ITS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!

I needed something to make me smile or should I say laugh........This is just a Fun Friday!!!!!!

SHOUTING FROM THE ROOF TOPS!!!!!!

2 weeks ago I posted this and then I came back and posted this . Well, I am here to TESTIFY that when we finally get our senses and take our hands off something and place it in His hands and not try to HELP HIM do what we think He should do, He is FAITHFUL!!!!!!!

Today, I had "The Meeting". It took time and patience on my part more than anyone. I waited.
Was it difficult.....yes.
Was it worth it.....YES!!!!!!!!
I went to a meeting with my supervisor and 3 physicians and an extender. I was terrified BUT at the same time there was this overwhelming sense of peace. We know where that was coming from!!!!!!!!
I presented my proposal.
I used my research.
I answered some very difficult questions with confidence.
There is NO WAY!!!! I could have done it without HIM!!!!!!!!
It was absolutely amazing. I am exhausted but at the same time I want to bounce off of the ceiling!!!!!!! It was amazing!!!!!!!! He was sitting right there with me at that huge conference table that is so intimidating.
I can do nothing but Praise Him. It went Great!!!!! Now for more of the waiting. No change ever happens quickly. Especially in a large company. That is ok with me. It is just more time for research and more time for learning. Continue on with what has been started and just watch Him work. Trust and Obey is what He is asking of me.
Well, I am about to burst.....I had better stop typing and get this posted to share. Thank you for sharing in the journey.

Praising My Lord,
Doula Mama Pam

Breast Cancer Testimony!!!!!!!

I am so excited to share this!!!!!!!! I am just so blessed to see how the Lord is working and healing. Many of you may know Darlene and her sweet family. Thank you so much Darlene for taking the time to share the Lord's work in your life!!!!!!

I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed five years ago as of this November 1st. It was two days before my 35th birthday and I was pregnant with my fourth child at the time. In spite of all the uncertainty, fear, questions, anger, devastation, and heartbreak, I can look back now and see how God worked as the Master Planner and carried me every step of the way. My unborn son and my three small children (ages 6, 3, and 1 1/2 at the time) were exactly the motivation I needed to survive. My pregnancy was a miracle in itself and I had peace as I trusted that God allowed me to conceive this baby that I might raise him along with my three other children. He is now a very healthy, talkative, social, lovable 4 year old and we are so blessed!


Due to my young age at the time of diagnosis, I was tested for the BRCA gene and found that I have BRCA1, which predisposes for breast and ovarian cancer. With no family history of breast cancer, this was a shock. However, with the information that BRCA1 significantly increases the risk of ovarian cancer and recurrence of breast cancer, the decision to have a double mastectomy and have my ovaries removed was an easy decision to make. I wanted to do all I could, within my power, to maximize my chances of living a healthy life. As a result of having all of my God-given female parts removed :), I have a less than 5% chance of recurrence. I am so grateful for technology and the information it provides which can be used to save lives.


The past four years have been the best of my life. I am so thankful for a merciful God who preserved my life during a time when I did not know Him. Clearly, He knew the plans He had for me and didn't want me to miss them!

In His hands,
Darlene Boan

Thank you again Darlene for your willingness to share!!!!!!

Georgia On My Mind

Yes, we were in Georgia this past weekend and it was just WONDERFUL!!!!! No real agenda and just time to rest. I think we got over 2/3 of our Christmas shopping done!!!!!!!!!! VERY excited about that!!!!!!!! Thought I would just share some of the beauty of the place where my parents live. It is just gorgeous!!!!!!!!!

Not Me Monday

I DID NOT come home from getting to go shopping with the Hubby to my parent's house and find out that Kaleb had had a great time.

I DID NOT walk into my parents bathroom and see very small whisps of hair lying on the bathroom floor.

I DID NOT just burst into laughter because "It was about time" that happened.

I DID NOT very calmly ask Kaleb what happened.

I DID NOT laugh when he continually changed the story all weekend to answer the question "Who cut your hair?" Papa Did, Mema Did, even blamed the poor scissors. It was a great laugh.
Of course there was not a lot of damage and you have to look close to see the "Kaleb V-Cut" right in the front middle.


How was your weekend?????

Part 2----It's Monday!!!!!!!!

Ok, here is part 2. It never ceases to amaze me. I have the time and energy to write and some days, I could probably write for hours. Anyway, I made mention earlier that I would post the link to the sermon from Pastor Rick that spoke so loud and clear to me yesterday. If you click here you can listen to his message. POWERFUL!!!!
I thought I would share some notes with you that I took yesterday during the service. They spoke volumes to me. I pray that the Lord would use them to speak to you as well.

Text- Joshua 1:10-11 (we are going through the book of Joshua together as a church body)
Teacher- Rick Byrd
Theme- Moving Ahead in Faith
Take-A-Way- When God gives a special assignment, His people must move ahead in faith.
Question for me-
Will you accept God's assignment for your life? Are you willing to move ahead in faith to reach your promised land?

Well, right off the bat I knew that this message was the reason I was there. The night before, the Hubby and I had a conversation about "What I wanted to do when I grown up" (not in a negative sense but you know what I mean).

The Lord had given Joshua specific instructions. Joshua then took those instructions to the leaders in the camp and shared them. Joshua had taken the place of leadership. In that role of leadership, people were looking up to him. Rick talked about all of us being in places of leadership whether it was in our home, work, neighborhood, business owner, or even at church as a part of the staff or the Lay Ministry.
He talked about the 4 qualities of leadership.
1- He/She spends time with God.
Spending time in the Bible, Prayer, Meditating on Him and His word.
Do the people that you are in a leadership role, see you as a leader who spends time with God?
2- Take Tough Stands
Joshua had received his orders. What was he to do with them? Follow through and do what he was told.
How much are we willing to pay with sweat and work? Of course with taking a tough stand comes with criticism, fatigue, loneliness and rejection.
3. Delegates responsibility
Joshua ordered the officers. He uses the people according to their gifts.
What are you being asked to do according to your gifts? Are you using your gifts?
4. Plans Ahead
Joshua was ready to move ahead. There would be planning and the the action follow through of what he was asked to do.
a-Prepare- be ready and supplies ready
b-Pass over - Joshua told them that they will cross the Jordan. The word will is not in the future tense but in the confident resolve that it WILL happen.
c-Posses- take possession of the land.
Col 4:17- see to it to complete the work.

What encouragement this gave me. What power there is in His Word. I was once again amazed and could not help but just to praise Him for giving me exactly what I needed. Now comes that part that we all love.
What is my assignment from Him and What will I do once, He gives it to me? I think I have 3 choices. Of course, only one is the right choice.
1- Take it and act on it!!
2- Delay and wait for the entire plan to be laid out in front of me with a time line and details and all of the necessary cost that it will take.
3- Choose to do it MY way.
Obviously, we know what the answer to my part is. Now comes the waiting for the assignment. I can't help but to be excited!!!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

It's Monday!!!!!!!!

What were you doing yesterday? Did it involve going to church? I sure hope it did. I know that I was missing being in worship. We had been out of town for 3 Sundays and then we had one week of having to work on Sunday. It had been a while and I sure had missed it. It was just wonderful. There is something about sitting in a sanctuary with fellow believers, brothers and sisters in Christ and worshiping. It is just such a blessing.
Dealing with a lot that is going on right now, it was the PERFECT message that I needed to hear. I have no doubt that the Lord had me there. Right where I was suppose to be. It was one of those messages that I felt like the Lord had just for me.
Exactly what I was suppose to hear.
Exactly what I was to be praying about.
Exactly what I am to be doing and not doing.
Exactly what He wanted to say to me and He used Rick.

I always just stand in amazement of how He works. I realize more and more everyday who He is and what more He wants to show me. I will post at lunch the notes from the sermon yesterday and a link. If you need some encouragement today, I would challenge you to check it out. I leave you with a video. I am sure it has been posted before but can't help to share it again. Worship with me......



Laboring and Worshiping With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day-updated- updated again

Today, October 15th, is a special day. Maybe a bittersweet day for some. Maybe you have a close friend, a family member or someone that is especially close to you that has lost a little one. Maybe it was due to miscarriage. Maybe it was in those early days in a NICU or even due to SIDS or an illness. It is a feeling and experience I would NEVER want anyone to experience. I follow many different blogs. Some are the fun ones. Some are the crafty. Some are the Pregnancy/Childbirth/Doula etc. blog. A lot of them are precious women that have lost one child and even some have lost more. I am encouraged and amazed by their strength, their faith in The Father and their commitment to the Lord. Last year I shared my experience with miscarriage. It was a very trying time and one I don't want to repeat. At the same time, because of that experience, I can help, understand and minister to those that are in that place of loss through miscarriage. This year, I chose to ask 2 people to share their experience. This can be difficult but it is a blessing to hear the encouragement. The first is our Pastor's Wife. Her name is Nancy. She is just a wonderful woman. Funny, encouraging, passionate about her ministry and a huge heart for the Lord and for her family. She and Rick have 2 children, Trent and Hannah. Below is her story and experience. I hope that it is a blessing to you. If you would like to leave a prayer request, please do so in the comments. Nancy, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!!!!!!!

In the "medical world", a female patients medical record always includes a statement that reads, "gravida ___para___". "Gravida" means the number of pregnancies she has had, "Para" means the number of live births. My record states "Gravida 6, Para 2". Most women never read that part of their records, and if they do, probably don't know what it means. At a time in my young married life when many friends were planning what SEASON to have their baby in, we began to wonder whether it might happen for us at all. It seemed that many couples we knew were having no trouble with "starting a family". I didn't even know at the time of my first miscarriage that it WAS a miscarriage until it happened again. As we began a long road of infertility treatments, I saw the process in such a clinical and technical way, that I didn't even think of the first two miscarriages as the loss of a baby. I protected my mind and heart that way. Because Rick and I were so grieved over not being able to have a baby that the grief of the miscarriages just became a part of it all. The Lord never let us fall apart at the same time. I came home from work one day and there was a wet spot on the living room floor. I looked up to see if there was a leak in the ceiling. I found out that Rick had been on his face before the Lord, weeping and pleading with Him for a child, or for relief from the horrible emptiness of wanting one so badly. I usually did my crying in the bathroom at the hospital where I worked, after another negative pregnancy test, then pulled it together on the 30 mile drive home. Rick and I finally came to a point where we agreed before the Lord that if he did not will for us to be parents, we would love Him no matter what, and continue to look to Him to fill all the desires of our heart. After almost 5 years and test after test, God gave us our son, Trent. I thought that everything had finally been addressed and, "all the parts were working now".. The same problem continued and when the third and fourth miscarriage occurred, I still had an "unattached" feeling about those lost babies. God did bless us again, after more treatment and tests, with Hannah. It was not until a short time later, when Trent asked whether we could have more children for him to play with, that I shared that we had some babies who "had not been able to be born". I am absolutely positive that I shared way too much information to that little boy! Being the brilliant, and insightful child that he was, he asked, "Well are they in Heaven with Jesus?" My heart and mind were suddenly opened! They were! They are! And like Trent said; "We'll get to play with them up there!" I finally allowed my heart to attach to those four babies, with God using a six year old to help me see! I can't wait to meet my other four children!


This next one is from a sweet friend named Dana. I was blessed to teach her oldest in Pre-School and fell in love with his name. They even spell is differently, just like us. I know this was not an easy thing for her to do but I have had the priviledge to watch her grow so much in the Lord. Thank you Dana for sharing!!!!!!!

Well I am not sure where to start. In June of 1998 we were blessed with a little baby boy. He was our joy and had our heart. We didn’t think we would ever have another child. Our son had been through so much his first year of life. He had two surgeries one at 5 weeks old and then right before a year old. When he was about 6 months old I started to having problems with my eyes. All the medications that I was on for my eyes could cause birth defects that would show up on the face of the child. So we were not planning on having anymore. God had other plans for us. In 2002 my blood pressure went way high and so the doctor took me off of the pill. Within weeks it happened. I was having a baby. We were a little scared due to all the medications that I had been on but we knew God would take care of us. So we went to the doctor as planned at 9 weeks and everything was great. I was suppose to go back in 4 weeks but that didn’t happen. I had went on a trip with my mom and I started having back pain. So when I got home I rested thinking I was tried. Over the next few days I spotted some and called the doctor and they asked me to come in. My doctor was out so I saw another one. He walked in the room and went to check me and said that I was not measuring 12 weeks like I should be. So he order a ultrasound and that showed no heart beat and I was only measuring 8 weeks. So I went back to work thinking I could work the rest of the day. My husband got to my work and I lost it. I had to tell him that we lost the baby. I couldn’t believe that God would do this to us. I was mad that I was going to have to tell my 4 year old son that we were not going to have a baby. I didn’t want to go to church anymore. I was so mad that God took this baby away from me. The next day I went in for my D and C and begged for a ultrasound just to make sure. I wanted to see if they were wrong. The doctor wouldn’t do one he could tell I was still upset. I took the next week off. I spent a lot of time wanting to know why this happened. One of my friends reminded that God gave us his son and now my baby was with him. He/she was in a place with the greatest gift of all our Father. Then I couldn’t be mad anymore I was still sad at times. I am not going to tell you that it didn’t take some time to get passed it. By June of that year I was having a baby again. God blessed my family with a healthy little girl. In our eyes she was perfect in every way. Now I cant think of my life with out going through this because I would not have my little girl. Both of my children have blessed me more than I can say. Every year on my due date ,Sept 15, I think about my baby who I will know one day when I get to my Fathers house. I had a ring made with all three of my childrens birthstones in it. I have a piece of each one of them with me daily. A lot of people ask me about that ring and I freely tell them it is for my children. Some look at me like you only have 2 children and ask about the other one. I get to tell them it is in my Fathers hand in heaven.

This precious lady is named Cindy. She is a very dear friend of mine. She meets with me and we get to encourage each other over Mexican food and of course, you know there is always cheese dip. She shared hers in the comments and I chose to bring it to the post as well. I was hoping she would. I had not asked her because she is sooooo very busy. She and her family are preparing to go to Spain as missionaries. All of that being said, she has shared her story and I want to share it with you as well.

My records would read Gravida 10 Para 3. I had 6 miscarriages, one ectopic pregnancy, and 3 live births. When asked how I survived that many losses I only can answer that through the grace of God and a similar reaction to Nancy. The hurt had to become seperated from reality. I had to at times look at the loss with a clinical approach. There were days I yelled, screamed, hollered, stomped my feet and shook my fists, there were other days that I cried from sun up to sun down, and then there were days where I just sat in silence.We lost our first child in 1988. He/She was due on mother's day of 1989. Mother's day have never been the same. Yes, I celebrate the lives of the three children he blessed me with, but still 22 years later that lump in the throat still returns and my arms still ache to hold the children who I never saw.God has been faithful and true to hold me in the hurt and to enable me to share with women in a way that I never thought possible. Just yesterday I got to speak to a lady who lost a child. We were able to share the guilt we felt as if it were our own fault and the anger from words said without thinking. God has redeemed the lost and the hurt, but I cannot wait for the day that I will sit around the throne with ALL my 10 children and worship the Lord together.

Thank you so much for sharing. What a blessing!!!!!!

Laboring and Praying With You,
Doula Mama Pam

It's a BIRTH-DAY!!!!!!!!

Just to give you a quick update. A new little boy made it into the world yesterday. I took the day to go and be with this Mom and her Husband and family. I would not have missed it for anything.
I will be sharing his story very soon. I am almost finished writing but need to add the pictures. She is the Mom of Parker that I wrote about last September. Jackson was a complete suprise to us but not to the Lord. Nothing suprises Him.
It was a bit longer than her last delivery but she was what you would call in the Doula/Childbirth Educator/Midwife world "A strong and powerful Mama"!!!!!!! The amazing part is that I have watched this young lady grow up to be a super wife and mother.
We actually had 2 physicians. One in surgery and checking between cases and one had to come flying over when Jackson was almost here. It was just an awesome day.
It never ceases to amaze me that when I get to the point when I really think that "this is not working, and I need to regroup" that the Lord just blesses my socks off with such an exciting day and birth and just reassures me, I am right where I am suppose to be.
I will try and get everything up this evening.........stay tuned......of course, plenty of pictures.

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Who Is He????

I have a MOM (My Other Mother) who has a blog as well now. She wrote the other day about "Is Jesus Enough". In the post she talked about how people are always talking about
"What He can do for you" and we don't stop and think about WHO He is. So taking that a little further it made me stop and think Who He Is to Me............................. I think it is awesome how He is working because in BSF we were challenged to keep track of all the names of God that we find as we study.
So AWESOME!!!!!!!
So, here is my list.......
He Is..........
Redeemer
Friend that never leaves
The Lover of my soul
Best Friend
SAVIOR
Rock
Refuge
Companion
Warrior
Shield
Passion
Provider
Almighty God
Omnicient
Omnipresent
King
Jesus
Comforter
Source of Help
Healer
Holy One
Alpha
Omega
Creator
Eternal
Forgiver
Giver of Life
Emanuel
Master
Lion of Judah
Strength
Truth

So, this is my list (just to get started).......what does yours look like? Get one started and share it.......WHAT is HE TO YOU!!!!!!!???????

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam