June 18th, 2025

My oldest child recently turned 13, my youngest 5. None of them remember a life when Mom wasn’t in school. A doula, to student midwife, and finally a midwife in the midst of mothering.

For years, I’ve felt perched on the edge of my “real life.” Instead of stealing quiet moments away to study, I now get to snuggle and watch the movie, or play the game. Instead of constant damage control and survival mode, I can finally make this house a home and prepare home-cooked meals.

Now, don’t get me wrong we did these beautiful things here and there. And to be honest, sometimes those small moments were the only things that kept me going.
But a whole life filled with regular strolls through the forest, board games by candlelight, and art in the garden... all while doing what God has called me to do and attending births? That feels like a dream come true.

Parts of this road to midwifery have felt grueling - roadblocks, long weeks away from home, financial stress. And yet, it’s also been a gift.

I hope my children look back and see how I never gave up. I hope they feel encouraged to chase their own dreams with the same perseverance.
I hope they learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and trust that things unfold exactly how and when they’re meant to. I hope that they see the village that kept their family going when things were hard, and they feel that love.
And I hope they always know this journey was walked with them as my first priority.

This fall, our kids are starting at Little River Community School, and everyone in the house is excited for this new adventure. At the same time, we can all feel that clock ticking down toward a new normal; work and school schedules, rhythms yet to be found.

So for this summer, before time runs out, I’ll be frolicking in the forest with my children, playing board games by candlelight, and making art in the garden.
Making up for lost time.
Creating a space called home.

I’m in a bit of a limbo while I wait for all the New York State paperwork to go through. But in the meantime, I’m laying the foundation that I hope will keep Sprouting Families strong for decades to come and revisiting my role as a doula while I wait.

Here’s to a summer of presence, preparation, and planting roots for my children, for my calling, and for the families I will one day serve.