Busy, busy, busy!!

I have had so much on my mind lately that my brain is like mush.  I can't think clearly, I lose things I don't normally lose, and I just can't function well.  3 times in one week I lost my keys.  I never lose my keys.  In fact, once I didn't actually lose them, I just couldn't see them while they were sitting in the exact spot they were supposed to be.

Here are my keys sitting where they should be sitting.  There a couple of other places they could be, but this is always the first place I look.

I had been approached with a few different ministry opportunities that I had to turn down.  The most recent one was offered to me just last week.  I wanted to and couldn't think of a good reason not to, but by the end of the week I realized I had too much going on to be responsible for yet another activity.

I am feeling better this week though.  I've dealt with a couple of the things that have been on my mind and my head is a little bit clearer now.  One was going through the kids' clothes, bringing out the winter clothes and storing away the summer ones.  Trying on the clothes to see what still fits and what needs to be handed down.  And then figuring out what each child needs to survive the winter.  That's always a big day and quite exhausting.

Summer clothes put away in bins until next spring.

Another was the need for a change in our schedule.  I decided that I just could not get up at 7:00 everyday but I couldn't sleep in until 9:00 every morning either.  And the kids were struggling getting their school done in the time I gave them.  So, I changed it up.  We all get up at 8:30, do our chores, then do school.  I've added more time for schooling and even included a short break.  It makes our afternoon activities shorter, but most of the time, we don't need much time anyway!

J working on his schoolwork.

Yesterday I was able to donate a bunch of stuff that had been sitting in our basement for months, waiting to be donated.  It was all downstairs for much longer than that, but they weren't sorted out and set aside to donate until several months ago.  I finally got rid of every item I had for babies and pregnancies and other things I didn't use.  My youngest is going to turn 5 soon so it was about time.  lol

Next up, shopping for winter clothing needs and for halloween stuff.  I make it a rule not to buy full Halloween costumes or anything expensive just for Halloween.  But I will buy a few accessories to finish off the costume.  I use whatever I can find around the house to create a look of whatever character the kids and I want to become for the night.  I have always loved halloween.  I love dressing up and becoming someone else.  It used to be my favorite holiday.  We also have pumpkins to buy and carve.  I was hoping to go to a pumpkin patch again this year because last year we had so much fun at Walter's Pumpkin Patch.  That one is a bit pricey so I was wanting to find one less expensive and closer but we just didn't have the time.  So, Walmart pumpkins it is.

 2003 - J is a soccer player, K is Boo from Monster's Inc., and I'm an 80s chick.

 2005 - K is a cowgirl, J is Bob the Builder, and I'm MaryAnn from Gilligan's Island.

 2006 - K is Fiona from Shrek, J is Superman, and I'm Cinderella.  A very pregnant Cinderella.  I had this dress as a bridesmaid for my sister's wedding when I was very pregnant with K.  This time, I was pregnant with A and wanted an excuse to wear the dress again.  :)

 2007 - We were all sick with the flu, so no trick-or-treating for us.  But because of my love for Halloween, we still dressed up.  K was Sonora from Wild Hearts Can't be Broken (she has a stick horse next to her), J is Superman again, A is a cheerleader, and I'm a pirate.

 2008 - Star Wars theme!  K is a stormtrooper (I think), J is Darth Vador, A is an Ewok, and I'm Princess Leia.

 2009 - K is Punky Brewster, J is Indiana Jones, and A is Cinderella.

Still 2009 - one of my sisters from IA came down to visit us.  Another sister also lives here.  So the 3 of us decided to be Charlie's Angels.

 

Then, the holidays race in.  And that has been filling up my brain as well because we have one Christmas celebration right after Thanksgiving so we have less time to think, shop, and buy!  Then of course it's on to more Christmas celebrations, New Year's, and it all starts over.  I rarely have a moment of unbusiness throughout the year.  Even though I turned down a few ministries in the last couple months, I have plenty of ministries that I AM involved in and those do take up a lot of my time (and brain power) when they role around.  And I am now teaching my own Sunday school class with a partner which is a new ministry this year.  I'm loving it!  I can finally use my Youth Ministries college degree again!

My Sunday school class with one student missing.  I pray for each one of them throughout the week.

So anyway, life has me hopping and my brain can barely handle it.  But I find each day easier to handle if I sit and enjoy the Lord's presence.  He gives me peace, rejuvinates me, so I can keep going.  The busier we are, the more we need to be sitting in God's presence.  Read, pray, listen.  Aaaahhhhhh.  :)