Big changes are planned for The Birth Center (our shared space at 123 Wellesley S.E.) and Body, Mind & Spirit for 2008. At this time, it seems that The Birth Center will be closing at the end of the year. This is a big change for the Albuquerque Birthing Community, since The Birth Center (formerly the Art of Birthing Center) has been in operation for more than a decade. Hopefully, either this space will evolve and continue to welcome birthing families in a new manifestation or another birthing center will open to fill the void.

Midwives Marylou Singleton and Connie Koshewa will continue their paths, and Connie's business will become known as Natural Birth.

Because of this change, Body, Mind & Spirit will be moving to a lovely new space which many of you already know: The Source at 1111 Carlisle S.E. (north of Gibson, next door to Michael Thomas Coffee). The Source is a collection of eclectic health and service providers, in addition to a lovely community space used for events, weekly neighborhood potluck dinners, and many workshops and gatherings. We will continue to host the birth and family workshops you know and love: some of our less-popular offerings have been removed, allowing us to focus efforts on our more streamlined calendar. We have added some things as well, and hope you will continue to find us and refer your family and friends to our resource center in our new location. We value your patronage!

If you're curious to see our new digs and meet Albuquerque doulas and our various teachers, please come to our Holiday Open House, Saturday January 12, 11am-1pm. We will have snacks, drinks and free 2008 calendar/planners from Mothers Acting Up to share with the first 250 who come. Please join us!

Thank you - Have a happy and peaceful New Year!

Erika Harding - Body, Mind & Spirit Owner and Director Amylee Udell - Body, Mind & Spirit Business Manager

In this issue:

• grand opening!
• exciting changes
• special offers
• NEW CALENDAR
• Recommended Resources
• Making a Difference for Those in Need

Recommended Resources

We've always got our eyes out for useful links and information for you. If you have any links about birthing, parenting or green living you think other families would enjoy, please send them along. This issue's links are...

www.spinningbabies.com
www.storyofstuff.com

In this holiday season, I always struggle with the abundance of some (including my family) and the dire needs of others. I worry that my children will not understand the value of charity and service to others, and that holiday gifts are not truly appreciated as the blessings and gestures of love that they are.

My daughter and I volunteered this weekend at a local food bank/soup kitchen on Yale Blvd called Project Share. We helped to serve a meal cooked by a group of church volunteers to 150 hungry and often homeless men, women and children. This was a terrific experience, and we plan to go back often. In fact, I would like to create a Bandelier Elementary after-school "service club" (like a junior Key Club) in conjuction with Highland's Key Club, doing small but valuable volunteer projects with interested students and parents. If you are interested in investigating volunteer opportunities at Project Share (they serve a meal every night of the week exept Wednesdays, and they also have an "adopt a family" holiday program), please see their website at www.projectshareinc.org.

I was struck by an easy way that families might want to help out project share without any financial or time burden at all. This non-denominational 501(c)3 organization desperately needs
*CLEAN, dry plastic containers, such as large yogurt or clear-plastic bakery containers, with lids, for their clients to take home extra food or food for a sick family member.
*clean, intact plastic bags for transporting clothing and food.
*donations of clean, used clothing (some of the people there on Sunday had no warm clothing at all) - for all sizes, from infants up to large adults.
*donations of coats, glove, hats, blankets.
*donations of unused toiletries, diapers, etc.

I will put up a collection box for any items you would like to donate to Project Share at my children's school. If you would like to contribute anything, you may do so directly, or let me know and I'll add it to the box. Please wash and bring in your used plastic containers and clothing. They will go directly to meet the needs of some of Albuquerque's neediest citizens. Thank you - Erika Harding