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The Flourishing Family

Faith, Family, Health and Home

  • About
  • My Novel: Aliisa’s letter
  • Remembering Steven
  • Healthy Birth Practices
    • Preparing for Birth
    • Waiting for Labor to Start
    • Pelvic Measurement: Will the Baby Fit?
    • Emotional Support and Guidance During Labor
    • Is the Intervention Necessary?
    • Pushing Positions
    • Mom & Baby: Skin to Skin
    • A New Perspective: Home Birth
  • Family Health
    • Essential Oils
    • Colds Flu and Garlic
    • Calendula for a Healing Salve
    • Measles and the MMR
    • What about Vaccines?
    • Easing Painful Periods
  • Affiliate Links
  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • My Novel: Aliisa’s letter
  • Remembering Steven
  • Healthy Birth Practices
    • Preparing for Birth
    • Waiting for Labor to Start
    • Pelvic Measurement: Will the Baby Fit?
    • Emotional Support and Guidance During Labor
    • Is the Intervention Necessary?
    • Pushing Positions
    • Mom & Baby: Skin to Skin
    • A New Perspective: Home Birth
  • Family Health
    • Essential Oils
    • Colds Flu and Garlic
    • Calendula for a Healing Salve
    • Measles and the MMR
    • What about Vaccines?
    • Easing Painful Periods
  • Affiliate Links
  • Privacy Policy
  • Childbirth - Children - Family - Health - Midwifery - Women

    Healthy Children, Healthy Country

    May 23, 2025 - By Carol

    The birth rate in the United States and other countries is declining and has fallen below replacement. Healthy families are the foundation of a healthy country. It is also concerning that childbirth is becoming more dependent on technology. In 2018 I wrote a blog post about childbirth, past and present.…

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  • Sarai and Hagar
    Childbirth - Faith - Women

    Sarai and Hagar: Two Women in the Bible

    March 28, 2025 - By Carol

    The promises of God are faithful and true.

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  • Story
    Book Reviews - Midwifery - Women

    Winter Reading: Historical Fiction and More

    February 7, 2025 - By Carol

    In the past month I have read historical fiction that has taken me from Oklahoma to Avignon, France, and to England. Lisa Wingate’s novel, Shelterwood, finds its roots in Oklahoma history. The story has two timelines: 1909, shortly after Oklahoma became a state and 1990 when the bones of three…

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  • The Midwife
    Book Reviews - Childbirth - Marriage - Midwifery

    The Midwife: Her Diary Inspires a Novel

    October 25, 2024 - By Carol

    Two books give insight into the practice of midwifery. Martha Ballard was a midwife in Maine in the late 1700s.

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  • A New Granddaughter
    Childbirth - Faith - Family - Grandparents - Midwifery - Prayer - Women

    Beating the Statistics: Praise God!

    August 23, 2024 - By Carol

    If a woman’s first childbirth was via cesarean section, usually the next birth will be by cesarean section. The CDC provides the statistics for repeat cesarean section. It is 85%. My daughter-in-law’s first baby was born by cesarean section, but she hoped to deliver her second baby normally (vaginally). She…

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  • Born for Life
    Book Reviews - Childbirth - Midwifery - Women

    Born for Life: A Midwife’s Story

    July 27, 2024 - By Carol

    The book, Born for Life; A Midwife's story reminded me of my own experiences.

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  • Mother's Day
    Book Reviews - Childbirth - Family - Women

    Two Reviews and a Rose

    May 10, 2024 - By Carol

    Cultures collide on the frontier. Linda Ulleseit’s novel, The River Remembers, is a story set in the Michigan territory during the 1830s and 1840s. Three main characters—each from a different ethnic group—move the story forward. Day Set is a Dakota Indian. Harriet is a Black slave. Samantha is White, a sister…

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  • Marriage and Children
    Abortion - Childbirth - Children - Family - Parenting - Women

    Why Choose Life?

    November 10, 2023 - By Carol

    In the U.S. state elections this past week abortion was a central issue. Ohio voted to enshrine abortion in their constitution. I am deeply saddened. In 1950 the U.S. fertility rate was 3.5 births per woman. The current fertility rate is 1.78 births per woman. In order to replace/maintain the…

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  • Seasons and Thyme
    Childbirth - Gardening - Health - Herbs - Nutrition - Women

    Seasons and Thyme

    November 3, 2023 - By Carol

    When it snowed on Wednesday, I realized that the mild fall weather was turning towards winter. Thankfully I had brought my potted herbs indoors prior to the snow. It is a blessing to have fresh herbs year around. I have a sunny bay window that is the perfect spot for…

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  • The Book of Daniel
    Abortion - Childbirth - Faith - Prayer

    Give In or Stand Firm?

    October 20, 2023 - By Carol

    For many years I worked as a childbirth nurse. Early on in my career I had to clarify my position on life. In 1973 I was in my first job—a labor and delivery unit in a busy hospital. The hospital was associated with a University Medical School. I don’t think…

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Welcome to my blog!

As I write, I give thanks for God’s design of the family and the gift of His word, the Bible.

It gives me joy to be a woman, a wife, a mother and grandmother. For many years I was a childbirth nurse, assisting mothers and their babies.

 

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My faith journey throughout Steven’s illness is included in this anthology

I was featured at the senior salon pit stop
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