The Gift of Giving Life
I was honored when some of my fellow LDS sisters and birthers asked if they could publish my essay in their anthology The Gift of Giving Life--Rediscovering the Divine Nature of Pregnancy and Birth. It's a book about birth and spirituality in all of its shades from--infertility, c-sections, adoption miracles and unassisted homebirths to name a few. As a bonus to me, my essay appears right next to Nat Holbrook in the book. Nat and I have plunged into infertility together where we became sisters in the trenches. (I also have an essay called To My Sisters Who Still Hope that appears in the infertility chapter.)
When the book came out I gave it to my sister Lucy. The Hour Glass Theory is about her miscarriage and I thought it was fitting for her to have the book. But even better, she's now pregnant with her third baby (a boy, due in June) and is currently in nesting glory. She devoured the book (it's a hefty compilation, full of brilliant ideas and essays) and I asked for a short book review. Here's what she said:
I read "The Gift of Giving Life" at the perfect time in my life. I was 6 months pregnant with my third child. I had my 2 other children at my home with very beautiful births. Like most wonderful experiences, I started to doubt, to fear having another baby at home. Could I do it again? Is my body not as strong? Will there be a complication? Those thoughts came in my mind over bearing the beautiful thoughts I had about my previous births. Reading this 500+ page book in less than a week proved I needed to read it. It brought such calm and assurance to who I was and what The Lord wants me to do. Fear is not faith, we are in the Lord's care and so are our children. I was able to learn about how child birth is so very much like the atonement of Jesus Christ. I will have my third baby at home and I feel much more calmer, faithful, trusting in myself and God. This book brought new thoughts about women, labor, birth, my Heavenly Mother and my strong women ancestors. It's a very strong book.
Mother's day is coming up (as you many know) and I am recommending this book as a gift to any mother (buy it here). It's intensely spiritual--transcending a lot of topics we don't touch as a culture. It will enlighten you and teach you and give you better ideas about how to celebrate motherhood. (Like for instance, replacing the traditional baby shower with a mother's blessing--something a bit more profound and memorable.)
You can read more about it here.