Sunlight was just starting to peek through the bedroom window as two little tousled heads shifted on the pillows.  “Was that a baby crying?”  the little blonde asked her younger sister with a gentle shake.  “Maybe Mommy and Daddy are watching a movie!  Go see what movie it is, would you please?!”  Still half asleep, the brown-haired four year old rolled out of bed and padded down the hall to the family room and kitchen.  As her eyes refocused in the change of light, she saw a very sweet-looking lady gently washing something by the sink.  Just then it gave a lusty cry, and the little girl wasn’t sleepy anymore!  Back to the bedroom she ran to fetch her sister.  Mommy’s baby was born!  At that very instant her darling new sibling was getting its first bath in the kitchen sink.  Big sister ran to find Mommy and Daddy; but the tousled brown head quickly re-appeared beside the sweet-looking lady.  A torrent of questions poured from the little girl, which the lady answered kindly and with all the honesty a young mind could grasp... and that was my very first encounter with a midwife!

What has drawn me to the calling of midwifery?!  From that moment in 1988, until today -- some twenty-seven years later -- it has been a combination of big things & little things.  However, without question the strongest draw to midwifery in my life has been a wonderful lady named Laura.  She is my mommy’s midwife and has become my very good friend and mentor!  I am constantly blessed and challenged by her witness and care for others.

As the second oldest daughter in a family of thirteen children, it became routine to frequent our midwife’s house every fifteen to eighteen months.  While the other children would play, I would watch each prenatal visit with wide-eyed interest.  It was amazing to watch her lovingly care for mommies and babies.  Only for her, midwifery went much further than just serving physical needs.  She used the opportunity to be a friend -- to pray with, and for each lady, to disciple each young mother in truth so that they might grow as a person and be a better wife and mother.  This is what inspired me.

When I was 12, I remember telling someone for the very first time that I wanted to be a midwife when I grew up, and no one questioned it because of my love for babies.  At church events and group settings, I would have a baby sibling to carry with me, or I would gravitate toward the moms and babies until I found a young baby to babysit for the duration of the event.  Because of this, I heard many birth stories, and didn't see anything unusual with mothers of all ages sharing their birth stories, struggles & disappointments with a young girl.  Looking back, I see God was preparing me.

Within those stories were often the struggles and disappointments each wonderful mom had through her experiences.  Sometimes it was physical struggles, other times hardships brought on by a caregiver.  And more often than not, I heard mothers say, "We want to have more children, but I really can’t handle it.”

Having grown up in a family that truly believes that “children are a blessing,” I often found myself praying that God would give me answers to resolve the issues.  And I’m excited to say that where He calls, He equips!  I have had the privilege of serving precious new mommies as a nutritionist & doula and seeing troublesome issues resolve.

Now as I look back over the past twenty-seven years, I can see God’s hand preparing, directing and making a way for midwifery.  To be honest, I enjoy each birth as precious, and I still treasure little babies.  I love helping mommies learn to work with their body and get rid of the common complaints so they might truly enjoy their pregnancy and birth experience.  But most of all, I look forward to the opportunity to disciple young moms to see their worth in Christ, to treasure their calling as wife and mother, seeing it as precious & vitally important, and to encourage them to “walk in truth” with our Savior.

Pregnancy and birth can be a very vulnerable time for women, and because of this caregivers have an incredible opportunity to influence families.  I have seen families change their whole lifestyle and direction -- all because a midwife took the opportunity to serve and teach a searching, vulnerable couple.  My dream is to serve couples in such a way that their families would be strong, impacting our culture for the glory of God!