Parenting
What an incredible story this is about the importance of skin-on-skin contact with newborns and following your instincts. Miracle mum brings premature baby son back to life with two hours of loving cuddles after doctors pronounce him dead
My tinies love to "help" around the house and I found this age-appropriate listing of tasks and how to involve your children in caring for the home over at Simple Kids very helpful.
Me, Elsewhere
This is all it takes to be a hero evidently from 5 Minutes for Parenting
Grand Dedication: Milestone for the first Mercy Home in Canada at SheLoves
My post about the Instructions for the Morning has also been picked up by Mamapedia Voices now.
Back to School! at the Fraser Valley Pulse.
Faith
I twittered one day that if I heard one more reference to the phrase "hipster Christianity," I was going to barf on my shoes. Julie Clawson wrote one of the best responses to this popular and misguided book o'stereotypes and missing-the-point-ness I've heard yet.
A unique voice in Christian blogging, Kathy writes "and while i’m not in any way saying that “big is bad” i think i’m more convinced than ever that “small is plenty.” i was in a conversation with a dear sister-on-the-journey a while back & she said, “kathy, i just want a small deep rich life. that’s enough for me. i don’t want to travel the world, change the course of history. i just want to live my little life well.” those words have lingered. that’s what i want, too. sure, i have visions of grandeur here and there, but that mainly comes from getting sucked into what other people are doing instead of keeping my eyes focused on the loveliness right in front of me that is made to be enjoyed, valued, treasured, nurtured, cultivated, honored."
A powerful little parable completely animated on an iPad and read beautifully.
Life or something like it
Remembering Katrina, 5 years later from The Big Picture. They've collected iconic images of New Orleans and the devastation, the clean up and current situation.
Hobo Mama writes about Losing Weight and Keeping Self-Worth. As someone that has a complex relationship with her body and weight (meaning: I hate when I'm fat which I am right now) I found her perspective refreshing as she shares about letting go of the fantasy of being thin and just living your life now while appreciating your body.
"We all know that when we invite transparency into our lives, the first thing it unpacks from its suitcase is risk." Megan at SortaCrunchy shares about being transparent, resisting the "Edit" button and the Photoshopping. Given my commitment to living a life free from approval addiction, this really resonated with me. .
For the Win!
We are welcoming our first residents at the Mercy House this coming week. We're so excited, nervous and full of anticipation! It's a dream come true, the end of the beginning.
If you'd like to take a look at the newly renovated home, visit Jamie Delaine's blog. She's a renowned Vancouver photographer that donates her sessions and photos to Mercy Ministries as part of her partnership (and tremendous heart). You'll be staggered at the details to communicate love, worth and value to these precious women.
So if you wouldn't mind praying for the girls as they transition into their new life as well as our staff, we'd appreciate it.
