The Gift of Giving Life

Heather wrote a Facebook Post that went viral two years ago. Have you ever noticed in the scriptures men are always going up into the mountains to commune with god? Yet in the scriptures we hardly ever hear of women going to the mountains, and we know why-right? Because the women were too busy keeping life going; they couldn’t abandon babies, meals, homes, fires, gardens, and a thousand responsibi...

This is a lovely birth story of faith and hope. 

This is the second part of the Sacred Space Birth Story.... Such a tender experience. "Then little Aaron left my body, and I pulled him right up to my chest. The emotions that I experienced at that time cannot be described with words. It was overwhelming, it was so special, and yet so normal, like “Of course, I just had a baby.” I was on top of the world. I stayed in the water for just a few minut...

My first encounter with childbirth started with the birth of my first child. That experience was eye opening, disappointing, affirming, traumatic, magical, overwhelming and set the stage for the worst depression of my life. I had resisted an induction but eventually caved to the pressure I was receiving from my obstetrician. The ultimate result was a healthy baby boy born via cesarean and my...

I share the most powerful experience  I have had using affirmations and share tips on how you can  use affirmations during your  pregnancy and birth

Listen to how this mom adjusted after her surprise pregnancy. The Gift of Giving Life played a big role in helping her to adjust!

Felice shares her experiences with meditation, starting with pregnancy and how that changed her life. Breath is so powerful and we usually don’t even connect to it. Breathing is something we all do and all have access to. And we can let it breathe us or we can consciously choose to breathe. This can change everything. I am a better mom and wife when I meditate every day. Join in our conversation a...

Life as a doula.  Every birth changes me in some way. I always learn.  Often the lessons are unexpected.  A little over three years ago, I attended at birth that I recognize as one of those unexpected yet key experiences that shape a doula.  I still talk with this friend and I mentioned to her that this birth changed me profoundly.  She asked me to explain.  I have to...

So I am always looking for a good book to read and stumbled upon The Story of the Trapp Family Singers: The Story Which Inspired the Sound of Music on my mother-in-law’s bookshelf.  I was hoping to find something that was not only entertaining but inspiring as well.  It didn’t disappoint. Indeed it also included 3 beautiful birth stories. Hear one in todays episode!

I have already interviewed all of the authors of The Gift of Giving Life. So today, you finally get to hear my interview!  The person behind the voice you hear  sharing stories and wisdom from so many contributors.

Perhaps some of you have already set your New Year’s intentions.  Even if you haven’t, that’s okay.  I know that you are often thinking of your hopes and dreams and desires for change or transformation.  And even if you haven’t spoken it out loud–it has already entered your heart.  And what I am here to tell you today is that what you project onto the future,  is actually...

Did you know you can pick a word for any season of your life? From a year, a pregnancy, a birth... Maybe you would choose - spiritual or joyful...  Have you ever picked a word for the year? I used to, but would always forget it. Then I started including letting God help me find my word. It made all the difference! I have a free class you can sign up for  5 Easy Steps to Find Your Word! h...

A small choir where my alto voice was needed. A call the night before the performance from a doula client The miracles that helped everything work out the way it needed to.

It was a beautiful afternoon and were sitting at her kitchen table rolling the centers for the mints we were going to dip. My baby was due soon and I was complaining to her how bad I felt that my baby would probably have a birthday around Christmas time.  "It is such a bummer," I told her, "His birthday will always be eclipsed by Christmas and he'll have to wait a whole year before he gets an...

One of the best parts of Christmas, is there are Carols being sung everywhere. At Christmas Concerts Over the Radio and so many more places. Christmas carols were instrumental in my developing my desire to learn more about Jesus. This glorious birth of which I sang, I wanted to learn more.

I was a doula at a VBAC's mom birth.   There was this magical moment for me.   She, her husband and I were squeezed together in this tiny bathroom.  She stared up at her husband with that look, “How in the heck are we going to do this?” This was the look Katie and I had talked about.   That moment that must have passed between Adam and Eve as they realized, this was r...

Interviewing Lani was a joy!  I loved how she shared her experience of how 

Pondering on the sacrifice Eve made so we could all be mothers. Eve carrying the fruit that caused the fall. Eve twisted up with the serpent and her humility in the role she was sent to fulfill. The sorrow and gratitude they have one for the other. Mary crushing the serpents head and her humility in the role she was sent to fulfill. Mary carrying the fruit that would help us overcome the fall. The...

On a spiritual level our changing hair is symbolic of the life-giving transition of our bodies. In pondering this symbolism it appears not an accident that upon experiencing puberty our bodies begin to grow more hair, symbolizing the transition that our bodies make to prepare to give life.  I have to be honest and say that I really did not like the changes my body was making as an awkward ado...

Some beautiful poems. thegiftofgivinglife.com/first-blood/ thegiftofgivinglife.com/if-birth-were-a-temple/

What about the “inward ordinances?”   Inward ordinances happen inside a holy temple, in “holy places.”   There are the washings, anointings, endowments, and sealings we have all been taught about that take place in holy temple buildings.   But we are also told that our body is a temple.   If you have read Heather’s essay, “The Two Veils,” you are aware of some of...

In last week episode we discussed different ways how to help our daughters through their first period. One of our listeners was willing to share with us how she prepared her daughter for coming of age and how they celebrated it together. Hear her experience and a few others. Then here 3 tips to create a Red Party that is ideal for your daughter!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the rite of passage my daughter will soon be passing through  as she leaves her girlhood body behind and transforms into a woman. For me, that transformation was frightening. I want it to be positive for her. Blood is loaded with meaning in the scriptures.  It is life.  It is death.  The middle of each cycle demonstrates the body’s deep investment...

It is hard to let go of that phase of having babies. Choosing how many babies to have is different for everybody. It is between you and the Lord. Robyn and I talk about letting go of guilt about stopping having babies as well as how we shifted to knowing we are done. It was hard to make that determination on our own and going to the Lord for guidance is helpful. It is a beautiful thing to know our...

I ran across this poem in an old Ensign magazine and felt it appropriate to share for Pregnancy and Infant Awareness Loss Month.   Although many generations stand between her and the women of today, the bond of having experienced loss bridges the gap.   Sending our love to all those families who have experienced pregnancy and or infant loss.