I am a mom of three. I still remember being stunned by how much work it was to give birth. There is a reason they call it labor. As a Hospice Chaplain, I observed the same thing about death. It too was a struggle. Both birth and death became similar to me. Both took longer… Continue reading This Struggle
I've felt this before. Uncomfortable. Unsettled. Agitated. It happened every time I was pregnant, especially at the end. Hard to sleep. Hard to breathe. Ready but the time not quite right yet. With my last one I had nerve pain of some sort down one leg all the way until he arrived. I think he… Continue reading Holy Discomfort
I enjoy making up words. I loved word play with my children. We now have several words only our family knows. Today I made up this one: FaithWaiting. FaithWaiting is different from regular waiting. All waiting is pretty excruciating. Waiting for admission to that certain college. Waiting to turn 16. Waiting for the wedding day.… Continue reading FaithWaiting
Even though it was 27 years ago, I still remember my daughter's first smile. I'd been giving and giving and giving to that child. I shared my body with her. I gave birth to her which was a pretty major endeavor. And then for those first six weeks or so it was that endless cycle of… Continue reading Lock Eyes and Smile
In the wee hours of June 28, our 31st wedding anniversary, the home phone rang. With the birth of our grandson approaching, I answered it on the second ring, broken ankle and all. My daughter said, "Happy Anniversary, Mom...I think we are going to have a big present for you." In a pure excitement fog, we packed… Continue reading Savoring
Dr. Cindy Ryan 