wise words.

At my baby shower in Asheville, Farrin put together the most incredible group of quotes. They included quotes about childbirth, powerful women, scripture, and encouragement. There are tons of them, cut into strips and bound together on a ring. The women at the shower, many of them already mothers and all of whom I respect deeply, had the opportunity to look through the quotes and pick out ones that speak to them. Everyone there wrote personalized messages along with them. During labor, my mom read some of these notes and quotes to me. The words brought comfort and encouragement to me during such a difficult time. I know that many of these women lifted me up in prayer throughout my pregnancy and delivery, and still do today. I am so blessed. I want to share a few of my favorites:

"Just as a woman's heart knows how and when to pump, her lungs to inhale, and her hand to pull back from fire, so she knows when and how to give birth." -Virginia Di Orio

{This is so true, as evidenced by the truth that my mom said over and over, "you will just know."}

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" -Jeremiah 29:11

{AMEN. This verse resonated in my head during the last parts of labor. I am not alone in this.}

"Courage allows the successful woman to fail - and to learn powerful lessons from the failure - so that in the end, she didn't fail at all." -Maya Angelou

{Childbirth calls for courage. And my thoughts of 'failure' turned out to not be failure at all. See the 'welcoming Lucas' post :)}

"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:14

{I think of our sweet boy every time I read this verse. It is written above his crib, so beautiful.}

"We are made to do this work and it's not easy...I would say that pain is part of the glory, or the tremendous mystery of life. And that if anything, it's a kind of privilege to stand so close to such an incredible miracle." -Simone in Klasson

"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong." -Laura Stavoe Harm

"Whenever a woman gives birth to a child, she remembers the hard work no more, for the joy that a child has been born into the world." -John 16:21

I can't tell you how much these words meant to me. Farrin also put together a necklace for me. They are my birth beads. Smooth and cool, a reminder to relax. The beads were special though, because at the shower, each woman there picked out a bead and threaded it on the necklace, speaking words of wisdom and encouragement to me as they did this. In the end, I had a completed necklace, full of beautiful beads that were a tangible reminder to me of all of the people that I have supporting me, encouraging me, and wishing me strength. This is called a Blessingway and comes from an ancient Navajo tradition. Pretty amazing, isn't it? I wore these beads during my maternity pictures, and brought them to the hospital with me when I went into labor. Farrin, thank you isn't enough. It is so special to me!