Audrey's Encouragement Letter

In Audrey's 1st grade class at school they have a mailbox. They can write letters to other kids in the class and put them in the mailbox. The teacher then goest through the mailbox and hands out the letters. I took papers out of Audrey's back pack yesterday and set them on the table. I went through them this morning and found this letter:

I thought that was pretty cute!

Inspiration

A friend of mine forwarded a link to an Oprah video of her guest Dr. Randy Pausch. He is a college professor who has cancer and is dying. He gave his "Last Lecture" to his students and the video of the lecture is one of the most watch You Tube video. Oprah had him on her show after the video appeared on You Tube.

Here is his original lecture part 1:

for entire video click here

Oprah Show video:

Birth Doesn't Hurt?

I believe that childbirth can be pain free (last birth). I believe this because I have experienced it. I have also experienced childbirth being painful (with my two previous births). What changed was my belief about childbirth. I learned about the pain-fear cycle and how to create in my mind an ideal pain free birth. Believing in myself, my ability to give birth to my child and knowing how this could be done helped to change my perception of child birth.

I saw this quote today from Ina May Gaskin, in her book "Spiritual Midwifery".

"There is extraordinary psychological benefit in belonging to a group
of women who have positive stories to tell about their birth
experiences. This phenomenon is exactly what developed within our
village.

So many horror stories circulate about birth-especially in the United
States-that it can be difficult for women to believe that labor and
birth can be a beneficial experience. If you have been pregnant for a
while, it's probable that you've already heard some scary birth
stories from friends or relatives.

This is especially true if you live in the United States, where
telling pregnant women gory stories has been a national pastime for
at least a century. Now that birth has become a favorite subject of
television dramas and situation comedies, this trend has been even
more pronounced.

No one has explained the situation more succinctly than Stephen King
in his novella "The Breathing Method." Commenting on the fear many
women have of birth, his fictional character observes, "Believe me:
if you are told that some experience is going to hurt, it will hurt.
Most pain is in the mind, and when a woman absorbs the idea that the
act of giving birth is excruciatingly painful-when she gets this
information from her mother, her sisters, her married friends, and
her physician-that woman has been mentally prepared to feel great
agony." King, you may not know, is the father of several children
born at home."

Why do we as women destroy another woman's birth experience by telling her how awful birth is? Why are we so negative about one of the most beautiful and natural experiences on this earth? I would like to challenge all of us to be positive about child birth and mothering. Tell women what an amazing experience birth is. Tell them about the amazing way our bodies create a person and the amazing way we bring that person into this world.

If you have had a bad birth experience, keep it to yourself. As women a lot of times we want recognition and attention for things we do. Sometimes we want sympathy for bad things that have happened to us or the hard things we've had to do. Sometimes we want to be heroes and be known to others for a specific thing we did. We tell these stories over and over again. What we sometimes don't realize is how this affects first time moms or even mothers who are having their 2nd, 3rd child or so on. Our minds are very powerful and when being told a story we can see it vividly in our minds. Our mind doesn't always know the difference between what is imagined and what is real. Pregnant women are already emotional, they already have their own set of fears and worries. They don't need other women telling them their horror stories and putting upon them their fears and worries.

There are times that we tell our stories about birth thinking we are helping to prepare the pregnant woman for what could happen. We are smart, we know there are risks associated with pregnancy and birth. It is no secret. However, pregnant women don't need those risks magnified and described in a way that they themselves feel like they have experienced them. We set ourselves up to fail when we focus on the risks and potential problems of pregnancy and birth. We create that experience in our mind and that experience becomes our reality.

I know I've probably been guilty of telling women not-so-positive things about birth. Here and now I am going to commit to telling positive and wonderful things about birth. It is my goal to empower women with information, knowledge and positive experiences, not fear.

Please tell a different story!

Testimony of Others

We can't gain our own testimony from other's testimonies, but listening to other's testimonies can help start on the path to our own.

I really admire Glen Beck. He has come along way in his life and he attributes his changes to the church.

Curious George Cake

Ethan requested a Curious George cake for his birthday. This is how it turned out. I think it looks pretty good!

Relief Society Lesson 2/10/08: Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the World

When Jesus visited Joseph Smith it was a time of teaching and preparing for further truths Joseph would receive. I find it profound that each time Joseph is visited by the Savior, prior to the visit Joseph is reading the scriptures, praying, or working in the temple. We can learn from Joseph’s example that as we read the scriptures, pray and do temple work we will receive direction and understanding from the Lord whether by the spirit or through direct contact with our Savior as Joseph did.

When Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were visited in the temple by Jesus, Joseph describes the Savior's voice as “the rushing of great waters”. As I think about the sound of great rushing waters, I think of the loudness that can be heard from a distance and recognized, by those who have heard it before, for what it is. I also think about how peaceful it is to stand by a great river that is rushing by or a waterfall. The sound brings a peace and a sense of calm. When standing by a rushing river or waterfall, the sound almost drowns out every other sound around. When I think of the Savior's voice in the same way, I think of his voice as bringing peace, recognizable by those who know him, his words can be heard even when we are not in his presence, and when we listen to him and follow him we are able to drowned out the “noises” from other influences.

The sacrificing of animals in similitude and a looking ahead to our Savior's sacrifice for us helps to teach the meaning and importance of his sacrifice and the sacrifices we are to make in our own lives. I love the way Heavenly Father teaches us through symbolism and repetition. He gives us things in our lives to help us better understand great principles necessary in his plan. He wanted those before the coming of Christ to look forward to his coming, never forget that he was coming, and understand what he would do and why.

Christ's resurrection is essential to our salvation and is the most important fundamental principle to our religion. Joseph Smith tells us that all other things that pertain to our religion are only appendages. These things only lend a helping hand to understanding and taking full advantage of the principle of resurrection. Among these beliefs are “the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and final triumph of truth.”

The principle of resurrection brings hope and gives strength to endure trials. Those who die knowing Jesus Christ and are perfected in him, will have joy when they come forth in the resurrection. Joseph Smith says “I am glad I have the privilege of communicating to you some things which, if grasped closely, will be a help to you when earthquakes bellow, the clouds gather, the lightnings flash, and the storms are ready to burst upon you like peals of thunder. Lay hold of these things and let not your knees or joints tremble, nor your hearts faint; and then what can earthquakes do? Nothing. All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful.

“The commandments of our Lord, we hope are constantly revolving in your hearts, teaching you, not only His will in proclaiming His Gospel, but His meekness and perfect walk before all, even in those times of severe persecutions and abuse which were heaped upon Him by a wicked and adulterous generation. How wise, how holy; how chaste, and how perfect, then, you ought to conduct yourselves in His sight; and remember, too, that His eyes are continually upon you.”

“...be humble and prayerful, to walk indeed as children of the light and of the day, that they may have grace to withstand every temptation, and to overcome every evil in the worthy name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”


Click here to go to the lesson manual

Hypnobabies Mom of the Month

I was on the Hypnobabies Live online radio show yesterday and today. I was interviewed last Friday by the founder of Hypnobabies, Kerry Tuschhoff.

To listen click the button below

Happy Birthday Ethan

I tried to post this yesterday, but it didn't work. So here it is.

Ethan is my now middle child. He is turning 5 today! He is one of the funniest kids I know. He has a really great sense of humor. He has been having us laughing since he was two and he would ask "Why did the chicken cross the road, HUH?" The "HUH" part of his joke was the cutest part. It was louder than the rest of the joke and very emphasized.

Ethan loves video games and recently beat Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii. He likes Mario Party, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Lego Star Wars among others. He also plays many games on his DS. Ethan recently started pre-school at our local elementary school. He loves going to school and really enjoys playing with friends.

Ethan has always been a very affectionate and sweet child. When he was a baby he would rub my arm while he nursed. He continued to rub my arm as he got older. It couldn't just be any part of my arm, it had to be the upper arm that is close to my body. My skin must be softer there. He has also always been a mamma's boy. From the time he was a few weeks old I knew he loved me. I once wrote in my journal that I thought he must think I'm part of him instead of being two separate people.

I love Ethan and I'm so glad that I get to be his mom. Happy Birthday Ethan!!!!



Note about the pic: We had family pictures done and Opie took the one on the left. We thought the look on his face was so funny. Then as I was going through baby pictures I found the one on the right. It was the same face!!! So cute!

I'm on the Radio

Last Friday I was interviewed by Kerry Tuschhoff, the founder of Hypnobabies as the Hypno-Mom-of-the-Month. The interview will air on healthylife.net, Friday February 15th at 10:00AM and then again Saturday February 16th at 2:00PM. The show will then be archived for about 2 months on their site. I am going to try and record it and then post it here on my blog.

After the interview I thought of tons of things I wasn't able to say (because of time) or forgot I wanted to say. So I will probably make a post here on my site about what wasn't in the interview that I wish was.

To find out how to listen to the show click here.

Birth Video

This is a slide show type video of the pictures from Isaac's home birth.

Passing of a Prophet

President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, President Gordon B. Hinkley, passed away on January 27, 2008. As the leader of the church, I believe one of President Hinkley's purposes was to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, to help us to gain a greater understanding of them and help us to have a personal relationship with them.

In August 2005 President Hinkley challenged the members of the church to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. I was going to through a difficult time in my life and was looking for something to help me. I decided to take this challenge and felt that it would help me to get through the difficult times. Many prophets and apostles have promised that as you read the Book of Mormon your life will change in many ways. Peace, an increased desire to do what is right, and a change of heart are among those promises. These are promises I have wanted in my life and more so at that time. I had read the Book of Mormon before, but I hadn't really studied it. As I began my study of the Book of Mormon to meet President Hinkley's challenge I witnessed a change in myself.

The expression of anger was a big problem in my life. When I began really studying the Book of Mormon I began to see a change in my behavior. I began to realize the real power contained in this book. As a result of taking President Hinkley's challenge my life was changed. The Book of Mormon brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and my brother Jesus Christ. I had peace in my life when things weren't peaceful. I was happy when things weren't happy. My anger was changed to love and compassion, when before I would have been quick to anger. By the end of the year and this challenge I was changed, even though my circumstances hadn't changed. Since that year I have read the Book of Mormon every year. When I don't read I notice a difference in the way I feel. I feel that something is missing. The closeness I have felt to my Heavenly Father and Jesus is missing. When I read the Book of Mormon I it gives my Heavenly Father a chance to teach me and comfort me. These things are enhanced as I pray before and after reading. When I have questions, the answers come as I read the Book of Mormon.

There have been many things that President Hinkley taught me and many ways he has helped me to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that he was the prophet in my lifetime. He was an amazing example and I am grateful his legacy will live on through his talks and books and those he influenced. He truly was a man of God. I am grateful for his testimony. I felt the spirit very strongly as he spoke and know his words came from God.