The Birthing Process Part 1

Today I finished teaching Childbirth Class (Lamaze Method) to a couple I met for the first time. I was referred to them by another friend who was also my student and his wife gave birth successfully by Lamaze two years ago. At the end of this week, I will start another private class for another couple. Both of them are first-time parents. I pray that they will all give birth naturally and that the principles I shared with them will be useful.

For every session I meet these parents-to be, I feel an excitement for them as they expect the birth of their babies. Teaching Childbirth Class since 2006 has opened an opportunity for me that I never thought I could have.

I gave birth by Lamaze twice with both our daughters. With the encouragement of my OB-Gyn and my loving husband who patiently coached me through the birthing process, I still freshly recall every part of the experience which I hope most of the women I encounter will also go through. When my sister- in-law got pregnant, her OB who was also my OB, suggested she try Lamaze birth. When she was asking for a recommendation for a Lamaze teacher, she said, "why not your sister-in-law, Imee?" This gave me such boost to teach my sister-in-law. With a recommendation coming from the Chairperson of the OB-Gyn Department of St. Luke's Medical, it was such an honor to teach her and my brother.

My sister-in-law gave birth by Lamaze successfully and so that got the word around. Soon after, I found myself teaching other close friends who were also patients of my OB. The early students were pastors and missionaries. Then word of mouth spread and other friends in the church heard and requested for the class. I conduct it privately by going to the couples' house so as not to inconvenience the pregnant wife from traveling. It is also done in the comforts of their home. In several occasions, my husband has also joined me. His personal experience is an encouragement to the fathers-to-be. Earlier in my teaching season, I was biased to teach only those who give birth in St Luke's as I am already familiar with the procedure there. But later, friends who go to other major hospitals like Cardinal, Medical City have been coming to me by referrals too.

Teaching Childbirth Class is one of the passions I enjoy doing. I can talk about it for hours, just like Homeschooling. And I particularly get rewarded whenever I receive messages for prayer when the wife starts labor and finally gives birth to their child! Successful Lamaze delivery or not (because of some complications), I praise God for the gift of life. If only all of the pregnant mothers are informed or made aware of the things to expect when they give birth and such numerous options they have to ensure a safe and manageable delivery.

I will continue to pass on the information as long as there is chance. I will continue to let parents informed and prepared for the unfolding of God's gift to them.

What is your idea of rest?

Old age is such a help in pushing me to discover what God meant by “rest.” May I challenge you not to wait until you are old but to pray now for wisdom to so time things that God receives honor from your schedule. Reminder: One or two hours of flat on back time each afternoon refreshes you AND your family.

- from Walkersville Christian Family School Newsletter

Martin Luther on "schools"...

I encountered this very powerful Quote from a Homeschool site:

"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be great gates of Hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt."

-Martin Luther

God loves to surprise us

Last night we received an email. God answered "No" to one of our prayers. We prayed with our children that He will give us a better option, or rather, His best option!

And while waiting for that to be answered, today, He gave us something to smile about. Totally a surprise. You know the feeling when I received my new laptop for free? It is similar to that... to receive something you totally don't expect.

Praise God for these gifts today!

New year, new breakthroughs...

I almost forgot I have a blogspot. And I haven't written lately in my other sites either. This time of the year, I don't need to voice out my primary excuse- that I cannot write because I don't have my own computer.

Since the latter part of last year, I had wished to have my own laptop. Since the old laptop my husband provided for us in the house was not working properly because the kids accidentally poured water on it, I had to queue for my turn to use my husband's laptop to get online.

That wish turned into a prayer because I could really see the need and convenience to have my own. For the year 2010 Faithgoals, I listed the desire to have my own laptop in my personal goals.

On the third week of January, I was blessed with a brief project (wedding coordination) and the couple gave me a generous bonus! It could almost buy me a mini-laptop! And I was ready to do that the following week.

But God had other plans. He wanted to surprise me.

My husband was invited to attend an event and to everyone's surprise, it was announced at the end of the event that they have a raffle. My husband was not at all expecting because his name does not often gets drawn in similar activities. That particular day, January 28th, his name was drawn and he won an HP Mini! He called me right away that I need not to buy one because "meron ka nang laptop!"

I was overjoyed when he finally came home with the laptop box. And equally excited were the children (because they can use it too for games and research!).

I couldn't believe that he was given the laptop for free! When I opened the box, he wrote a note: "an answer to our prayers." Indeed it is!

I thanked God for a quick answer to my prayer! Just barely a month from listing it in my Faithgoals, He gave it right away.

I can just praise God for this one of the many other breakthroughs coming our way.

God is good!