Prayer Requests and Mastersitis

I am suffering from a bad case of Mastersitis. (no that doesn't say mastitis). Mastersitis is similar to senioritis but is caused by the impending conclusion of a master's degree, not the senior year. I really have no passion for the course I'm in and it takes a great deal of discipline to even make myself do the work. Frankly, if the reading is not essential or immediately applicable I'm skimming it. Therefore, if I don't have an assignment related to it and it is not from the general design textbook, it's a lucky thing if I even print it off. I am officially in week 4 of this course, which means it is actually almost half over. However, that also means that I better get in a gear on working on the final project with my team. Have no fear, I am not letting my team down because even with my lack of motivation, I've been more engaged in the assignments than most.

On a different note, I have a few prayer requests. Please pray for my friend K's babies. They were born 11 weeks early and each and every day is a struggle right now.

My BIL and nephew left for some special time together in AZ this morning. Please pray that they will have a time of special bonding, that my BIL will find comfort in the warmth of AZ and that the specialist that he will see out there might offer some new and successful treatments for him.

THANKS!

A good day

I had a good day and fed the many aspects of my mind, spirit and body.

My day started with a nice breakfast with my parents before they left. They spent the weekend with us because my mom had a meeting nearby yesterday. Then, we headed for church and I worked in the nursery. God bless the kids I had today. They were so good! I've been in there when I can't wait for church to be over, but today was really enjoyable.

John had to work at AH, so we had lunch in CU. Then, Jer and I headed home. I connected with CK for a quick phone call on my way home. Jer fell asleep but wanted to snuggle when we got home so we sat in the chair for about 10 minutes. He is getting quite the habit of snuggling. While he was napping, I studied. This included reading a textbook while I rode my stationary bike. (Proud of myself for that one). I also ran a load of laundry.

After Jeremiah woke up we cleaned up the kitchen together, played blocks, read books, and kicked a ball around the basement.

After a leftover dinner, John watched Jer so I could put in some studying. After Jer went to bed, I sat down with the laptop to do some things for work tomorrow while I watched the Duggar wedding on TLC and now I'm blogging, which I haven't done in a while.

Most importantly, I feel wonderfully refreshed and fulfilled after today. However, I do believe that the loads of laundry that need folding are going to wait. I'm going to go paint my nails.

A Balance Challenge

I've realized a specific aspect of trying to maintain balance that is specifically challenging to me. It bothers me so much when various errands mount up and there is no time to work all day, pick up Jeremiah on time, and get errands accomplished. Granted, I could run errands all weekend, but then I feel like I lose balance of time for enjoyable things (and school work) that need to happen during the weekend.

Balance is a challenge for many working moms but my newest frustration regarding finding time for things like picking up diapers, dry cleaning drop off/pick up, picking up new medical supplies for Jeremiah, and more is something I'm not getting my head wrapped around. I would normally develop a plan of attack but this is just upsetting me more because I don't seem to be able to catch up with it or develop tactics to handle it.

Perhaps days off will be the only answer.

Any bright ideas out there?

Too cold

Duh! It's obvious that it's cold outside. I canceled some visits that I was supposed to make today because of the ridiculousness of trying to travel in this weather. I, instead, decided to work from home today.

I'm warm and cozy in my home office wearing a turtleneck and a hooded sweatshirt. I just glanced over at our wireless weather station to note that it is so cold that it refuses to tell us just how cold it is. The outdoor temperature now looks like this - - -. I think that's code for DAMN COLD!

Focus on me

Six days in to the new year means it is full time for me to share my resolution. Drum roll....I resolve to take better care of myself! Wow! That's profound, huh?

As 2008 came to a close, I realized that many of challenges and frustrations I faced were rooted in the fact that I didn't take care of myself. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. I was not nurturing my relationships, I was putting unhealthy foods in my body too often, and I was not feeding my spirit.

Apparently, I'm trendy too! Although I was steps ahead of her show, Oprah came out yesterday declaring that she was recommitting to taking better care of herself.

So, now that I have an objective, here are a few tactical ways that I'm hoping to take better care of myself.

1. Recommit to walking 2-3 days per week. Supplement this with bike riding when possible.
2. Remembering to relax completely (READ - not simply multi-tasking while I manage to watch one TV program per week), whether it be blogging, curling up to read a magazine or taking a long hot bath!
3. Think before I eat! I'm going to keep it as simple as that.
4. Regular appointments for personal care. Yes, this requires money but makes me feel like I've done something just for me.
5. Get the rest my body requires.
6. Reflect in prayer, thought, and/or conversation daily.

It is my hope that there are positive side effects regarding my relationships, professional life, and motherhood that could be additional goals but these are the tactics that truly relate to the objective.

There you have it. Here's to me in 2009!

2008 in review

I didn't manage to get this done before New Year's Eve but still wanted to do it because I enjoyed writing a similar thing last year. Let's hope I can get things right this year.

Tribute to 2008
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Took a cruise
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Well, looking back at my blog, I didn't stick to all of them for the full year, but did manage to accomplish some of them. They were more goals than resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? EFG was born in May and Owen in July. We're looking forward to welcoming other people's babies in 2009!
4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully there wasn't anyone close to me who passed.
5. What countries did you visit? Mexico
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More time with Jeremiah and John - not studying
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I won't remember the exact date but will know that there was an earthquake this year.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Managing to work full time, be a mom, a wife and a student simultaneously. AND specifically completing my capstone!!!
9. What was your biggest failure? Not taking care of myself in order to nurture and care for the relationship in my life. Stress took over on more than one occassion
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? nothing major
11. What was the best thing you bought? hmmm....not sure...not much beyond basics of clothes, etc.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My hubby's - for putting up with the monster school turned me in to
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Appalled and depressed are pretty strong words. I don't think I was that mad at anyone
14. Where did most of your money go? diapers, gas and a lovely new sewer line (ugh - home ownership!)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Jeremiah's milestones, special time alone with John on the cruise, and completing my capstone
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? don't know
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer? Happier, I guess? Fatter because I haven't been good about exercising or watching what I eat. Debt is different but feel more secure than a year ago.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? snuggling Jeremiah, just hanging out or going out with John, checking in on friends and family and setting aside time for them
20. How will you be spending Christmas? We went north
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? more and more with my husband and son
22. How many one-night stands? nope
23. What was your favorite TV program? Thursday and Sunday nights - E.R., DH, and Brothers and Sisters (that's all there was time for)
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? nope, I don't think so, although there is one Ed History professor that I don't have much use for
25. What was the best book you read? I think I only read one book besides text books. It was "The Other Mother". It was good.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Big fan of Jim Brickman on Pandora - did a large amount of writing papers with that one
27. What did you want and get? GPS
28. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't go to the theater all year. We rented Juno. It was good.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 28. I rode in a car from New Orleans because it was the day our cruise returned.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More time with John and Jeremiah and being closer to family
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? trying to find my look and not break the bank
32. What kept you sane? a cleaning lady, phone calls and e-mails from friends, and a few good cries
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? don't know
34. What political issue stirred you the most? I was interested in the election but I'm glad it's over. Now, I'm just hoping the state of IL can get their act together.
35. Who did you miss? my family and friends far away
36. Who was the best new person you met? Just looking forward to becoming social again - and looking forward to meeting my classmates in-person in 2009
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. It's important to share how you feel!
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. This one sums up my life. "Life's a dance you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow."