Blessingways reads like a full blessing in itself. This work combines the grace of pregnancy through its inspiring and practical wisdom. It is now recommended reading for all students of midwifery at Hygieia College as well as my friendship circle. The ideal gift for any expectant family, Blessingways is an excellent resource for celebrating life's happiest, if most ordinary miracle.

A Guide to Mother-Centered Baby Showers has wide appeal for families to whom the idea of alternative ceremonies is new. It gently takes the raw beginner in hand and offers many ideas to tailor the Blessingway for the individual desires of all involved. For those of us who thrive on experimentation with life's rituals, Blessingsways offers an organized list of all you need to know from designing invitations to actual step-by-step instructions for the auspicious event. I really love this book and thank Shari Maser for bringing it home for us all.

Dear Jeannine -

I have been enjoying the music and book so much! I sat down to read the book as soon as the package came (and put a CD in too) and didn't get up for about two hours. The book is so well written and easy to read- I had thought previously about holding a blessingway for Dawn, Nate's sister who is due in December. I knew she would like one, but I didn't really know what it would entail or what to do, and I sort of felt weird about planning one. "Blessingways" answered all of my questions and gave me so many good ideas of what to do. My mom is a librarian, I *never* mark up books, but about 10 pages in I grabbed the nearest crayon and underlined all the things that spoke to me or that I thought Dawn would like. I'm confident I could hold this blessingway and not be scared. I love the examples and the stories.

The music is awesome. I love the birthing songs, they really moved me (okay, I'm pregnant, but I started crying). Just thinking about this baby and when she/he'll be born and 'opening up in sweet surrender' - remembering the warm tub that eli was born in. It was incredible. I will be putting this CD on regularly when I can be alone and absorb the words and messages, drinking my RRL tea :) The voices are very loving, I wonder how they were able to convey it. I don't want anyone at my birth, but the women who sang on this CD seem like my mothers somehow. I will be very happy to be laboring alone with this CD reminding me of the joy and openness of birth. What a happy thought.

The lullabies are great! I especially like the one that you sing "Lulu lulu bye bye". It's stuck in my head and I sing/dance with Eli to it. I also love the violin solo "raisins and almonds" - it's always been one of my favorite tunes but I never knew what it was called. You guys all have such beautiful and powerful voices.

I appreciate so much the work these CD's took, and I'm glad you shared them with us. Nate loves them too (and I'm glad, since I want to listen to them but don't want him to have to leave! tee hee).

Thank you so much for the book and CD's. It was so thoughtful of you to send it to me. You are a dear kind friend, and I can clearly see why Nate cares so much about you and your welfare. Take care of yourself.

Chris Kennard
Draper, UT
www.kennardfamily.org