The birth center became an idea early before midwifery school. The Lord placed it on my heart that it would be located in Port Charlotte. Throughout midwifery school, there was thought about the birth center but not really drive to prepare for opening it directly out of school. I worked with a community homebirth midwife directly out of school and received the foundation and support needed for a new graduate midwife. It was a year after licensing that our family was called to go to Pennsylvania. We spent three years in Pennsylvania, in that time a lot of learning took place. Opportunity to work with and learn from a traditionally trained midwife arose, after which time my first solo home birth practice took root.  As I was driving to a home visit one morning, I was driving up to the peak of a mountian, it was then that the Lord gave me the name of the birth center. It was to be called Summit. For it was at the peak of our journey, at the top of the mountain were we meet God. It is after full surrender and hard work at the top that we are given a glimpse of heaven. It was at the moment where a mother met her child that she was at her summit.

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Shortly before our return home to Florida the Lord placed a burning drive to open the birth center. Once we arrived back home, the search for a building began. We had a group of people who were praying for us and for the right fit for a building. One of our supporters reached out to tell us God had impressed upon her to tell us to walk through the double doors. She said she did not know what that meant, but something about double doors. It was tedious looking for a building. After looking at many options that would not meeting the criteria or would cost a massive amount to renovate, I stopped looking. I relented to being a hombirth midwife and that I must have misunderstood or I misread. 

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There was a group of buildings I passed everyday on my way home. Due to a meeting in a very similar location and similar complex that did not go well, I refused the idea to explore the option. Every time I drove past, it was a nagging and draw to contact and find out what the options where. I suppressed this urge to call and get more information for some time. Finally I called. I explained to the office manager I wanted to see the building they had open that was empty and ready for build out. He met me and my husband and showed us the building. He asked me what the plans where, after explaining what we were looking for, he said he had another building that may suit us. He went to get the keys and we walked over to the other side of the complex. Of course I was just being polite in seeing the space, that none of the other spaces had worked out and that this one was not going to either. I was convinced I would just have to bulid out. My husband looked thorugh the door as we waited and mentioned, wow, double doors. Of course, I was not listening, not interested, after all this was just a curtesy. After the office manager rounded the corner, he mentioned this may be a bit out of your budget. Well that sealed the deal, there was no way this was going to work. He opened the door and we walked in. It had potential, really good potential. It was when I entered the last room, our current back birth suite, that I knew that I knew this was what God had for us. I did not know how we were going to be able to afford it, but if this is what God was providing, then he would provide the fincances for it.

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It was in this step out in faith that began our journey. I had been working in the community as a homebirth midwife, every extra penny went towards saving the deposit and rent for the building. We came up short. It was at this time my father stepped forward, he had said the Lord had impressed it upon him to provide the remaining amount it took to put down on the building. God had provided. As the renovations began, I started to pray. I was unsure how we were going to afford the furniture that would suit what the Lord had provided. God sent Naomi, my best friend. She had been working in Naples with her husband. They did work in many of the very high end homes in Naples. People started to give away things to them. They said they were upgrading, many of the items lightly used. Naomi helped us load a truck and helped it unload it at the birth center. She said nothing matched and it was going to be difficult to bring it all together. God showed up again, as we were going through things, we found places for items. It all came together, and the furniture was supplied. 

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There were many ways in which we have seen the Lord work at the birth center. There have been long nights, tears, stress, and demand for big faith, but there has also been laughter, joy, labor songs, tears of joy, and immense fulfillment. Prayers that had been fulfilled for the sound of little feet to run in the birth center and to hear the sweet first breath and cry of a baby. Prayers for women, baby's, and families. It is every day that we are so privileged and honored to live the miracle that God has provided for us. It is more than a journey, it is a calling. Praise God! What great things he has done!