Women have long searched for a pleasing birth—a birth with a minimum of fear and pain, in the company of supportive family, friends, and caregivers, a birth that ends with a healthy mother and baby gazing into each other's eyes. For women in the Netherlands, such a birth is defined as one at home under the care of a midwife. In a country known for its liberal approach to drugs, prostitution, and euthanasia, government support for midwife-attended home birth is perhaps its most radical policy: every other modern nation regards birth as too risky to occur outside a hospital setting. In exploring the historical, social, and cultural customs responsible for the Dutch way of birth, Raymond De Vries opens a new page in the analysis of health care and explains why maternal care reform has proven so difficult in the U.S. He carefully documents the way culture shapes the organization of health care, showing how the unique maternity care system of the Netherlands is the result of Dutch ideas about home, the family, women, the body and pain, thriftiness, heroes, and solidarity. A Pleasing Birth breaks new ground and closes gaps in our knowledge of the social and cultural foundations of health care. Offering a view into the Dutch notion of maternity care, De Vries also offers a chance of imagining how Dutch practices can reform health care in the U.S. not just for mothers and babies, but for all Americans.

Based on the hit documentary that inspired a vibrant online community, this innovative approach to birthing shows women how to maximize childbirth's emotional and physical rewards. With more than 4 million babies born in the United States each year, too many women experience birth as nothing more than a routine or painful event. In her much-praised film Orgasmic Birth, acclaimed filmmaker Debra Pascali-Bonaro showed that in fact childbirth is a natural process to be enjoyed and cherished. Now she joins forces with renowned author and activist Elizabeth Davis to offer an enlightening program to help women attain the most empowering and satisfying birth experience possible. While an orgasmic birth can, for some, induce feelings of intense, ecstatic pleasure, it is ultimately about taking control of one's own body and making the most informed decisions to have a safe, memorable, and joyful birth day. Whether women choose to give birth at home, in a hospital, or in a birthing center, Orgasmic Birth provides all the necessary tools and guidance to design the birth plan that's best for them. Featuring inspiring stories from mothers and their partners and filled with practical advice and solutions, this one-of-a-kind resource is the next frontier of natural, intimate childbirth.

Meditations on Life and LivingBorn Out of Love for God are basic but simple testimonials in story format with Scripture as the catalyst and theme for their birth. How many times have you sat alone somewhere just reflecting on the simplicity of lifehow blessed you are, from where you came compared to where you are now. Author, Elois Wilform-Malcolm, brings these everyday things to life. It will seem as though you are right there by her side, witnessing what she does in her own mind, seeing, feeling, understanding her point of view as she correlates biblical Scriptures into her reflections and how your understanding of Scripture can be a driving force for you own life. Meditations on Life and LivingBorn Out of Love for God will allow you to relive your past, reflect on the glory of your present and marvel at your future when you realize the joy, happiness, contentment and peace of mind you attain through a life with God. You will see where you were before salvation, understand who you are in your salvation and strive to be even better through salvation. You will see how Scriptures are being brought to light through everyday life situations. Wait till you read catchy titles such as: Throw Down Your Rocks, The Fragrance of Christ, or Wake Up Everybody. You will find excitement in the directions each testimonial meditation will take you. Reading these meditation will bring about purpose for studying the Bible, which is not to know the Bible but to know God. The Bible is not a book of rules but a book of principles which are clearly and simply brought out through these meditations. We get to know God through His Word, His spirit, our experiences and through prayer. May you be blessed!!

There is a rumor that Marguerite Oland wandered out onto the prairie one December evening stomped her foot, pointed at the ground, and refused to move until they came and built the church around her. It's not the truth of course, but Marguerite has never been one to let the truth get in the way of her saintly reputation. Letters from Pleasant View Lutheran Church tells the stories of fifteen Christmases as they unfold in the lives of those who worship at the white framed church planted firmly in the snow swept plains of South Dakota. With humor, bite, and grace its characters struggle with what it means to live in a community that is a bit too human but never the less richly blest with God's unconditional love. As a gifted story teller, Dave Nerdig uses his skills as playwright, teacher and preacher to spin tales laced with earthy humor and irreverent spirituality. He is a Lutheran pastor with advanced degrees exploring the crossroads of faith and story. His works include dramas, short stories, poetry and creative curriculums. He is a Lutheran pastor serving a parish in a rural community in Iowa, where he lives with his wife and a very gracious congregation

After more than 20 years of research, the author was finally able to pull together more than 70,000 descendants of William Morss (b. in the 1600s) and his wife Elizabeth. By tracking the descendants of Anthony Morse of Essex County, MA she can identify more than 70,000 descendants. Many of these lines had been lost to history, including a more recent one of Joseph Willis Morse, whose son founded the precursor to the magazine "Vanity Fair" in Atlantic City. His son had '9' sons, each with large families of their own, none of whom were listed in the traditional histories. And so the search began.. Browse the names of the first 6 generations of descendants of Stephen Morse of Essex Co., MA. More will be published in the future, but books can only be so many pages. Volume 2 will include the story of Hugo Von Mors, the descendant of a noble Flanders family and a Knights Templar.