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Our Charis Family
Kristin Paulus
Kristin Paulus and baby Luke
A few weeks ago I found myself
driving home from a prenatal appointment, tired,
discouraged, weary and did I mention.. tired? The
prenatal had gone well but my heart hadn't been in
it, it just had not come easy for me to climb out of
my van, walk into the appointment, teach for 2 hours
with encouragement and energy. Yes, I had done it,
but where was my enthusiasm? Where was the
feeling of, "I LOVE what I do!" so, with a heavy
heart and a weary body, I called our beloved :)
Kristin
Schuchmann (yes, new Charis students, we who
are certified and practicing still call our "den
mother":) She was such an encouragement to me,
letting me know that what I was feeling as
homeschool mother of 4, nursing mommy, recent post
partum mommy (my Luke Kristopher is now 1)wife,
doula, childbirth educator, etc. etc. was indeed
very normal :) She reminded me that God calls
certain people to fill these roles and that if
anyone could do it, it would be easy.
But, to remember to take all my cares, weariness and
burdens to God, spend time with the Father and from
Him will I find my strength.
A few days later I felt God give me the following
scripture: "I will lift up mine eyes unto
the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help
cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The
LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy
right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor
the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from
all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall
preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this
time forth, and even for evermore." Psalm: 121
I wrote it out and have read it often, knowing that
God has called me to fill these roles in my life,
and it won't always be easy, but I am complete when
I am walking in all HE has called me to do. (Notice
the roles God plays in the above scripture, the
comparison to life as a doula.)
Since those moments, I have had more prenatals, post
partum visits, mini child birth classes and my
co-doula and I have had some challenging births! Not
to mention life in mommyville! But I continue to
find my strength in the one who has called me to be
and do what and who I am.
Hands of Blessing Doula Services is
something that God has had His hand in from the
beginning, it started 5 years ago when I attended my
first Christian Midwifery Conference and first saw a
one page flyer on Charis Childbirth, the beginning
of a journey that was a long time in the making and
is still going strong. I have a
wonderful doula partner by my side that I have been
so blessed to call friend, sister in Christ and
co-doula!
I can honestly and whole heartedly say, I truly do
LOVE what I do, feelings come and go, so does sleep
:) But when I am working with mothers and even the daddys, I feel so honored and humbled that God has
called me to be their encouragement, their advocate
and be there for them at one of the most tender
places in their lives. So while I may not always be
"on fire emotionally!" I am complete and at peace in
knowing that I am in the center of His will when I
am doing what He has called me to do. I am a
Doula.
Kristin Paulus CD,CCE
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Charis
Cuisine
Kale, Edamame, Quinoa
with Lemon Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
Salad:
2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled
1 1/2 cup edamame beans, cooked and cooled
3 cups finely chopped kale, ribs removed
1 cup sliced grape tomatoes
1/2 red onion, diced
1 mango, pitted and diced
1 avocado, pitted and either sliced or diced
2 tablespoon toasted almonds or pumpkin seeds, if desired
Lemon vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 large basil leaf, chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Dressing: Place olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, basil, and salt
in blender or food processor. Blend/process for 10-15 seconds;
set aside.
In medium bowl toss quinoa,
kale, edamame together; add lemon vinaigrette and toss so that
the salad is fully coated. Place in refrigerator for 20-30
minutes to let flavors soak in.
The longer the salad sits
with the dressing, the better it gets.
Before serving, toss salad again and add tomatoes, onion, mango,
and avocado. Garnish with toasted almonds or pumpkin seeds if
desired.
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