Me & Vonni Renee
Last week was an intense week of preparation for a local outreach over the weekend (Compassion Vancouver) that we were helping coordinate, so I am finally getting around to posting our monthly update. July was a month of seeing the hand of the Lord open up some neat doors for us.
After releasing my desires to the Lord and surrendering my will (as described in my June update) , God started working so beautifully. He opened the door to receive the three doula clients that I needed to achieve my certification, nicely spread out throughout the remainder of the year. I helped welcome the arrival of Vonni Renee on July 25th, through a beautiful natural hospital delivery. God orchestrated all the details for the perfect timing. I was able to serve and support this sweet couple welcome their first baby and they were thrilled as much as I was.
Secondly, Aaron and I have begun leading worship together at our church on a regular basis, which has always been a dream in my heart. The Lord has given my husband a real gift in this area, and I always wanted to partner with him through my piano skills in serving the body in this way. With the wonderful support of our church body, and the recent purchase of a keyboard by the church, we are now able to work together in this way. It has been such an encouragement to see the support and love of the body. It is a wonderful outlet for us both to continue to develop our musical skills and serve the body at the same time. I cannot wait to welcome our little ones to the team in the future! 
Our house continues to be on the market for sale, but we are completely at peace with that. We are considering the options of renting it out, but continue to wait for further direction for the right renters if that is the way God would have us pursue.
In the meantime, we are continuing to reach out in our community, preparing to start preschool with our daughter Karis, and also preparing to speak at the Selah conference. The Lord is good!
What did I read this month?
Gardening Eden: How Creation Care will Change Your Faith, Your Life, and Our World by Michael Abbate – my favorite read thus far on our responsibility as Christians to care for God’s creation. It was very challenging and biblically sound. I appreciated his well rounded approach of not living out of fear, but choosing to enjoy God creation and strive to care for it in a balanced God honoring manner.
Graffiti: Learning to See the Art in Ourselves by Erin Davis was an encouraging read on the importance on understanding your position and image in Christ, especially for those who struggle with image, appearance, or talents. Erin provides a motivating challenge to see your beauty in Christ and how to live that out practically in our day and age.
Aromatherapy for Mother and Baby: Natural Healing with Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Early Motherhood by Allison England – As I have began to explore the world of serving pregnant and mothers in labor in natural ways, I picked up this book at my local library and found it truly fascinating. There is a whole world of natural essential oils that are wonderful for preparing for labor, for the actual delivery process, and for postpartum healing. A great resource!
I’m so glad that July was such a great month for you and your family! I have a question. What is the difference in a doula and a midwife? I’ve been curious for a while so I just thought I’d ask:)
A midwife is medically trained and can deliver babies. A doula is a servant support person and cannot check the momma or preform medical exams. In our day and age, midwives and doctors often only check on the mother occasionally throughout the birth, but a doula is one who sticks by the mother throughout the whole duration of the birth. She offers continual encouragement, comfort measures, position changes for best rotation of baby, aromatherapy, acupressure, etc.
Thanks! I’ve always been curious!
The smile on your face is worth many, many words!
sounds like some amazing books! I’ll have to search the library to see if I can find them. I’m so glad that God is opening more doors for ministry for you!
LIndsay, what a joyful post. You are a joy to my heart. And I loved your piano on sunday…
Lindsay,
I love your blog! It is always so encouraging to read about your lifestyle and values. My in-laws recently moved to Portland, and are looking for a church there. Can you share where you attend, or recommend any? Thanks again for being an inspiration!
We attend The Gathering Community Church. I also highly recommend The Well.
Thanks for taking the time to post your updates – I always enjoy them. The picture of you and the baby is beautiful — I am so thrilled for you that God has opened the doors for you to get your certification. God Bless!!
thank you for the reading list again this month! I love the Aromatherapy for Mother and Baby: Natural Healing with Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Early Motherhood, it sounds great! I’m wanting to get into more natural healing with essential oils, but haven’t found any good books, do you know of any? I’m looking for one that deals with bug bites, colds, fevers, all that kind of stuff.
The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy is good and addresses various problems like you mentioned alphabetically and I also have heard good reviews about Aromatherapy: A-Z.
Hooray! How cool is that? I had not heard of this conference and am now considering come down from Seattle to attend. Sounds right up my alley to help the moms I work with!!
Hi Lindsay-
I just started reading your blog and love it! My question is about the conference – I’d love to be there, but I’m in southern California. Do you know if there is a tape of the conference or of your session I can listen to? This topic is so important to me, and I’d love to hear about it from a Christian perspective. Thanks!
Melissa
I hope they do. I will be sure to post my session on here when it is over and ask about copies of the other sessions.
So happy for you Lindsay! Congrats on the speaking engagement as well
Hope to hear from you sometime when you have a chance. October is coming quick!!
I love to see how God works in other’s lives! It’s very encouraging!
Thanks for posting these inspiring answers to prayer
Hey Lindsay,
I’m so inspired by your reading lists. I’ve bought many of the books you suggest. I’m just wondering – how do you have time to read three books in one month? When do you read? Thanks!
Megan
Yes, please share your reading tips!!! Would love to know how you schedule time in your day for reading! Maybe an idea for a blog post soon?
This is funny because I get this question every month I post my reading list.
I admit that I did not complete all of them all the way through. I read quickly, glean what I can and move on sometimes or just skim the rest. This happens when I borrow books from the library and have to return them! 
My main reading session is before bed at night. I find it helpful to make a goal for the year, write it out, and just stick to it. I also have an accountability partner in my sister and we read a book together every two months or so. I’ll have to compile all my thoughts into a post here soon…God bless!
Well, you just don’t have anything going on!
Congratulations on helping that precious baby into this world! I used to be a labor and delivery nurse when I only had two little ones. Now, with 4 at home and one in the oven, I decided to put a hold on that for a time. I have since turned my life a more natural way, and always thought being a doula or a midwife would be a wonderful way to be in the birth experience in a more natural way! So excited for you Lindsay! Also, what a priviledge to serve with your husband as a team…God has blessed you in this way for sure!
Many blessings,
Joy
Thats so awesome Lindsay – God is so good!!