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Do all newly married folks have an increased desire to serve their spouce?  This is my new arena of life... I have a desire to be a wife and to serve my husband almost more so than I desire to do other things in life.  I'm not quite sure what to make of this, but know that I desire these things and have little motivation for other endevours, such as school, at the moment.  Humm... I'll just keep on thinking and praying about this one. 

The first day of school

Do you remember when you were little and the first day of school held so much excitement, so much anticipation... well, that stops.  Day one is done for me, and it's crazy jumping back into things.  It's not like when we were younger and didn't do anything on the first day of school, but here you're thrown back into it- espeically as a grad student.  But, it's not all bad.  Besides sitting through a crazy boring class that I doubt I'll remain enrolled in, I did get to have lunch out in the gardens with Claire and catch up a bit, so that was wonderful.  All around, things are good and getting better.  I am more excited for this year than I was anticipating being, so that's good, and Adam and I are enjoying figuring out our schedules and things as we learn how to be married students!  And, another perk of the first day of school means Bible study is starting again, and I can't wait!  What a blessing to have such wonderful friends to share life's journey with. 

I'm also thinking that this journey here on Xanga may be coming to an end... we'll have to see.  My journey may be directing me elsewhere. 

With today being "officially" the last day of summer (weekends don't really count, right?), I thought I should look at my summer goals once again...

1) Re-certify in Lifeguarding - oh how I wish this was crossed off the list... I started it in May (do I remember anything now- no), and it should be done!!!!
2) Wedding planning - check (we were done even earlier than mid-July!)
3) Visit Au Sable -- sadly, I did not make it up there this summer... but I did get to see Umo at the wedding! 
4) Work out 3x/week - this was going exceptionally well - now I have to get back into it, which should be easy with a new workout buddy!
5) Eat more fruits and veggies - good on the veggies, need  more fruits-- but fall is here - can we say apples!
6) Read a non-marriage, non-school book for fun - apparently I'm just like 50+% of the people in a recent survey who have not read a book recently!
7) See a Lugnuts Game - this is likely going to happen on Saturday!
8) Visit Lake Michigan -- does driving around the bottom count? :(
9) See a Twins game - missed this one; they were not in town while I was home, and we just missed them when we were in Seattle. 
10) Have a plan for my dissertation by the end of the summer .... hum... notice how this one was to the bottom of the list... I have a committee in mind, so I guess I'm starting to get a plan ;)
11) Tulips - check
12) Beat Lee and Kim at Settlers... half check - Adam won, but according to Lee, that doesn't count as checking this off the list.  I guess we'll have to play again. 
13) Go to the summer IV Bible study :)  Check
14) Spend time with friends - big time check
15) Get married - yep, that one is done!! 

So, 7.5/15 isn't bad, right?  50%... for a busy, crazy, unpredictable summer - I'll settle for that; especially because there were so many more wonderful things that happened this summer that weren't planned at all!  YEAH!  God is good.  Now, it's back to school... I don't know if there will be a smiliar goals list for the school year - it might help, but, I'm not sure I'm entirely motivated for that just yet.

Finally

I am finally beginning to feel "normal" again.  Still tired from all the traveling - but I think I'm adjusting well to being married and back at home.  We had a whirlwind from the middle of July until about a week ago, and I'm thankful that we have had just a bit of time to settle in before heading back to school next week.  I am loving being married - Adam is a wonderful husband and it's so great to have your best friend with you, encouraging you and supporting you each day.  I am working now on getting back ready to teach and go to school.  It's a harder transition than I thought... while I love school and learning, and especially teaching, I am finding myself desiring to serve Adam and meet his needs before I think about my own things.  I see that as a good thing, not a bad one, so I think that's why I am challenged to be excited to dive back into the life I had before I got married (school-wise that is).  We'll see... God is working in me and I already feel more peace.  I'll try and get back into regular updates... but for now, I'm working on trying not to feel like I'm being pulled in a million directions.  I hope to finish our wedding/honeymoon pictures and scrapbooks and get things rolling for my name change before Monday... so it's back to work for me!