...just checking in...

nothing terribly exciting to post...as I've already said 100 times, things are busy. I was in Ft Worth last weekend for a Childhood Ed weekend class. Then when I got home on Sat night, my sister and her boys were in Houston waiting for me. They stayed with me Sat night & Sunday night, then picked up their dad at the airport, he was coming back from Mali (see previous post). Then Monday morning I went to my first class here in Houston...so not only are things still busy busy busy at work, but home life and school are in full swing. Some day its all going to calm down and I'm not going to know what to do with myself...right? Here's a rundown of my weekends through March-

Feb 2/3 - First weekend using the new building!!!!

Feb 9/10 - Mom & Dad come to visit (Mom's gonna help decorate my office!)

Feb 16/17 - Kristy, Ash & Cole may come visit - or I'm going to Corpus?

Feb 22/23 - Weekend Class in Ft. Worth

Feb 29/March 1 - Waco, SING, see family!!!

March 7/8 - BRIAN & ELAINE'S WEDDING WEEKEND!!! plus a Sunday off!

March 14/15 - Brady's party in Temple

March 21/22 - Easter weekend, possibly when Bradley's going to be born????

March 28/29 - back to Ft Worth for the last weekend of the class...

Then, April is supposed to calm down, traveling wise, hopefully I'll just get to focus on VBS!!!

Super Duper: The Rodeo's coming up!!!
Super Pooper: The "diet" is virtually non existent :(

...on our knees...

My brother-in-law, Brent Boatwright, is in Mali, Africa right now on a mission trip. This is his 3rd trip to work with the same people group. His church, in Academy, TX, has a full time missionary, Lori, that works with this people group. Yesterday, Brent spoke with the chief of the tribe. He told the chief that he hoped some day the people of the tribe could hear about God and the Bible. The chief asked when he would like to do that. Brent said Wednesday!!!! So the chief is inviting people and Brent will share the gospel with this people group!!! THIS IS AN AMAZING BREAK THROUGH!!! Like I said, Lori has been there full time for years, and she has NEVER had this opportunity!!! After all these years of ministry there has only been one convert. Please pray today that the people would hear the Word of the Lord and that their hearts would be open to His Word! Thanks for praying!

...I'm doing better...

I didn't want to leave ya'll hanging for too long, thinking I was slowly imploding!!! No, no, in fact, I wrote that last post, at the end of a VERY long day, which is never a good idea! Thursday and Friday were long too, but very productive! I've been trying to be careful, and not overextend myself since work is so taxing these days. For example, Thursday night I went to bed at 9:00...I haven't done that in years! Then, last night, I went to a sleepover, but I just went for a few hours, and then came home, because I knew I'd sleep better in my own bed, and then could wake up on my own schedule, and have the whole day to get stuff done. Most of you know, this is all very out of character for me, I NEVER leave a party early, but I just feel like I need to be wise, and try to get good rest during this hectic time! Then today, I watched a whole disc of Gilmore Girls (that's 4 episodes!!!), I haven't done that in a good long while. It was soooo relaxing, and a true brain vacation! I got a few things done around the apt, but didn't really push myself, feeling entitled to a day off. So, there's a little update, just letting you know, I'm hanging in there!

Super Duper: The New Preschool Resource Room is AMAZING!!! Still more work to do before its 100%, but its still AMAZING!!!
Super Pooper: I've been bad about keeping up with friends lately :(

...today warrants being documented...

WARNING: this is about to become a whining/venting/complaining post. If you don't care for a pity party, then please, don't read on.

today was...looooooooooooooooooong
today was...frustrating
today was...one of those days that if I were a cryer, I would have cried out of stress and emotional overload
today was...stressful
today was...exhausting
today was...overwhelming
today was...productive
today was...survivable

I've got to get better at coping with the stress. So many decisions to make, fires to put out, people to help, boxes to move. I needed time to get away from the office, and there was just no time to be had.

The problem is, no one to release all this frustration/stress/overload onto. I mean, I call my parents, my dad gives me the "buck up" speech, and my mom lectures me on how to handle it. I know they think I'm being a baby, and overreacting, but it's stressful and exhausting!!! I know, it will all be worth it in the end, and this too shall pass, just press on, the light at the end of the tunnel, persevere, etc, etc, etc...blah blah blah! I just want someone to call or someone waiting for me at home, to listen, give me sympathy, and say, "Man, that really sucks, YOU'RE AMAZING!!!" haha...I know, I'm sounding pretty pathetic right now.

Ok, before you start feeling too sorry for me, and worrying about my mental health, just know that I really am doing better. I know that tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully we'll keep getting stuff done, and it will all be worth it on Feb 3rd when the children & their parents come see the new building and are so excited about their new church!

Ok, I'm done throwing the pity party and venting, just needed to get that off my chest, thanks for listening, as always!

Super Duper: Amy Hatchett is helping me keep my sanity by working with us for the next few weeks to get us through "The Move"
Super Pooper: School starts on Monday
Super Duper Pooper: My family is gathering in Temple on MLK weekend to celebrate my mom's b-day, and I have to miss out b/c work is CRAZINESS right now (as you already know)

...keeping my head above water...

that really is exactly how I feel these days. things are BEYOND CRAZY at work right now. We are preparing to move into the new building, and there is more than you could probably imagine to do!!!! It's exciting and fun, but to be honest, its terribly overwhelming!!! Where to start? Will it all get done? How do I prioritize? I could bore you with details, but just know that I don't have much time or energy to post, and for that I apologize, but well...what are you going to do about it huh? I hope you'll stick it out and still check my blog, even though posts are going to be few and far between for a few weeks. We start using the building on Feb 3, so things should slow down after that...I'm sure they won't be 100% signed sealed and delivered, but the pressure will at least be off! Thanks for understanding, and please keep me in your prayers! It's draining, emotionally, physically, stressful, and like I said, overwhelming. I know I can get through it, and will be stronger for it, but I will only make it with His strength!

Super Duper: my mom's helping me decorate my office, hopefully it will all come together!
Super Pooper: the "diet" isn't going soooo well...need to get back on it!

...not quite my shining moment...

Yesterday I stayed late at work, just getting some stuff done, getting ready for a retreat that I'm leaving for on Sunday. Anywho, it was almost 6, I was finishing up, there were still a few people in the office, but not many. I start to gather up my things, what all I had to take home, when I realize that I can't find my keys!!! Yikes! So, I search my purse, my office, no luck :( I realize that the last time I remember having them was earlier that morning, around 10:30...they could be anywhere!!! Oh, and when I say keys, I mean church keys, car keys, apartment keys, basically my whole life! So I found 2 girls down the hall and told them that I was going through the rest of the building (which if you don't know, our church is LARGE) to retrace my steps. The problem was that I didn't have my keys, so I wouldn't have any way to unlock any rooms that I may have left my keys in earlier in the day. So, I warn them that I may need to call them if I get locked out or something. So, off I go, on the hunt for my keys. Well then comes along this little man, he's in charge of all the printing for the church, he's always kind of annoyed me, but he offered to help me look, and unlock any doors with his keys. So we hunt, and we hunt, and we hunt, upstairs and downstairs and back upstairs, in and out and in and out of buildings for at least 20 mins, alas...no keys. So, back to my office to look through boxes that I haven't unpack, my new desk, etc. I wasn't panicked yet, but I was frustrated! So, I look in the draw where I had put my purse, no luck. Then I look in the other drawer...and there they are...laying in the top drawer, right where I had left them! Please allow me to explain, that this is a new office, and a new desk, so I don't have patterns of where I'm putting stuff yet, so I had just forgotten that I had put them there...anyways, alls well that ends well...I guess, right?

Super Duper: only 3 boxes left to unpack in my new office
Super Pooper: need to hang stuff on the walls...still have a ways to go in the decorating dept!

...a photo chronicle of the holidays...

Christmas day, yes, my dad is dressed up in a Santa suit. Brady & Blake had just driven in, they were all waiting on the steps for Ash & fam to arrive, so we'd all be together on Christmas day!

Brady helping Cole discover one of his new Christmas presents. Such fun having all the cousins play together on Christmas!


Oh yes, my mom had material for the kids to dress up like Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus...you know its presh!

Me and my boys at Jeff's wedding...no one would have bet that he'd be the first of our group to get married!!! Congrats Erin & Jeff!!!

Lainey & I at the wedding!

Fun friends having brunch the morning after Elaine's Bachelorette celebration!

Super Duper: I've unpacked, done laundry, undecorated my tree!!!

Super Pooper: LOTS to do in the next month!