Blessings 2004

Ira, Nation, Jared, Isaac, Adam, Samuel Levi, Samuel Josiah, Samuel Thomas, Stephen, Grayson,  Ethan Joseph, Ethan Isaac, Samson, David, Isaiah, Dorsey, Devon, Jason, Gabriel, Luke, Sally, Delayna, Amie, Katherine, Mira, Candace, Madleen, Shelby, Ruby, Macaiah, Michaella, Sophia, Maria, and Sarah.

Thank you to their parents for allowing us to be a part of their birth days!

Our smallest baby born at home this year was 7 lb. 6 oz. and the largest baby was 11 lb. 3 oz.

 We had 19 boys and 14 girls.  33 births. Our longest labor was 13 hours and the shortest was less than 15 minutes. We had 5 water births, 5 first babies, 11 first time homebirths.

BLESSINGS seems to be becoming an international ministry. In the past few years, Jennifer and I have worked in Kenya, India and Turkey. More recently, we have had families come to us from other countries: Germany, Romania, Guatamala, Mexico, Colombia, Australia, France, South Africa, Switzerland, Japan and Canada. We have also had American families minister in Indonesia, Madagascar, Slovenia, Beliz, Peru, Brazil, Israel, Paraguay, India, Kuwait and South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. I'm not sure yet what God is doing here, but it's probably something!

 In the spring, I had a student from Western KY follow me around and take pictures for his final photo journalism project. Sam spent 2 months with me and my family. 3 families had him take pictures at their births. He learned a lot about midwives and birthing moms.  We were all blessed to have such an intimate time captured on film.  He did a wonderful job, and got an A on his project!

I spent 5 weeks in Turkey and Kenya this summer and had many adventures. The safari through the Maasai Mara/ sarengeti was the greastest part of the trip. I took thousands of photos and have a ton of great stories. One day I will write a book of birth stories and all of my African adventures, or maybe I'll write 2 books. ( Who am I kidding? I can't even get my news letter out! ) When I got back from Kenya, I did a short motorcycle trip with my husband. We rode the "Tail of the Dragon" through the Smokey Mts. It was only 14 miles but it had 500 curves! Talk about adventure!

 Jennifer was sad about not traveling this year. She spent 2004 going to LPN school. She graduated just before Christmas and has taken her State Boards and is lisensed already! She is still praying for the Lord to send her a husband and now also a job. It has been a blessing for me to have her at home this year.

 In August, I got a new Grandson! Gabriel Hunter. His dad delivered him, what a blessing! I also started to EMT school in August. It has also been an adventure! I don't really know yet what I will do with this knowlege, but I'm sure it will be useful. Jennifer and I are waiting for a window of time to open for an overseas trip in 2005.

If you get pregnant, be sure to call us soon!

Thank you all for the Christmas cards and notes and pictures. These babies grow up so fast! If you haven't looked at the web sight lately, check it out. www.blessingsmidwifery.net

You are all a BLESSING to us!

Kathy and Jennifer Williams