back to normal

Sep 27, 2009

I missed Thankful Thursdays this week. I have missed a lot of things lately. I missed teaching gymnastics on the 18th. I missed some of my boy’s birthday. I missed The Gathering Place Retreat. I have missed reading with my children. I have racked up a library fine by not making it there for our weekly check in – check out routine. I have missed reading myself to sleep. I have missed snuggling up with my husband as we drift off to sleep together – as I have been going to bed early to make sure I am well rested and prepared for a call in the middle of the night. I have missed doing the dishes for over a week. I missed a trip to Jackson with my brother and niece. I have missed time with friends, phone calls with loved ones, and much more. I have had to simplify greatly so that I could have the energy, spirit, and emotional resources I needed to be able to give as a doula.

But I have done exactly what I needed to do for families that are very dear to me. I helped two families journey through their pregnancies and welcome their babies into this world. Both families needed me greatly and I have been privileged to be part of their lives and share this experience with them.

I wish I had pictures of these two cuties – they are both big, beautiful babies and you would squeal with delight if you could see them. They have been born into amazing families who will nurture, teach, and love them the best they can. What an honor to have been invited into their sacred circle and help them through their births.

After the second birth late Friday night I returned home around 4:30 a.m. and caught about 3 hours sleep before Keziah woke me up to inform me that she was going to do a triathlon that day and could I please tell her where I had put her swimming suit. Groggily I tried to recollect the last time laundry had been part of my life and gave her some slurred information. It must have been useful because soon she was back all ready to go get registered. I threw some clothes on my exhausted body and took her to the triathlon. She did fabulous! She had a 75 yd. open water swim, a 1.5 mile bike ride, and a 1 mile run. It was a non-timed event and everyone was treated as a winner for finishing, but I am pretty sure she would have placed in the top 5 if it had been timed. She thinks she will do more of them in the future, so I guess I need to start looking for some opportunities for her in that arena.

Richard had taken the day off so I could go to the Mom’s Retreat and had promised everyone a day of catching BIG fish. When I had to miss the retreat because of the 2nd birth, he decided to keep his promise and go to Henry’s Lake. Even though I was incredibly tired, Keziah and I decided to make the trip north. I ended up sleeping the day away while fish were caught, cleaned, and measured. They were eaten this morning for breakfast by the fish lovers of the family.

I am full of gratitude for the events of this month. My two babies came safely and are healthy, beautiful, and happy. I know I had many people praying for me and for these families – thank you – we needed those prayers. Thank you for being a support system to me and my family and for helping me help families birth their babies.

Up next? A hike to the ice caves by Driggs, another hike to Mesa Falls, reading A Door in the Wall with Keziah, attending General Conference, attending the graduation and Presidential Banquet of The Midwives College of Utah, taking Blythe to the dentist, gleaning potatoes, picking apples and canning them, mentoring two youth colloquiums on The Lord of the Rings, and pulling together a Fun Fall Family event with cooking contests, treasure hunts, obstacle courses, races, and lots more.

I have pictures of the triathlon and the fish, but no time to upload them tonight, so check back later for those beauties…