My first January

Most of you who would read this will notice that I've processed some of my thoughts with you already. I went in yesterday to my office to clean out (and clean off) my old desk and move to the smaller one that my replacement has been using. I'm working only 1/2 days for the next two weeks, and then I'm done. It's hard to believe, but it's been easier than I would have guessed. It was a little difficult... I was sitting at that desk when Steve asked me out the first time, I was sitting there when my mom called to tell me I had a new niece, and I was sitting there when my sister asked me to come down and take care of Emma when Abby was born. I've cried at that desk more times than I can remember, and I've had some great moments there. It was strange starting to say goodbye. But I got home and started putting things away in my home desk, and it started to feel right. Like, this was my new job, this is where I work now. I will miss things about my job, but I'm feeling good about the closing of this chapter.

One thing I look forward to is actually enjoying January. I love Southern California in January. There is usually a mix of cool and warm weather, and lots of days where you can see the gorgeous San Bernadino mountains covered with snow (though they can't compare to the Sierras). This is the first time I will ever have really been able to enjoy January without going out of my head crazy dealing with Interterm classes, Orientation, new students, returning students and general problem students. It's usually the worst month of the year at work, and this year I'm free!

However, I would appreciate any new ways to describe my new focus in life besides "stay-at-home mom" and "homemaker." I did think of one possibility... the field of mid-wifery is pronounced with a short i, like in "wiffleball." I think I should call my new career "house-wifery."