Thoughts for Thursday (pm edition)

Something that made me think?

One week away from my due date with our fourth baby, I am reflecting on… natural childbirth. It’s a gift and a blessing. I love the preparation required at this pre-labor stage. The way that my mind and body naturally fall into a relaxed and introspective, home-oriented and spiritually open state (otherwise atypical for my temperament!), preparing for the mind-body-spirit unity that I need to birth naturally. And with Good Friday just behind us, I love the way natural birth is a reminder of Calvary; the pain must be suffered, even eagerly embraced as it worsens,  in order for my body to break and my blood to be shed so new life can be borne. It’s totally solitary, nobody else can take the pain or birth the baby for me. The deeper my spiritual orientation, the more effectively I labor.  We are blessed to have a lovely birth center nearby which is a perfect venue for welcoming our baby boy to the world. Also, when my third baby was born, my oldest child was two. I am looking forward to bringing home our fourth baby to a house full of slightly older children. They’re cracking me up every single day. We were told by the midwives on Monday that he feels around 9 lbs already, and my kids have taken to screaming into my belly button “Baby, come out come out, you’re too big to still be in there.”

What am I reading?

Covenanted Happiness by Cormac Burke, for the billionth time. I don’t retain things well enough to read them only once, and this is my favorite above all favorites on marriage and family. Anyone looking for mother’s day gift request ideas? Look no further.

Weekend plans?

May is our birthday month. We kick off on Divine Mercy/JPII Sunday with my daughter’s third birthday party. Winnie the Pooh, nine-months-pregnant style. Which means storebought pizza and cake at the park. My nesting instinct is way too fierce right now to practice any hospitality in our home, especially with preschoolers. Thankfully, Sunday’s forecast calls for sunshine!

What can my children do instead of TV?

Mud pies, mud potions, mud body painting, mud splashing, mud handprints. And we have an in-house laundry machine for the first time, so we’re basically invincible. Spring is fabulous!

God bless you all in these joyful spring, Divine Mercy, first communion, new life, Easter days!