The last couple of months have flown by. Here’s a short, but not exhaustive recap:

• Ended one job and started a new one. It’s a big change and I’m a total beginner again and essentially getting paid to go to school. I’m soaking this up for as long as it lasts!
• My life has been revolutionized from squeezing lime juice into a glass of ice water. It not only tastes amazing, and is good for your health, but it also makes nalgene water bottles smell nice. Yes, it’s the little things.
• My heart melts when nephew #1 calls my name through the house when he doesn’t know where I am – he yells: “Anky-Tae!” Gets me every time.
• My heart melts when nephew #2 comes prancing toward me in a quick crawl, while throwing me a big cheeky smile.
• I still have a crush on Paul Ryan. He makes economics the most exciting thing in the world for me.
• I’m training Caspian to ride and I’m happy to report that my feet don’t drag the ground! Prayers answered! He’s a fabulous horse, smart and willing to learn, laid back with a spark, and the nosiest horse I’ve ever known. 
• Mr. Darcy is looking very scruffy. 
• Wilbur Mac has taken to sounding off gentle knickers at feeding time and other random times. I think it’s because he knows how to manipulate females.
• I have eaten way too much tex mex this summer. 
• I’ve decided to get fitted for real running shoes and train for a 5k. Yeah, ask me how that’s going in about 8 months. 
• I’m looking very forward to meeting nephew #3 in a few weeks!

My life looks very different from (one of) my sister(s). This sister has the hardest job in the world – she is raising the next generation. She is not only raising kiddos, but she is also raising one tiger, one bear, and a future to-be-named (I’m voting for a lion cub). Read her blog and she will quickly become your new heroine.

In contrast to her daily life, here is a snapshot of mine of late:

• work projects that are both tedious and rewarding
• wrapping up one job this month and venturing into a completely new one next month
• twice daily walks with Mr. Darcy as he is wrapping his physical therapy post-surgery.
• complete enjoyment of working with and riding Caspian. This has been a long-time coming and the fruit of efforts from Eryn, Virginia, Shelly, JR, and many more. 
• root beer floats and tex mex!
• working with a blind horse and a paralytic student at ROCK and getting perpetually reminded that even the seeming “worthless” things have reason and beauty and purpose. 
• a weekly small group at church of dear friends, where we are learning to go through life’s ups and downs and sideways turns together

I trust that while I am not raising the next generation, the work I’m doing is nonetheless exactly where He wants me.

• I love my Australian Shepherd.
• I miss my two big beautiful growing way too fast nephews.
• I would like to meet my sisters at Starbucks this morning for a chai and goofy conversation.
• I’d like to take a walk in the desert with Mom and Dad.
• I got up early this morning and cleaned the house.
• Now I need a shower.
• I’ll start sounding like Pioneer Woman if I’m not careful.
• I’m looking forward to Spring. But not Summer.
• What is with the 80 degree weather in January? 
• Looking forward to new things to come in 2012.
• I have way too many books to read. I’m not allowing myself to buy any more new books until I’ve read the ones I already have. Yeah, ask me how well that is going in a couple weeks or so.
• My roommates have declared that I have too many mugs. They say that as they are both drinking out of my mugs. Still trying to wrap my head around that.
• I would like about three more months of really cold weather so I can keep wearing my down vests and jacket. Two weeks worth of wearing them isn’t very satisfying.
• I really need – yes, need – a manicure and pedicure.
• Happy Friday!

• Mom, Eryn, Jess, and Declan visiting.
• Art show debut. Totally blessed by all the folks who came out for it.
• Markets days with Mom. Shopped till we dropped. Well, at least I dropped. Mom didn’t – she ran circles around me, as she always does.
• Holding Baby Will-yum.
• Kissing my Pooh Bear’s big nose.
• Hangin’ out with the small group, including the Smiths!
• Hangin’ out with the McGarys.
• Listening to Mom’s Toast Master’s speech, which was excellent.
• Too many goodbyes. 

a muddy horse – he rarely rolls, so he must have enjoyed the rain as much as I did
brushing the muddy horse
chasing my friend’s goat around the barn (little turd)
bareback ride on the clean horse
cool breeze and pretty cloudy sunset
Mr. Darcy running around the barnyard and keeping a close eye on the nearby coyotes
Mat Kearney on the way home
Kalachies from my roomies for dinner
closing down the weekend by reading a good book
pretty much a perfect evening