know how that went last time!):


The other possibility is just going solid color:

Light or Dark Blonde


Dark or Light Brown

Auburn or Black


I'm probably going to leave as much length as I can....and also get a lot of layers because my hair is fine and volume-less.

I'm also up for suggestions. I'm not super picky and I'm up for most anything!
Thanks for your help!

My #1 Movie

Last night, Mark and I watched this movie!!!

It was absolutely amazing!!!!!!!
Totally amazing!!!
I wept my face off (a common occurence I know)

Anyways, if you haven't seen it, you must!!

My Saturday finds...

Well, our saturday was awesome! We went for breakfast at our date spot. Then went around town looking for clothing. Mark got some new jeans and a hoodie. I got spaghetti tanks and these two great finds..

This shirt in black for $20


These jeans for $36 (Reitmans)


I searched high and low for nice, really comfy shoes that were good on my feet.
I finally found these at Sidewalkers. I'm still deciding on them. They seriously felt like heaven. But I need outside opinion!! What do you guys think of them? Are they stylish enough? I need to decide by Friday!

click here for the website

Next week...

Next Payday, I am making a few purchases.

One:
New Balance Shoes
(This is the Foot Doctors command to help with my weird foot pain & back)

(I wish they made dressy 'good-for-your-back' shoes)

Two:
Jeans...
if only it would like this when I wear them ;)

Three:
A Jacket

I have not had a new jacket in a very long time...so I'm hoping to find a nice semi-dressy one...since we will be hitting some fancy spots in Montreal & Toronto.
Hopefully I can get my behavior to follow suit! :)