Tuesday, August 30, 2016

The Happy Life and Times of Simple Me: Embracing the Busy-ness

The Happy Life and Times of Simple Me: Embracing the Busy-ness: Where o where has my little blog gone.... Wow, it's been January since I've written. The only thing I can blame it on is the once ...

Embracing the Busy-ness

Where o where has my little blog gone....

Wow, it's been January since I've written. The only thing I can blame it on is the once again "stupid busy-ness".  In the last 8 months, I have had lots of blog ideas and really wanted to write but didn't happen.  It is what it is.  I do like to write and do miss it.  Maybe I should just keep a journal and be done with it, but who has time for that?

I didn't even write about my last marathon!  It's been 4 months and I am still nursing a torn meniscus in the knee.  The race went well.  I was happy with my finish time of 4:48ish. The problem is I should have taken time off and I didn't.  I ran for about a month and called it quits.  I am seeing a chiropractor now. This experience is what one calls humbleness.  I don't like not running but it is what it is...saying for the day, I guess.

The reason I feel so compelled to write today is because of an epiphany.  My blog is supposed to be about living a simple life.  I guess my reason for that particular topic is that I long for it but can't seem to achieve it.  My saying lately is "I just wanna play in my yard and can tomatoes."  This summer wasn't too hectic but still not as relaxing as I would have liked. We only camped once (as if that is relaxing), we didn't go anywhere special (except for my 16 year old who spent a month in France!). We just did the ballpark and swim club.  The hammock was a new purchase, but not used enough. We did get to be lazy at times, which is the ultimate goal of summer, right?



Wanna know the epiphany? "Jenny, you can't have a simple life, so embrace the busy-ness."

My sweet husband said yesterday (as I walked in at 9 pm after volunteering in the concession stand), "Hey, I know you!"  My response, "yeah, you're the guy I wave to on the road."  To demonstrate this insanely busy schedule here is today's sample:
Me-Go to the bank and to the school but first neglect badly needed housework so I can blog. Hopefully, I can get a shower in after my 1 hour bike ride.
Mary-a far away soccer game, leave 4 back 9ish
Daisy-after school- band, soccer, volleyball (we cancelled Tuesday piano until November)
Bernadette -after school -cross country then soccer
Josef-soccer
Fulton-finally some mommy time

Throw in homework and baths.  Since we live outta town, the trick is who is going to pick up who and when.  5:00 soccer 6:30 soccer ends 6:30 soccer begins 8 soccer ends. Oh wait a minute, Daisy doesn't have volleyball tonight that usually ends at 7:30.  And Bernadette doesn't have XC so I will have to take her up at 5 to soccer. Mary will be no help tonight with driving, which she hardly is anyway because of her activities.  So far, we haven't forgotten anybody except Bernadette last week at grandma's. Like this every. dang. day.  But I can't complain because I am super (stupid) volunteer. I should be working on the race I am race director for, researching grants and writing a proposal letter for band, and at least I found someone to teach at church so I can mark that one off my list!

Yes, yes, yes, I am venting but yesterday, the day of the epiphany, everything was put into perspective.  We put to rest a friend, age 36, who died of cancer. She left behind a loving husband and two young kids.  I remember one time she posted something along these lines on facebook "I am gonna beat this cancer because I have games to watch, homework to do, plays to see, etc."

Now, I'm humbled.

Amongst all this busyness, I force myself to make time for prayer.  Sometimes it might be in the most unusual places, but I know God listens. Today's prayer:

Thank you God, for the blessing of my busy-ness.  Help me to choose to embrace it. Help me to be thankful for the blessings of our health, for my children that are smart and athletic, my husband who is supportive of me, who I can share this life of busy-ness with, and provides for us so I can stay home, for this sanctuary of our peaceful homestead that we have created together. Give me the patience, ability to plan and organize, and faith needed to give these children a happy, holy childhood. Help me to embrace each busy day with a happy heart.  Amen.

Mother Mary, pray for me that I may always do your Son's will.

What ways can you embrace the busy-ness?