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Archive for the ‘The book’ Category


My friend, Robyn

By on Thursday, May 17th, 2012 | 1 Comment

I’m happy to introduce you to my dear friend and collaborator, Robyn Allgood. Robyn is magnificent. Though we have written a book together, I’ve never actually met her in person (Skype doesn’t count). Next month I’ll have the privilege of, finally, wrapping my arms around her and hugging her with all the love I have in my heart for her. Knowing Robyn and having been influenced by her beautiful soul has inspired me in so many ways. (This post is a stop on the Virtual Book Tour for The Gift of Giving Life)

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Four centimeters

By on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 | 5 Comments

On April 19, I awoke from a bizarre (disturbing) dream. It had been a short dream, or at least there weren’t many details that I could remember. I had been in labor. My husband was there. And then my deceased brother Steven appeared. (Click over to read more)

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Finished

By on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 | 2 Comments

I interrupt my regularly scheduled calling-for-help (ha!) to bring you this announcement… After nearly three years of hard work, our book is finally in print!

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Bearing Burdens

By on Friday, April 13th, 2012 | 1 Comment

I was in charge of The Gift of Giving Life blog this week. I had been pondering what I should write for my Friday post for a couple of weeks. I had one topic in mind, but as the time came closer for my blogging turn, it felt like there was something else I needed to write. Even as I sat down to write the post, what came out of me wasn’t what I was expecting. Here’s an excerpt… (Click over to read the full post.)

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Red and Powerful

By on Friday, December 2nd, 2011 | No Comments

When I started to bleed the summer before I turned thirteen, my whole heart and soul cried, “No!” I was horrified. I felt like my body was dragging me forward into a future I wasn’t ready to embrace. But there was no turning back. I was now one of them whether I wanted to be or not. And my attitude toward my monthly cycle for the next decade+ was a reflection of that shame…

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Jam to Lamb

By on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 | 2 Comments

Two years ago tomorrow, I got a life-changing email from a lovely woman named Felice Austin. It started like this…

Dear Lani,

I got your name and email from Martha. She said that you are a fellow birth loving mamma. My name is Felice Austin and I am writing a spiritual birth book titled The Gift of Giving Life…

Needless to say, it only took a few nanoseconds for me to know I most definitely wanted to be a part of this project. And two years later I can say with every bit of my heart and soul that I know God brought Felice Austin and me (and all of my TGOGL sisters) together.

The day after I came into contact with Felice, she wrote a blogpost I will never forget. To this day it is still one of my all-time favorite blogposts. I hope you will enjoy this re-post from her archive as much as I did two years ago. -Lani

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Excerpt from our book

By on Friday, October 28th, 2011 | No Comments

As we near our book’s release, we have been posting excerpts from the book on our book’s website. The most recent excerpt release was a piece written by yours truly: “Counsel with the Lord.” Here’s a teaser…

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The Gift of Giving Life

By on Monday, October 3rd, 2011 | 2 Comments

For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of working with a group of magnificent women on a book project. Today, we are excited to reveal the cover of this book we have worked so long and hard to bring to you, our sisters… (Click over to read the full post.)

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Proactive support for new mothers

By on Sunday, July 24th, 2011 | 7 Comments

When a child is born, so is a mother. She will never be the same again. Conversations with new mothers can, at times, focus at length on how beautiful and precious her newborn is and not enough on the new mother’s needs. Having a baby can be a very difficult transition, even for mothers of two or three or more. The physical, emotional, and spiritual burdens new mothers face can, at times, feel too overwhelming to bear. But friends and family can be proactive in lifting these burdens. Here are some ideas for those wanting to help… (Click over to read the full post…)

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The birth of a book

By on Friday, July 8th, 2011 | No Comments

As my fellow book-collaborator, Felice, often quotes, “Everything is gestation and then birthing” (Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet). Our book, The Gift of Giving Life, has been gestating for over two years. First, just the seeds of an idea were planted in many of our minds, then one took action, and the right people came together with the skills and passion to bring the project forward. (click over to read the full post)

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