My blog has sort of been taken over by my comics. Which I really don’t mind. They allow me a creative outlet and have helped develop my optimistic lighthearted view of pregnancy. However, one of the main purposes of my blog is to encourage myself to think a little deeper, to ponder longer, and to keep myself in check. As a result this is more of a journaling entry, (yes I just made up that word.)

“My Life in France” by Julia Child.
This past week I read or rather listened to “My Life in France” by Julia Child. I originally started reading it, but knew I wouldn’t get through it in time for Book club tomorrow so I ordered the audio book from our fabulous public library, and listened to the entire book one day last week while I was working on the house. I highly recommend the book as an audio book. I think memoirs are best listened to. Then you get the feeling that you just had the author over for lunch and she recounted her life. I was inspired by Julia’s zeal for life, her don’t-take-yourself-too-seriously mentality, and her ability to find joy no matter her surroundings. I imagine many women would have really struggled if their husband’s job took them to a new country every few years, but she thrived on the change and opportunity for growth and learning. I loved how she created learning opportunities for herself. She would take an everyday task like cooking or grocery shopping, and turn it into a educational course. I have known other women of this brand in my life, and always determined that when I reached that point in life (at which I have arrived) when my days of formal education were closed for a while, I would not cease to educate myself. I love the idea of choosing a subject for the year that one makes a little extra effort to “study.” This year, naturally, I have spent a lot of time reading and learning about childbirth and nursing. Words like colostrum, Braxton Hicks, and preeclampsia are now commonplace in my vocabulary. But what will it be next year? (Beyond child rearing?) I think it’s wise to always have a project, even if it means cooking one new dish a week, or reading one news article a week. Thanks Julia for the inspiration to learn, love, and laugh- and of course cook delicious food!

Late Pregnancy
I’ve read a few books and many internet articles on pregnancy. Each one has highlighted the potential side effects, problems, and outcomes. All in all, they created within my mind the concept of dramatic pregnancy. However, as OB after OB appointment pass, and my doctors say “Well, everything looks good!” I’ve come to the realization that doctor’s visits are much like insurance, you go “just in case.” But assuming you have a healthy pregnancy you could have just as well waited until the delivery day to call in the Doc. I add my carefree pregnancy to my list of blessings, though it doesn’t make for as many good stories!

I’ve reached that point in my pregnancy when passers-by think, “Oh my goodness, can she get any bigger?” Never has the adjective “huge” been used so frequently to describe myself. Fortunately, it doesn’t really bother me, I’m in complete accordance! Yesterday I was teaching and stood up to demonstrate a proper singing breath, I took a breath and looked down to point out the expansion. In my pre-pregnancy role of singer and teacher I had temporarily forgotten my current state of advance maternity, and for a split second was shocked at how much expansion I saw! Who knew a body type as shapeless as mine could develop so many curves!

Politics
One of my new year’s resolutions is to read a news article a day and to listen to the White house press briefings podcast. In addition to this I listened to President Obama’s speech at the Tucson memorial service and then last night’s State of the Union address. I highly encourage each of you, regardless of your feelings towards President Obama, to listen to that Tucson speech. It was truly inspiring. I felt similarly about the State of the Union address. I appreciated Pres. Obama’s determination to work together, to make whatever changes necessary to put this country back on its feet. Many commentators have said over decisions Pres. Obama has made, “Well, this may ruin his chances for 2012.” I say, Thank Goodness, isn’t that a sign that he’s doing what he believes in rather than what others want. Isn’t that what we want in a president- a leader? I hope that the bi-partisanship we saw in the state of the union will hold up, and that these next two years can be spent to speed along the progress in this country. I’m proud to be an American.

Missionary Work
A week ago, Tom and I went with the missionaries to visit a woman who had expressed interest in learning more about the church. It was a beautiful experience, one I hope I don’t soon forget. My favorite point in the lesson was when one of the Elder’s told her that she was a daughter of God. He asked her what she thought about that. She openly admitted that she never had thought about it. As she tried to describe her feelings a little light sparkled in her eyes and a new countenance feel over her face. My heart swelled as the knowledge that she, like me, was a daughter of God overwhelmed me. She may never join the church, but I’m so grateful that she had the chance to learn that she is divine, that God loves her, and that her potential is so much greater than she can even imagine. The appointment left me with the desire to proclaim my beliefs from the rooftops. I see so many around me who’s lives could be chanced if they accepted the truth of their divinity. I also felt inspired to live my life in such a way that others “may see my good works and glorify my Father which is in Heaven.”

Domesticity
The last nine months have challenged my self identity. The six years previous were spent in the pursuit of the identity of singer and performer. While I have done a fair share of singing, and a good deal of teaching these past months, neither has played the largest role in my life. Leaving the question, if I’m not a singer or performer, then what am I? There have been weeks that have been absorbed with nothing other than home projects, cleaning, cooking, and errands. At other times I spent most of my time studying French, learning about art history, and planning an itinerary for our France/Italy trip. While I’ve been completely content with my life about 98% of the time, there have been those times in the other 2% when I’ve asked, “What am I doing with my life?!” Is my time really best spent making homemade bread, quilting, painting walls, and drawing comics? I’ve felt pressure to go out and get a job so I can make money. Because isn’t money the sign of success? I comfort myself by thinking that all of my work on our house will hopefully pay off when we sell it. But what if it doesn’t? Have I wasted all the time I’ve spent learning how to drywall, tile, paint, texture, install hardware, and decorate a home if it never earns me a buck? I think not. Life is about growth, and looking back I think if all I’ve accomplished is my goal to “take myself less seriously” than I’ve found success!