Good reading

I read this the other day, and thought it was so cool, I wanted to share it!

At no time is the power of the female body more evident than when a woman is going through the extraordinary stages of creating life. Personally, I never felt more confident in my body and myself than when I was pregnant. For me, my focus switched from what my body looked like to what it could do. I believe pregnancy has an extraordinary way of making a woman get her priorities straight by focusing less on flaws and more on strengths. I remember how I began to respect my round belly for the home it provided the little person growing inside of me. When you carry a little life with you all of the time, you can't help realize that it is not just about you anymore. You somehow love this tiny person whom you've never met in a way that is indescribable, and you begin to look at things in a whole new way.

Like any major change, pregancy can be painful, shocking and scary; for me, all of the difficulties were well worth it. It was in between the struggles of morning sickness and mood swings that I found the little miracles of life that make it all worthwhile. The tickles I felt in my tummy when the baby had hiccups, the tiny kicks against my hand while in bed, and the little dances I could feel in my belly after I ate some spicy food were all gifts I wouldn't have traded for anything...

There is also something amazing about the pregnant form. I remember clearly how people would look at my pregnant body and instantly smile. I don't know I reminded women of themselves when they were pregnant or if the mere image of a pregnant woman has such a positive effect on people in general. Either way, somehow I felt that it made their day a little bit brighter...

[The photo of a pregnant Demi Moore on the cover of Vanity Fair] made the bold statement that pregnant women can be gorgeous, inspiring, and even sexy. I love that message. Women do not need to look like a runway model to be beautiful. Our womanly curves that support life and allow us to give birth are beautiful. Our strength to push through discomfort for the sake of another's life is beautiful. We are capable of bringing new life into this world, and our bodies, of all shapes and sizes, make that miracle possible.

--Ann Kearney-Cooke (dove.msn.com)