snowballs and saturdays

Lazy day finally.  Thank God!

Things have gotten busy lately.  Like ugh busy.  Not as bad as contest-busy.  But we're ramping up for it.  I suspect February and March will hit me like a ton of bricks.

Let me just say:  it's been a rough week.  Crazy cold here with no snow, which makes me frustrated.  And the reality of having 14 students and double accompanying is upon me with all the force of a snowball rolling down the hill, gaining speed as we speak.

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids.  And I love working at Lutheran.  It's just that... well, spring sucks.  I haven't seen any of my girlfriends in a week.  I sometimes get sweet texts from them wondering where I am and if I'm still alive... aka "Has life swallowed you up, my dear?" from my friend Christine.  She has a newborn and she asks me if I'm ok.  Lordy.

Last night I did absolutely nothing.  I sat in front of the tv watching How I Met Your Mother for three hours while I made elephant valentines and got glitter all over the floor and myself from the sparkly cardstock I bought for them.  It was delightful.  But nonetheless, it makes me feel old.  Just one of the reasons I refuse to get a cat.

I think the biggest challenge I face when things get busy like this is staying in the Word and making time for myself.  The rest of the year I do moderately well at this but once the spring semester starts, for some reason it just all goes out the window.  I was lucky last year to keep running.  I think it's one of the few things that kept me sane.  And this week my sleep schedule got messed up a couple of nights in a row and wow... that was hard.  I just can not compensate like I used to.  My ability to deal with the imperfections of this world is thoroughly diminished when I don't sleep well.  Couple that with no time for myself or with the Lord and I am such a grinch.

I did manage to get a lesson in for myself, which was good.  But I had to say no to someone else in order to make it happen.  And I would not have naturally said no.  It was only because I needed Prof Burkhart's help with Federation paperwork and that was the only time she had available to meet with me for both paperwork and a lesson that I said no to this other (money-making) engagement.  I know... I have got to get better at this.  Like the ski trip I want to go on next month.  The senior high group at my church needs volunteer chaperones for their ski trip out to Colorado.  Completely free for me.  Why do I hesitate to say no to everything else and just go?  Even though my schedule is mine, I box myself in, thinking I might be needed for something.  I just need to learn to do what I need to do for myself and not second-guess it or feel guilty.

So yeah, I guess that's what I'll be doing today.  Catching up on my study of John.  And maybe making some chicken soup.  Possibly making more valentines.  Or taking a nap.  I should probably stop by the music store and pick up a few things for my kids.  But that could probably wait til Monday...