Busy, Busy, Busy!

photo courtesy of The New Professional

 

I truly cannot believe how BUSY everyone is! I can't believe how much people take on. It's like the busiest, most exhausted person wins! But wins what? Lost relationships? An ulcer? No sleep?

I have to admit, I use to be a busy person. My illness slowed me way, way, WAY down. TOO "way down" if you ask me. But it really makes me treasure what's important. I guess if there's one thing I'm thankful for in regard to having a chronic illness is that I try not to take important things for granted. I ask myself.... Will this matter a year from now? What about 10 years from now? It may matter an HOUR from now, but does it have ANY lasting value?

Here's a big shocker, folks, hope you're sitting down.

It's not a competition.

If you get everything done on your list of 17 things to do today, but had no contact with a true friend, or helped no one, or didn't pass on a kindness to a stranger, then did today really matter?

I KNOW I can't be the only person on the planet who genuinely cares about people, and will make time for what's really important. But that's the key. You have to MAKE time. My theory is that if it's important enough, you'll find time for it. You find time to watch your favorite program. You find time to eat dinner. You find time to go shopping. You find time to read a good book. You find time to ______. And I'm still preaching to the choir, because there are many times that I could spend with God, that I choose to do something else...watch TV, read, etc. We just have to prioritize.

Some folks genuinely have busy lives because they ARE taking care of others; a sick friend, an elderly parent, a down-on-their-luck neighbor. And bravo to you! But don't forget that even in doing all these "Good Things" you can still be too busy.

In our world of immediate gratification, it is important to learn to slow down. I have had to by force. But it really has made me step back and see that so many of us are, or were, just like crazy little ants running around and going and going and going.....

So please. Take a minute to stop today. Stop and spend a few minutes in complete silence. Stop and spend a moment in prayer. Stop and just breathe! Stop and drop a card in the mail for a friend, or a shut-in at church. Stop, and ask your pastor what you can do to help. Everyone is “busy”.  However, if something is important enough, you WILL find time for it.


For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV

This Crazy Thing Called Life

My word.  I can't believe the things I try to do.  ALL the things I try to do.  If I did them one at a time, it probably wouldn't be a big deal.  However, when I try to

keep up on my CBI lessons and Christian pen pals
do the laundry
pay the bills
do the budget
homeschool Jacob
make dinner
take care of the dogs
try to keep track of all the medications I take and when they need to be refilled
make and go to all of my medical appointments and treatments
review books for several different people/places
run a small business
make every single piece of jewelry for said business
be a parent to my child
be a wife to my husband
blog
write my book
check my email
balance the bank accounts
fight the proverbial "city hall:"  the injustices I see every day going on around me that I can't just ignore.....

It's INSANE!!! Healthy people can't do all that.  But I'm doing it.  And it's making me crazy.  And it's not good for me. 

But what are my options, ya know?  At least with winter coming Doug won't be spending most of his time outside.  Hopefully he'll get on the "cleaning the house" bandwagon.  He half-heartedly offered to take over the bills, but he really has no clue. I have spread sheets and all kinds of stuff...most everything is electronic, and he'd be asking for the checkbook.

Anywho.  If anyone has any ideas on how to simplify, let me know!!

Losing What's Left Of My Mind!

Good grief!  I'm tellin' ya.

I have been out of my mind busy.  Doug has decided he didn't feel like waiting for any help (from Love INC) to start the house.  Now he's got the siding from 2 sides of the house ripped off, built a box around the brick chimney, and is or has repaired boards.  But, he's not ready to Tyvek it yet.  So if it rains......  UG.

In the meantime, I've been doing doing doing.  Laundry, dishes, bills...oh, wait a minute, I do all that anyway!

In all fairness, Doug cooks supper most days.  But the house is in utter chaos...it needs to be cleaned, the office is a wreck (still)...I'm in the process of switching most of my bill pay stuff from one bank to another (yeah, that's a riot)...

Got lots of sick MG friends...I have 3 penpal letters to write (through Christian Pen Pals....you should check them out....there are hundreds, if not thousands of inmates waiting for a Christian penpal...), plus I've got 3 CBI letters to write to send off my lessons (Crossroad Bible Institute... same thing, you should check them out. They do inmate Bible studies and need people to correct them... Go to http://www.crossroadbible.org/ and see if you can help!)

So there's that, then jewelry to make, a business to run...doctor appointments (had 2 yesterday, went by myself)...Doug's been hammering on the house for 2 days....I'm about to lose my mind....what's left of it.  I've got a book review to write....and the list goes on.... Oh, yeah, sorted 4 loads of laundry this morning...I think I'm on load 3. Yah, like THAT'S getting folded today!  Not so much.

AND we have a meeting with Love INC in 2 hours. 

Calgon take me away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stop Chirping!

"Who knows the beginning of the things which we CAN know? Theory! Theory! We chirp theories like chickadees because ignorance is a terrifying thing and we need the noise." -Walter Wangerin

This was posted on a friend's facebook status today, and it really caught my attention.  I am a person who used to HAVE to be surrounded by noise.  I still am at night, much to the dismay of my husband, who loves perfect silence at night.

I grew up sleeping with a fan most of the time because we didn't have air conditioning, and just got used to it to the point of needing the noise.  Now I have an oxygen concentrator and a vent, so I still have noise.  Can't sleep without it.

Now, however, during the daytime, I am learning to appreciate the quiet.  Part of it is having a 5 1/2 year old boy who actually talks more than I do.  The only thing moving faster than his feet is his mouth.  

But I think part of appreciating the silence is not being afraid of it.  Before I got sick, I had to fill every atom of space around me with something...noise, music, work, play, fun, people, and so on.  It was through the noise that I lost hearing that still, small voice.  I was so afraid of the silence and what it might bring....that I would have to own up to some inappropriate behavior.... That I would have to admit that I didn't know it all or have it all, that I couldn't DO it all.

"We chirp theories like chickadees because ignorance is a terrifying thing and we need the noise."  If we're talking and moving and doing and acting, we can't just "be."  If we're trying to figure everything out we don't have to live with the unknown, because the unknown is terrifying.

That's why people stay in situations that are HORRIBLE.  Because the familiar, whether good or damaging, is better than the unknown.  Well, today I challenge you to just BE. To embrace the silence.  To put aside the theories.  To stop trying to solve the world's problems... or even your own.

Just BE.  Listen.  Absorb.  Put down the remote, turn off the computer, take a deep breath, and just be.

Whirlwind and Updates

Sunday was my grumpy-I'm-lonely-feel-sorry-for-me-pity-party-day so I didn't post.  I'm over myself a bit now, and yesterday was just insanely busy, so here I am.  FINALLY.

OH my goodness.  I'm still tired from yesterday.  I ran a billion errands (give or take a million) and ended up at Wal-Mart returning 100, yes, one hundred, bottles and cans.  I thought my arms were going to fall off.  And that was at the BEGINNING of the shopping.  I actually had to ask for someone to take my cart out to the van and load it up.  And a very precious man named David did just that.  What a sweetheart.  Especially after the cashier from hell.  But that's another post.

Anywho.  I got home at like almost 3, stared hauling stuff in and putting stuff away, and it was almost 5 before I was totally done.  My arms are killing me from carrying all the bags.  I HAVE to learn to settle down! I always do way too much....but after you've felt like crap for SO LONG...I mean, last year at this time I could not even drive my van.  I was too weak to keep it on the road.  Unreal.

So today I'm filling jewelry orders (YAY!!) and tomorrow my sister is coming over to make jewelry!  How cool!

More good news:  my nephew Daniel is home safe and sound from Iraq...3rd tour I think?  He is back with his wife (my niece Jessica) and baby girl in Kansas!  YAY!
 
And finally, my dad is having surgery November 1 to remove the portion of his lung that has the cancer in it.  Please keep him and my mom and family in your prayers.  My dad is not in great health, but his surgeon said he is a candidate for the surgery.  I talked a little bit about this with my pulmonologist when I had my appointment and he said surgery is THE only option if you want to be cured.  AND that finding adenocarcinoma at Stage one is like winning the lottery.  SO.  His surgeon is the best in the state, country, maybe, I know 2 people who HIGHLY recommend him.  Please pray specifically against infection after the surgery.  Please remember also to NOT comment on facebook, but on my blog about my dad.  

THANKS!!! 

TOO Much Going On

It's not that there's too much physically going on in my life...I'm busy, but I'm feeling okay (other than the sinus infection and bronchitis) MG-wise.  I have a treatment Friday, and then again on Monday.  Then the goal is to get the port placed before Thanksgiving, and have my next treatments after Thanksgiving WITH the port.  One can hope.

But I mean emotionally right now....Other than my dad being diagnosed with cancer, even though it's Stage I thank the LORD!  There are 2 others VERY dear to me that are at this very moment waiting for test results that could change their lives.  And mine.  It's so hard to wait, and yet there's no other way.  So I wait.  And wait. And pray.  And pray some more.  Not ready to reveal who these folks are because 1. I don't have their permission, haven't asked, and 2. there may be nothing to share, but I do ask for your prayers. God knows who they are and what they need.

And may I be so bold as to ask for continued prayers for me...Emotional stress is harder on my MG than physical stress is.  I can sit and make jewelry for hours and be fine....but the moment one of my loved ones gets bad news or is hurt or "messed with" in any way, the emotions go up, the tension goes up, and the MG goes DOWN.

I am so thankful that I am a woman of faith.  I do not know how I would get through this without knowing that God is in control, and that everything will work out for good for those who love Him and keep his commandments.

ANYWAY.  Just have a lot going on in every area of my life, and it's a bit stressful.  Jacob is learning a lot but has a lot of difficult questions because he is so smart!

The other day he asked me if I was going to have any more kids.  That is like salt in an open wound.  He doesn't know that, of course....But trying to explain that Mommy wants more but Daddy doesn't without making Daddy sound like a bad guy to a 5 year old is tough.  He doesn't understand all the nuances that go along with that decision making process.

And then this morning he asked why Jesus had to die.  Good grief.  I'm just pooped.  I'm probably go lay down in a bit.  I need to rest!!

It's Official...I'm Insane

photo courtesy of google images moodyncheeky

Like I don't have enough to do, right? Oy vey!  I'm not Yiddish either, but whatevah.

So I went and signed up for NaNoWriMo.  Mm-Hmm.  I've GOT to get to work on my book, and this just might be the inspiration/accountability I need. Or, it may officially drive me over the edge.  It's a toss-up, really.

I may have to give up something...I don't know what....But I won't have any treatments in the month of November, and the only thing I DO have that is time consuming (other than living my life with MG, raising and homeschooling my son, running my new jewelry business, taking care of the house, cooking, cleaning, being a wife, etc.) is my craft show on November 19.

So yeah.  What IS NaNoWriMo other than really hard to say and type?  A grassroots organization that helps authors get books written.  I've seen other people do it, and I don't know ALL that much about it yet except that you write like a madman (or woman if you must be "PC") for 30 days and do word counts every day and people support you and cheer you on and rah rah rah.  So we'll see.

So tell me if this is realistic:
*writing a book
*raising and homeschooling a very active 5 year old
*being a wife and housekeeper/homemaker/heartbreaker...oh, wait, that's Pat Benatar...
*running my own business which involves painstaking labor and lots of it
*blogging as much as possible (at least 5 days a week)
*keeping track of the budget, bills, expenses, etc.
*trying to keep up communication with those I love
*daily quiet time with God

I think I'm I'm up for it.

What's that?  Who is bellowing with evil laughter?
It's not me.....I don't think....

Busy, Busy!

My goodness!  I'm so completely tired!  I FINALLY feel "over" my cold...yesterday I separated, washed, dried and folded five loads of laundry!  PLUS I made homemade apple crisp.  I KNOW!  Then today, I WAS just going to drop Jacob off at Shawn's and come home and work on jewelry and stuff, but I thought, well, I needed to look for a few specific things at Walmart, and I was almost halfway there....so I went to Wal-Mart. 

They had more than I needed, as usual...but I still needed something else.  So I went to a little store in Plainwell called the Calico Rabbit.  It's like a consignment shop, and I had gotten some AWESOME beads and polished stones there last week.  BUT, they didn't have what I was looking for.  But they also had more than I needed.

So then I went to the bead store in downtown Allegan, and found PART of what I was looking for. (And a little more)....so I didn't get home til after 3PM and I had to put away groceries and make supper! (White chili...YUM!!)

Then I'm trying to put my pictures on my facebook page and it's giving me fits.  Ug.

Anyway....I am still alive.  No new news on my dad yet.  He had an MRI Monday morning, and they have an appointment on October 4 (Tuesday) to get all the results.  It's hard not to speculate.  I'm just trying to stay busy and not think about it.

SO....what's going on with you??

Also, check out my other blog and see some of the new stuff I'm doing!
www.kerriskreationsjewelry.blogspot.com

Trying To Catch Up

My word.  If my brain was not securely encased in bone it would surely leap from my head from sheer frustration and overload.  It's like at any one time I'm trying to think of, organize, reflect, and orchestrate 25 different things.  Having 4 days of celebrating an only child's 5th birthday didn't help.

Saturday was the party at Grandma and Papa's house.  Sunday we chilled out here but let Jacob open his presents.  Monday Doug took the day off and we went fishing in South Haven. Didn't catch a thing, but checked out a few shops (didn't buy anything but fudge and fancy dog biscuits).  OH, and of course I found a bead store.  Then we stopped at the Dutch Farm Market (yummy), Jacob played on the playground, and was SUPPOSED to go to bed early.  But NOOOOOO, Daddy wanted to do fireworks.

So the NEXT day, at his kid party with 6 of his cousins, he was a mess.  A crying, whining, overly tired, overstimulated mess.  And I got to deal with it.  Thank GOD for Karen and Kerry. 

Even right now I've got like 10 blog posts running through my head.  Little Caesars didn't put our order in (I CALLED AHEAD so it would be READY!!) so Kerry had to wait, and Karen and I had to distract 7 crazy hungry children for 20 extra minutes.

I'm trying to up my page rank for my blog for google (something I didn't even know existed til recently) and I can't figure out what the heck I'm doing.  Computer programming is from the pit of hell.  I literally gave myself a migraine trying to read code and figure out what the %$#!& I was supposed to do with it.  I think I might have even broken out in hives.  Palpitations for sure.  Thankfully, God has blessed me with Kate, blog designer and programmer extraordinaire, who is helping me. (Her button 2711 Designs is on the side of my blog).

I've got pictures I want to post.

I've got a budget from hell I'm trying to figure out...property taxes are due...HUGE electric bill threw me all off schedule last month....I'm about to go insane....I'm trying to start/run/increase a business, and haven't had time or energy to do so.

I've got the usual doctors, HSA, health issues, prescriptions, appointments, etc to keep up on (no small task in and of itself), and a million other things running around my head like little mouse feet. Scurry, scurry, scurry.  I've got book reviews to do, a Bible study to finish, turkeys to corral, dogs to take care of, a child to homeschool, raise, teach right from wrong, make eat good food, etc., dinners to make, oh yeah, and then there's this thing called MG.

Ok.  I'm going to go now and try to figure out how to organize all of this stuff without losing what's left of my mind.  Thanks for reading!!!!

An Old Post That Fits Like A Glove

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Busy, busy, busy

Ya know, I can't believe how much people take on. It's like the busiest, most exhausted person wins! But wins what? Lost relationships? An ulcer? No sleep? I have to admit, I use to be a busy person. My illness slowed me way, way, WAY down. TOO "way down" if you ask me. But it really makes me treasure what's important. I guess if there's one thing I'm thankful for by having a chronic illness is that I try not to take important things for granted. I ask myself.... Will this matter 10 years from now? It may matter an HOUR from now, but does it have ANY lasting value? If something is important enough, you WILL find time for it.

Here's a big shocker, folks, hope you're sitting down. It's not a competition. If you get everything done on your list of 17 things to do today, but had no contact with a true friend, or helped no one, or didn't pass on a kindness to a stranger, then did today really matter? I KNOW I can't be the only person on the planet who genuinely cares about people, and will make time for what's really important. But that's the key. You have to MAKE time. My theory is, if it's important enough, you'll find time for it. You find time to watch your favorite program. You find time to eat dinner. You find time to go shopping. You find time to read a good book. You find time to ______. And I'm still preaching to the choir, because there are many times that I could spend with God, that I choose to do something else...watch TV, read, etc. We just have to prioritize.

Some folks genuinely have busy lives because they ARE taking care of others; a sick friend, an elderly parent, a down-on-their-luck neighbor. And bravo to you. But don't forget that even doing all these "Good Things" you can still be too busy.

In our world of immediate gratification, it is an important lesson to learn to slow down. I have had to by force. But it really has made me step back and see that so many of us are, or were, just like crazy little ants running around and going and going and going.....

So please. Take a minute to stop today. Stop and spend a few minutes in complete silence. Stop and spend a moment in prayer. Stop and drop a card in the mail for a friend, or a shut-in at church. Stop, and ask your pastor what you can do to help.

We area all in this so called life together, and we all need each other, whether you want to admit it or not.

Survived the Weekend

Oh my goodness. I will never again go away for 4 days getting back 1 1/2 days from my child's birthday.

We got home from Soaring Eagle (broke even) on Friday around 3. Spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking, talking to Jacob, kissing Jacob, hugging Jacob, telling Jacob how much I love him and missed him....

Then Saturday I had 2 cakes baked by 10:30 (yes, AM). One in a train mold to go on top of the 9x13 cake. Then I had to decorate the train (why do I do this to myself???) I will post pictures when I get my camera back. I left it at my mom's yesterday at Jacob's birthday party.

Then I had to wrap all of his presents, and I got all the stuff ready for his birthday party at Auntie Shawn's on Wednesday. I also was, of course, taking care of Jacob and still unpacking. Plus I did a boatload of dishes, then I baked cookies for Mr. Tim who came over to let our doggies out during the day while we were gone.

Can't remember what else was in there, but at 9:00 PM I did my hair with the magenta color to cover up the light blue....long story there....The original bottle said "shocking violet" and it turned out puke-baby blue. I am NOT a pastel kind of girl. (Yes I have pictures, but again, on my camera at my mom's. She's coming Friday to watch Jacob while we go to Ann Arbor).

Then yesterday Jacob opened some presents here in the morning, then we got ready, had a bite of lunch, went to Doug's parents for presents, then to my parents' for Jacob's birthday party. Food and cake and presents. By the end of the party, I had to get a neck pillow because my head was tipping over.

So I thought I would rest today, but ended up playng with Jacob, while doing 5 loads of laundry, dogs in and out (which Jacob helps with a lot!) Not to mention the fact that I woke up at 3:30 AM and couldn't get back to sleep...until almost 5:00, and that's when Jacob woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep. I tried to nap this afternoon but just ended up resting.

Then Doug got home and I thought, oh cool, he can take Jacob out while I pay the bills and write blog posts and stuff. Um, nope. He went to go pull logs down to start getting ready to chop wood for winter. I can't imagine that with this weather lately, but he is Mr. Boy Scout. Always be prepared.

Today is beautiful though...NO humidity and just about 80. We had the windows open allll day.
Hopefully tomorrow I can get some rest before Jacob's party Wednesday!
Wish me luck!

What a Whirlwind!

My GOODNESS! The last four days have been INSANE. Thursday, Thanksgiving, was spent at my parent's house, with my family, and then we dropped Jacob off at Doug's parents for an overnight. Doug and I plugged in our ginormous TV, sat on the couch (actually NEXT TO each other!) and watched a movie. It was awesome. Then Friday morning we got up (as Joanna would say) at the butt-crack of dawn (hehehhe) and went shopping all day. Back to Wayland to pick Jacob up. Unpacked. Oy. Then Doug started messing with the pantry shelves. I should seriously take pictures...(Ashley, it's like a MONK pantry now!!!!)

Saturday, we finished the pantry. I mean, we took every. single. item. out and cleaned, put it back (or on my other gigantic shelf in the kitchen where I put all my baking items, candy making items, tea, coffee, and hot cocoa (for Doug). Everything is all lined up...all the labels the same way...it's a sheer work of art. Brings a tear to my eye. Anyone with even slight OCD is welling up with pride. The ONLY way it cold be better if it would be alphabetized...However, taking out a million cans and boxes and putting them all back in (90% by myself because Doug was hacking up the entertainment center to reinvent it to fit the new TV). Again, McGuyver pulled out a miracle. I can't even describe it. Have to do pics again.

THEN, Sunday morning we were cleaning frantically because the house was completely trashed from the activity of the previous 3 days. Doug's parents came over for Thanksgiving yesterday, and we had our one turkey who survived to be butchered. I know, oxymoron. It was too big to fit in the roaster (22.5 pounds!) so he had to put it in a foil pan with a ton of foil over it. Hilarious. That thing could have fed a village. We'll be having turkey for a looooooong time. If you have any good leftover turkey recipes, let me know!

Today I'm exhausted! I woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit my a Mack truck. It's getting a little better, but I'm taking it EASY today...and having pizza tonight with great friends that we haven't seen in forever!

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

OH----thank you to my Symlin, I have lost 10.5 pounds! Even over Thanksgiving and surviving making about 20 dozen Christmas cookies! Woot! Woot!!