It’s time to honor all mothers!

We have amazing giveaways all week long leading up to Mother’s Day with all sorts of mama and baby resources for you! Scroll all the way through the bottom of this post to enter  these amazing giveaways!

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. blesses is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5

Children are our reward, our blessing aren’t they? Today we launch another Mother’s Day Giveaway and as we celebrate the Birth-Day of your Motherhood, I truly, simply want to bless you! Let’s pray!

Lord Jesus, we offer you our deepest thanks for the gifts that each of our children are. Thank you for the privilege of being called to Motherhood! We acknowledge it is a high calling indeed. And we ask that you would walk with us as we seek to serve you alone in our calling. Guide our every decision and give us strength in hard times to make wise decisions as mothers. Help us to be more concerned for our children’s souls than what is on their report cards. Help us to see our children for the gift they are but also the sinner they are so as not to neglect our role to disciple them in knowing you. Lastly Lord, use us as your ambassadors in our marriages and in our homes. May we be aware of the needs in our community, family and church and rise up to meet them. May we as women choose to embrace a biblical perspective on the season of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood and bring you glory as we persevere in this life! All to your glory, all for your purpose we offer ourselves as your humble daughters and sisters.  Lord, bring unity where their is division, bring love and acceptance where their once was judgement and condemnation, and help us to learn how to grieve and rejoice together as sisters in your Kingdom. Together we celebrate the bond you have given us as Mothers… thank you!

Now for the giveaways!

We have a Zulily maternity store gift certificate worth $100 – partnered with an Ultimate Homemaker’s Resource Library of 97 books {exclusive}!

Package #1

We are very excited to bless an expectant mother with a $100 gift certificate to Zulily Maternity & 1 Ultimate Homemaker Ebook Bundle {which is no longer for sale}!

~The Zulily Gift certificate generously brought to you by the bloggers below.~

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Package #2

This giveaway package has it all! Something for any mom, whether this is your first baby or your tenth!

Lisa Jacobson of Club 31 Women donated her book How Did God Make Me?

Boys and girls love to know that they are special, and nothing instills a sense of uniqueness like the knowledge that they were known and loved before birth. Help your child develop feelings of understanding and closeness with the God who is intimately involved in our lives — even before we are born!

The Mission-Minded Child is a practical book to encourage Christian parents and teachers placed in the strategic position of impacting the next generation.

As a guide to world missions, The Mission-Minded Child is filled with facts, information, and tools for teaching. It focuses on the “why” of missions–including our Biblical basis, historical heritage, and the world’s need–and contains over 25 mini-missionary biographies, motivational mission stories, classic poems, hymns, and hundreds of easy-to-use ideas. The Mission-Minded Child will inspire teachers and parents to look for God’s potential in their child, “release” their little one to God for His purposes, and “raise” their child to fulfill God’s specific mission, whatever that might be. As a resource tool, this book will be referred to again and again.

Heidi St. John donated her eBook The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Romance. Heidi blogs at The Busy Mom.

Homeschooling offers parents the best opportunity to shepherd their children both academically and spiritually. Yes. It’s worth it. But do you ever feel as if your life is “all homeschool—all the time?” Do you ever wonder where the girl your husband married went? This book is for every mom who has collapsed into bed at the end of the day, looked into the eyes of her husband and promised “tomorrow” she’d have time for him. Trouble is, tomorrow finds her more exhausted than the day before. If you have ever felt caught between the demands of homeschooling your children and meeting the needs of your husband, you’re not alone. Read and discover how even a busy homeschool mom can make time to nurture her marriage. It’s not as hard as you think—and more important than you may realize.

Shoshanna Easling, owner of Bulk Herb Store donated their Making Babies set that includes the book and 3 DVDs.

Making Babies is a fun, informational, artistic, and colorful pregnancy book. Follow Shoshanna through her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter as she stays healthy and builds a baby. The book covers information that is in the DVDs volumes 1, 2, and 3, includes many deliciously healthy recipes, wonderful gluten-free recipes, grandma’s remedies, herbal concoctions, and need-to-know facts, and is packed with research about fertility, conception, morning sickness, pregnancy, birth, nursing, postpartum issues, losing weight, and more!

Source: Laura Newman Photography

Blessings God’s Way donated A Celebration of Pregnancy DVD Combo {DVD + Guide}

This set enables you to feel confident and sure about hosting a Blessing God’s Way gathering in your community! This DVD is 30 minutes long . Watch this prior to hosting your own gathering or pass it on, along with the book,  to friends and family that you can share our message with. What a blessing to know there is a God-centered instructional DVD  and book for celebrating birth! May God be glorified!

  The Joyful Giraffe donated one large snack bag and one large sandwich bag.

These are two great reusable products that will save you money and are eco-friendly too!Both have a waterproof lining on the inside and a zipper closure, so whether it has grapes or a sandwich, all messes are contained! Bags are handmade by a work at home mom.

Angie Tolpin of Leaving a Legacy is donating a signed Redeeming Childbirth Package {Book & Growth & Study Guide}, $30 value.

“Childbirth is more than an event that makes a woman a mother. This journey was designed to be a spiritual milestone that draws every woman’s heart back to the only Deliverer.”

Bethany Learn of Fit to Be Us is donating a 6 Month Membership to her online exercise site, a $50 value.

Juju Band  is donating one Baby Belly Binder.

Baby belly binding has long been used in various forms by many different cultures. The ancient art of binding has been made easy and quite cute by the Juju Band. Its design is simple and made to accommodate even the busiest of parents! The Juju Band has been a family tradition for over 100 years. It is a tradition still used today in our family. We hope that you will join our family tradition and try the Juju Band on your newborns and infants. Juju Bands are used for 2 different purposes. First, it is used on the Newborn as a shield to protect from constant contact of diapers and clothing. This helps reduce the likelihood of irritation and infection. The Newborn Navel Protector also helps give your baby the perfect “innie” belly button. Second, the Infant Belly Binder helps relieve colic and soothe fussy babies. The snug fit calms and comforts even the most finicky infants.

Jennifer Lambert of Royal Little Lambs donates a Gentle Babies book and Gentle Baby essential oil.

Combining two decades of professional knowledge with tried-and-true techniques and first-hand testimonials, the author Debra Raybern has compiled this insightful and easy-to-follow guide benefiting both experienced and first-time mothers. In addition, Gentle Babies book contains an introduction to therapeutic-grade essential oils and applications and provides safety information and a section on discerning the quality of essential oils. Every family taking proactive steps to better health should have this resource in their home library. Gentle Baby™ essential oil is a soft, fragrant combination of essential oils designed specifically for mothers and babies. It helps calm emotions during pregnancy and is useful for quieting troubled little ones. It is also soothing to tender skin. Many of the essential oils in this blend are used in elite cosmetics to enhance a youthful appearance.

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I am so glad you have stopped by Redeeming Childbirth! Before you go please take a moment and check out the free downloads and childbirth resources here. If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe here and connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I look forward to hearing from you! If you would be interested in submitting your God glorifying testimony for our Testimonial Tuesday Spotlight visit this page for the requirements. You can also find Angie writing and speaking at Leaving a Legacy on the topics of marriage, parenting and faith.

If you would like to enter yesterday’s Mother’s Day Blessing Giveaway click here!

May You Be Truly Blessed Mama~

For You are Doing Worship-filled Work!

Your Sister in Christ,

Angie Tolpin

The post Happy Birth-Day Mama Giveaway appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

Is it ok to celebrate Mother’s Day when you are pregnant with your first baby?

A note to first time moms~

I remember when I was pregnant for the first time. I was due in August and was nearing the end of my second trimester. I remember wondering if it was appropriate to “celebrate” Mother’s Day even though I hadn’t given birth yet? I was so blessed to have a husband who took the effort to make my first “Mother’s Day” special. But I had mixed feelings about whether I was worthy to be celebrated. On one hand I felt  like I didn’t deserve it and on another hand I felt like man… I “deserve a gold medal for all this morning sickness.” Weird huh?

Looking back I wonder why I felt that way? Honestly, I would like to say I had the perspective that I was the one that was so blessed to be a mom. I wish I had that heart. But in fact, the real truth is, any ounce of wanting to celebrate Mother’s Day was a reflection of a “self-focused” heart. I really had no idea what a real blessing being a mom was… not yet {I am not saying all first mother’s don’t know… I just didn’t}! I was so focused on me and what I was about to “give up” to be a mom.

But why did I have mixed feelings? Why was there a part of me that didn’t feel worthy of being “celebrated”… was it because I felt like I was less than of a mother because I hadn’t given birth yet? I don’t know. It could have been, but it also could have been the influence of the culture on my perspective. Did you feel that way? Like you wanted to celebrate Mother’s Day, yet the culture made you feel like you weren’t worthy yet? Maybe it was just the “culture” I was a part of?

Since we live in a world that doesn’t view babies as humans until they get to a “certain gestational age” or even born in some cases, I think there is a good chance that could have impressed upon me the belief I wasn’t a “mother” yet. Sad isn’t it! As I continue to grow in the Lord I realize more and more how our culture tempts us to believe little lies from the enemy, such as not valuing the gift of life… even those in the womb.

So this week I am excited to celebrate life! The sanctity of life in the womb by co-hosting two giveaways this week! Today I am partnering with 19 other websites/blogs to bring a “Mother’s Day Gift Basket Giveaway! Tomorrow we will launch a “Happy Birth-Day Mama Giveaway” with different pregnancy related gifts! The purpose of the celebration is to recognize the awesome honor and privilege God has given us in being chosen to be moms! It isn’t always easy; and for many, just getting there {to motherhood} can be a trying journey, but it is a blessing and so are our children!

So I hope you join in this giveaway and come back tomorrow to re-enter in this same giveaway {it will be here on the website all week}, but also join us for tomorrow’s giveaway as well! You can easily click on the buttons in the sidebar each day to re-enter… the buttons will lead you to the proper giveaway!

So this week we will have 3 different winners! Woo Hoo!

Estimated value is $435

Blessing Giveaway includes:

• Thirty One pink Organizing Utility Tote donated by  Thirty One – Jenifer Metzger
• Woman to Woman Magazine Winter 2012 issue and Spring 2013 issue donated by Woman to Woman Ministries
• $25 gift certificate to Shutterfly.com {not pictured}
• Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer
• Body Image Lies Women Believe by Shelley Hitz donated by Shelley Hitz
• Mended: Pieces of a Life Made Whole by Angie Smith
• “7″ by Jen Hatmaker
• The Love Dare for Parents {advanced copy}
• 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son by Vicki Courtney
• 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney
• Redeeming Childbirth {author signed} donated by Angie Tolpin
• Mom in the Mirror donated by Emily Wierenga
• Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
• Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae
• Desires of My Heart by donated by Heather Bixler
• Island Orchid jar candle
• Pink 20oz tumbler cup
• 3 piece Sweet Pea body wash and lotion set from Bath & Body Works
• 3.5 oz Godiva milk chocolate bar
• 3 Tinted vanilla bean lips balms {cherry, sugar plum, peaches and cream} donated by Apple Valley Natural Soap
• 2 hand crocheted flower rings from Handmade with Immense Love
• Bottle of Lavendar oil from Young Living Essential Oil donated by Jen Stead
• Homemaking 101 DVD donated by Jennifer Ross
• $50 gift certificate to Designs by Tahra donated by Tahra West
• Blessed Mother necklace by Rusted Chain {not pictured}

• $15 Starbucks gift card {not pictured}

Free gifts for everyone!

God the Father – Four Week Mini Bible Study (The Holy Trinity Parenting Study) donated by Heather Bixler.  Free on Kindle download from May 6th – May 10th.  Click HERE to download from Amazon.

How Do I Get It All Done? …and Still Have Time To Enjoy It? donated by Beth Cranford.  Free PDF download.  To get the download please email Jenifer at jenifer@w2wministries.org.

Mother’s Day Blessing Giveaway Rules:

No purchase necessary.  Must be 18 to enter.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US citizens only.  This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated by Facebook. By entering this giveaway, you agree to release Facebook, Woman to Woman Ministries and all participating blogs of all liability.  Contest ends at 12:01am EST on Sunday, May 12, 2013. Winner is randomly chosen by Rafflecopter and will be emailed on May 12, 2013.
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May you truly delight in your blessings & have a sweet Mother’s Day! To receive updates subscribe to our newsletter here and join us online on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest here! You can also find me blogging over at Leaving a Legacy!

Your Sister in Christ,

Angie Tolpin

The post Celebrate Mother’s Day? | I’m Pregnant with my first! {& Giveaway} appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

I don’t know about you, but when I was a first time expectant mom I felt overwhelmed by all the “issues” and decisions regarding care of my sweet new baby. Since I was the first of my friends to get married and have babies… I was the figure it out. But I learned quickly that you have to pick your battles. There are so many camps, opinions and statistics that doing the research can be overwhelming and consume a large amount of time, so much so that you aren’t even enjoying and delighting in your sweet bundle of blessing.

 I just want you, all my readers, to know that I care most about your hearts and souls. Not whether you make your own baby food, or whether you have a home birth or a hospital birth. Those things are not eternal. As many of you know from reading my book Redeeming Childbirth: Experiencing His Presence in Pregnancy, Labor, Childbirth and Beyond & the companion Growth & Study Guide, the focus of this ministry is not to tell you what decisions to make, but to guide your hearts to the Lord, to be that older sister who just loves you and prays for you, who wants more than anything for you to “Experience His Presence” in every compartment of your life including childbirth. 

I am very excited to share you the pregnancy and baby category in the Ultimate Homemaker’s Ebook Bundle, NOT because I think this is the most godly way to live, but because I truly love these ladies hearts and they have done the research for us! Yay! **So can I just say, if you don’t cloth diaper, nurse, make your own baby food or diaper ointments, journal every bit of your pregnancy, or even embrace natural birth… I love you because you are my sister. What I hope is that you are inspired, encouraged and equipped… that you feel more confident in your personal decisions and convictions. That you save time from doing a bunch of research and can spend more time loving your babies and husband and growing in the Lord.

If you are here for the first time, you can subscribe here.  

Feel free to check out the free downloads and resources here as well!

The Ultimate Homemaking Ebook Bundle Sale is Over!

Today I wanted to highlight the pregnancy and baby bundle of the sale! These are 8 of the 97 resources in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle that is for sale right now!

What is included in the Bundle:

Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert written by the Humbled Homemaker. The author Erin goes over 7 reasons to use cloth diapers, types of cloth diapers {in case you had no idea there were different types}, 10 ways to build your stash of cloth diapers, how to wash cloth diapers, traveling and cloth diapering at night, and in case you are interested she also includes the history of diapering… with information from around the world.
If you are considering cloth diapering, this book is for you! Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert retails for $9.99 normally.

My Buttered Life: Baby Edition is so much more than a lotions book. If you have ever wondered what essential oils are safe to use with babies, make your own baby lotion, learn different ways to massage your baby, or make homemade diaper rash ointment… then this is the book for you. Valued at $5.00 it is available for $.31 in the Ultimate Homemaker Bundle!

The Stress Free Baby Shower Ebook, by Sara at Your Thriving Family is a 20 page resource for planning a baby shower! It includes printables for games to play at baby showers, invitation print-outs, and recipes for baby showers! I especially appreciate this little ebook of goodies since I am hosting a baby shower in a week! You can find Your Thriving Family on Facebook also! I highly recommend checking her out. She has a ton of great resources. I got lost for a while on her website!

First Bites by Hilary from Accidentally Green.

Hilary has done all the work for us… i don’t know about you but I get overwhelmed at all the ‘issues’ and research that I could potentially do when it comes to topics like food. Hilary has done all that research for us moms!

With twenty-seven chapters, First Bites will help expectant and
new moms understand:

• How breastfeeding and formula feeding are so different;
• Why making your own baby food with an easy recipe is healthier than store-bought baby food;
• When certain solid baby foods can be introduced;
• What common – and preventable – food choices are harmful to children; and
• What the Bible has to say about feeding babies.

My Pregnancy Journal by Mindy Harvey @ Simply Designs is a printable journal with over 200 pages. Everything from a letter to your baby, growth charts, a weekly planner, exercise planner, ultra-sound memory page, lists for baby names, pregnancy food log, a “how I feel” section for journaling, a cute scrapbooking section to insert a photo of your baby growing inside you and soooo much more. This has to be the most comprehensive pregnancy journals I have seen! So cute! Oh and Mindy is a graphic designer too. You can find out more about her business here.

The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year by Rachel Jonat, The Minimalist Mom. Do you ever feel overwhelmed walking through the Baby Stores? Have you ever felt the pressure of trying to figure out what you REALLY need when baby arrives?  As Christ-followers we want to be good stewards of our finances, but in today’s culture there is so much consumerism and pressure to spend, spend, spend, it is hard to know just what you can do without. Have you had a passion about simplicity and feel that all the baby gear and children’s “stuff” is about to have a hostile take over? What about the “need” to get a bigger house or car.

Rachel shares her own families story of choosing to simplify and become minimalists… not in a judgemental way, but with wisdom and true care for your future. She connects “stuff,” clutter, and too much spending with debt, fear and stress. I wish I had this advise when I was a first time mom, and even now I have a conviction to simplify although I am often too distracted to do the grunt work to do it! I highly recommend this book! It is counter-culture, which I love! It’s also visionary in that now every time I am spending my whole day cleaning stuff I will ask myself, “do we need this” because it is taking time away from things that are more important… things that are eternal.. like relationships.  Such a good rich word for all, but especially the new mom that is nesting!

UnBound Birth by Jenny Yarbough from the Southern Institute. Jenny shares her three personal birth stories, all natural, all in the hospital. She encourages women to feel inspired to pursue natural birth, even in the hospital.

UnBound Birth is a great title, isn’t it! One of my first “reasons” for having a natural birth was that I didn’t want to be “bound” or confined to a bed. I wanted the freedom to walk around, get in a tub of water, dance or sway with my husband, squat, and move with gravity in my favor. Like Jenny, four of mine were natural hospital births {2 were in birth centers} as well and I think this is a great read for any women who desires to have a natural birth in a hospital. Home births are wonderful beautiful experiences, but so can a hospital birth. Mine sure were.

UnBound Birth retails for $9.99 normally.

So if you by any chance have thought about purchasing any of these books… today and tomorrow is the best deal you will ever find. I haven’t begun to tell you about the other amazing resources in the other bundles like on motherhood, marriage {sex}, home organization and more… all from a Christian perspective!

I hope you are blessed by these books that you may not have heard of before! May God continue to guide you in you personal decision-making as an expectant mother. Remember, don’t make decisions out of fear or guilt. Just as Proverbs 31 is from a book of wisdom, and it is not law… we need to remember that no amount of doing, or right decision-making with regard to not eternal things will make us anymore loved by God. He doesn’t work on a brownie system. he loves you and simply wants you to know Him and receive His gift of eternal life.

Remember to join us next week! We have 2 amazing giveaways happening in honor of Mother’s Day! And if you haven’t subscribed yet you can do that here! You can also find Angie blogging about marriage, faith and parenting over on her blog Leaving a Legacy or on a few social media spots: LAL FB, Redeeming Childbirth FB, Twitter @AngieTolpin or @RedeemingBirth and Pinterest!

May You Grow in Him,

AngieTolpin

The post The Pregnancy & Baby Bundle – Plus Giveaway appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

I still remember that morning. Waking up before dawn had filtered through the night sky and feeling the horrible cramps and sticky blood on my legs. Before my eyes opened fully, I knew what was happening and something deep and primal in me longed to fill the house with heart-wrenching screams.

Instead, I ran to the bathroom, stood in front of the mirror and shook.

I was only six weeks along and the correct terminology would be that I experienced a “chemical pregnancy,” but I hate that phrase. It makes it sound less-than when so many dreams and tears and believed-in-miracles had been poured into that tiny life.

Years of infertility predated that morning and years of infertility have followed it.

For weeks I was angry at God.

Why did I even have to know I was pregnant? Why did you let the tests show positive? Why? I would have simply thought that my cycle was extra painful that month and would never have been left to mourn what-could-have-been.

It would be months before I realized that God was walking me through the valley of the shadow of death for a reason.

It would be over a year before I would be able to peal back the layers and start writing a book that revealed the lessons I had learned.

My years of infertility and loss have layered pain over and through my life. In the midst of it all, God has been revealing that His greatest action plan since the beginning of time (when He chose to create even though the created would cause Him pain) has been redemption.

I believe that pain can be redeemed.

And it makes my hands shake

with the glory of it.

In the book of Psalms, there is a verse that has been my comfort and joy: 

        “Oh, Israel, put your hope in the Lord,   
            for with the Lord is unfailing love
                  and with him is full redemption.”

~Psalm 130:7

I have those words written on scraps of paper, printed off, framed, and scrawled in notebooks. I write my name right in there, reminding myself of the One to cling to, the One to hope in:

“Oh, Natasha, put your hope in the Lord,
   for with the Lord is unfailing love
   and with him is full redemption. “

I have watched God take the broken pieces of my life and redeem the emptiness.

He is unfailing love. And with Him is redemption. 

This glorious, beautiful, heart-grabbing redemption that brings joy right into the middle of pain.

There are hundreds of ways that pain can rip through our lives. Your pain may look different than mine, but God is the same and He willingly meets us all, right where we are.

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A special note from Angie~

When I was in the midst of writing Redeeming Childbirth, I was blessed to share in hearing an older sister’s testimony of infertility and God’s gift of life to her in her late forties. I was so blessed by her testimony and deeply wanted to share, but as we were editing the 971-page manuscript, it was cut. Not because I didn’t want to minister to these sisters, not because God can’t do a redeeming work through it, but simply because I could not give this message the depth that personal testimony contributes to be able to truly minister. I knew there was a need and honestly, I felt inadequate because I had not myself struggled with infertility or loss in this way. While I am grateful that I have not yet suffered the pain of losing a child, it doesn’t mean I won’t one day. None of us know the path our future holds. The truth is that I know now more than ever that we don’t have to go through the pain ourselves to grieve as God grieves… what we need is to truly abide in Christ and allow His heart to mold ours to be more like His. Then we can truly learn to empathize and minister to one another.

Nonetheless, I grieved. In fact,  I grieved so much that it paused me from making progress in the re-writing in May of 2012. It was then God impressed upon my heart a call to wail, to weep, and to pray for you – my sisters who have suffered. It was then I began to ask and plead with God to raise up another sister in the Lord to be bold and teach His grace and redemption on this topic. I knew in my heart this was a ministry that was near and dear to our Father’s heart and that He desires for us to set our busy-ness aside and to seek a heart desiring to “get messy”  and carry our sisters’ burdens. He wants to refine us to be more like Him, full of compassionate and love.

Just a few months before the release of final release of Redeeming Childbirth, a friend mentioned Natasha’s book Pain Redeemed! I rejoiced, simply at the title, and I knew in my soul that her book was the answer to my prayers. Not for myself, but for you. How amazing is our God that in the form of His Spirit can move in two of His daughters, who don’t even know each other, on completely different areas of a country to write two so complementary books. Redeeming Childbirth and Pain Redeemed! The titles even complement one another. I am in awe and so blessed that Natasha obeyed the call to rise up and share her soul, bare before you that you might be encouraged, and grow in Christ.

The post The God Who Redeems Pain appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

I am so excited to be teaming up with these amazing women, these sisters in Christ who have created fantastic resources to encourage, inspire and equip others in the role of homemaking. The Redeeming Childbirth Growth & Study Guide, which is going to be released on Amazon very soon, is included in this package as a ebook along with many other like-minded pregnancy and childbirth resources, and so much more. I have personally been reading through and listening to many of these resources and am so thrilled to be able to share them with you all at once. Blessings~ Angie

As an added bonus I am also teaming up with 23 other authors to sponsor a giveaway for a Kindle Fire HD! It’s the perfect companion to the E-resource library right!?
We will announce the winner on Monday!

For 6 days only, more than 75 widely-known bloggers and authors in the homemaking sphere have joined together to offer 97 of their most popular eBooks and eCourses, valued at just over $600, for the incredibly low price of $29.97!

More than anything, our goal for this sale was for it to be, well… ultimate! We firmly believe that you will not find a more comprehensive collection of homemaking resources anywhere on the web, and particularly not in this price range. For this low price, you gain access to every single one of these resources, so that you can customize your own collection to contain exactly the ones you want and know you’ll use.

This library of homemaking helps include topics such as mothering, organization and cleaning, recipes and kitchen helps, home education, spiritual growth for both moms and kids, home décor and DIY, pregnancy and baby care, frugal living, health and fitness, and even work-from-home and financial tools.

To sweeten the pot, we’ve also teamed up with 10 companies to bring you over $140 in bonus offers, giving you an affordable opportunity to get products you’ll use and love for only the cost of shipping, or in some cases, entirely for free!

What’s Included in the Sale?

When you purchase The Ultimate Homemaking eBook collection, you will get instant access to any of the 97 eBooks and eCourses listed below.

PLUS over $140 of FREE Bonuses

Each The Ultimate Homemaking eBook collection comes with more than $140 of FREE Bonuses from 10 companies that we know you’ll love. More on these bonuses below.

Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered.

Home & Property {Cleaning, Organizing, Decor}

31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae @ SarahMae.com ($4.99)
Getting it Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System that Works by Kayse @ kayse pratt ($3.99)
Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks by Becky @ Clean Mama ($10.00)
Simple Living by Lorilee @ Loving Simple Living ($2.99)
NOT a DIY Diva by Melissa @ The Inspired Room ($3.99)
One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler by Tsh @ Simple Mom ($5.00)
28 Days to Hope for your Home by Dana @ A Slob Comes Clean ($5.00)
Organizing Life as Mom by Jessica @ Life as Mom ($9.00)
Clean Enough: Simple Solutions for the Overwhelmed by Jenni @ Live Called ($4.99)
10 Steps to Organized Paper by Lisa @ Lisa Woodruff.net($5.00)
Handmade Walls by Jamin and Ashley @ the handmade home ($9.95)
Easy Peasy Chores: An Easy-to-Use Chore System That Brings JOY Back Into Family Chores by Alina Joy @ The Good Old Days Farm ($17.99)

Educational Children’s Resources

Princess Training by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($3.99)
The Armor of God by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($2.50)
My Bedtime Learning Book by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($1.00)
Think Outside the Classroom by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($6.97)
Raising Rock Stars — Kindergarten Bundle by Carissa @ 1plus1plus1equals1 ($10.00)
The ABC’s For Godly Boys Curriculum by Lindsey @ Road to 31 ($8.00)
The ABC’s For Godly Girls Curriculum by Lindsey @ Road to 31 ($8.00)
K4 Curriculum by Erica @ Confessions of a Homeschooler ($15.00)
Write Through the Bible (print) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)
Write Through the Bible (cursive) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)
Balcony Girls (books 1 & 2) by Sandy @ Reluctant Entertainer ($19.90)
The Dig for Kids: Luke (Volumes 1 and 2) by Patrick, husband of Ruth @ The Better Mom ($5.98)
Music: An Essential Ingredient for Life by Ryan @ Resound School of Music ($6.99)

Budgeting {Finance & Time}

From Debtor to Better by Barry @ From Debtor to Better ($10.00)
Tell Your Time by Amy @ Blogging with Amy ($2.99)
The Homemakers Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy @ Raising Arrows ($4.99)
Your Grocery Budget Toolbox by Anne @ Authentic Simplicity ($7.99)
Finding Financial Freedom by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($5.97)
Become a Frugalista in 30 Days by Susan @ The Confident Mom ($3.99)

In the Kitchen {Recipes and Cooking}

Crock On by Stacy @ Stacy Makes Cents ($5.00)
Real Food, Real Easy by various bloggers @ The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
Wholesome Mixes by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
20-Minute Meals by Leigh Ann @ Intentional by Grace ($4.99)
Restocking the Pantry by Kresha @ Nourishing Joy ($9.99)
Money Saving Mom’s Guide to Freezer Cooking by Crystal @ Money Saving Mom ($3.99)
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Do the Funky Kitchen by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($4.95)
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Seasonal Menu Plans on a Budget: A Month of Meals from My Humble Kitchen to Yours by Diana @ My Humble Kitchen ($4.99)
Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn @ Just Making Noise ($12.00)
The Curative Kitchen by Susan @ Handy Pantry ($20.00)

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First Bites by Hilary @ Accidentally Green ($9.99)
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
Stress-Free Baby Shower by Sara @ Your Thriving Family ($4.00)
Unbound Birth by Jenny @ The Southern Institute ($2.99)
My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy @ Simply Designs ($9.99)
My Buttered Life Baby Edition by Renee @ Made On Hard Lotion ($5.00)
The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year by Rachel @ The Minimalist Mom ($5.00)
Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide by Angie @ Redeeming Childbirth ($3.99)

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Festive Traditions by Jill @ Modern Alternative Kitchen ($7.95)
Holiday Mixes: Gifts in a Jar by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
Flourishing Spring by Michele @ Frugal Granola ($5.95)
Family Camping Handbook by Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship ($6.95)
Truth in the Tinsel by Amanda @ Oh, Amanda! ($7.99)
Plan a Fabulous Party by Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect ($4.99)
iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide by Alli @ Alli Worthington($9.97)

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Pursuit of the Proverbs 31 by Amy @ Amy Bayliss ($3.99)
The Best of Visionary Womanhood by Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood ($5.00)
God’s Word in my Heart: A Scripture Memory Learning Guide with Verses {all 4 versions} by Jenn @ The Purposeful Mom ($3.99)
Kept: a 13-Week Inductive Study on 1 Peter by Lara and Katie @ Quench Bible ($4.99)
Love Like Him: an 8 week Inductive Bible study on 1 Corinthians 13 by Lara and Katie @ Quench Bible ($2.99)

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Rekindling Romance by Jason & Jami @ A Biblical Marriage ($4.99)
Good Wife’s Guide by Darlene @ Time-Warp Wife ($2.99)
31 Days to Build a Better Spouse by Ashley @ Ashley Pichea ($4.99)
31 Days to Great Sex by Sheila @ To Love, Honor and Vacuum ($4.99)
Entangled: Recognize Your Emotional Affair by Amy @ Amy J. Bennett ($4.99)

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The Heart of Simplicity by various authors @ The Heart of Simplicity ($9.99)
True Christian Motherhood by June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home ($7.00)
Hula Hoop Girl by September @ One September Day ($4.99)
When Motherhood Feels Too Hard by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($4.97)
Mindset for Moms by Jamie @ Steady Days ($4.99)
From Cube to Farm by Heather @ From Cube to Farm ($2.99)
4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions by various authors @ 4 Moms, 35+ Kids Parenting E-book ($7.99)
That Works for Me! by Kristen @ We are THAT Family ($8.00)

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100-pound Loser by Jessica @ Muthering Heights ($4.99)
Honoring the Rhythm of Rest by Danielle @ Domestic Serenity ($2.99)
42 Days to Fit by Brandy @ The Marathon Mom, Emma @ Real Fit Moms and Stacy @ A Delightful Home ($4.99).
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Personal ePlanner by Jennifer @ ListPlanIt ($5.00)

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Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae @ SaraMae.com ($4.99)
The Cottage Mama’s DIY Guide by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
Simple Scrubs to Make and Give by Stacy @ A Delightful Home ($3.99)
The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley @ The No Brainer Wardrobe ($7.99)
Embracing Beauty by Trina @ Trina Holden ($9.00)
Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose by Kristen @ The Frugal Girl ($3.99)

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Your Blogging Business: Tax, Talk and Tips by Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger ($4.99)
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How to Grow Your Blog and Manage Your Home by Jacinda @ Growing Home ($4.99)
How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too by Mandi @ Life Your Way ($12.00)
Simple Blogging: Less Computer Time, Better Blogging by Rachel @ Small Notebook ($8.00)

Ecourses

Learning in Love: The Preschool Years by Renee @ FIMBY. ($7.99)
Homeschooling from the Heart by Renee @ Tougas Cafe ($7.99)
Grocery University by Carrie @ Colorado Bargains ($24.95)
Vibrant Living Strategies for Moms by Lisa @ Well-Grounded Life ($59)
You Can Do This! The First Five Steps to a Real Food Kitchen by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($5.00)

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For a more detailed review of Fit 2 B and a discount on a years membership your can read my post here.

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The fine print:

Bonus Offers

• Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase.
• For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.
• All bonus offers are free gifts from the bonus sponsors, are their sole responsibility to provide, and are subject to availability.
• All bonus offers expire at midnight on May 19th, 2013 (2 weeks from the last day of this sale).

General

• It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase within the 1-month download time-frame. With proof of purchase, we can renew download links up until August 1st, 2013. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.
• Due to the nature of this sale, there will be no refunds available. However, we would invite you to read our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the file types, the download process, how the bonus offers work, etc.

Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure that you get your bundle right away!

Particularly for those wanting to read these ebooks on their mobile devices (iPhones or iPads, Android, Kindle, etc.) you will want to learn more about the file types, how to download them correctly, and how to transfer them to your device.

This post includes affiliate links, and I make a portion of the sale of each ebook bundle. Thanks for your support of this site!

Together We Serve,

Angie Tolpin

We have many exciting giveaways, guest posts, and announcements coming soon. If you haven’t already, subscribe here.

The post The Ultimate Resource Library for Homemaking appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

We have all been blessed and chosen by God to be mothers! Though our birth stories may not all look the same, we can all choose to glorify God in how we tell the story. Teaching the truth of the goodness of Our God. The beauty of His unique plan for each of is portrayed in the testimonies we share and the legacy we leave. We can all find God’s handiwork, provision, care and comfort throughout our life stories and shine His light most brightly when we share those faith testimonies with others.

This link-up is created to reflect how God’s beauty is not in a certain method of birth, but rather in the unique personal testimonies of faith shared through each of His daughters. May we as sisters in Christ, learn how to rejoice with one another and grieve with one another more authentically and intentionally. May we grow in our relationships with Christ by the encouragement of our sisters testimonies!

Please remember the goal of the testimony you share should be to bring Him glory, not to push an opinion or an agenda. Let’s empower younger sisters in the Lord and those who are still in their childbearing years by sharing stories that will empower them and shine bright for Jesus!

**We reserve the right to exclude any testimony that seems out of alignment with the mission and vision of RedeemingChildbirth.com.

Requirements for this link-up are simple:

Please embed this button or our website link and invite your friends to join in and share their birth testimonies as well!

<a href=”http://redeemingchildbirth.com/blog/”><img alt=”BT” src=”http://redeemingchildbirth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/BT.jpg” width=”161″ height=”161″ /></a>

OR

<a href=”http://redeemingchildbirth.com/blog/”><img alt=”BTLU” src=”http://redeemingchildbirth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/BTLU1.jpg” width=”162″ height=”162″ /></a>

If you agree with our mission, we would love for you to share our online communities with your readers too, but it’s not required!
You can find us:

~ Facebook  ~ Pinterest  ~Twitter ~ Google+

I can’t wait to read your testimonies!

May God Be Glorified,

Angie

The post Birth Testimony Link-Up appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

Even though my husband had to be out of town right before my “guess date” I had a peace that he wouldn’t miss the birth.  The night he came home he joked with me that after a great night’s sleep I could go ahead and have the baby.  I woke up in the morning with some light cramping.  I decided to take a hot bath to see if things slowed down.  Fifteen minutes later I had my first major contraction.  They were every three minutes, increasing in intensity.

I prayed to the Lord that if this was the time to have the baby that He would let the labor come on strong and fast, as I was ready if He was.  I surrendered mentally to the Lord.  I prayed a lot and kept singing Psalm 23 and repeating Isaiah 41:10 to myself, clinging to Jesus through the intense contractions that would come on like a wave. 

“fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your       God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”
Isaiah 41:10, ESV

The water was getting lukewarm so I got out of the bath to lay on a small mattress on the floor.  I was writhing in pain with each contraction trying to remember relaxation techniques.  My husband was busy trying to get everything ready for the birth and my midwife hadn’t arrived yet. 

I kept crying out in prayer, trying to gain strength during each short rest between contractions.  The Lord was so close to me it was almost like I could touch him.  I felt His presence stronger than at any other time in my life.  

The birth tub didn’t have enough water in it so I had to get back in the bath tub.  The water was so cold and at this time my body started to push.  I was so overwhelmed and felt like I was rushing through a tunnel.  By God’s grace I was able to move to the birthing tub and felt some relief from the hot water.  My dream was to have a water birth so the Lord really answered that prayer for me, that the birthing tub was ready in time.

Another God thing was that my midwife’s partner had called the woman who trained her to come assist at my birth, who lived across the state, but happened to be in town at the time I went into labor.  Within minutes of that midwife coming to assist, I had our baby girl.  This midwife was very in tune with what affirmation I needed to encourage me.

God showed us in such a sweet way how close He really was.

We had worship music playing during my labor. At our first birth, which was in the hospital, a nurse had given us a card with Psalm 46:1-3 inscribed on it. My husband saved that card to give me during our 2nd birth. The words to those verses just happened to be in the song that was playing as our 2nd daughter was born. It was the song “God Is On Our Side” by Jimmy Robeson Her middle name is “Selah” which is stated in that Psalm right after verse 3. God had His hand ALL over it!

All Praise and Glory to Our Father,

Jessie Robinson

The post God is Our Fortress in Childbirth appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

*Note* This post is not meant to scare anyone, but the reality is that sometimes traumatic birth experiences, like what Jennifer experienced, happens. In this post she very tactfully shares her story without going into detail, focused on honoring God and choosing to look at what she can do to allow God to redeem her circumstances and past. We are to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves, so as not to be deceived.
The other reality we face as a church is how to care for, help, and love these sisters who have been abused. Jennifer’s blog is totally focused on this mission. If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse, violence, or even simply disrespect from their doctors in pregnancy or birth they might benefit from reading what she shares here. Also, let’s be in prayer for those who have been abused. That they might experience true healing and wholeness in Christ Jesus our Savior. ~Angie

Testimonial Tuesday’s
Guest Jennifer Antonik, Momma Trauma

The birth of our second child was filled with ups, downs and in-betweens. The day came and my waters broke on its own. My husband and I relaxed at home with our oldest, then only 14 months. I soaked up the time I was given with him not knowing how long we’d be in the hospital. We had only ever been away from him for hours at a time.

When contractions finally reached 7-10 minutes apart, we called our doula. I wanted to labor as long as possible at home. We relaxed some more when she arrived (I thought labor was oddly relaxing by this point). She suggested lunges to get labor moving. Boy did that work! I went from having contractions 7-10 minutes apart to 1-2 minutes in less than half an hour. We were off to the hospital, a half an hour drive (20 minutes for a new-again father!). To give you an idea, I was nearly fully dilated when we arrived. This is where God ‘touched’ me during labor first. Because of my now transitional contractions, I couldn’t think. I couldn’t talk. My doula called on the way and I couldn’t even understand her. I somehow muttered, “I. Can’t. Talk.” And hung up the phone. I turned on the car radio (yes, they still exist!) and my favorite station was on: the Christian station. Well, they played nothing but praise and worship music the whole ride.

I cried and sang, well, tried to sing. Transitional labor is not ideal for a car-ride. But the music, being able to praise God through what was probably the most painful time in my life, not only got me through, but it made contractions bearable. When I focused on the music and praised God, I was in a serene, peaceful, primal state of mind that was not affected in the least by any pain. I felt like I wanted to glorify God through labor.

My journey with God in relation to our daughter’s birth is two-fold. Twenty minutes after arriving at the hospital from this amazing, contraction filled car-ride, I birthed our beautiful baby girl! While I was in labor with her at the hospital, I experienced a form of “perinatal violence,” which is violence during childbirth. I won’t bore you with the details, but you can read about it on my own blog. Every aspect of my labor and delivery was beautiful and just as God designed, except that one problem. I struggled with the usual: Why, God? I’ll never know. But, what I discovered is that everyone has Free Will, including the doctor. What I do with my life and the situations I’ve encountered are my decision. I can choose to be led by God, or move in another direction. In my case, the other direction meant being consumed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and dragging my family into a downward spiral. And that happened for a while.

Now, I know that God carried me through labor and loved on me the whole time. I’ll never know if the violence I experienced during childbirth was “meant” to happen or if it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time. What I do know is that God has redirected me for His purpose to help other families and birth workers get through similar situations and mental illnesses. And hopefully, be a part of greater change to create a better, more peaceful and respectful birthing climate all over.

God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good! Even when we are lost and can’t find our way.

Jennifer is a momma to two beautiful surprises, wife to a hardworking husband and fur-momma to two cute pups. She is a natural birth and breastfeeding advocate, childbirth educator and studying to become a doula. Jennifer created Momma Trauma, where she hopes to help create legislative change against perinatal violence offer a voice to birth trauma, perinatal violence, postpartum mental illnesses and e.

The post Transforming Trauma to Mission appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

As a sister in Christ who has experienced the joys as well as the trials that can come “being with child,” I have longed to write to you with some practical advise and encouragement on dealing with morning sickness. If you have read, “Redeeming Childbirth” or glanced at the Table of Contents, you would have noticed the chapters entitled Kneeling Before the Porcelain Throne and The Unrest that Comes with Bed-rest. These chapters are dedicated to encouraging women spiritually and emotionally, which I believe is the ultimate need and most effective “medication” for not just coping or surviving, but thriving in spite of the physical experiences that can so often discourage women and even lead them into depression.  But there is also a need and an appropriateness for Titus 2 Practical Teaching. I am excited to share with you some of the most effective natural remedies and supplements used by many to offer relief from morning sickness.

Remember, that though the recommendations I am going to share here are natural and safe, I am not YOUR doctor. Before taking any medication or treatment, whether natural or not, I recommend you do research yourself to understand any potential side effects for both you and your baby. Consult your health care provider before taking any medications. Pray about it, God cares deeply about your health, both physically and spiritually. We personally try to have a balanced approach to medicine. Trying to heal and remedy naturally first, then if that doesn’t work we weigh the consequences {cons} to the benefits {pros} and make our decision for treatment. By sharing natural remedies I am in know way pushing only natural treatment, but simply offering an older sister’s mentoring.

Top 5 Natural Morning Sickness Remedies

1. Homeopathic Phosphorus 30c {Biorin 30c}

Always consult your Naturopathic Physician, Midwife, or Holistic Health Physician before taking this while pregnant.

Basic treatment instructions on pellet bottle will suffice.

How I wish I would have known about Biorin Phosphorus homeopathics my first four pregnancies! It wasn’t until the midwife I had with my fifth baby that I found out about this natural supplement. At first I was very skeptical. I had tried everything… or so I thought. Even the strong medications from the hospital couldn’t keep me from vomiting. I had it more severe than anyone I knew. Sorry to be graphic, but FYI… with Luke I went from vomiting 8-9 times a day to maybe 3-4 with this homeopathic gift from God! I truly felt that was what it was because it truly helped me more than anything I had yet tried.

**Important to note that these homeopathic pellets I am recommending do have a sugar base so women who are struggles with diabetes should definitely consult a doctor or refrain from using.

2. Ginger, Peppermint & Keeping Hydrated

The dangerous aspect to really bad morning sickness can be dehydration. During my first three pregnancies I was much more disciplined at making it to my biweekly IV appointments to get re-hydrated. It was time consuming, but I needed them. During my first pregnancy I was so dehydrated I passed out. My husband came home and found me, took me to the hospital where they automatically put me on an IV. The reality is that when you are sick you don’t feel like drinking but it is crucial you stay hydrated.

~Ginger (dehydrated ginger, ginger tea or ginger-ale, ginger capsules, tincture) helps may women.  Another great way to incorporate it is by adding it to your cooking (try cooking with fresh ginger).
~Sipping on Peppermint Tea or Peppermint water. In the summer, I would fill a glass pitcher with water and put fresh peppermint leaves in it with ice for a refreshing twist. I couldn’t get enough of this in my last three pregnancies. Also, carrying peppermint leaves or peppermint candies in your purse might prove to help you get past the coffee isle in the grocery store or the poo-pie diaper at the friends house!

~Club Soda Water with a Lime… oh how this worked miracles with my second, third and forth pregnancies!

3. Herbal Tinctures & Kombucha

~ Calm-a-tum Wishgarden Morning Sickness Tincture

~ Nausea & Morning Sickness Tincture

~Kombucha is also recommended by some midwives, although I would also recommend speaking with your midwife first.  It is a yeast product and you DO NOT want a yeast infection while you are pregnant, it is one of the main reason your urine is tested every prenatal appointment.

4. Vitamin B-6 & B-12 {Visit here for more info}

5. Wear Sea Bands– buy them anywhere

Practical Advise & Encouragement

1. Have some saltine crackers by your bed – or nuts {protein- even better}, so you can munch before even sitting up in bed. You need to get something in your stomach first thing… no skipping meals because the toddlers are “STARVING.” Take care of mama and eat!

2. Eat many small meals throughout the day

Balancing blood sugars in your body by eating many small and frequent meals is extremely important.  Many midwives suggest nibbling on a saltine cracker before even sitting up in bed.  Protein in the early morning is essential for balancing your body and for some it can completely prevent even getting sick.

3.Be aware that smells are going to effect you.

{aka diapers, car smells, certain isle’s in the grocery store}- be prepared with something you do like the smell of. For me I love Bounce sheets… you know… laundry sheets! So I put them under my seat int he car… that way when it gets hot in there it smells like clean laundry. I also love the smell of lavender… I would keep a bottle of essential oil in my purse to woft in front of my nose if needed.

4. If you don’t feel like being intimate with your husband because you feel sick– you are NOT alone in this.

Communicate clearly what you are experiencing with your husband. Make sure, no matter what you are NOT bottling this up inside your heart. Intimacy is God’s gift to marriage and you have got to be very intentional about talking with your husband about all of this! The enemy is on the prowl to attack marriage… he will try to use this to tempt both of you. If you are experiencing low self-esteem or image issues because of weight gain… I highly recommend sharing this with your husband as well and if you can’t… a sister, friend, mentor or counselor. I urge you sister… talk with you husband about your intimacy and how you are feeling, what your thoughts are, and what you need. Then, ask your husband and listen to his needs.

My Personal Story~And Some “Perspective Encouragement”

Morning Sickness is not common to all women, there are those blessed women out there who never seem to experience any nausea or vomiting. However, for some it is a regular occurrence which can make pregnancy hard to enjoy. For many others it is a nuisance that arrives around four weeks gestation and lasts only until the end of the first trimester.  There is no real reason known for why women do or do not get morning sickness.  Some say it is hereditary, others say it is diet related or has to do with the gender of the baby; sadly no real conclusions have ever been made and no real preventative “cure” has been found.

I have been one of those women who personally gets sick every pregnancy, all for different durations.  Vomiting between three and fourteen times a day. With a few of my pregnancies, I was sick almost from the day I conceived until just after delivering them.  That is right, one last memorial purge.  With others though, I only had nausea and once a day vomiting which subsided about the end of my second trimester.  Either way though, those babies are worth it!

I guarantee that all throughout my day, I had a choice, a choice to allow how I was feeling to get the best of me, or just make the most of it.  I didn’t always pass that test well, but I tried my best and leaned on God for strength.  He continually reminded me that I was to shine my light for him.

Sometimes people ask me, in the most random places, like the grocery store, why we decided to have “so many kids” and then they assume that I had easy pregnancies. When I share with them the truth of what I experience their reaction is usually shock and confusion. Why would I continue to have children if I get so sick. Well, for me the answer is simple… because having children isn’t about me. Pregnancy isn’t about me, or doing what is comfortable… neither is motherhood. I believe my morning sickness prepared me for parenting, it refined me into a more patient mother; and I need a lot of refining in that area, because most people would not describe me as patient. And… the sacrifice of a few months of extreme sickness was more than worth a whole lifetime for another soul, another child.

So sister, when you are feeling sick… yes try to take action and find relief … there are many things to try. But also choose to be strong in faith and look at this time as a season of refinement… because you and I both know it is.

I would love to be praying for you through this. I have dedicated a special prayer journal just for you ladies here on the blog, those connected on Facebook, Twitter, and G+! Please feel free to share your prayer requests… I am honored to be praying for you. This fulfills my heart to be interceding on your behalf. God has placed on my heart a desire to cry out for you so please tell me how I can!

Let’s Connect! I’m on Facebook, At my Other Blog, Twitter or Pinterest! Also, make sure you stay in the know and subscribe!

Blessings on your health and pregnancy,

Angie

The post Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.

Product Highlight – “Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert”

This week Erin from the Humbled Homemaker is launching her ebook “Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert.”

To celebrate the launch of her new ebook, Erin has a ton of contests/giveaways on her website including a special offer for a signed copy “Redeeming Childbirth: Experiencing His Presence in Pregnancy, Labor, Childbirth and Beyond” and a printed copy of the “Growth & Study Guide.”

Hop on over and visit the Humbled Homemaker today to enter to win over $700 worth of giveaways!

Angie

The post Cloth Diapering? appeared first on redeemingchildbirth.com.