Book Review: The Sacred Gift of Child Birth & Giveaway

Title: The Sacred Gift of Child Birth, Making Empowered Choices for You and Your Baby

Author:  Marie-Ange Bigelow, MT, CD(DONA)

Release Date: May 2016

Publisher:  Cedar Fort

ISBN:  978-1-4621-1811-3

Pages:  176

Buy The Sacred Gift of Child Birth: Here

Add The Sacred Gift of Child Birth to your: Goodreads

Find Author Marie-Ange Bigelow:
Facebook | Website | Blog  

From the back cover: Many books teach and focus on the health and safety of giving birth, from comfort techniques to medical procedures. But few delve into God or His principles and plan for women. Childbirth offers a unique experience for women to draw closer to the Lord and benefit from many divinely designed blessings--spiritual, emotional, and physical. This relatable and rewarding book empowers women with valuable information that allows them to make informed decisions about birthing.

Come see the sacred nature of childbirth and put God and faith back into this miraculous process of bringing His children into the world. 

My review:   

This book is lovingly written for parents-to-be who desire to know and understand how to have their best birth experience.  Read this book well before the end of your pregnancy so you have ample time to decide what you'd like to have happen and so you can include your tribe (spouse, midwife, doctor, etc).

The book focuses primarily on giving woman the education and facts- and therefore power- to have the best birthing experience possible. It is filled with current evidence based research as well as practical experiences.

Marie includes worksheets to give you an opportunity to realize and write your thoughts and feelings. It also includes charts to simplify the information, a birth preference quiz and information on postpartum.

It is obvious Marie has dedicated her time, training, and heart to her clients and her profession. In her book it feels as though you get a glimpse of her passion and love for women, childbirth and the gospel.



*I was given a copy of this book to review in exchange for my honest review.


~GIVEAWAY~

I have one copy of The Sacred Gift of Child Birth to give away.

You can enter until May 31, 2016 To enter leave one or several comments on this post telling me what you did to enter.

Entries:

1-Visit Marie's website.
1-Visit Marie's blog.
2-Like Marie's facebook page.
2-Leave a thoughtful comment on Marie's facebook page.

2-Tweet about the giveaway (please include link) If you'd like you can copy/paste this: I just entered to win the book The Sacred Gift of Child Birth at http://cranberryfries.blogspot.com/ .

Marriage Monday: It's the Little Things

[Image Source]

"It is not necessary to overhaul your relationship in order to improve it. It's the little things that make a big difference." Michelle Peterson

Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.

General Conference Wallet Size Matching Game

I made a wallet size matching game of the first presidency and 12 apostles for my kids for conference this year. If you'd like to use them also click the links below. There is both jpgs and pdfs.

I'll make the links more pretty during the two sessions today. :)

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVeYUF4dktja04yaDg
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVeWUQ0ajNibXJhZnM

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVealE3LWFzb2hwY1E
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVeUzluMXlUNVE1Z1U

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVeVkU2Q1lRVENxMzg
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVeNDM3SDVMWnNScmM

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVeNUt6NmpBeW1nZUk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2xqqj_xcLVeZEFZeDE5blRqelU

Marriage Monday: Life is to be Enjoyed

[Image Source]

"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. 

Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." 

--Gordon B. Hinckley

Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.

Marriage Monday: Deep Friendship & Mutual Respect

[Image Source via Marriage 365]

"Happy marriages are based on a deep friendship, mutual respect and enjoyment of each others company." 

-John Gottman 

Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.

Marriage Monday: Little Ways Every Day

[Image Source via #staymarried]

"Many people think that the secret to reconnecting with their partner is a candlelit dinner or a by-the-sea vacation. The real secret is to turn toward each other in the little ways every day. 

-Dr. John Gottman

Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.

What I read in November and December 2015

What I read in November and December 2015

A Christmas Carol 

by Charles Dickens

Classic

The classic story of Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet To Come. 

I listened to this one on Audible read by Tim Curry. A great story made better by a fun reader. 

I am Malala

by Malala Yousafzai

Historical, Memoir

The Taliban overran her city but she spoke out, declaring everyone had a right to an education. Years later  she was shot in the head at point blank range. She survived and is now sharing her story. At 16 she received the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Very eye opening of the ways and customs of another culture. The story of a young, strong girl and how far she's willing to go to protect what she feels is important. Pick this one up!

Choose Your Own Autobigoraphy

by Neil Patrick Harris

Memoir, Humor

A twist on the common memoir this autobiography is a choose your own adventure. Each chapter describes the real life of NPH and at the end each one lets you choose a path: what really happened to NPH or what will probably lead to his ultimate destruction. 

I always love listening to memoirs as the folks who wrote it usually read it themselves. This one also has guest appearances from several of his friends. Funny and fabulous.  Only knowing him from his television appearances it was interesting to hear how much he really loves the stage and what he did through out his career.  I think the actual book has pictures but in the audio book he bursts out in song. 

Silver Bay 

By JoJo Moyes

Fiction, Adult

A large hotel development has its eyes on the small seaside town so when Dormer goes to research and help set it up he's surprised to find he's really growing an interest in the crazy family that runs the hotel. 

I love JoJo Moyes but so far this is my least favorite book. It took me a while to get into it and the story line didn't hold my interest very well. 

The Glass Castle

By Jeanette Walls

Memoir

Jeannette grew up with a father who'd spend his paycheck on alcohol and a mother who would rather follow her dreams than raise a family. The children learned to survive in run down houses and with little food at home. Later as adults they all moved to New York with successful careers while their parents chose to stay homeless. 

Read this one for book club and didn't enjoy it. I had a hard time separating myself from the story because it wasn't just a story but it actually happened and I couldn't get over that these kids really had to live like this. Even the last quarter of the book didn't redeem it for me. Some at the book club discussion had read the companion book and presented more light on the family and the mother. I still didn't like it. 

600 Hours of Edward

by Craig Lancaster

Autism, Fiction

Edward is 39. He lives alone. He has Asperger's and OCD. He feels he does best when he's right on (his minute by minute) schedule. Across the street a young boy and his mother move in and Edward begins to, difficultly, choose friendship over schedule. Little by little he's learning more about interacting with the world. 

I completely loved this one. I laughed out loud but also parts hurt my heart. A fascinating look at someone trying to live and thrive with a disability and how the world interacts and reacts.

Unbroken

by Laura Hillenbrand

Historical Fiction, War, Non Fiction, Memoir

From his defiant childhood to his all star running, Zamperini later signed on to be an airman in World War II. A downed plane, days at sea and even a prisoner of war Hillenbrand tells Louis's provoking story.

One extraordinary thing after another. I waited so long to read this because of the hype and it took me a while to get through but it was a fascinating story nonetheless.

After You

by JoJo Moyes

Adult, Fiction, Contemporary

*Read Me Before You first then pick this one up.*

Louisa has a lot to deal with now. She finds her own place and sets in. Maybe even too much. Then her life is flipped upside down.

I didn't know Moyes had written a sequel so when I found out it was already out I was thrilled.  Lou is just as fabulous and the crew in this book was completely enjoyable. 

Go Set A Watchman

by Harper Lee

Fiction, Historical

Scout, now 26, is back home from New York visiting her aging father, Atticus. She is faced with remembering the past in her young girls mind and facing the realities of the world as an adult.

Interesting to see how Scout has grown into her own person still with the influence of her father and town but is now forced to face how she grew up versus what is really happening in town (reality).