I no longer need an alarm clock. I'm up every three hours, so it seems unnecessary. This morning, I woke up, fed Watson, made some breakfast I ended up not having time to eat, brushed my teeth, and left Seth with the baby and I walked down the road to the dentist. It was the most relaxing experience at the dentist I've ever had. Not only was it a great dentist, but it was the first alone time I've had in quite a while. Of course by the time an hour had rolled by I was ready to be back with my men. ;-)

School started last week and I found out how much I missed my students and my jobs, not only that, I felt an overwhelming flood of needing and wanting community. In the midst of all our life change, we switched church campuses in April due to the nature of Seth's job. Unfortunately the campus we go to (and love) meets about 45 min away from us, and now that we moved to Edmonds, so does our old campus... I'm hoping to get involved with the women's ministry at one, but in the meantime, I'm reading and studying the same thing as them "along side" them.  It's a book called "Good news for Weary Women." I've skimmed through it some and I am already so excited to read it. The book and study are coming at a very perfect time in my life as I am transitioning into becoming a stay at home mom and have a huge struggle with comparison.

However, I also need things to do that keep my mind working, while growing in my faith and in my new job as "mommy." I need community and human interaction.

So.. here's what's on the agenda for the next year, while keeping the price of what we do on a minimum (since we are after all, a one income family!):

Watson and I enrolled in MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers). Having a huge longing to be a part of the community in which we just moved, I enrolled in one at a church that is about 3-5 minutes from our home. It's every other week and is a time to spend with other moms, listening to speakers and learning from each other, etc. It's also an international organization and my sister is part of it as well in Japan. It has been and will be fun to compare our experiences. I'm also really excited to meet some women who live close to us. I'm praying that my shy, introverted side won't handicap me from actually pursuing relationships outside of the group.

Every Wednesday the Library has a pre-walkers story time. Watson and I are going to go to the first one next week. I'm excited. I walked to the library last week to see where it is (have I mentioned our neighborhood is extremely walkable?), and the librarians were so kind to Watson and me. So, we're excited to see what it's all about.

Fridays, we go to a Moms and Babies group at the local hospital. So far, Watson and I are really the only regulars, so it's been hard to build any relationships there, other than with the nurse, who is nice, but I'm obviously not going to go hang out with her. (I mean... I wouldn't be opposed if it ever came up, but I'm not thinking it ever will!). It's been a good experience - different speakers come, and I feel like I get a lot of information for free that a lot of women have to pay for. I'm really thankful for that. This week a lady is coming to speak about craniosacral massage and therapy for babies.

Currently, I am reading Hebrews. I'm using the "curriculum" from She Reads Truth. (check out their site www.shereadstruth.com). I'm doing an old study they published, rather than a live one but I'm still enjoying it and learning quite a bit about who God is and how amazing he is. The current verse I'm memorizing from Hebrews talks about how we have this hope that is an anchor for the soul... firm and secure. that hope is Jesus. He has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, enduring things, so we did (do) not have to. It's such a good reminder, as I tend to hold everything on my shoulders, every pain, every hard task, every easy task, etc and claim it as mine, when Jesus has already done this for me. How freeing!

Sweet Watson is growing like crazy. We were so worried in the beginning... he wasn't gaining enough at all for the first six weeks, which brought on postpartum depression for me. I start to see a psychiatrist in two weeks who specializes in pregnant and postpartum women. I'm a little nervous to go, but also excited as well. If you think about it, you can pray for us in all of that. Next week I have my own doctor's appointment to follow up on all of that stuff as well.

My prayer for this season in life: 
I pray that I will enjoy the little moments (isn't that every mom's prayer?). I also have a deep longing to get back into writing (real writing - not a laundry list of a blog as you just read ;-)). I want to use my journalism degree in a way that helps and encourages others. I want to give myself grace and learn to accept God's grace. Lastly, for community.