A "New Year" Starts

Today is the first day of school, and although I'm not teaching, and the one class I'm taking at NAU hardly makes me a student, I'll probably always consider this event the start of the New Year. And how different this New Year is than all the previous ones! Instead of trying to make time to write in between class and grading papers and lesson plans, I have to coax my beautiful little baby to nap (sometimes it takes herculean effort) before I can sit down at the computer. And though Blake and I are involved in many of the same things we were before Rory's arrival, my days look so different! So how do I feel about being a stay at home mom and housewife? Like I finally know what I'm supposed to do with my life! Really, I glory in it. I love being there for my daughter, and I love managing our home to make things easier on my hardworking hubbycakes. We may be poor, but it is unquestionably worth it. Still, I'm realizing that intelligent, adult conversation is a crucial component of my sanity, and intellectual stimulation keeps me from feeling like I'm Aurora's peer instead of her God-appointed caregiver. So, these are my out-of-house involvements for the coming semester:

• MOPS! In entering the scary new world of motherhood, I get to join this elite company, and I am so looking forward to it!
• A book club! I love to read so much, and nursing Rory gives me ample reading time, and it's organized by some really cool women, and I'm pretty excited about it!
• Curves! Yes, I'm going to do it. I've always been a little skeptical of Curves, since the crowd it attracts seems rather, well, old, but I think it will allow me a chance to exercise without the intimidation that I feel at a regular gym, surrounded by real athletes! I don't want to be a supermodel, but I do want to be healthy.
• Grad Class! I'm taking one more class towards my masters at NAU, more than anything just to keep up with my academic Spanish and spend a bit of time in my field. It's just one evening a week, so it shouldn't be too taxing.
• Various political involvements! We're contemplating increasing our involvement with the Flagstaff Tea Party, though we cringe at the Tea Party stereotype. The Flag branch has a few different twists than the national one, and we think it's heading in a positive direction and that there are a lot of  neat opportunities coming up...it's been infiltrated by some awesome libertarian friends of ours, and we're working to convince people that parties are overrated and that individual and states' rights should be universally emphasized. I'm also hoping to help start a food co-op with some other members.
• Bible study! We go to two Bible studies, studying Matthew at the Millers', and young marrieds at the Korns' (which we've decided is more of a fellowship than a Bible study). They're both awesome and challenging and I learn a lot.

A New Year also means New Year's Resolutions, which I always make intentionally vague to allow me to reinterpret them as necessary. This year my focus is on self discipline. I need to have more discipline in just about every area of my life, so expanding on that would take far too long. Basically, I need to be more intentional about my actions, in everything from daily time in the Word to healthier eating and exercise habits to being more committed to staying within our budget. Pray for me if you think of it, and I'll post occasional reflections and updates.

I'll leave you with a recent picture of Rorykins, aka the most amazing baby in the world! I'm completely smitten with her!

Oh, and I made up a joke the other day! Here it is:
Q- What is ghost's favorite food?
A- Ghoulosh!
I feel like I should submit it to a Popsicle company to be printed on the sticks, along with all the eight and nine year olds!