BABIES ON THE BRAIN
Now don't get all freaked out - I'm not pregnant or planning to be anytime soon. =) But, I can still have babies on the brain and pregnant women.
1. I have 3 friends all due within the next couple of weeks or so.
2. I'm reading this incredible book called "
Baby Catcher"
3. My plan is to go to school so that I can one day be a midwive and "catch babies" myself.
4. I'm completely fascinated by pregnancy & natural birth (if that isn't already apparent)
How did this happen to me? The really crazy part is that when I was but a wee one, I told my Mom that when I grew up I wanted to be a "baby doctor". Later, in the miserable years of Junior High, I had to put one of those dumb quotes in my 9th grade yearbook, and because I had no CLUE what I wanted to be, I said I wanted to be a pediatrician. Then I went off galavanting across this earth loving people and different cultures and really had no idea where I was headed. I knew I wanted to go to school one day. I also knew that I wouldn't step a toenail into University or College unless I was sure I had a reason to be there.
In the meantime I met one of my most dear friends ever. Her name is Mel. She lives here in Seattle with her husband Ben & their 4 year old (and coolest kid ever) Jaya. She just recently graduated from Seattle Midwifery School & has plans to start her own practice with another Midwife friend of hers with a primary focus on Somali women. From spending countless hours with her and asking questions and just hearing her talk I found myself thinking quite seriously about both Midwifery as a whole and the idea of myself being one.
Last week Mel asked me to join her for her prenatal appointment (she's one of the 3 friends due in the next couple of weeks). I enjoyed every minute of it (even when some of those minutes I had no idea what they were talking about...big words flying over my head left, right & center). Her midwife was very excited that I want to be a midwife too & let me do everything she did. So, I got to measure her uterus, feel the baby's position and listen to the baby's heartbeat. I tried like 10 different instruments to hear the heart....and eventually heard it loud and clear and it was a sound I can't wait to hear over and over again.
That appointment sealed the deal. I've never wanted to do something so bad! In fact, later that day I was downtown Seattle and I saw a very pregnant lady and it was all I could do to stop myself from asking her if I could measure her uterus. haha. Um....yeah, calm down Amanda. I've heard "patience is a virtue" - and one that I'm in desperate need of.
It's going to be a very interesting next few years, but I welcome it with very open arms.
.peace & love.
i will miss this
lately my friends (who live in my house) and i have been hosting dinner for whoever wants to come. we call it "family dinner" or "community dinner" and invite our friends and then they invite their friends, and sometimes totally random people show up. i think it's super cool. i've made new friends in the u-district (where i live in seattle). we had one last night, and my friend Lucas and i made dinner.
the people who come are from all walks of life. it reminds me of something Jesus did....it reminds me of how Jesus didn't surround himself with "believers" alone. people are able to come as they are and they're offered a place of acceptance, laughter, new friends and good food.
i'm really sad that i won't be here for many more. *sigh* - just one of the many things i will miss when i leave seattle.
an update:
First of all,
THANK YOU to everyone who reads this blog! Seriously, I had quite a few responses to the last blog I posted. So just to let you know, some really good people that I've known for a long time happen to be in Abbotsford, BC for their sons (and my good friend) wedding and have offered to take a bunch of my boxes home to Winnipeg with them!
I will be flying home the first week of September (I'll find out the date tonight when I book my flight). I'm really looking forward to it though I'm enjoying my last few weeks here in Seattle. Yes, it will be sad to leave, but I feel ready for the next season of my life. :)
Also, many of you have been asking me what life will look like for me once back in Canada; what my plans are, etc. It is a little bit scary to voice my plans so publicly, only because...well honestly, the fear that I'll change my mind and you'll all think I'm crazy. haha. No, I've actually come up with a plan that I feel really confident about and excited to pursue.
Well, I guess the obvious is that once home I'll try to find a job (oh what fun) and when January rollls around my hope is to start school. Haven't decided where yet - I'm between Red River & UW. Anyways, I really want to be a Midwife, and my very tentative plan as of now is to attend SMS (Seattle Midwifery School) once done my first year of school. Of course, some of this is subject to change since by the time I'm done my prereqs 2 years or something like this will have gone by. But, that's at least the general direction I'm headed. I've never had a 5 year plan before and it feels very.....hmmm.....strange. Strange, yet great!
That's the long & short of it.
Miss you all....email me, call me, write me, etc. I'd love to hear from you!
Peace & Love.
the long road home...
I am moving back to Winnipeg sometime the first week of September. However...I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how to get myself and all my stuff from two years of living here, home. I am posting this blog to ask for any
IDEAS or
HELP any of you clever folk out there might be willing to give.
So, this is short and sweet and simple. Please, if you have any idea, or connections (cheap car rentals, etc) let me know. Any help you could give is greatly appreciated.
As I write this I am sitting on the floor of my bedroom with piles of stuff surrounding me feeling a little bit overwhelmed. Yuck.
much love,
manda :)
