Really God?!

"Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

So throughout this process of pursuing doula training, I keep giving this dream to God. Keep placing it on the alter, praying for His wisdom, and taking one step at a time.

I keep encountering obstacles that make me think "maybe this isn't the right timing...maybe He wants me to put this dream on hold again, especially with the baby coming..." but each time I pray & offer it back to Him, He seems to remove the obstacle completely. It's been fun to watch Him work, and to see His confirmation time and time again that this is in His wonderful plan for me. Honestly, it brings such joy to pursue gifts you know you can use to serve Him.

Here's some of what God's done:

1) Money. I needed $300 to attend my main doula training workshop this weekend. We've had a lot of extra expenses lately, and I thought there was no way I could come up the money, and that even if I could, it wouldn't be wise to spend it on this workshop right now. I prayed and asked God to provide if He wanted me to attend, knowing this might close the door decidedly for the time being.

His answer: Literally, within an hour of when I prayed, I had the money. I first pooled some cash I'd set aside in envelopes, like birthday money, fun money, some money I'd earned by taking a survey, etc. (This is money that we don't allow to be used for bills and such.) That put me over the $200 mark. I excitedly called Wade, and he then told me to cash in a bucket of coins we'd been saving. I hoped for maybe $20-40...but got $96!!! I not only had enough for the workshop, but also most of what I needed to buy my certification packet as well. Wow God!

2) Who would watch my kids on Saturday (Wade works) during the training, as I need to leave by 6:15 AM!

His answer: I was running out of options when my friend Jodi graciously offered, without being asked, to either take my kids overnight the night before, or to come and stay over at our house herself so she'd be here in the morning when I left. She could then watch them until noon, and then my sister-in-law, Ginger, said she could come & watch them from noon on.

3) What about handling the physical demands of being a doula while I'm pregnant? Was that realistic--or wise? (For example, sometimes doulas need to physically support or massage women for long periods while they're in labor.)

His answer: I talked to my midwife about it, who said it's perfectly fine to attend births as a doula while pregnant myself, and that I should simply know and express my limits. That was also when she said she wants to help me get the experience I'll need right at Stillwater hospital, even while I'm yet pregnant.

4) This was perhaps the biggest one--how in the world would it work to be on call as a doula when I've got small children to take care of myself? Births can take a long time, and who could I ask--without being an imposition--to watch my kids in that scenario?

His answer: I happened to talk with the coordinator of the volunteer doula program at Woodwinds, who said each doula volunteers for one 24 hour shift a month where she is on call--AND SHE GETS TO PICK THE DAY! I could pick days where Wade is home! AND, she said after I've attended my workshop this weekend, she wants to set up an interview and put me on the schedule right away! No way!