Young Happenings

Certified Professional Midwife! (Not yet state licensed, nor getting paid....)

2011-10-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I know I'm forgetting some of this crazy whirlwind of a year we have had since I went to the Philippines, but I really need to give people an update. So many friends and family have stepped forward and supported us financially and/or with childcare, encouragement and prayer. It has been extremely difficult over the past year. I spent two days per week "working clinic", which means spending all day doing prenatal and postpartum appointments at the birth center, often not getting home until 7:30pm. I also work about 5 hours per week filing birth certificates, national statistics and making new client charts. On top of that about 10 births per month which are day or night, from 5-20+ hours each at the drop of a hat. On top of that studying in my "free" time, which I found very difficult because when I was not at clinic or a birth, I wanted to take care of my household- do something to bless my family, not hole up and study.
So, thus, I did not get done nearly as much studying as I should have. I did however complete my Portfolio Evaluation Process for NARM (the North American Registry of Midwives), which was a really big deal involving lots of money in fees, a practical skills examination by a qualified examiner and an 8-hour board exam that I took in August. The truth is, I love taking tests. I am not so good at rhetoric- verbal or essay writing, but by taking exams I enjoy having a way to prove my acquired knowledge. It was a blessing to re-unite in Portland with friends I met in the Philippines. In early September I received word that I passed my boards and have completed the NARM process and am now a CPM.
The CPM is sufficient for licensure in Idaho and Colorado, and many other states. However, here in Washington it is not that simple. I have signed a contract with my preceptors at the Spokane Midwives birth center, and as they have seen me through all of my clinic and required supervised births, once I am licensed in both WA and ID I will get to work as one of the Spokane Midwives. This is very exciting to me and I am anxious to be a midwife at Spokane's only freestanding birth center.
So please pray for me as now I am done with all of my required births and clinic time. All I have to do is gather my own equipment, finish my coursework, and send in my applications for licensure and fees. This will cost approximately $2,000. We have a hard time making our bills from month to month, as I have not been getting paid for attending births for over 15 months now. We do not know how we will gather the required money in order for me to finish my midwifery education. But we know that the Lord has led us the entire way. He provided (through you, friends and family!) the means for my internship in the Philippines, many of my books and much of my equipment. Why would he leave us stranded now?
Pray please that I would be able to focus and work hard on my final studies, to not fret and worry about how I will finish all of this. Thank you so much for your friendship and support. It means the world to our family.

Summer Fun

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Corbin's crazy allergic reaction to hay or some kind of weeds while at a friend's birthday party. His buddies didn't even recognize him! LOL
The kiddos enjoying the lake while I studied on the beach. BLISS!!!!
A fun hike with nana and papa!

Mr. Bumble

2011-10-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

The Oaks did their first ever musical this year; Oliver! Corbin was one of the orphans in the chorus and Kent stole the show as head of the orphanage, Mr. Bumble. The musical consumed much of our lives through the spring of 2011.

Also, Kent was honored to be asked by the Oaks 2011 graduating class to be the commencement speaker. This ended his fifth year teaching at the Oaks. He received a plaque and is very excited to be teaching all music for the first time next school year.

Lindy's 6!

2011-10-05T01:32:00.000-07:00

Lindy turned 6 on Easter Sunday this year! So to celebrate we went to Chuck E. Cheese the following day. And look at these adorable girlies at their dance recital! My cousin Jill's daughters Ella and Lily, and Lindy all love their Grace dance classes with Miss Kristy!

Arizona Vacation

2011-10-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun during our mid-winter break flying to Arizona to visit Nana and Papa and Uncle Nate, Aunt Renae and cousin Tegan. Everything was fabulous- the plane ride, the Renaissance Festival, the cowboys, swimming and family fun! This was our Christmas present from Nana and Papa- thank you so much, we love you!

Christmas 2010

2011-10-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

A fairly uneventful winter. I was cracking down on my apprenticeship at the birth center- working lots of clinic and going to lots of births with the Spokane Midwives.

Reformation Party Fall 2010

2011-10-05T01:11:00.000-07:00

I made Corbin's cloak. He LOVES it. His sword and shield set are from great grandma and great grandpa. Lindy's dress is borrowed from a friend at church. Also the "greats" made the cool bookshelf dollhouse behind Lindy.

Whirlwind Fall: Beginnings, Endings and Family

2011-10-05T00:25:00.001-07:00

Lindy starts full day kindergarten, Corbin starts 4th grade. After one week back to school we head to Colorado to be with the family. The decision has been made to bring Kent's dad Andy home from the hospital and bring in hospice care. Several friends and family were around and it was sweet fellowship. Several of Andy's brothers and sisters even drove out from Illinois. After a week Corbin and Kent need to get back to school so they drove back home, but Lindy and I stay with Grandma Faith in Colorado another week.

This was a very good time for Lindy to spend some time with Grandpa and I tried to encourage Faith with all of her responsibilities. We had some very emotional and meaningful moments with dad praying with him and singing hymns. Lindy got to give him hugs and kisses, and the last time I saw him smile, it was at Lindy.

We had previously planned for aunts Kelly and Tonya to fly up to visit us for Corbin's birthday. So on Friday, October 8th Lindy, Kelly, Tonya and I were on a flight from Denver to Spokane. Faith says that's when the hospice lady encouraged her to give Andy permission to let go. She told him- "We are all ok. The girls are going up to Washington to be with Corbin for his birthday. We are all ok here if you need to go." And then he took his last breaths.

It was good for Kent, Kelly and Tonya to be together here in Spokane that weekend and it was still a special birthday for Corbin, turning 10 on 10-10-10. Kent drove out to Colorado again the following week for the memorial service.

Trip Recap

2010-11-16T19:37:00.000-08:00

Midwifery Internship-
Mercy Maternity Center, Davao City, Philippines-
Summer 2010
I spent the first few days being oriented to the birth clinic and the dormitory. I found that the supervising midwives (mostly Filipino, some American missionaries) were all very kind and of course, extremely knowledgeable. In fact, one supervisor even has a brother that attends NSA in Moscow- small world, eh! It was really incredible to see how Newlife International School of Midwifery is meshed with Mercy Maternity Center- a charity lying-in clinic. The students’ tuition money goes directly to running the clinic and providing quality services to these poverty stricken people in Davao. (And it IS quality care, believe me! I saw the hospital that they would have to otherwise deliver at: overcrowded, dirty, disgusting, NO privacy: picture a gymnasium filled with hundreds of beds, family members holding IV bags, mothers nursing babies, laboring women, family members, body fluids, 90+ degrees and 90% humidity, no curtains, occasional rodents/bugs, etc.) So the students are being financially supported by their home churches and communities as missionaries. It is a fantastic system! Kent and I hope to learn more about how they operate the clinic and midwifery school. Perhaps we will be able to make a short term missionary trip back to Davao in a few years over the summer.
I received excellent education during my time in the Philippines. I watched expert midwives (who have attended literally thousands of births- Mercy does 150+ births per month!) suture and got to practice myself. I also got to practice placing IVs. These two skills are what my preceptors at Spokane Midwives asked me to work on specifically! I also organized a pelvimetry class. After observing and assisting at several births the first week or so, I then got the privilege of actually catching babies and managing births. I delivered 11 babies which count as “Primary Under Supervision” births according to NARM. This puts me well on my way towards my goals of being certified by Sep. 30, 2011 and licensed in WA state a few months later!
My time in Davao City was very meaningful to me spiritually. I knew that I would have clarity and focus for these four weeks to hone in on God’s word and spend time in prayer, without the normal household responsibilities and busy life distractions that I usually have at home. I went on this trip seeking answer to specific prayers- and God answered those prayers! I came back to my life here in the Spokane Valley renewed, refreshed, invigorated and inspired. Also, having never been to a third world country before, I was really impacted by the poverty I saw in Davao City. It has done wonders for my contentment. I am so thankful to God for the material blessings I have in my life and in this country. And despite many complaints we all have with our broken health care system, after seeing what I saw there, I can not complain. We are truly spoiled Americans.
Thank you all for your support of my trip to the Philippines. I could not have done it without your financial support, your prayers, and your encouragement. Kent and I are truly blessed to have such a loving community around us. We love you!

Terri and Kent Young

For pictures see my Facebook albums:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=260927&l=abe1ef6ebe&id=512900843

Motorcycle ride

2010-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Life in Davao City

2010-08-27T22:16:00.000-07:00

Calibad Beach on Samal Island

2010-08-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

Mercy Maternity Center

2010-08-23T06:14:00.001-07:00

Comfort amidst troubles

2010-08-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

I am just in awe that I am really on my way. This is the trip of a lifetime for me and SO many friends and family have blessed me along the way!! My cup runneth over and I feel your prayers for me. Please keep them coming.

We already had quite the snafu, that I pray will be our only mishap for the trip. Kent, the kids and I all drove out to Seattle (about 4 hours from Spokane) for my flight on Saturday. We left on time and felt the little road trip would be fun for the family as we listened to Narnia and enjoyed our time together. Unfortunately, upon arrival at SeaTac airport, I opened my passport carrier and realized it was empty. Kent had taken it out to photocopy it and had gotten distracted and left it on our printer at home. We paid fees and got my itinerary changed to leave on Monday, but it was still too late to overnight ship the passport. SO, we drove home that night, feeling rather foolish. Also, we decided to book me a flight from Spokane to Seattle for Monday morning. This was roughly the same cost as driving to Seattle and back, but without the risk of car trouble.

Thus, Kent and I had another day together and did several things around the house yesterday that I did not have time to do before Saturday. This morning we prayed before we left our driveway to take me to the Spokane airport, and tonight I discovered an encouraging letter of scripture and comfort from Kent slipped into my carryon. During my time at SeaTac I met a lovely Christian woman from Colorado who prayed for me and my trip. I sense the hand of God over me, despite our bumps we've had already. My flight to Manila leaves in an hour and a half and will be about 12 hours. I'll post more in a couple days!

"You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Also with the lute I will praise you." Psalms 71:19-22 (NKJV)

In 7 days...

2010-08-08T00:02:00.001-07:00

I will be en route to Davao City, Philippines. My dear friend Julie is loaning me her Mac for my trip so I will be blogging, on Facebook, and email. This is my test post to see if it posts to my notes on Facebook. Follow along to keep up with my adventures! I will journal and post photos.

Ask and you shall receive....

2010-07-11T23:56:00.000-07:00

Friends and family have already been supporting us by giving me textbooks, Amazon certificates, midwifery bags and equipment, and by donating to Birth Journey Prep classes and doula services, over the past year or so. But this past week Kent and I laid our plans and dreams out there for God like we never have before. Stepping out in faith, we asked our friends and family if they would donate towards an internship for me in the Philippines. We needed a minimum of $2,000. We decided that if we did not have over that exact amount by July 11, then that would be our clear answer from God.

Here is the timeline of what happened:

July 2- We posted on Facebook, this blog, and the Birth Journey Prep blog. When we received a couple of pledges, Kent told me to get to the post office right away, so I did and applied for my passport. It should arrive just in time. =)

July 5- We had reached 75% of our goal, and that was over the 4th of July holiday weekend! My family was all gone and busy at a reunion, and we had not yet emailed our church family. We were amazed!!

July 6- Our email went out to the church. By 10:00am we had $1,600. That's 80% of our goal!

July 7- Crazy day! 11:00am $305 short. 8:00pm $200 short. 11:30pm $20 short of $2000!!!! So then I'm chatting with my friend online about how we are $20 short and she says she will donate whatever is in her Paypal account. She goes and checks- there is $19.98 in the account. 8-o
We were $.02 short with four days to go!

So that's the crazy five days we had this past week. Now I am packing, studying, getting Kent and the kids ready for a month without me and school that starts as soon as I get back! My ticket is booked. I leave on August 14 and return September 15. Here is the link to Mercy Maternity Clinic in Davao City, Philippines where I will be.

We are so thankful to God for His clear direction and His gracious provision for us. And we are overwhelmed by generous friends and family that abundantly love and support us! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Our Letter

2010-07-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

Terri has attended over 120 births since 2001. First hospital births as a doula, then in 2004 she trained to be a midwives' assistant. Assisting and doula work has been a side income for our family, despite the fact that I would prefer we not rely on Terri's income. This past spring, we had three months without any paid births, and we saw what an impact the lack of that income had on our budget. Terri and I feel that the increased income we would see with Terri being a midwife, rather than an assistant, would be a good supplement necessary to our budget.

We have a good plan for her midwifery education and have blogged about it here. In September, Lindy and Corbin will be at The Oaks full time with me and Terri will begin her apprenticeship with the Spokane Midwives (Linda Morgan and Beth Morrill, birth center on Euclid). Upon completion of her certification and state licensure (approx. one year), Terri will have lots of flexibility and time off-call from births working with the Spokane Midwives that would allow her to keep our young children her priority. This is a huge blessing! And yet, Terri would still get to do what she loves and is so passionate about: provide good prenatal and postpartum care for women, and have the honor of attending births. We praise God for such an opportunity!

Recently, Terri has applied and been accepted into NewLife International School of Midwifery's Summer Short-term Clinical Internship Program. They are an approved out-of-country site for NARM, the national certifying body for direct-entry midwives. Therefore, this opportunity would give Terri a boost in her skills and birth requirements toward becoming a Certified Professional Midwife by putting her ahead 6-8 months in her route.

We believe that this summer we have a window of time that is ideal for this month-long internship for the following 3 reasons:

1.) Terri would go approximately August 11-September 14. This is before school starts, and after music camp. I will be with the children, and/or Terri's parents are close by with the lake house and lots of love and spoiling for the kids.
2.) Terri and I would like to have more children, Lord willing. She can not imagine traveling to a tropical country far from home while pregnant, or with a baby, of course. And, she is not pregnant yet.
3.)Both Terri's current preceptor, Margaret Lipton, ARNP, CNM, and Linda Morgan (Marks), CPM, LM of the Spokane Midwives, have recommended that she do an immersion training at a high-volume clinic. That is what this internship would be for her. She would have ample opportunity to get hands-on experience and gain confidence in the specific skills that she needs before beginning her preceptorship as a student midwife.

Of course, having painted this as the perfect opportunity, the Lord has not yet provided us with the money for this. As we continue to pray and believe that the Lord will provide the money for us if He wants Terri to go, we also step out in faith and ask if any of you feel led to help us out by donating air miles, or by joining us in prayer. The cost for a month at this internship is only $700 and that includes room and board. We have saved the money for the internship cost. However, it does not include travel expenses. It seems that the flight will be about $2000, and that is the kicker. We intend to make a final decision by July 11th and thank God for the opportunity to trust Him whatever the outcome.

Sincerely,
Kent Young

THE plan (part 2)-

2010-02-21T23:17:00.000-08:00

Wayyyyy back on June 1, 2009 I posted about my plan for becoming a midwife. Since then the plan has remained essentially the same, however Kent and I have fine tuned some of the details and the Lord has opened up a few doors for me along the way. Thought I would share:

1. I have found a simple online AFFORDABLE midwifery course that can help to keep me organized as well as fulfill my educational requirements for Washington state licensure. Yay- I am officially enrolled in the Midwife-To-Be course for home birth midwives. I am so thrilled that I will be able to report to people how far along I am in my coursework when they ask! Midwife-To-Be has thirty modules that are self-paced. I intend to complete one module per month, resulting in my completion in 2 and a half to 3 years.

2. I have a study partner! Another doula and friend is doing the Midwife-To-Be course with me, and we will meet weekly to review and track our progress. This is very good for me, as I really lack self-motivation and can really use the accountability. We also intend to put together some skills workshops and study sessions with a larger local group of midwifery students. This will also help to promote unity and professionalism within the local midwife community. Generally, the current local midwives do not respect one another, nor act professionally towards one another. Instead they seem to be largely territorial. We can change this all-around attitude and further promote more safe and healthy birth options in our community by establishing a new generation of midwives- supportive and respectful of one another as different, yet valuble health care providers. Go us!

3. I have officially ordered my Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP) packet from NARM (the North American Registry of Midwives) and can start to dig through the paperwork and get my skills signed off on, one by one. This will allow me to get my Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) certification and then license in the state of Idaho in early Spring of 2011, even though my coursework and apprenticeship I will continue for likely two years beyond that. This will allow me to attend births in Idaho and financially support the rest of my education and set up for my solo homebirth practice.

A new nephew!!!

2010-02-21T22:46:00.001-08:00

Isn't he so handsome? I long to hold him and see him up close!!! Too bad they live so far away... :(

The girl-

2010-02-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

Here she is with Santa (she was very serious about Santa this year!), in her splint and with her rainbow-colored cast. Yes, she broke her arm. Jumped off the top bunk and landed on a toy. She will have the cast on for six weeks. Woo-hoo! Our first Young family broken bone. Two actually- the radius and ulna.

The boy

2010-02-21T22:33:00.000-08:00

This photo of our son is a good description of him- kind of a nerdy...animal. Hee-hee!
And check out the Lego lynch mob he set up. Hilarious!

Christmas 2009

2010-02-21T22:25:00.001-08:00

was fabulous. It was a third Christmas, and every third Christmas (from the time I was a little kid), my entire mom's side of the family gets together. So, since I am local, this means that my sisters' families come to town- yay!!!

It was a wonderful time! Lots of gatherings, sledding, feasting, singing, all-around conviviality celebrating our Savior's birth!!

I tried....

2010-02-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a photo of the felt advent calendar that I vivaciously (yes, vivaciously!) started sometime the first week of December. Yes, it was after the first week of Advent. I made great strides and did not give up. In fact, days before Christmas I was embroidering numbers on the pockets. I got to about 13, I think. I have now put it away, and hope to vivaciously pull it out BEFORE Thanksgiving next fall. We shall see, eh?

My new favorite blog-

2010-02-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

"Doesn't urgency over everything imply that God's in control of nothing? Or do we secretly like blustering about perpetually stressed --- because we suppose it's evidence of the pressing importance of our work? And yet if I'm on edge, doesn't that mean I'm not centered in Him?" Ann Voskamp, Holy Experience blog

This quote is from an old post called "Real Stress Relief" on her blog, just an example of her lovely journal.

I will add this to my list on the right. Five days a week I check this blog and am deeply touched and moved by the raw beauty and truth that she posts. It is a true encouragement and you would be blessed to go there with me

A Walk to Beautiful

2010-02-06T23:59:00.000-08:00

Kent and I watched this tonight and were so inspired. What a tragedy for these women! How we take for granted having roads, cars, instant access to hospitals with surgeons and technology right when we need it.

We long to be out of debt and free to serve wherever God is leading us. Please pray that we will persevere and be faithful in our efforts.

Cover letter for my midwifery resume

2010-02-06T23:29:00.000-08:00

To Whom It May Concern:
I am becoming a midwife because I have seen too much to not become one. Over the past five years, since I had my daughter at home and started attending home births (and the occasional birth center birth), I have seen a better way, and I need to spread the word. I had been working as a doula attending hospital births for three years prior, and truly had felt called to help empower women and the families to achieve their desired births. But I now know that that was just a stepping stone on my midwifery path. Since then, I have seen numerous beautiful and safe births at home…
I have seen a young 20-year-old woman sail through the transition phase of labor in the jetted tub at the birth center, and then beautifully deliver her own daughter while lying on her side on a queen-sized bed. I have witnessed the serene birth of a couple in their thirties who spent most of the labor of their first child outside under the stars in their hot tub. The mom then calmly entered the house, only to deliver her baby crouching in the 4:00am moonlight streaming from the window. She immediately, yet slowly pulled the baby to her chest, so quietly. I have seen a 42-year-old home-schooling, goat-raising mother of ten rejoice in her first waterbirth. My doula clients of over five years ago have no idea that this world exists, that this kind of birth is even possible. I had no idea when I had my son. But now I have seen too much to go back….
I have seen a lot- good and bad, wonderful and terrifying. I have seen shoulder dystocias- handled expertly by midwives, then gruesomely by an OB. I have seen severe maternal hemorrhages, an inverted uterus, an umbilical cord snap upon delivery, mouth-to-mouth baby resuscitation, malpresentations, thick fresh meconium, preterm labor, partial placental ruptures and a complete breech (undiagnosed) home delivery (on a primip!), ALL of these complications handled perfectly by a skilled midwife. I have seen that good, wise midwives can handle these events appropriately or transfer care to the hospitals when warranted. I am going to be one of these midwives.
So I want to become a midwife. I hope to serve families in my community by providing them with safe, yet beautiful birth experiences. I want parents to truly learn what informed consent is and what their rights are; as consumers, as patients, as parents. This will empower them so much as they become bigger families and go on from their birth, to hire pediatricians, family docs, or any healthcare service provider in the future.
I want to help women learn to take responsibility for their own health and diets, during pregnancy and throughout the rest of their lives. Their nutrition and lifestyle can affect their health, for good or bad. Too often I’ve seen healthcare providers fail to teach women this. It is all pathology to them and the answers are all too often pharmaceuticals or other technologies. They don’t trust birth. They don’t trust the design.
I trust the design. I have “what it takes”. I have good math, science and problem-solving skills. I am very relational, and have a keen sense at all times of what my role is in situations with other people. I consider myself to have a very observant nature in general and pride myself on my ability to remain calm in crisis. And as my maid of honor pointed out at my wedding, I am very loyal. Completely reliable. Ask the midwives I have assisted in the past.
I am first and foremost a child of God, secondly my husband’s wife, and thirdly my children’s mom. But God has given me a passion for birth and I firmly believe that midwifery is my calling. He has provided me with the honor of being present at each birth I have attended. I will go where He next leads me on this path.

I'm still here....

2009-12-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

and I have a post brewing in my head that I promise to do in the next couple of days.

The other thing I've been working on...

2009-10-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Christ Centered Birthing

Sorely Neglected-

2009-10-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry poor blog, for you have been sorely neglected. And I don't have any particular reason, well, not any ONE particular reason. This summer was terrific! We had a great time. It was a blessing in disguise that Kent was unable to find summer work- he and kids and dog had many lovely days and nights together, while I was at births. They discovered new places to hike and read stories and watched movies. Ah, the lazy days of summer... And we seem to have indian summers up here- the weather usually stays really nice and mild through September. Kent and Corbin just started school on September 21st.
About three weeks before school started, Nana and Papa surprised us by announcing that they want to take each of their grandchildren on an individual trip when that child is around 9-years-old. And, that they want to take Corbin to Disneyland before school starts! So, Corbin, Nana, and Papa road tripped over to Fresno to visit the Hakkarinens for a couple of days, and then drove on down to Disneyland for three days, and then Legoland before driving all the way home (staying at hotels with swimming pools all along the way, of course!). They had a great time- and I will post pics very soon!

My first video post

2009-07-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this so much!! I think it is beautiful, makes me smile from ear to ear. I was just telling Kent a week ago or so that I long to have some kind of magic moment like the end of Slumdog Millionaire, or an old Drew Carey episode- where the crowd of people around me burst into a spontaneous, choreographed dance. Ahhhhhhh... if my life were a musical. A childhood dream of mine- along with a purple VW Beetle...

A little more on frugality...

2009-07-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

So, as I have been blogging about, I am still learning much about coupons and saving money on household expenses. Melissa asked a good question on my previous post about non-food items such as toiletries and detergents. Apparently, by combining store coupons, manufacturer's coupons and store sales one can get many of these items for free. Particularly from the drugstores like RiteAid, Walgreens and CV. I am still trying to figure out how this works exactly. But, I would like to throw out there 3 good blogs that I follow that are resources:
-The Frugal Girl is a really helpful blog that I follow regularly and have mentioned before in past posts.
-The Frugal Girl refers to Money Saving Mom here for more info on coupons and getting things for free.
-And Frugal Chic Living is local for those of you living in my community.
These sites can really help you on the makeup and toiletries.
As for detergents and cleaning products I have really enjoyed making my own laundry soap and cleaning products- for health and cost reasons, and I just like them better.

Groceries...

2009-07-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

I was greatly distressed about budgeting my grocery shopping a couple of months back, as some of you may recall. I was trying to find the perfect system between couponing and making everything from scratch. Thank you for your suggestions and thoughts on the matter. I truly believe that every woman needs to come to a place where she is confident in her household decision making- especially regarding cooking/menus/shopping. It certainly will not look the same for every family. But, every wife/mother needs to feel as if she is succeeding in her role as mistress of the home and kitchen. I think I am arriving in that place, and it feels good.
That being said- I am not going to say that I have found the perfect system and you all should start doing things my way. NOT AT ALL! But, I have found what works best for my household for now, and that could be very different in a couple years, or maybe this will work for us for the next decade. I just want you all to know that I have found some peace about this- which is good! I'm spending less time stressing about whether or not I am spending our resources wisely, and I am instead spending more time loving on my kiddos and encouraging my husband (OH, and going to births!).
;-)
For those of you still reading this, and curious about where/how I shop now- here it is:
I am buying my produce at local stands- I love the quality and the price- and there is a good one near our house (Wheelers- on Trent). This is great for buying fresh and local.
I am still trying to make several things from scratch rather than buying packaged convenience foods: pizza, pancakes, potatoes au gratin, cheese sauces, white sauces and marinaras, desserts, soups, stews, etc. This makes me feel good about saving money, and not feeding my family lots of preservatives and chemical additives.
I am getting raw cow's milk from a local farmer!! Yes, it's expensive ($5 per gallon), but we LOVE the taste, and the cream on top to SO good on fresh fruit, or in coffee. We believe it is healthy too. I am getting a gallon and a half per week, and been making yogurt in my crock pot (!) with one of the half gallons.
At Costco I am still buying pasta, canned goods (diced tomatoes, beans, applesauce), peanut butter, pretzels, Seattle Mountain coffee, hummus and occasionally I splurge on a log of goat cheese, a dress for Lindy, or some other such pleasure. (Gotta earn my membership back, right? Ha. I may go without next year. We'll see.)
WINCO has come to Spokane, and I love it!! This is where I am buying meat, cheese, salsa, and cereal. And it is so cheap! I really appreciate the fact that I can avoid Walmart (I hate the crowds there!), and the stress of couponing by shopping at WINCO. I have no problems with bagging my own groceries. In fact, I prefer it. The baggers usually do it wrong. ;-)
OH- and, I am still trying to bake my own bread. BUT- when I don't, I am buying the $.50 loafs at WINCO or Fred Meyer. Then, I don't feel guilty!
And I am still printing off occasional coupons and following frugal blogs for tips that I may want to try. And when I feel like I can handle the pressure, I get the Wednesday (sale ads) and Sunday (coupons) newspapers, clip my coupons and plan my menus. But this is not my normal system, because I often fall behind and get unorganized. And I can't feel like I am failing if I miss the sale ads.
So, there's my system. No guilt and no stress about coupons and sales. This works really well for me, and I feel like I am really providing my family with healthy, wholesome, quality food, yet I am still sticking to my budget of $90 per week. Cool, huh.

Some Summer Pics...

2009-07-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

These are from a week or so ago with the kids out on the "ski bob" being pulled by the boat. And also a couple of pics from Kent's birthday hiking adventure. Kent and the kids ARE at the top of the rocks- squint real hard, they're there.

Another dance recital-

2009-07-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Aw, so cute. Anybody notice Kent's shirt?

Family Tickers-

2009-06-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

So, I figured out how to set up these cute things, but can't figure out how to insert them into the sidebar of my blog. Anybody?

And this is only half of it....

2009-06-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

Kent caught this on his camera phone at mom and dad's the other day. Unreal, huh? I love that lake more than any other place in the world.

THE plan (finally)-

2009-06-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I have had a passion for all things birth and baby related for several years. My journey has led me from being a certified doula assisting families in hospitals, to assisting some lovely midwives in various out-of-hospital settings. My son's birth was a typical hospital birth with my OBGYN. Four and a half years later my daughter's was a birth in my home with a midwife in attendance. It was life-changing, and there was no going back for me. Homebirths and the midwifery model of care became my goal and dream.

I finally have a realistic plan and goal for my midwifery education. In the coming year, I will be working towards my Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) status from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and state midwifery license in Idaho. I will be completing my Portfolio Evaluation Process (PEP) and studying as an apprentice under at least two amazing midwives. I should be able to complete my requirements within a year, due to the experience that I already have under my belt assisting midwives for the past four years.

I had been considering midwifery schools, and even nursing school. I know that a few weeks ago I posted on here about the Midwifery College of Utah, but it is still $200 per credit, and that kind of money is just not around right now for us. Kent and I are not willing to go into debt again. We have not used credit cards or taken out loans at all for the past three years. We will pay as we go when Kent gets his doctorate, so we are not about to enter into huge debt for midwifery school for me. The state of Washington basically requires midwifery school for licensure, this is why I am choosing to license in the state of Idaho for now. (I live only 5 miles from the state line and all of my family is in Idaho.) I also strongly believe in apprenticeship-model education. Maybe we can afford more schooling for me in the future.

SO- here is the list of primary textbooks that I will need. And I am putting this out there at the suggestion of one of my mentors, and soon, preceptor. She recommended that I put this book list out so that anyone who wants to donate to my midwifery education may do so buy purchasing a book or Amazon certificate for me. Here is the list-

-~~Davis, Elizabeth, Heart and Hands: A Midwife’s Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, 4th edition, Celestial Arts, 2004.~~
-~~Frye, Anne, Holistic Midwifery: A Comprehensive Textbook for Midwives and Home Birth Practice, Vol. I,~~
-Care During Pregnancy, Labrys Press, revised 1995.
-~~Frye, Anne. Holistic Midwifery: A Comprehensive Textbook for Midwives and Home Birth Practice, Vol. II,~~
-Care During Labor and Birth, Labrys Press, 2004.
-Frye, Anne, Understanding Diagnostic Tests in the Childbearing Year, 6th edition, Labrys Press, 1997.
-~~Gaskin, Ina May, Spiritual Midwifery, 4th edition, The Book Publishing Company, 2002.~~
-Myles, Margaret, Textbook for Midwives, 14th edition, Elsevier, 2003
-Page, Lesley Ann, The New Midwifery, Churchill Livingstone, 2000
-Simpkin & Ancheta, Labor Progress Handbook, Blackwell, 2000
-Sinclair, Constance, A Midwife’s Handbook, Saunders, 2004
-Thureen, Assessment & Care of the Well Newborn, Saunders, 1998
-Varney, Helen, Midwifery, 4th edition, Jones and Bartlett, 2003
-Walsh, Linda, Midwifery: Community Based Childbirth, Saunders, 2001

Yea summer!

2009-05-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend- upper 70s, low 80s, sunny and beautiful. Here's a couple of pics. You know you want to visit!

YOU would love this book...

2009-05-11T22:55:00.000-07:00

And I mean you.
Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick (Click here)
The ladies at our church just went through this book the past couple of months. It has been life-changing for me. And I particularly recommend it to those of you who grew up in a Christian home: even if the hypocrisy ran rampant and you are justifiably jaded now, or if your home was all about tradition and legalism: this book takes what you know (head knowledge, intellectual assent: the gospel), and shows us how to inform our hearts (apply the gospel). So, there's my commercial. Let me know if you read it and what you think!!

The pendulum swings back...

2009-05-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

So...I am thinking about midwifery school again. Seriously thinking about it. Kent always supports me and thinks it is a great idea. He loves to see me all passionate and energized like I get about birth. I am looking at the distance program for the Midwives College of Utah. Here is a link to their philosophy. I like it. I really should start on some of my requirements here at the community college, at least.
A large reason I have hesitated about school in the past, is because I tell myself that I still don't have my household under control, and I shouldn't devote myself to outside things when the house is in shambles. BUT, I do think that I often do better with more time restrictions and structure. Kinda crazy, but sometimes I do a better job at home when I'm crazy busy running around, and know that I only have two hours to do a load of laundry and clean up the kitchen, rather than all day.
Do I sound like I'm justifying?

An apology post....

2009-05-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

I have been sorely negligent to my little blog here, and I apologize. I have lovely pictures of Easter and Lindy's 4th birthday to post, and they will be coming soon. I promise. (I have this little issue with my laptop, and have to use Kent's to download pics...)
But, please enjoy this picture on the day after Mother's Day. This scene resembles Lin and I today, as she is sick with a fever, but I am so enjoying being home with her to cuddle and soothe her.

2009-04-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox invite

Quotes on Troubles-

2009-04-02T23:28:00.000-07:00

“Often the same thing that makes one person bitter makes another better.” J.C. Ryle

“God often digs the wells of joy with the spades of affliction.” Isaac Watts

“To scale great heights, we must come out of the lowermost depths. The way to heaven all too often leads through hell.” Herman Melville

“Affliction is often that thing which prepares an ordinary person for some sort of an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis

(I did not pull these together myself, I lifted them from George Grant's blog here.)

Dance Recital

2009-03-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

The little blond next to Lindy is Ella, my cousin's daughter, and Lindy's best friend. And yes, she looks like a professional ballerina. They are really cute together!

Brother and Sister

2009-03-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

They have been playing together really well lately. In fact, the past two days Lindy has been in a dragon costume while Corbin is dressed as a pirate and they've been tromping through the house on all kinds of fun adventures. Here's some pics of Corbin as a Jedi (?) and Lindy as a princess. Dad took these pics- I would've washed the peanut butter off of their faces. ;-)

Winter Fun

2009-03-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

Nate, Renae and Suga (their dog) were out visiting in early March and we went for a walk across the lake at mom and dad's. This bottom picture is of Ella, Lily and Lindy on New Year's Day at great-grandma's house.

Frugal and Thrifty-

2009-03-12T23:33:00.000-07:00

(I'm back- sorry for the long hiatus, and thank you Cassie for noticing. I feel loved! :-)
I will be posting photos soon: I have some good ones on the camera, waiting to be downloaded.)

I wanted to mention something I've been pondering the past couple of days. I'm boiling homemaker thriftiness down to two camps- stay with me here- and trying to decide where I fall. Times are tight right now for everybody, and we all need to tighten up our spending, right? Well, I think there are two ways to do that:
1. Make everything from scratch. Bake your own bread, make homemade laundry soap, and put juice or milk in thermoses for your kids' lunches. These frugal masters do NOT buy pre-packaged food, because you pay for the individual packaging. Also- this kind of living is healthier because you use less preservatives and chemicals in your food, and you control what is in your house cleaning products. (OK- I'm convincing myself as I write this...)
OR
2. Work the system by following sales, clipping coupons and earning rebates. I have friends that do this and have reduced their monthly grocery bill down to ONE THIRD of what it was! It is amazing- and I am finding that it is not nearly as intimidating as I thought it was to clip coupons and find great deals.
So, here I am again- being all black and white, and bogged down in my perfectionism. I feel like I need to pick a "system" and do it all the way in order for it to work. Arg! Any advice?

Dogs

2009-02-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

are weird. But, I am doing much better with Niko. I take him with me when I drop off Corbin at school. He sits in the passenger side front seat, and lays his head on my arm as we drive. It amazes me how loving, loyal, and trainable he is! We have taught his to kennel up and this is huge. He will obey this command when we are leaving the house, or if someone is at the door, or if we need him to go away for whatever person.
He's growing on me. I like him.

Little House on the Prairie

2009-01-31T23:09:00.000-08:00

Corbin's class read Little House in the Big woods in November-December. And, traditionally, the 2nd grade class at the Oaks has a "Little House on the Prairie"-style Christmas party the last day of school before break. Well, we got a lot of snow and with that, 2 extra snow days before break- so, no Christmas party. Well, the party was re-scheduled and here is the evidence. They ate johnnycakes like Pa used to make, danced to fiddle music, and got to milk a goat. Corbin was a natural at that! It was very fun!

Silver Mountain Indoor Water Park

2009-01-31T22:55:00.001-08:00

We had SO much fun! Thanks Aunt Renae!!!

The Barker Road Bridge Project-

2009-01-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

This (click here) is going on right next to our house. Quite interesting, really. And I think we're finally used to the amount of time and miles that the detour adds to our drive.

Mall Rats

2009-01-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

Check out Lindy's $.99 new pink hat from Gymboree. So cute!
Corbin is wearing an Incredible Hulk sweatshirt.

Christmas Break, plus 3 snow days!!

2009-01-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun and truly enjoyed our school break, just the four of us in the one car with the studded tires. I was not on call for any births, which also created a more relaxed mood. Here are some pics of the boys at home on break, after we got our new camera. (Thanks sisters!!)

Christmas 2008-

2009-01-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

So, I'm running late. As usual.
We were at the lake house, my parents were in Arizona. The snow was beautiful, even magical at Christmastime this year. As you can see, the lake was gorgeous. And, we made it out there, with all our food, gifts and clothes on Christmas Eve, shortly after midnight. Some brave friends from church joined us for feasting and sledding on Christmas Day.
Note that Lindy is holding the Care Bear that Corbin sewed for her! (Thanks Nana!)

A Timely Post. . .

2008-12-29T00:59:00.001-08:00

That I must pass on. May this minister to your soul, as it does to mine.
Click here.

My Four Favorites-

2008-12-15T23:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share my four most favorite blogs. These are the ones that I have discovered through surfing around from blog to blog, and I check on them regularly. They are as follows:

Method's Blog: A friend sent me this link, and I love it! This woman is an incredible baker. Since I've been following, she has mostly posted cookies and pastries, with occasional savories. A sweet tooth like me! But, I love how she substitutes wholesome ingredients into her creations. The pictures are always mouth-watering. So, for some kitchen inspiration, check it out!
The Frugal Girl: A very practical site for homemakers. Kristen is so positive and encouraging. She blogs about being cheerfully frugal- mostly with groceries, but also other creative ideas. She posts her supper menu plan weekly, reports on her grocery costs, and every Friday takes a picture of her food waste that she throws out from her fridge. It is very motivating for me.
Eyes of Wonder: This is the blog of a lovely wife and mother who live in the country somewhere. The photos and music on this blog are amazing. It makes you feel like you've been transported back in time at least 100 years. I think it's incredible to see families actually living like this in our day and age. Breath-taking.
Anna Maria: My new ultimate favorite. If I had to describe my style, I would show people this blog. It is so gorgeous! Color, color, color. In fact, I discovered this blog off of a "10 Most Beautiful Blogs" list. My sewing skills are not quite up to par yet, but Anna Maria really inspires me to keep on creating beautiful things!

Quote I need to absorb into my skin-

2008-12-03T00:33:00.000-08:00

"A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
By : John Henry Newman

Owl

2008-12-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

Look what was waiting to welcome us at the top of our crabapple tree when we pulled into our driveway last night.

A Jack of all trades. . .

2008-12-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Corbin spent the day with Nana and Papa on Saturday and these are the photos I got texted to me from Nana's phone. Corbin worked on some shelf supports with Papa in his woodshop. He made a huge train track in the play room he was really proud of. And then, he apparently made a Christmas gift for Lindy.

Help-

2008-11-30T18:03:00.001-08:00

I'm losing my good attitude about the dog. Arg!
So, what I'm looking for here is some encouragement from you dog-lovers reading this. Remind me again why I'm happy about having a sweet, dumb, huge doggy? Why is this good for our family? No comiserating please!

Thanksgiving report

2008-11-30T17:53:00.000-08:00

And, for anyone wondering- Thanksgiving was fabulous. The turkey ended up a little dry, but the maple-glazed carrots, apple stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and turtle pumpkin pie were all big hits! I wasn't thrilled with the roasted Brussels sprouts with pecans, but Kent liked them. Just my parents came over. The pics are of Lindy helping Nana and I with the gravy (just before it boiled all over the stove because we were so busy taking pics!), and Papa covered with paper cut up by the kids, taking a little Thanksgiving snooze. Kent read a Thanksgiving story and led us all in prayer and songs. We all played cards while Lindy napped. It was a really nice day!!

Black Friday, an American tradition.

2008-11-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

Painting by Norman Rockwell.

I did not shop on Black Friday, but I did go out with Kent on Saturday. Got many good deals- shoes and boots for the whole family. Pretty sweet!

Unicorns and Ladders-

2008-11-25T00:33:00.000-08:00

Out of the blue (actually- we suspect this was "The Princess Bride" movie-inspired), Lindy declared while avoiding eating her dinner this evening, "I have an idea!" (A common phrase uttered by Corbin when he was 3 too, along with the expressive index finger pointing upwards) "After dinner, let's all go for a hike and look for unicorns and ladders!" Now, we live up north and it's already pitch dark at this time. But, it was so cute and sincere.
So, around 8:30 the kidsos were tucked into their warm PJs and beds, we grabbed them both and their fleece blankets from great-grandma, and put them in the car for a Jammy Ride. Off to McDonald's we went for ice cream cones and decent decaf for Kent. Corbin told jokes in the car, we listened to Christmas music, and even saw a few houses lit up already for the season. I drove so that on the way home I took us by a place where I've often seen a horse in the field, and in the dark it looked perfect: we pulled over and aimed the headlights into the field- it even seemed a little misty, and the white horse stepped out of the shadows, into view and nobly walked through our light, we could barely make out his head, and it looked just like a scene out of a movie. Lindy was just sure that it was indeed a unicorn. After shushing Corbin a little not to spill the beans, we returned home to tell Lindy the story of Snow White as she drifted off to sleep in her own bed, surely dreaming of princesses, unicorns and ladders.

Thanksgiving-

2008-11-24T23:56:00.000-08:00

Here I am; 31 years old, been married almost ten years, and this year will be the first time that I will host a Thanksgiving day feast. I'm so excited! Got the turkey today. Happy thoughts and prayers welcome. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out!

Pooley Family Mini-Reunion-

2008-11-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

Here are just a couple of pictures from our big family get-together when both of my sisters and their families were in town last week. Kent, Corbin and Lindy got to meet Annika for the first time, and I got to see her again. She is my sister's 9-month-old daughter- my kids' first cousin on my side of the family. She's adorable!
We took some professional photos I think I may be able to post on here soon. We'll see!

I remained calm. . .

2008-11-13T13:21:00.000-08:00

This is Corbin's first big school project that we had to tackle together at home. It is a salt dough map of ancient Egypt. He was so funny when he brought home the instructions two weeks ago saying with big eyes: "We have two whole weeks until this is due!" But, did we start on it that first week? Of course not. Did we end up doing the whole thing the night before it's due? Of course we did. Grumble, grumble.
Overall, I did very well, considering. (Those of you that know me well, know that I have always struggled doing art projects, a.k.a. messy things, with my children. Like I live in some kind of pristine, glass box or something?! What's my problem?) I mean- where is the line with these kind of projects? My 8-year-old son can not do this kind of thing himself without disaster messes (one at home, and one to turn in at school), I'm sure. But, determining what to let him do, so that I don't do the whole darn thing for him, is tough. Ended up; he drew the map, he put the food coloring in for the brown land, he splatted the "land" dough onto the map, he cut out the labels, and put the labels in the correct spots. I didn't lose my temper and the mess wasn't too bad. And actually, I think it turned out nicely and he loved the experience. He actually seemed to have no idea that I was not thrilled with the experience, as he was.
He said- "I wish we had projects like this all the time in school!"
And I thought- "I'm sure they'll keep coming, and I will need to pray for continued wisdom and patience." and I just sighed.

Methods and Principles

2008-11-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

You will notice when you are pregnant with your first child that you start to get advice and comments from everyone. This does not end when your pregnancies end- this is only the beginning. And women in particular become quite passionate about topics such as birth, breastfeeding and parenting. (I must confess here that I was one of these over-bearing, passionate women about these things about 4 years ago. I am wiser now. I think...)
Anyways . . . I love this article here from Nancy Wilson. It describes how to have peace among women in community at church. Very good advice!

Speech Meet Results

2008-11-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of pictures from the speech meet. (Sorry about the terrible quality, my phone's camera isn't quite doing the job these days. There's rumors of a new digital camera for us for Christmas. Please Santa!!) Anyways, these photos are particularly funny because they are taken before I explained to him that blue "Superior" ribbons are, in fact, superior to the red "Excellent" ribbons. :) (Note the girls' blue ribbons.) Poor boy!
Really, he did a great job, considering that he came down with croup on Wednesday night. His voice was pretty quiet for the competition, but the flow of his piece was better than ever. Yea Corbin!

Corbin won the speech meet!

2008-11-04T23:29:00.000-08:00

Well, that's what he reported on Friday after school. Actually, him and four others from his class are finalists in the speech meet, so he gets to attend the big classical school speech meet in Moscow, Idaho on Friday and compete. He is reciting "The Travelers and the Bear" from Aesop's fables. So exciting! I will video tape it, and maybe I can figure out how to post videos on here?! No promises.

In other family news- Kent and I had pink eye last week and a severe stomach flu this past weekend. So gross. Oh, and Lindy puked all over her lovely dress when we were almost to the ballet in downtown Spokane last Thursday. (A good excuse to buy her an adorable dress on sale at Gymboree right before the show, though.) Oh, and the puppy is limping bad in his right leg. Arg!

Anyways, despite these things, we got through our crazy busy October fairly unscathed. Have I mentioned I LOVE teaching these childbirth classes? They're over now. (Sniff, sniff.) Kent was awesome- helping me cook and clean to prepare for these classes at our house each week. Tonight he even took the guys out for a "dad talk", while us ladies talked about breastfeeding and using slings. Whatta guy! He's a keeper.

New Birth Blog!

2008-11-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

OK- I am feeling pretty random on this blog here, with no focus or theme. (Reminiscent of my life a little bit, perhaps?! :)
So, inspired by a doula friend, I am starting a separate birth blog here. There is nothing on it yet, but I will be posting articles, news, jokes, thoughts, all kinds of stuff on pregnancy, birth and parenting. Feel free to check it out and follow if you like.
This blog here I will try to focus on my personal life: family, homekeeping, and photos.

Those Darn Jackhammers. . .

2008-11-02T20:25:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you will notice why this is funny. . . Look closely.

Apple Picking and Cider Pressing

2008-10-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Now, we do live in the apple state, after all. The past two years we have gone to this orchard with some dear friends from church. This year we thought it would be the perfect place to meet with some favorite cousins- the Dertings. The Dertings are actually my aunt and uncle and their kids are my cousins, however they have adopted three additional kids that are the age of my own kids. Anna is from Madagascar, she's 8 and Kassie is a foster adoption, she's 7 and Jayson is a foster adoption and he's 3, like Lindy. These cousins live in Clarkston- 2 and 1/2 hours south of us. Bishop's Orchard is somewhere in the middle, so with the Mosers (Ella's family) and my parents, we made the trek down. After a few hiccups in the plan that morning, we were off with creamy tomato soup and cucumber goat cheese sandwiches to go. And yes, Corbin was with us, but he is elusive. And, I didn't take pictures- these are Jill's. (Thanks Jill, and thanks Grandma for the cute baskets!) We would like this to be an annual tradition- fall fun for the whole family! Even Kent and my dad enjoyed the day.

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"

2008-10-27T23:18:00.000-07:00

A clever quote I found on a blog I frequent, The Frugal Girl. I highly recommend this blog to all homemakers. She posts tips all the time on random things like converting old furniture, making yogurt and line-drying your laundry. But, her norm is posting her weekly menu and then a picture of the food waste that she throws away each week. It is quite remarkable! Very inspiring and good to see why menu planning makes such a difference in the grocery budget.

Teaching-

2008-10-20T20:58:00.001-07:00

I love, love, love teaching these childbirth classes! Why did I not do this years earlier? I have been putting off midwifery studies for years, saying that I did not want to neglect my family, but also finances have had a lot to do with that as well. But, teaching is SO fun- I get to talk about birth, give advice, share stories, and hopefully, help families have more positive birthing experiences. All of this, without the stress on my family of having to be on call and actually go to the birth. This is a way for me to stay connected and involved in the birthing community while at the same time avoiding the on-call lifestyle that is so tough with young children.
So, I am researching the different organizations to certify under. And, there are many: Bradley, ICEA, Lamaze, ALACE, Birthworks, Birthing From Within, many more. Any recommendations? If so, you must say why you like this or that organization, please. Thanks for your thoughts!!

Teddy Roosevelt-

2008-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

(An attempt to keep my mind off of current politics for a few moments):
Theodore Roosevelt I declared to be my favorite president when I was a kid. I think that was for two reasons: 1.) I learned a few great stories about him while visiting historical places in South Dakota, and 2.) because I collected teddy bears. Probably mostly the latter reason.
On the note of the former, I came across this great story here. Enjoy!

A few more random photos-

2008-10-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to show here how much bigger Niko has gotten, however he's being such a spaz (puppies!) that it's hard to tell.
The dress that Lindy is wearing is a dress that me and my sisters wore 25 years ago. Cute, huh? Also, Lindy is wearing her new Skirty that I won from the Amoretti Fortnightly Purse!!! I really did- so, post a comment on her blog and you may win too!!! See how modest Lindy is with her Skirty on? ;-)

And a couple more birthday pics-

2008-10-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous party with 3 friends out at Papa's place. The theme was camping- check out the cake. Party favors included glowsticks, bags of gorp, beef sticks, a whistle/compass/magnifying glass and an emergency poncho. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows around the fire on the beach. The boys ran all over the place, made pod racers out of some of Corbin's new legos, and promptly fell asleep in a pile of sleeping bags in the bunk house. Cousin Justin and Papa made a delish breakfast the next morning of waffles and sausage. Life is good! Praise the Lord for eight whole years of Corbin's life. We are so blessed by him!!

Early Birthday Pics-

2008-10-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Corbin and Papa's birthdays early because Nana will be at a conference all weekend. Here are a couple of pics: and yes, he already received the much-coveted StarWars legos. Thank you Nana and Papa! And very cool shirt- Brenda and Dave!

Do you have triplets?

2008-10-05T00:14:00.000-07:00

This is what an old friend I found on Facebook the other day asked of me. I asked why and she noted all the pictures of the three girls. They are just so darn cute together, who can resist? They wore yellow dresses here for Gracie's 4th birthday party. (Note Lindy trying to be modest by pulling her dress over her knees. This was before I won her a Skirty!) Gracie is the oldest, Ella will be 4 in December, Lindy next April. (For those of you who don't know- Ella and Gracie are my two cousins' daughters- they are cousins to each other. Get it? Ah, doesn't matter- that's what we tell Lindy anyways.) So, they span out 8 months, but they should all three be in the same school year. Fun times!!!!!!

Quote I've Heard a Few Times Lately-

2008-10-03T22:54:00.001-07:00

Spend less time listening to yourself, and more time talking to yourself.

In other words: control your thoughts/emotions, don't let them control you.

Lots of Classes-

2008-10-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

Well, October has filled up quite fast for our family. We are all enrolled in a dog training course with Niko. I need to post new pictures of him, as he is (in true runt fashion of course) gi-normous now. :)
But, even more exciting for me are the other classes in October-
1. I am teaching a Childbirth Preparation class for the first time. I am really thrilled to be doing this- in fact Lindy and I watched birth videos all morning in preparation. My group is comprised of three young couples from my church expecting their first babies. They are allowing me to practice teaching, and receiving a semi-private class for free. Win-win!
2. Margaret and I are doing a two-weekend workshop to train Midwives' Assistants. This will be a great opportunity to impact our local birth community by further educating and inspiring women about the midwifery model of care, and also provide a marketable skill set to our trainees.
I/we are hoping to really organize and streamline these classes so that they may be offered repeatedly. Eventually our reputation will become known in the community and the classes will become a regular option available to women and families seeking knowledge in these areas.
So, don't pass the word on for me yet- I'll let you all know. Just prayers for now, that all will go smoothly for our family throughout this month and we can remember to serve one another and die to ourselves, despite our stress and weariness. (Corbin's 8th birthday coming up too!) Thank you!

One Late Summer Picture-

2008-10-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have a few less Corbin posts than Lindy posts, so here's one to try to catch up.
This was a day Corbin went with Nana, and obviously with several other families as well. Another day we had a lot of fun at Silverwood (that I did not seem to photo document), is the day we brought our friend Finan with us. So many of our friends and relatives have younger-than-Corbin girls, so it was great to spend the day with a 10-year-old boy. Ah, so long summer.

Lovely Lindy-

2008-09-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Quote-

2008-09-28T23:42:00.000-07:00

"All things considered, the furious activity of this world is about as meaningful as the half-time frenzy at the Super Bowl. But a wise man can be there and enjoy himself. This is the gift of God." Douglas Wilson

Pedicures at Nine Months Pregnant

2008-09-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

I believe 7 months pregnant is glorious: you feel good, really feminine and maternal, you're not humongous, the peeing-every-10-minutes thing has not set in yet, you can still pretty much sleep at night. But then you hit 36-37 weeks along and you just start feeling really whale-ish. Waddling is the term to describe movement at this point. And putting on shoes becomes a daunting task.
This is when a pedicure is very necessary. Even if you have never done anything like this before, now is the time. Make sure that you have eaten, walking into those fumes on an empty stomach might be a bad idea. Find your local nail tech salon- you can call around for prices $20-25 is great- make sure that their pedicures include the massage chair! Walk in, sign up on the sign in sheet, and pick your color. Oh- and wear shorts and flip-flops, no matter how cold it is outside. Then, enjoy your $25 splurge and think of all the nice comments you will get when you go into labor like, "Pretty feet!" and "Nice toes!". The nurses are sure to notice!
Oh- and don't pass up the extra $5 for the flower- it's worth it.

Mama Quote-

2008-09-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

"The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one." -Jill Churchhill

Being Busy vs. Intentional Living-

2008-09-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

We often say things like"Oh, life has just been crazy lately", or "We are so busy this year". We say this as if we have no control over our circumstances. I sometimes get to feeling this way. I literally get this vision in my head of being dragged behind a horse or a car when I get too stressed out. But Kent and I have seen families in our church deal with this like no one else- they don't do it! It is amazing- I tell you, we have tried this way of living, and it is wonderful. We will not go back to the craziness.
What am I talking about, you ask? Well, here's a before and after:
Before we learned to dump the stress: I would get really stressed out and really behind in everything, feel strung out and pressured from everyone to fulfill obligations. The first thing to go would be my prayer and bible study time, any attention and thoughts toward my husband and kids, and the house (what dishes and laundry? not to mention finances as I quit cooking and hit the fast food). I would make myself appear really put-together, but my family and household would be suffering and stressed out as well. We were not living out the priorities we claimed were important: family, friends, helping one another. Instead the activities and programs of our lives would consume all of our time and energy. And for what?
After we learned to live intentionally: If we see any of our priorities falling by the wayside, an activity has to go. Priorities: our spiritual development, our marriage, training our children to be obedient and loving, hospitality, and building community within our church and extended family.
This is how we live now, not just how we try to live. Whenever I start to feel like life is dragging me around by a rope, I realize that I do not need to brace myself for the ride. I can simply cut the rope.

Wrap up each decision with gratitude-

2008-09-17T22:42:00.001-07:00

I have always had trouble making decisions. I didn't know that everyone else knew this about me until I was about 12-years-old and my grandma gave me a "decision-maker" keychain for Christmas, with a little spinner that pointed to "yes", "no", "tomorrow", "no way", "definitely", etc. I distinctly remember receiving this gift. I only saw my grandma once a year. It really surprised me that apparently everyone in my family knew that I had trouble making decisions and they thought that it was cute, and even funny.
To this day, I struggle with this. Shopping can be a major stress for me due to indecision, or in reality- worry that I will not make the "right" decisions. If I am not feeling secure enough, I should not even go grocery shopping that day.
I really do not want to pass this on to my children. I worry about Corbin in particular, because he is just like me in thought, word and deed.
This post on Femina hits the mark for me. I will be printing this off and praying about this, and look forward to making headway and pressing on.

How old do I look?! (Don't answer that!)

2008-09-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

So, I was at a birth with Margaret the midwife the other night. We went to the hospital, settled in to the room and the nurse turns to me, "So, you're her (indicating the woman having the baby) mother, right?"- I just stared at her- "Me?"- "Well, I'm just trying to figure out who everyone is."- "How old do I look?"- "Oh, well you're tired. She just looks so young- she looks like 15. You would be a really young mom."
Mortifying. This mom was like 23- I am 31. Are ya kidding me? Seriously.

Adoption-

2008-09-17T00:16:00.000-07:00

I went to a training on Saturday in Understanding Infant Adoption and counseling for unplanned pregnancies. Then, I rented the movie "Bella" accidentally yesterday. Whoa. If you have not seen that movie, it is really good.

Dollar Palace-

2008-09-17T00:12:00.000-07:00

Thought I should post a non-political funny.

Book Plug-

2008-09-15T16:15:00.000-07:00

2nd Grade-

2008-09-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Finally, school has started. Corbin is ready!

Girly Girls and Manly Boys-

2008-09-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Lindy, Ella and Gracie in their Christian dance class. Kent and Corbin splitting logs for our wood-burning stove, preparing for the fall and winter.

The Skirty and other cute things-

2008-09-13T15:46:00.001-07:00

Please check out this link. Go here to enter a drawing for some fun, girly things for you and your daughter, niece, sister, friend, whatever. Every little girl needs a Skirty. I know that Lindy does.

Don't be scared- Everything's just peachy!

2008-09-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

For those of you who check this blog simply for pics of my cute kids, please do not be dismayed by my recent political outbursts.
To make you all feel better- here is a pic of what we did today. We do not start school until September 15!

A little more on Sarah Palin-

2008-09-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

And this post is what I think about her daughter being pregnant. There has been a lot of teenage-girl rebellion that God is putting in front of my face right now. I'm reflecting on my own moody and selfish late teenage and early twenties years. What can we do as parents to prevent this? My thoughts are that mothers need to role-model being respectful, hard-working, and wise. Fathers, with daughters in particular, need to pour the love and affection on non-stop from birth until she is handed over in marriage. This is huge for girls.
Maybe more on this later when I can communicate my thoughts more clearly.

Sarah Palin- I can't resist:

2008-09-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

I'll put it on someone else by referring you all to another blog. This post details exactly how my husband and I feel on this subject. Please comment what you think!

Book club-

2008-08-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

For something entirely different, let's have an informal book club. I say what I'm reading, and you can join me, or comment if you already read them. Anybody?
OK- well, maybe I'll just report for myself. This summer I read Hamlet (still not as earth shattering as I think it should be, what am I missing?) and Screwtape Letters (which was earth shattering- I love C.S. Lewis!). I'm also going through two opposing books to contrast and discuss with a friend: Amusing Ourselves to Death and Everything Bad is Good For You. So far, I'm almost done with the former and I'm thoroughly convinced. We will see if the latter changes my mind. Today I've gotten a recommendation from a good friend to read Austen's Persuasions. I would really like to discover the magic of Jane Austen for myself and I'm really excited to get into this one.

Promoting Baby Slings and Wraps-

2008-08-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

I don't want to get overly political here, but I have never been able to relationally connect to a politician like this before. These pictures are just so cool. The more I learn about her, the more I like her. Do some research for yourself- there is some great commentary Doug Wilson's blog here.