4 hours ago
I have been to many baby showers, and I've even had an opportunity to throw one for my sister. Recently, however, I was challenged to think of Christian baby shower ideas, and I realized that I don't think I have been to a baby shower that had a Christian-based theme. I have been to many that incorporated Christian principles into the baby shower, but none that had a theme surrounding a Christian principle.
And I thought, why not? I think there are several cute baby shower themes that could be pulled out of Bible verses! And since I don't know if I will ever have a chance to throw another baby shower (at least not until my daughter is married and having babies), I wanted to share some of my ideas, in the hopes that someone out there can use them.
I have not thrown any of these showers myself, so I am afraid I don't have gorgeous pictures of these ideas to show you. Use your imagination, and if you do end up using one of these ideas, take pictures and send them to me! It will make this post more fun to look at, and I'll give you a shout out!
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Arrows In The Hand Of A Warrior
"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them." Psalm 127:4-5a
This verse is a classic passage of the Bible to emphasize how children are a blessing, which is a great thing to focus on at a baby shower! I think using an arrow/warrior theme would be especially adorable for a boy baby shower, but you could use it for girls too.
Color scheme ideas? If I were throwing this party, I would go bright or tribal! This is a color scheme I like for a warrior/arrow theme:
(via)
Other ideas to get you started: Pick out invitations (or make your own) that incorporate images of an arrow. Print out the verse above and display it on the food table. Make an arrow shaped cake, or arrow shaped cookies. Make paper arrows to hang from the ceiling. Buy some faux arrowheads (they are fairly cheap on Amazon), and write the baby's name and due date on them - pass them out as party favors so guests will remember to pray for the new baby.
Knit Together
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13 (NIV84)
This verse is one of my favorites, as I am sure it has been for many expecting moms. It is so special to think of God knitting a baby together inside their mother's womb, and that becomes so much more real as you experience pregnancy yourself and mark the weeks when your baby's heart starts beating, when all their organ systems are in place, when they start practicing those soccer kicks. And knitting can be such cute theme for a baby shower!
Color scheme ideas? You could do any color scheme with this theme, but I would pick cream with warm or cozy colors for accents. I think this theme would be perfect for a fall/winter shower, and I would pick my colors accordingly. Here are some schemes I like:
Boy Color Scheme (via)
Girl Color Scheme (via)
Other ideas to get you started: Include the verse on the invitations. Decorate with knitted (or crocheted) blankets draped across chairs, or as a table cloth. Put some knitting needles in mason jars and balls of yarn in baskets (you could probably even find ways to incorporate these items into some of your games). If you are good with your knitting needles (or have a friend or family member who is) you can knit some coffee cup cozies as game prizes.
Light Of The World
"You are the light of the world. . .Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:14a, 16
This verse speaks to what is our hope for our kids as Christian mothers - that they would be lights for Christ in a dark world. You could go a couple directions with this theme, either focusing on the light aspect, or the world aspect - I am going to focus on the world aspect! This theme idea was inspired by my friend Bethany, who had a "Welcome To The World" shower theme, and this is one way you can put a Christian spin on it (there are a lot of ways you can make a "Welcome To The World" theme a Christian theme, this is just the way I came up with!).
Color scheme ideas? Once again, you can almost use any color scheme, but I might let my globe inspire the scheme for me a bit. I like this one (and just emphasize the purple or blue, depending on whether baby is a girl or boy):
(via)
Salt And Light
"You are the salt of the world…you are the light of the world. Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 13a, 14a, 16
Once again, this verse speaks to our hope for our children, that they would be salt and light to those around them. And it could also be incorporated into a cute theme! I think you can use both of these aspects in your shower, or you could focus on one or the other.
Color scheme ideas? I like mineral inspired colors for this theme, and I would keep it light and airy. Good news is that minerals come in boy and girl colors, so it would be easy to do this theme for either gender! If you want to take it that direction, this theme could also have a spa-type feel to it.
Boy Color Scheme (via)
Girl Color Scheme (via)
Other ideas to get you started: Light lots of candles! Decorate with candles and vases filled with bath salts. Print the above verse and display it on your food table. Serve salty snacks. Have small tubs filled with warm water, and pamper your guests with a (salt) foot or hand scrub. Create your own jars of salt scrubs (you could probably get away with using sugar, it looks just like salt, right?), and give them away as prizes for your games. Make or buy salted caramels or votive candles as party favors.
Growing In The Lord
"Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4
"So then neither the one who plants, nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." 1 Corintthians 3:7 NASB
This theme is all about our responsibility as parents - helping them grow not only physically, but spiritually! We need to train our kids in the Lord, planting and watering those seeds, and pray for them as we see God working in their hearts and growing them.
Color scheme ideas? Anything botanical! I like these:
Boy Color Scheme (via)
Girl Color Scheme (via)
Other ideas to get you started: This theme especially works for you gardeners out there! Decorate with potted plants, or cut flowers (or make paper flowers to hang from the ceiling if that is more your speed). Make a flower or tree shaped cake (or cookies). Create a "tree" out of branches in a vase and have guests write a message to mom and baby on leaf-shaped papers (got this idea from my friends Lyndsey and Emily). Have experienced guests or mentors of the new mom write their "gardening tips" for how to train children in the training and admonition of the Lord. Give packets of seeds as party favors, with a message to pray for the new mom and baby as they watch their plant grow.
His Eye Is On The Sparrow
"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are more valuable than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31
"And I sing because I'm happy; and I sing because I'm free! His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." -Civilla D. Martin, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"
I think the verse is pretty explanatory - what a great way to remind a new mom that God watches over her and her new baby, because they are valuable to Him! My ideas for this theme focus mostly on birds, but I think it would be interesting to incorporate elements of copper into the party too since the verse refers to a copper coin.
Color scheme ideas? You really could do anything for this theme, because birds come in so many colors! Like I said, I think copper accents would make it that much more interesting though. Regardless, I like this one, plus or minus the pink or blue depending on baby's gender:
(via)
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If I ever throw one of these parties myself, I will most definitely post pictures! I love the idea of using the entire shower theme to bring focus to what is really happening at a Christian baby shower - celebrating a new life that God has given, and supporting the new mom and dad as they prepare to answer their call to parenthood.
If you are throwing a Christian baby shower and would like more ideas for activities and gifts, I am also on Tommy Nelson's blog today, sharing many more Christian baby shower ideas! Hop on over there to read more activity and gift ideas for Christian baby showers.
When I initially prepared to write that post, I had no idea where to start, so I asked my lovely friends if they had any ideas - and I was blown away by how many wonderful things they came up with! If you get a chance, visit these ladies at their blogs as well - their creativity and hearts for Jesus are obvious!
Amanda from A Sweet Serenity
Alli from Our Family Grace
Alex from Inspiration Clothesline
Lyndsey from The Loflands
Faith from The Life Of Faith
Leslie from Did You Hear About The Morgans?
Emily from Live A Charmed Life
Bethany from Blessings And Lilacs
Amber from His Grace Is Sufficient
Natalie from She Builds Her Home
Thank you, ladies, for all your help!
Have you ever thrown a Christian baby shower? Do you have any theme ideas, or ideas for activities or gifts that have a biblical focus? Please comment and tell me what you came up with, I'd love to read your ideas!
Several months ago I shared the story of the time I got off Facebook. When I decided to give up Facebook those few months, it was because I had become suddenly aware of how social media (particularly Facebook) was affecting me and my relationships in a negative way. I eventually got back on, but not until I had thought long and hard about what kind of boundaries I needed to establish.
When I saw the book What Would Jesus Post by Brian D. Wassom, I was very interested in reading it, because the subtitle “Seven Principles Christians Should Follow In Social Media” reminded me of how I had set up boundaries for myself to make sure my online sharing and interactions were in a healthy place. I was curious to see how Wassom’s “seven principles” would match up with my thoughts on the subject.
I have to say, i agreed with every one of his points! He covers everything from thinking before you post, to guarding your heart against the negative effects social media can have, to building relationships online and handling online conflict. Many of the principles he discussed were conclusions that I had already come to myself, and I love how he addressed everything not just from a practical perspective, but from a biblical one. A couple of the sections also gave me knew things to think about with regards to my social media interactions (I'm not perfect, after all). I actually came away from this book with a lot of new insight (and maybe even a few post ideas, since I never really followed up on my “giving up Facebook” story).
This book is a practical guide for how to use social media to glorify the Lord, and I think it would be helpful for any Christian to read! It is short (could easily be read by anyone in one day), which I think makes it especially useful because it’s not hard to review the material. I think I will definitely be using it as a reference, and if I could I’d have every Christian who is involved in social media read this!
Note: I received this ebook for free from BookLook in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
Reservations For Two by Hillary Manton Lodge starts out with Juliette traveling to France and Italy to learn more about her grandmother’s mysterious past. She finds some old letters, and soon discovers many things about her grandmother that she never knew. In the midst of her family’s mystery she is also dealing with the opening of her new restaurant, her mother’s cancer, and her own tangled love life.
I was so excited to read this book after reading A Table By The Window (the first book in this series) last year! This book was just like the first one in that it was unhurried, but it kept me interested. There are really two storylines going, one with Juliette’s grandmother through the letters, and one with Juliette’s own life, and they are woven together very well. You can even see some parallels here and there between Juliette’s love life (though in a less dramatic sense), and her grandmother’s from so many years before. I like the characters in this book, because they seem so realistic - not too perfect, and you may not like all their decisions, but they are likable.
The word pictures that the author paints in this book are probably my favorite part, and they way she describes the gourmet food makes me hungry. I love that recipes are included for many of the dishes that are mentioned. I’m not much of a gourmet cook, but this book makes me want to try!
There was a twist in Juliette’s personal life at the end of the book that I was not expecting, and I am very interested to see how it turns out. The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am still very unsure about what is going to happen with Juliette and her family. I will most definitely be looking out for the next book in this series!
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
A few months ago, we had a guest speaker at our church who spoke about Jesus’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself”. But in the message he spoke about reaching out to your literal neighbor - knowing who your neighbors are and forming relationships with them, with the hope to ultimately reach them for Christ.
I was convicted, and for Christmas we grabbed some Thin Mints from the dollar store and passed them out to a few neighbors - and for the first time in six years, I actually knew the names of a few people living around me.
When I heard about the book “How To Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird” by Amy Lively, I snapped it up - I was hoping for more ideas on ways to reach out to these people whose names I finally know!
You know how sometimes it feels like a chore to finish reading certain books? This book was not like that. Lively opens up with her personal testimony, and then tells the story of how she started a neighborhood Bible study. She effortlessly weaves stories into encouragement for why we need to reach out to our neighbors, the benefits and challenges, and practical encouragement. I felt like there were a lot of good ideas and inspiration in this book for getting out there and really talking to your neighbors. This book is definitely more geared toward women, so if your husbands are interested in getting to know the neighbors better too, you might try finding some more male-geared resources for him.
At first I felt like the author almost assumed that you already knew a lot of your neighbors and were building on an already formed connection, and I was a little frustrated because there didn’t seem to be a lot of information for how to practically go about establishing those relationships to start with. But finally toward the end of the book she gave some ideas for how to meet your neighbors.
Lively gives ideas for different events to host or attend to get to know your neighbors, and encourages you to open your home to your neighbors. But I felt like much of the book focused on encouragement for forming a neighborhood Bible study. In a lot of her stories about her own neighbors, she talks about neighbors she has who already follow the Lord. I don’t think every neighborhood would have so many Christians in it (some might have only one other believer or none) so I think it might be a little challenging for every person to follow her suggestion to establish a neighborhood Bible study. It might work beautifully for some neighborhoods, but might not garner interest in others.
My neighborhood, for instance, is one where people are very private - that’s why we live where we live, because it’s private. We live on acres (not fractions of acres), and it’s difficult to talk to neighbors over the fence, or say hello in passing, because we are so spread out. I know that I only know three neighbors in my neighborhood by name so far, and I can’t really say we have any sort of neighborly relationship yet. I’m still working on it, so it would be a little “weird” for me to go up and just invite people to a Bible study at my house right off the bat. Lively does suggest that you establish the relationships first, but most of the book assumes you have already done that - I’d like more information/encouragement for those very first steps!
Regardless, this book was insightful and gave me a lot of inspiration for getting out there and trying again with my neighbors. I do think the “love your neighbor” commandment has been largely ignored in recent days when it comes to our literal neighbors, and I love that there are more books out there addressing this issue - and this one is a great one for more ideas on connecting with your neighbors!
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
I just finished reading Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure Of Finding Mom Friends by Melanie Dale. I think it’s funny that I have read two different friendship books so close together (the other was Heart Sisters), because it gives me a chance to compare them. If Heart Sisters was a guide to deepening your friendships, I think this would be more of a guide to forming friendships. Dale takes you through that awkward first phase when you know nothing about each other with humorous tips on how to take your “mom dating” friendships to the next level.
I think the subtitle does describe some of my feelings about this book pretty well - I felt like much of it was awkward. Dale uses a dating, first-base, second-base, etc. metaphor to describe the different stages of forming friendships with other moms. That was just an awkward comparison to me to start with, and Dale’s sense of humor thrives on awkward, so the awkwardness was just emphasized. If you like that kind of humor, you probably would love this book. For me, I thought the dating comparisons bordered on inappropriate at times, especially in today’s world where references to homosexuality abound. She wasn’t suggesting anything of the sort in the actual meat of this book, but that’s why I found it hard to relax and enjoy reading it. Plus, I’m just not a potty-humor kind of person, and those jokes are prevalent. Dale self-identifies as “gross”, so you can get an idea of some of the humor.
That said, I did think a lot of the situations and movie references in the book were funny! I thought there were many useful tips and inspirations for making friends scattered throughout, as well as just commonsense advice about how to handle certain difficult situations with friends. Her stories were hilarious, and if you have ever had an awkward friendship moment, you can read this book and know you are not alone. It made me think about and appreciate the friends I have who have stuck with me through all these stages, and it was good inspiration to put the effort in with some ladies I haven’t known as long. I’m not sure I would necessarily recommend this book just because of some of the humor, but it kept me interested and I did enjoy it.
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from BookLook in exchange for this review - this is my honest opinion.
Do you have one of those friends who will always stand by you - who you just know will be a friend all your life because you have gone through the ups and downs together? Someone who will challenge you, tell you the truth in love, and be the first one to offer help when you need it?
Natalie Chambers Snapp calls this kinds of friends “heart sisters” in her book by the same name. I think most people are lucky to have one or two of those kinds of friends in their lifetime, but you can greatly increase your chance of having a “heart sister” if you learn how to be one first. Snapp’s book is perfect for just that.
Heart Sisters isn’t so much about making friends as it is about recognizing the really good ones when you have them, and learning to be one yourself. Snap covers all the characteristics of a “heart sister”, things heart sisters do and don’t do. She talks about walking through conflict with heart sisters. She talks about forgiveness, and she talks about how to train our daughters to be good friends as well.
Snapp’s heart for changing the culture of female friendships to be a culture of encouragement was very clear throughout this book, and I appreciated so much of her advice! I especially appreciated everything she had to say about conflict and forgiveness, which were major themes throughout the book. I think she focused on these so much because in order to be a good heart sister, you need to know how to deal with difficult or hurtful situations when they arise - and if you handle them poorly you can lose any chance you had at forming that close friendship that might have been possible. I appreciated a lot of her advice on conflict resolution between friends, because though I’ve had to walk through it like so many women, I am not sure I have ever really read a book or article about it, and Snapp offers sound biblical wisdom on these subjects, and several others.
If you are looking for advice on how to form friendships, Heart Sisters is probably not quite the book you are looking for - but if you would like to deepen the friendships that you already have, this is the perfect book to read!
Note: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Godspeed Pictures, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #wherehopegrowsmovie http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
A couple months ago, I read a news story related to people with Down syndrome. I won’t go into all the details of the story, but it reflected the attitude of some people that those with disabilities such as Down syndrome wouldn’t have fulfilling or meaningful lives because of their disability.
That story irked me at the time, and it has stuck with me since then. I don’t have any friends or family with Down syndrome, but I have met many people with Down syndrome, and I had a friend growing up with a mental disability. They are often the happiest, sweetest people you will ever meet. To suggest that they are somehow less valuable because they don’t fit into someone’s idea of perfection is just ignorant.
I believe with all my heart that every person has intrinsic value.
That’s not just a bumper sticker sentiment, it is the truth. Every person is created in the image of God, and that automatically gives them value. To me that’s a given, but it’s not a given in our culture today. It has become common to try to quantify the worth of people, to the point where some even dare to deem certain lives to have little value.
But who are we to think we can determine that?
I don’t think you even have to look too hard to see the value of those with Down syndrome. The joy they so often exude, the friendship they offer so easily, their ability to look past the faults of others (despite whether or not those people can do the same), the fact that they can thrive despite the challenges that most of us will never face - all these things are sources of inspiration to those around them.
I recently had the opportunity to see a movie that I think illustrated this beautifully. In Where Hope Grows, Calvin Campbell is a washed up baseball player and an alcoholic. In the grocery store one day he meets a kid named Produce, who has Down syndrome. He is drawn to Produce’s happy spirit, and as Campbell gets to know Produce better, he is able to find hope for his own life and relationships.
(My parents and me enjoying the movie! Derek was there too, he just missed out on the pictures.)
Where Hope Grows comes out in theaters this Friday (the 15th), and I highly recommend seeing if you can catch it at your local theater! You can watch the movie trailer here:
And this was a part of the movie that we thought was fun!
The Christian influences in this movie were subtle, which I think makes it a movie that anyone can appreciate, even if they are not believers. But I loved how it was clear that Produce’s joy was because of his faith, and his faith was a beacon for Campbell through the movie as he started to see the changes he needed to make in his own life.
Where Hope Grows has message of hope - that even when you hit your lowest point, there is always hope to turn things around with help from God, and friends and family. I loved the example of Produce’s character, that every person has the potential to impact other people and show them the love of God, even when you might least expect it.
Produce invested his days well, even as a grocery store clerk. He used the place where God had placed him to reach out to others. I think many times we get so caught up in the busyness of the day to day that we forget that God has us where we are for a reason. We get so caught up in our own selves that we forget, or are too scared, to reach out to others.
I don’t think Produce’s character even realized how he impacted the life of Campbell, or his role in helping him get back on track. That’s the beauty of influence. You might never know how you or anyone else may influence others through your life, but you can bet that God can and does use anyone He chooses to change stories.
Derek mentioned how he liked the courage Produce showed at different parts of the movie, even in protecting and standing up for those he cared about. There was something innocent and refreshing about the way Produce’s character impacted those around him that I think is reflective of many people with mental disabilities. It is a beautiful thing. It is something to be valued, something the world needs. I think this movie showed that in a compelling way.
Joni Eareckson Tada has said that people are made for one purpose - to make God real to those around them. The beauty of that truth is that any person can do this. Someone who lives a hundred years, or a baby in a mother’s womb. The healthiest person in the world, or the one with the most challenges. The smartest person on the planet, or the one you would least expect. I think those with Down syndrome and other mental disabilities in particular can touch souls in ways that others never could.
Every person in the world has the capability to make God real to those around them.
Every person in the world has the potential to make an impact on someone else for eternity.
Every person is valuable, not because any human says they are, but because God says they are.
Where Hope Grows drove that point home for me again, and I think the DVD will be joining our movie library in the near future! Definitely check it out!
A Trip Around The Sun is written by the author of The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson, and his mentor, Richard Foth. I had never read The Circle Maker, but this book looked interesting. The subtitle caught my attention "Turning Your Everyday Life Into The Adventure Of A Lifetime".
I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting when I started this book, but the first third of it kind of threw me for a loop. Each chapter of the book is written half by Batterson and half by Foth, and covers a certain topic or phrase. The back-and-forth style was confusing to me at first, and it seemed that a large portion of each section seemed to be the authors telling personal stories about people in their lives. I thought that would be interesting if I knew any of these people, or was already a fan of the authors, but I hadn't heard of any of them before. The first third came off a little self-centered to me, and I was having a hard time getting into it.
But once I settled into the rhythm of the book, I realized that rather than a practical handbook, this book is half inspirational or challenging thoughts, and half memoir. Once I realized where the book was coming from, the personal stories seemed less self-congratulatory and more as attempts to encourage readers to live their lives well. I think the point of the book actually is summed up very well in the sub-title - and the true adventure is stepping outside the comfortable and following Jesus wherever He wants to take us. I appreciated the message more the further I got into this book, and by the end I was left feeling really inspired to make sure I am not wasting my own days - precious days that could be more intentionally lived for Jesus.
If you pick up this book and find it hard to get into, give it a little time and you'll start to enjoy it, I'm sure! There are a lot of good ideas and inspiring advice in this book once you get into it a little further. Definitely an encouraging read!
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is my honest opinion.
This pregnancy I was this close to trying out a birth center.
My thought was that I have given birth naturally twice before, so I could do it again, right? And I've heard lots of good things about our local birth center. And it would be cheaper, probably half the cost of a hospital. All good reasons to check it out.
So I called and realized that there is a required orientation before making your first appointment. I registered, Derek and I worked our schedules out, dropped the kids off, and we drove to the birth center.
We parked. It was dark. We walked across the street to a little building that looked like it used to be a motel. We went with the flow of traffic into a room crowded with pregnant women and their support people.
The person who greeted us was friendly, and the presentation was informative. We went on a tour of the birth center, I asked a couple questions, and I returned home without returning my paperwork. I had to think.
And I thought about it. For a week. I called my insurance to see how much was covered, got the all clear. I talked about it with my mom. And I thought about it.
And I decided to go with the hospital after all.
It's not because the birth center made me nervous in case there was an emergency, because their procedures and transfer times seemed very cautious and efficient. It wasn't because I didn't like the lady who gave the presentation, because she seemed fine. It wasn't because I thought I might want an epidural, because I know I don't need one.
It was because every time I thought about the birth center, I felt torn. A large part of me thought it would be fine, and I'd have a fine experience, and I'd save money. But there was just a little, tiny part of me that felt uneasy. I can't quite pinpoint why.
I might be in the minority, but I actually like hospitals. Many people feel like they are so cold and sterile, and they smell funny. But I like sterile - maybe it has to do with working in a healthcare field, but it makes me feel comfortable. I like white halls and bright lights - it makes me feel cheerful, and as if the place is clean. I like hospital smells - they remind me of giving birth to my babies. I have only good memories in hospitals.
When I thought about whether I would rather give birth in a hospital environment, or in the bedroom-like environment of the birth center, the hospital won for me, hands down.
When you give birth in a birth center, you go home right away, within 4-6 hours. This could be a definite advantage. There would be more peace. We could sleep in our beds. We could relax in our own home.
But I know myself, and I know it would be hard for me to relax at home. I would be worried about dishes, and dogs, and I'm afraid those first days with my precious baby might feel like any other day of my life. There would be less interruptions by nurses and visitors, but it's kind of fun to have so many people coming in and out of your room, fussing over your beautiful baby. It started to seem like going home so quickly, though perhaps more restful, might also be rather anti-climatic.
And I realized that as silly as it might sound, hospital births are just my style. I like hospitals. I like my doctor. It started to feel like the birth center wasn't my place, and the midwives weren't my people. I want to look back on this, my last birth experience, and know that it was as good a fit for me as it could have been.
So to the hospital we shall go. And ever since we made that decision I haven't felt a twinge of unease, so I know it's right.
Is it the trendy decision? Maybe to some, but not in my circles of friends. The birth center is a popular choice in my little corner of the world, and a few even dare to suggest that going with an OB and giving birth in a hospital is a poor choice. But this, like so many things in raising children, is not a right or wrong sort of issue. There are things that are absolutes for raising healthy children, and there are things in child-rearing that are up for debate. I think part of growing up is sometimes throwing the trendy new thing out the window, and being brave enough to confidently move forward with what you know is the right choice for you.
If the last four years of motherhood has taught me anything, it is that the onslaught of trendy things does not stop after your baby is born, and everyone has an opinion. Motherhood has also taught me that if you let everyone else try to make these choices for you on subjective issues, you will probably be miserable with all the trying to measure up. When you pray about it, and think about it, and know you are making the best choice for your unique personality, and your unique family - then you should proceed with confidence. No one can make you feel inferior with your consent, even the ones who seem to be actively trying.
So we are just not birth center kind of people. And that is okay.
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