Born Alive

I saw this posted on another blog today and had to share them with you as well. I feel her message is very well said, so take a little time to watch.

We went to Ho'omaluhi Botanical Garden today. I have been wanting to take the little ones for the preschool nature program, thinking it'd be fun and we could wander around and play outside afterwards. We arrived a little late but did enjoy the story and looking at some seeds(which was the theme today) There was another homeschooling family with older kids so that was a bit exciting too. They also had 4, 3 boys and one girl-same birth order-how fun!
Before we could get to the lake we had to walk around some tree cutters. I think the little boys could have stayed here all day, they were cutting some tall trees.

Mom, do you have your camera? Why yes,yes I do.

We took #1 to art class this week but #3 had been running a fever so we went first on a walk(with the little ones in a stroller) then played under some trees while waiting for big brother. They found all these big sticks to play with and were content to use their imaginations for the rest of our wait.

Big news of the day,

if you haven't heard, is we are staying here another 3 years. Woohoo! Our minds have been rolling around as we adjust to everything that means.
The kids seem pretty happy about it. I was kinda wondering how they would take it as they seemed pretty excited about moving but they seem to be pretty good about rolling with the punches so yay!

Some pictures from the last few weeks.

What is this you ask? A Mess you might say....and you wouldn't be wrong but no, there's more......


Well, they were carving animals(cats I believe and they being #2 & #3). We had been talking about Inuits.
Apparently that was a little more difficult than expected(or soap was more crumbly) so they made snow instead;)

Pears were on sale for 69 cents a pound! If any fruit is on sale for 99 cents or less I am all over it! So we got 7 1/2 pounds and made some Pear bread and Pear sauce. Both were really yummy and all gone now:(


Earlier this week we went on a walk up to a lighthouse. The day was very overcast so the view wasn't as good as usual but it was kinda neat too to see the mountains covered. I didn't take any pictures of that as I haven't figured out my camera well enough to get a good picture but here are a few of the family.

#1 running to catch up with the rest. That he didn't hurt himself I am amazed he kept walking right along the falling apart path and would fall himself.

#4 was a little tired near the end. He kept wanting to take his hat off but we were insistent that it stay on. So he then pulled the bill over his face so he could lay flat against daddies back. We thought it was quite funny.

Just a little taste of what we've been up to.

We were away at church or family camp this weekend. The kids kept calling it summer camp-I kept trying to explain that it is October(fall!) but it's all the same to them!

Checking out the tidal pool-don't you love #3 with the life ring on in ankle deep water!

Sorry if this appears sideways-not sure why?


Shad playing in the sand with #4


#3 and Lala looking for crabs-they caught a couple!


Had a great time, everyone was sad to leave. Hope to update a bit more this week.

Next week we are going to be talking about marriage

in bible study and I just love the way the Lord works. As I'm cruising around the web today I come across two posts which correlate well with our study. First my friend Naomi has a post about women's role. Then I find this article titled the Seven Secrets for Wives on Above Rubies website.


*******
We took some food to our friends that had the baby last week and got to hold the little guy. He was so tiny, we couldn't get over it!! You must realize our smallest baby was 9 pounds. Little Lewis weighed in about 6 lb 3 oz, it was like holding a feather! He was very sweet(those newborn expressions are so precious!) and the family seems to be settling in very well with the new addition.

Birth

A friend of ours had a little boy last night or this morning depending on your point of view(just after midnight).
I'm struck by the treatment she was shown at the hospital. Upon being admitted she was whisked away to be tied down to all the monitors and told she needed to have an epidural. This was not what she wanted at all! She ended up being able to transfer to the midwife side of things where she was able to walk around, sit on a birthing ball, EAT, and use water as a means of pain relief. Such a difference in care depending if you were in the doctors care or midwives care. I was just shocked that there was such a Jekyll/Hyde care in the same hospital.
I think its unfortunate that doctors tend to have the mindset that giving birth is a problem and not a natural process. I hope that women will become more informed over the whole pregnancy/birth process. Whatever each women chooses is her choice but too often I have found the medical field will not be exactly truthful in giving positive and negative of each situation.

**I'd like to note that I do not think all doctors are bad, there are some great ones. Also not all midwives are great, there are some bad ones.

So yes I have strong opinions in the birthing world;) I talked to my friend several times yesterday and the last time I spoke with her I said have fun. She was like, um yeah-you're crazy this is painful. I said yes, it's like a marathon. There will be lots of work to get to the finish line, but what a prize you will receive when you cross that line!
I'm sure she still thought I was a little crazy but it's such an awesome thing to be around when a baby is born. Really had me thinking that I'd like to get back to working in that field sometime in the future. Right now I feel like I'm right where the Lord wants me, ministering to my children. I do try to stay up-to-date in the birthing field and am happy to help out when I can.

Edited to add: I just finished watching The Business of Being Born and I highly recommend watching it. Loved it! It brings up many of the same points I ponder or support depending on the issue.