[Love the person you are next to. Whether it be your husband, friend, stranger, enemy or grandma! Just love them. Give a hug, a smile, a note, a hot meal; give yourself to others and you will never regret it. My goal is to inspire, encourage, and invite those around me to see life differently. Brighter, purposeful, and so important. It's simple: Faith expressing itself through l.o.v.e.]

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

All things baby...

No- this is NOT a pregnancy announcement.

I wanted to tell you guys a little but more about why we moved up to Washington.

In simple terms- I LOVE babies. I love pregnancy, birthing stories, couples, expectant parents, families, and basically, all- things- baby.

A few months ago, I was talking to a friend of a friend, and she was telling me about her job at an elderly facility. In my head I am thinking, "I could NEVER do that!" and she tells me, "When I am serving these old people, I pray and thank God because I know I am washing the feet of Jesus."

I almost cried on the spot. What a woman. What a perspective. Inspiring.

More of Jesus, less of me. Please.

It got me thinking... what is it that I do, that I feel God made me to do, and that when I do this, I know I am serving Jesus. Immediately I knew it was with children- little children.

When I am helping families, teaching kids, swaddling babies and rocking them to sleep- I feel God smiling down on me. I know he made me to do this. Not for my own kids, but for others. My time will come, but it isn't right now. And that night I spoke to this woman, I began praying:

"Lord, help me find a way to do what you made me to do"

At the time I was considering leaving my job, and looking for a good way out. Through a series of events, I was led to a pre school where I would be teaching the "Curious Two's" class (unknowingly teaching one of my friends newly adopted son!)

So here I am (here we are) living in Washington, I am teaching such sweet, loving, and precious children, and praying about the next step. In the long run- I want to go back to school at UW for my Masters in Social Work. I think I have mentioned some interests before but here are some potential places I think God has called me to serve in - I am just going to throw them out there in no particular order! Maybe you can leave (encouraging) comments about what you could best see me doing!? Yes? Okay!

  • Working with and/or counseling teen mothers
  • Counseling expectant couples and/or teaching couples classes for new parents
  • Working for an adoption agency serving teen mothers
  • Maybe- and just maybe- some doula work with deliveries (I would love to be hands on but it would take additional certification)  
  • Teaching/counseling at a pregnancy clinic or hospital 
Okay! Enough about me. I just wanted to share a bit of my heart with ya'll (shout out to my Texan friends who make me love saying ya'll). I know God made me to work with kids and families and thanks for coming alongside me in the journey to getting there. 

For now, I am mostly a wife, a teacher, and a new Washington resident. I hope to add a few more things to that list in the next few years. 

And for fun- here are a few photos of some special babies who have changed. my. entire. life. 













3 comments:

  1. Wow! All of those career paths would be so challenging yet rewarding! Happy that God has placed you in an environment that fosters your passion for little ones, excited to see where new opportunities lead you!

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  2. Happy that you are closer to doing and being just where you feel you should be... blessings

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  3. Colleen, what an inspiring blog post! You truly are a great woman of God. You must be the best Two's teacher! I know you'd be great at any of those career opportunities, but I can def see you excelling being a counselor to expecting teens educating them about adoption and/or being a mom themselves. And if we have another baby I'd be honored if you'd be my doula!

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