Spring Break Morning

The sun was out and it was beautiful this morning. A perfect way to start 6 days of no school for child #1!

Since Husband is home, I ran down to the beach to see what I could find. It was lovely! See what I found?

This was referred to as "snot colored" by Child #1

If you haven't heard, I had baby #3 and I couldn't be more content! We love this little spirit and feel so thankful for her safe arrival. We named her Cora. I still have wonderful thoughts swirling around my head from this amazing delivery. But the one thing I will comment on right now, is how labor is so like life. We must go through it. There isn't any "around" or skipping over.

With that said, my delivery was easy. I had an epidural and the pushing part wasn't painful (the after effects were!). It was a quiet delivery room with a wonderful nurse and my husband. The midwife came in half way over and gently stepped in and then it was done! Seeing baby immediately on my chest after birth was so rewarding. We didn't know if it was a boy or a girl so for husband to say, "it's a boy!... No wait, it's a girl" (the umbilical cord made things confusing!) was a wonderful moment.

I have been feeling such gratitude for this child. I feel like the Lord heard my constant prayers and efforts of faith. She is a "fruition" of our faith. Truly faith is a power!

Happy Easter Week-
Kirstin

Happy Women's Day!

 

Women's Day is celebrated internationally, I first heard about it when I lived in Ukraine. I thought it was like Mother's Day but actually, it is slightly different. It is the idea that we celebrate the accomplishments of women over the years. And being a reader of biographies, I am always amazed at what women have done. It seems that it is the simple lives are the ones that amaze me the most!

I feel so grateful that as I woman I have options. 

I feel appreciated in my marriage, within my church and in my community. There are still places in this world and women that don't have these blessings. This lack of appreciation saddens my heart. And as the good people of the world do good and as we do good in our small ways, we can bring goodness to others in need.

I am grateful that I get to be a mom who stays at home. I have often heard the refrain of the following poem but I never read the entire poem. When I looked it up this morning, I was touched. Mr. Wallace's words filled my heart. Being a mother is the most important thing in this world. I don't need to work outside the home to be fullfilled (or to provide for my family) and I am thankful.

Enjoy the following words of truth and beauty!


William Ross Wallace (1819-1881)
THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE IS
THE HAND THAT RULES THE WORLD. BLESSINGS on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace.
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
 
Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mothers first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow—
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission,
Here upon our natal sod;
Keep—oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky—
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

---

The above poem can be found in:

Northrop, H.D. Beautiful Gems of Thought and Sentiment. Boston, MA: The Colins-Patten Co., 1890.