So... 1 o'clock in the morning might not be the best time to relaunch a blog, but when you have a job with hours like mine, you kind of have to seize the moments as they come!
The last few weeks have been very inspiring to me. I think my cup (you know, the one women have and we are constantly depleting to serve others?) , yeah, that cup: I do believe it is overflowing! I have seen the some things that have been long in the works come to fruition, others that are still simmering get some great new ingredients and I'm pretty sure I have seen the future as well.
On the list of things long in works, at the top of that list is always the births...the births of beautiful boys and girls whose mothers' waited patiently as they grew in the womb and worked tirelessly to bring them earthside. But along with those daily miracles, I saw a few more things that brought me hope and joy:
On September 20th, I attended the local screening of "Freedom for Birth" that was sponsored by our local Birth Network chapter and it was awesome! Not only did I get to see the results of the dedication of birth advocates around to world to publicize the story of Ágnes Geréb, (as well as to bring attention to the plight of birth freedom across the globe) but I also got to witness what word of mouth and education can do for a local birth community, MY community. The theater was packed with moms, doulas, childbirth educators, nurses, nursing instructors, lactation consultants, midwives and even one great OB who are all working toward the same goal: helping women take back birth! I know for a fact that theater probably wouldn't have been half as full even just a decade ago, because, young lass that I am, I have been part of the local birth community in one way or another since 2000 and at that time it was a small movement just beginning to create ripples in the pond.
In the simmering category, of course the mommas take top billing again: those wonderful pregnant bellies that I get to see each week. I watch them go from a tiny bump with only a hint of the potential that lies within to a beautiful ripe tummy straining to contain the new life soon to arrive. However, there was another event that made me smile as I saw it grow from a few people to an amazing crowd of women and families over the course of an afternoon:
I helped (wo)man the Breastfeeding Tent at the First Annual Hot Mamas Run in Edmond, OK. This event, a women's only 5k run, had 1,000 participants in it's first year...that's right, ONE THOUSAND wives, moms, daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, aunts, nieces, sisters, sisters-in-law, cousins, best friends all got together to meet the challenge of completing a 5k and to benefit 2 great local organizations. If that's what women can manage in the first year, can you imagine what it will look like in just 5 years??
Last but not least, I am pretty sure I have seen the future. I not only spend my days working with newborn babies (how's that for seeing the future?), but I also am privileged to work with the "next generation" of birth workers in this great state. I love seeing new doulas and childbirth educators, fresh from their trainings and ready to make a difference in the lives and births of as many women as they can touch. And especially dear to my heart are the fine ladies I sat down to study with today...Taryn, Chelsey, and Jessi, whom I work with closely in our jobs as assistants for Community Midwifery. I just have to say, look out world. We are a passionate group of future midwives determined to make an impact on the quality of women's lives in Oklahoma and around the world!
So, I guess all that to say, keep an eye on this blog....this life of mine, following my calling, is bound to be full of great material! ;-)
