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These things have been on my heart lately. Here are a few of the things that have gone into making me who I am. This blog really is me venting my frustrations that stem from my perception that others may be offended by who I am and what I believe. I want you my reader, my family, my friends to read this entire article before you judge me because my main point is revealed at the end.

About myself:

I am a believer that Jesus Christ is who he says he is.

I am a what some would call charismatic reformed in my doctrine. I believe in the gifts of the spirit and miracles such as the dead rising, healing of the body and driving out of demons still happen upon the earth today. I believe God is awakening the church in America to these things again and many will see miracles in their time.

I am a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister , an aunt and a grand-daughter.

I am a proud American of Irish, English, Scottish, German, Swiss and Lithuanian descent. My ancestors fought in the American Revolution, the Civil War (most likely on both sides of the war), WW II, the Korean War and Vietnam. I am proud to be related both John Adams (signer of the Declaration of Independence) and John Quincy Adams, the second and sixth presidents of the United States. Some of my relatives immigrated to the United States as late as the end of the second World War. I am proud of their sacrifices in and service to our country. I am thankful there was room in this country for my ancestors and welcome immigrants to our country in a legal way. Knowing that immigration is key to how our nation was formed and I would not be here today without it.

I am a bit odd, I do admit. I believe each person was uniquely made in the image of God. That He loves variety so much that he created each of us individuals and delights in our diversity.

I am a homeschooler. I myself went to Montessori pre-school, public school K-10th grade and homeschooled thereafter. I believe that homeschooling is best for my kids and my family. My vision and version of homeschooling is different for each of my kids and changes. I appreciate the freedoms that allow me to do this and am thankful (as trying as it is financially and on my patience).

I am a birth junkie and a baby addict. My love of babies has always been there, just ask my sisters or my parents. My love and fascination with birth began when I was 7 and I attended my cousins homebirth. I guess I was kind of fascinated with birth even before that, as I often wondered why so many people were surprised to learn I was born at home. I knew from a young age I would be a mother of many and that I longed to one day become what I thought of as a “baby- catcher”. I believe when God creates us, in our mother’s womb we are created with a purpose and my purpose is to be a lover of God, a wife, a mother, a history keeper and a midwife. I have given birth 5 times au natural, 3 times in my own home, once in my friends living room and another in a birth center. As hard work as it is….I would do it again and again and again. I love the reward, the beautiful life you hold in your arms when it is all said and done. The beautiful person you see grow into an amazing unique individual.

I am a heterosexual monogamous woman.

I am a big fan of pets, the more the merrier.

I am a would be homesteader and long to have a piece of land, build my own home and live off the fruits of my own garden and livestock.

I am overweight and am happy to be who I am…..although I wouldn’t mind losing a few pounds.

I am an INFP to understand my mind better read this description of an INFP . I have taken the Myers-Briggs personality test several times over the years and I have never scored another personality type. I think this means I am who I am. Find out your type here.

I am creative. I also believe that because my God is a creative God and that mankind is made in His image, all people are creative to some extent. I don’t believe creativity belongs to the artistically inclined alone. I believe creativity comes in all areas of life.

I am a dreamer. If you catch me staring off into space and ask me what I am thinking and I say “nothing”, I am lying to you. I am always thinking and dreaming about something.

I am a registered Republican but really Libertarian in my political leanings. This is not because I don’t care about the poor or about morality or because I am racist . This is because I believe the founders of our constitution were serious when they wrote the constitution and it is not the governments job to make laws on morality or how much you should give to the poor. I think the government should stay out of our lives, people. Do you really want to trade the freedoms you value for laws just so your neighbor can’t marry the person he loves because it is against your religious beliefs? I don’t. I also think the religious community, private individuals and businesses should be encouraged to give to charities of their own free will and not be demanded to do so by their government. I believe mankind will rise to the challenge of caring for their neighbors without being taxed to death and forced to provide for other peoples medical, retirement and food. I do believe all people have the right to medical care, but making a law requiring them to obtain medical insurance will not provide the medical care they need. In fact, my deductibles and co-pays have already been adjusted to compensate for the new laws. This actually makes it less likely I will be able to afford my medical care. I believe what needs to be done is for us to rise up and demand that healthcare prices be lowered and that insurance companies quit driving the price for services up. Doctors used to be able to accept lower payments for their patients and trades for their services. Now the insurance companies and medicaid set the amount they will pay and the rest of us have to pay for it. I once paid 2200.00 cash for a homebirth and prenatal care. 2 years later I had to pay 2800.00 cash for the same midwife and birth (actually the birth was about 2 hours less time). Why, you ask? Well, Blue Cross Blue Shield dictated the amount they would pay for same services and required the Dr. office to charge private pay the price Blue Cross of Kansas set.

I am Pro-Life. I was not raised this way. I am Pro-Life not just because I am a “Christian or Republican” but because I do not believe that a mother has a right to kill her child just because the child is inconvenient, unexpected or even because the child was conceived in rape or incest . Ask someone who is a product of a rape if they wish they were aborted! I believe life begins at conception. I do not believe someone has the right to kill another human being because they will be responsible to giving birth to that human being. I know this is not a popular belief and that my belief will offend some people, but this is what I believe. This is my belief on choice. Want a choice? Choose birth control. Choose adoption. Choose life. I also do not judge those of us who have made a poor choice. Knowing we all make mistakes, some of us have to live with the regret we have over the choices we make. In other words, “ I have walked a mile in her shoes”. I also believe my God is a forgiving God. “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.” I do believe this also fits into my political thoughts , as in my opinion government should be responsible for protecting a person’s right to life, own property, defend themselves, their ability to express their opinions, and religious freedoms (not freedom from religion but freedom to believe what you want to without restriction).

These things and many more I know about myself. The following are things I know about you and my view of you. They are directly related in order to the things I know about me.

About you:

Whether you are a Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, New Ager, Atheist or Agnostic……..

Whether you are a Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Lutheran or any other denomination of Christian, no matter what your doctrine …….

Whether you are a son, a husband, a father, a brother , an uncle or a grandson…….

Whether you are a Daughter of the American Revolution, a descendant of slaves, recent immigrant, illegal immigrant or resident of another nation. Whatever your nationality, ethnic makeup, racial identity (ugh, I hate that race word! We are all made in His image no matter the color of our skin or the origin of our ancestry)……

Whether you consider yourself a Regular Joe or Jane……….

Whether you homeschool, go to public school, private school, charter school or never go to school…….

Whether you are a parent, give birth in a hut or a hospital, have a natural birth, a C-section or an epidural…….

Whether you are homosexual, bisexual, polygamous, abstaining or sleeping around…….

Whether you like cats or dogs or no pets at all……..

Whether you live in an apartment and eat McDonalds all day every day…….

Whether you are naturally thin, in the middle or full figured like me……..

Whether you are ENFP, ISTJ or an ABCDEFG personality type………

Whether you share my belief on creativity and where it comes from…..

Whether you are a dreamer or not…….

Whether you are a Republican, Libertarian, Democrat, Green Party, Communist, Socialist, Progressive or a Constitutionalist……..

Whether you are Pro-Choice or Pro-Life, made a poor choice or a wise choice……..

No matter what area you and I are different. I respect your right to believe differently than I do. I in fact welcome it. Just because your opinions are different than mine, doesn’t mean I view you as inferior, uneducated or wrong. I view your opinions and beliefs as YOURS and not mine. I am open to discussion on my beliefs. I do not claim to know everything. I know what is my lifestyle and my personality and do not claim there is one way to be and that one way is just like me. I know that God made each of us differently (even if you do not believe He exists). I am hopeful of course that I might “win you over” to my side, but realize that you are unique and your mind works differently than mine. I know that my mind cannot fathom the depth of God’s creation including the human mind.

Please know that if you are in my life. I respect your right to believe as you do. That I do not need to make you like me to value you. But please, please, please…..will you respect my right to believe as I do? Will you allow me to be myself without fear of you judging me? Will you please, please, please not be offended when I share pieces of myself with you via my blog, via my face book, via a one on one conversation?

I respect yours.

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

I believe you and I are fearfully and wonderfully made and that we should respect our differences, without offence.

As many of you know I  made ring slings, wraps and pouch sling baby carriers from 2004-2010. My sister in law and I started doing so because we loved our homemade ring slings and used them constantly. Everywhere we went people were in awe of our carriers. There were not many ring slings on the market in 2003-4 and most people had never seen any baby carrier other than a backpack or Snugli.  We finally started making them when someone basically begged us to in a Walmart. We went straight to the fabric department in Walmart and the rest is M&M Baby Sling history. We sold hundreds of our carriers together in Idaho until the Lord moved us thousands of miles apart. I continued to sell slings here in Alaska until late last year.  My sister in law still baby-wears and makes slings and sells them in Kansas. Me, well…my baby is 8 1/2 years old. He doesn’t really fit in his sling anymore. I loved making baby carriers, gifting them and teaching parents  “The Art of Baby-wearing”. My sister in law and I had the opportunity to teach classes on baby-wearing in Idaho and had a lot of fun encouraging new Mom’s to give attachment parenting and baby-wearing a chance. When I am a midwife, I will continue to be a baby-wearing advocate.

I miss baby-wearing and the chance it gave me to teach, so much that I decided to start up a baby-wearing group and teach classes again. I  am in the process of building up my baby carrier stash (I’m not selling mine anymore, so I don’t want to use them as examples), and have been gathering up different carriers to use in my teaching, to provide mothers with opportunities to decide for themselves which carriers are the most comfortable, most versatile and most “them”. I’ve already received my first two carriers and will be posting photos and a review of each as a thank you to the company’s who sent them to me. If you have a good used name brand carrier you would like to donate to my stash, just message me and I will tell you where you can ship it.  I’ll be posting reviews on each carrier in the order I receive them. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from back in my baby-wearing days and a “Top 10 Reasons to Baby Wear” list. I hope you enjoy.

 

 

1. Wearing a baby is convenient.

When we carry a baby in a sling, we can walk around freely and not have to worry about negotiating steps, crowds or narrow aisles with a stroller. Plastic “baby buckets” and removable car seats are heavy and awkward for parents, babies often look uncomfortable, and they are kept at knee level. A sling can block out excess stimuli when breastfeeding a distractible baby, and it allows for discreet nursing in public places. A sling can also double as a changing pad, blanket, or cushion when away from home. I’ve found my sling especially handy when negotiating busy airports with a small child and several bags!

2. Wearing a baby promotes physical development.

When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes – walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses, and exercises his vestibular system, which controls balance. The sling is in essence a “transitional womb” for the new baby, who has not yet learned to control his bodily functions and movements. Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not¹. Mechanical swings and other holding devices do not provide these same benefits.

3. Babies worn in slings are happier.

Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss².In indigenous cultures where baby-wearing is the norm, babies often cry for only a few minutes a day – in contrast to Western babies, who often cry for hours each day. Crying is exhausting for both the baby and his parents, and may cause long-term damage as the baby’s developing brain is continually flooded with stress hormones.³ Babies who do not need to spend their energy on crying are calmly observing and actively learning about their environment. Baby-wearing is especially useful for colicky babies, who are far happier being worn, but placid, content babies and children will also benefit greatly from the warmth and security of being held close.

4. Baby-wearing is healthy for you!

It can be challenging for new mothers to find time to exercise, but if you carry your baby around with you most of the day or go for a brisk walk with your baby in her sling, you will enjoy the dual benefits of walking and “weightlifting”. A long walk in the sling is also an excellent way to help a tired but over-stimulated child fall asleep.

5. Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling.

Slings are usually associated with infants, but they can be very useful for toddlers as well; most slings accommodate children up to 35 or 40 pounds. The world can be a scary place for toddlers, who feel more confident when they can retreat to the security of the sling when they need to do so. Toddlers often become over-stimulated, and a ride in the sling helps to soothe and comfort them before (or after!) a “melt-down” occurs. It can be very helpful in places like the zoo, aquarium, or museum, where a small child in a stroller would miss many of the exhibits.

6. Baby-wearing helps you and your baby to communicate with each other.

The more confidence we have in our parenting, the more we can relax and enjoy our children. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our baby’s cues successfully. When we hold our baby close in a sling, we become finely attuned to his gestures and facial expressions. Many baby-wearing parents report that they have never learned to distinguish their baby’s cries – because their babies are able to communicate effectively without crying! Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction enhances the mutual attachment between parent and child, and makes life more enjoyable for everyone.

7. Slings are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers.

Slings are a useful tool for every adult in a baby’s life. It makes me smile when I see a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby is becoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Fathers don’t have the automatic head-start on bonding that comes with gestation, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make up for this once their baby is born. The same goes for babysitters, grandparents and all other caregivers. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!

8. Slings are a safe place for a child to be.

Instead of running loose in crowded or dangerous places, a child in a sling is held safe and secure right next to your body. Slings also provide emotional safety when needed, so that children can venture into the world and become independent at their own pace.

9. Slings are economical.

Slings cost far less than strollers, front-carriers or backpacks. Many mothers consider the sling to be one of their most useful and economical possessions. Inexpensive used slings can be found in consignment and thrift stores, and new ones can be bought for about $25 -$50 (U.S.) – not bad for an item many parents use daily for two years or more! A sling can also be sewn for the price of a length of cotton, some rings and batting; sling patterns are available.

10. Baby-wearing is fun.

Who doesn’t love to cuddle a precious little baby? And when your baby is older, having her in the sling makes conversations easier and allows you to observe her reactions to the wonders of the world around her. It’s also fun for baby, because when she is up at eye level, other adults notice and interact with her more. Your child will feel more a part of your life when she is in her sling, and you will find yourself becoming more and more enchanted with this special little person.