Overwhelming Busyness

Just over two weeks have passed since I left Joel and his full therapy schedule at Sister Kenny to return home to motherhood of a big family.  Two weeks of homeschooling, household management, church music, and trying to restore organization seem like a blur.  I still want to enjoy reading a good book, as I did during lunch breaks and before bed while caring for Joel in the hospitals, but guilt plagues me because if I take the time to do so, tasks remain unfinished.  Coordinating trips to town ("Can anybody carpool today?"), meals for six ("Who's going to be home for lunch?  Supper?"), laundry, cleaning chores and educational needs takes a lot more energy, effort and time than scratching Joel's head, listening to his caregivers and medical personnel, and keeping a positive attitude.  Plus I don't sleep as many hours or get outside as much.

Reading the above paragraph makes me wonder why I'm not spending more time with the Lord.  It sounds like I need His strength more than ever!  But ironically, I seem to think I can get by with less prayer and Bible time, and skipping the "gratitude journal," because now I'm in familiar territory.  Also, I have much more human interaction with the kids and Pete, so quiet time is harder to come by.  No wonder I'm feeling burned out already, and lack energy and motivation.   Lord, forgive my pride and help me seek Your face, Your Spirit, Your wisdom and Your strength.

It is Finished

What a week!  What a month!  What a third of a year!  After church yesterday, Karen put her arm around my shoulders and chuckled, "Will you sleep for a week now?"   No, but since November our lives have hectically revolved around Big Events.  From planning for Christmas (at home and at church) while attending all the seasonal parties and meetings, we launched into writing, directing and choreographing the musical dinner theater at Svea, only to find ourselves immersed in Lenten activities and preparing for Holy Week (at home and at church).  Throw in six or seven funerals, both in and out of Svea, and trying to stay in touch with three out-of-the-home children, and I think we can be forgiven for hoping that April proves to be blah and boring!

The last ten days provided a fitting conclusion to this frenzy.  On Friday, we awoke to find Gene on our couch; on Saturday, Shelley and her family arrived to stay for Lori's funeral.  Palm Sunday wasn't too demanding at church - just getting the children to march around with palms and choosing an organ solo for special music.  We spent time at the visitation for Lori and pizza with the parents.  Monday morning Gene left and I played for Lori's funeral.  Tuesday Shelley and family left; Andrew and Philip completed almost a week's worth of school work in two days; we dined with sister Julie and kids in Willmar and brought two cousins back home to sleep over.  Wednesday brought Pizza Ranch, bowling and visiting; we stayed up until 11:30 to greet Michelle and boyfriend Saul when they pulled in from Mexico via Sioux Falls and Iowa.  Thursday we all had brunch at the parents' house, shopped, had coffee at Lulu Bean's until the Jones family left for home and the rest of us headed to the Maundy Thursday service at Svea, where Michelle and I played an organ/piano duet.  Joel also showed up that evening.  Friday brought David and Callie, a good long conversation with Michelle and Saul, the Good Friday service at which Callie played her harp, and a game of Telephone Pictionary.  On Saturday after some more food and talking, Michelle and Saul departed, and the rest of us practiced with the Luther League kids for Sunday's sunrise service.  From 6:30-11:30 on Sunday, we worshiped and led worship at Svea, then relaxed at Grandpa and Grandma's with a delicious turkey dinner fixed by Grandma.  David and Callie took off at about 5, and now we are getting back into our "normal" routine, with only a Science Fair, Andrew's permit test and Sarah's softball games to anticipate.

All together for 19 hours - plus one!

The Lord sustained us through all of this; all of this was Very Good.

Batter Up!

It really has been a summer of watching ball games.  Joel and Daniel played slow-pitch softball for four different teams - two in the Men's League on Monday nights; one in the Co-Rec League on Wednesday nights; and the Svea Gold Team in the Church League on Thursday nights.  Sarah played fast-pitch softball for the Willmar 18U (age 18 and under) team on Tuesday nights, and joined Pete and Andrew on the Svea Bronze Team on Thursdays.  Philip played on the Willmar Twins, a 5th- and 6th-grade team with Willmar Community Ed and Rec.  They practiced on Thursdays and played games on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Except for the church teams, I watched only a few of each softball team's games, but saw most of Philip's games in the last three weeks.  Getting everyone to the right field at the right time provided some interesting exercise in car coordination.  This week Sarah and I stayed home from a Sioux Falls bridal shower for Callie because between meetings and ball games, we needed the extra drivers and car.

Attending and chauffeuring shouldn't cause a problem, but I try to catch up on so many household areas during the summer that going to a ball game every night feels like a chore instead of a privilege.  Cooking has fallen by the wayside, for supper anyway; we've eaten in Willmar (before or after games) far more than usual.  Reorganizing cupboards and systems, purging photo collections, catching up on albums, working on 4-H projects, keeping the kids productive, preparing books to sell, practicing for an August program and tying up loose ends on the spring school work join the usual daily or weekly chores of cooking, cleaning, yard work, money management, exercise, weightlifting, laundry, church activities and ball games to make the summer feel like an exhausting whirl instead of a relaxing vacation.

On the positive side, lots of opportunities for discussions on sportsmanship and excellence have arisen.  The importance of practice and the difference between "illegal" and "unethical" has been demonstrated.  Everyone has made their share of blunders and bloopers, and hopefully learned a little more humility.  And Svea still has the best fans!

Busy by Choice

Several things I've read lately have pointed out the trap of busyness and consumerism.  Companies and individuals sell Americans on the idea that more activities and more stuff lead to happiness, and that every person deserves and should strive to attain happiness.  Of course, Jesus talked quite a bit about happiness, but he usually promised that we would gain it if we gave up trying.  "Give and it will be given to you," "He who loses his life will find it," "Happy are you if people persecute you," and "Do as I've done and you'll be happy" sound quite different than "Have it your way," "Just do it" and "Have a Coke and a smile."  Regarding busyness, our prayer group affirmed that whenever we tell people, "Oh, we're so busy," we get nods and smiles and admiration because we're doing so much to make ourselves or others happy.  When is the last time someone replied with "Shame on you - slow down!" ?  

I do believe, however, that if I were able to say to someone, "I'm very relaxed; I only have one thing to do today," I would also receive nods, smiles and admiration - along with "HOW did you DO that?"   I may be able to achieve this in the summer, so that's my new goal - to reach a day with only one thing to do.  For that to happen, I have to finish:

1) History and speech from the spring
2) Reorganization of a number of areas in the house (getting rid of stuff!)
3) Culling and sorting of pictures and videos, and catching up on albums with the kids
4) Wedding preparation
5) County Fair projects completed
6) Program for Prinsburg prepared
7) And I'll have to be caught up on laundry, meal preparation and house cleaning

Sounds daunting, but I believe the Lord would smile if I could focus an entire day on my identity in Him rather than my identity as a "doer."

Another Busy Weekend

Today (Monday) I haven't been doing much - just the basics (teaching, essential housekeeping and making meals). I think it's because the weekend took a lot out of me and I don't have much energy for productive endeavors. This is my day of rest.

On Friday morning, Sarah and I went in to Herberger's Community Days to shop this great sale and use our $10 off coupons. Unfortunately, 80% of the sale items don't qualify for the coupon, but we finally found things we were happy to buy. Friday afternoon Pete got new poults, so I had to take Sarah to Cologne (about 90 minutes away) to meet up with Uncle Tom and his Sounds Like Love group from Sioux Falls - they brought Sarah the rest of the way to St. Andrew's Lutheran in Mahtomedi for this Christian singing and dancing event. When I returned home, I made a steak dinner to celebrate Joel and Daniel's 19th birthday; we 'd already given them their present.

On Saturday morning I woke Joel and Daniel and we went in to Herberger's, JC Penney's and Target and found good clothes and shoes for the boys - another birthday present. They will look sharp now! Back at home I helped Andrew and Philip complete everyone's Saturday chores - another birthday present - and made caramel bars for their bonfire party that night - another birthday present. Pete and I went to the YMCA to lift weights and picked up a few groceries before heading back home again, where he helped with the party and I got ready for Sunday's church and travel. Although Michelle was planning to pick Sarah up at the softball clinic, she wasn't sure she could get to the Sounds Like Love concert in time to bring Sarah to the clinic, so I had decided to go.

Sunday morning Joel wasn't feeling well, but everyone went to Sunday School and church anyway. Before departure, I had to get food ready for the Luther League potluck; gather the music, reading material, Sarah's suitcase and bat and flute and homeschool books; remind Andrew to get what he needed for the trip; eat, shower and get ready for church myself.

At church, I had to lead Sunday School music, practice with Eddie for his trombone solo, talk to several people about different things, figure out what to play for prelude, and then play for the worship service and make an announcement about choir practice. After one of the shortest postludes I've ever played, Andrew and I hopped in the car, stopped at home to pick up a couple of forgotten items, and were on our way. Fortunately, Mapquest allowed extra time for city traffic (I suppose) and instead of arriving at 2:30, we arrived at 2:10, even with a short stop for gas and food. We found the cousins and thoroughly enjoyed the concert by 200+ students, including Sarah and cousins Liz, Rachel and Nathan, led by John Jacobson and a fabulous jazz band. The choreography made it fun to watch and the band made it fun to listen to.

Sarah and I sped off to the clinic, leaving Andrew to go home with the Coats family so he could have some cousin time. Once again, Mapquest overestimated, and gave perfect directions, so we arrived at the University of St. Thomas with fifteen minutes to spare. I looked at a Christmas catalog and visited and walked with another mom, Linda, until the clinic was over and Michelle arrived. We went to Fuddrucker's and had yummy burgers, then hugged and I went to the Coats house. Mary and I discussed the Compline service that the whole Stadem clan will lead on the first Sunday in Advent, following which Andrew and I left for home. He entertained me most of the way with his thoughts, observations and knowledge. Nevertheless, I was exhausted when we entered the immaculate house - thanks Pete, Joel, Daniel and Philip! I went straight to bed and have been dragging around the house most of today.

When we signed Sarah up for this clinic, we agreed that we would take our Sabbath from Saturday noon to Sunday noon on weekends when she had the clinic. We didn't do it this weekend because we had to go in for Sounds Like Love anyway, but I can see that it will be very important to be disciplined about resting before traveling to the Cities on a Sunday!

Too Much to Do

I don't know how I'm going to cope with this new school year! This week we had 3 dental appointments, 2 church committee meetings, a flute lesson, 2 haircuts, a party and concert to attend and a baby shower to help host - starting Tuesday, after everyone got home late Monday evening from Plain View Farm. That sounds like a busy summer week, but add in a full week of schoolwork to do in 4 days, and use most of the first day to discuss organization and management of schoolwork, plus celebrate home education by eating at Perkins, and you've got - total chaos!

I'm realizing that my major areas of responsibility - home education, meals, keeping house, church music, supporting Pete and discipling the kids - are more than a full-time job for me. Then add in the minor areas of responsibility - relatives, friends, physical fitness and health, finances, 4-H and trips - and my list becomes truly overwhelming at times. The main ways I cope are leaving house things undone, and reading. I also don't do as much teaching or one-on-one discipling as I feel I should/could, which is guilt-producing.

Perhaps I can make quicker meals, but otherwise, I'm stuck with these areas of responsibility, so - Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Lots to Do

I don't have time for any philosophical thoughts this week, because our graduation and confirmation party is Sunday! We try to do double duty when we can, so the family doesn't have to make two trips in one month for celebrations. Since Sarah's Confirmation is on Sunday, we are having Joel and Daniel's Graduation ceremony and open house on Sunday as well. It also has the benefit of saving money. :)

I'm so thankful that Michelle is home; she is so fast at what she does that I couldn't have a better helper. Yesterday we all accomplished the following:

finished the power point "slide show"
finished the picture poster
finished the guessing game
selected pictures for the photo album from 2011
ordered the pictures online
scoped out the church and found the stuff we will need
practiced a flute lesson and a piano lesson
cleaned out the car, inside & out
tidied up the main floor
threw away 27 things
weeded the perennial bed
dug up the daylilies by the house
made dinner & cleaned up the kitchen
coordinated rides to town
did a task in the barn
tilled the garden
practiced graduation speeches
several more things that I can't remember now

And this was all before and after a trip to town for Sarah's practice and watching Joel's softball game - his team won, and he had some nice hits, good base-running and excellent play at shortstop after he settled down.

We also got to see Saul Cuevas, a Riverside friend, who was in town with Youth Encounter, performing at Central Christian School in Willmar. I wonder if our nephew Joey recognized him?

Thank You, Lord, for the energy necessary to do what we have to do!

P.S. Today I didn't delete the completed list, so here's what we accomplished today:

x K - blog

x K - crop pictures for albums

x 9:30pm - critique grad talks

x check bathroom supplies

x ALL - **Haul stuff up to church:

x ALL - fold clothes & put away

x 9:25pm ALL - sign confirmation cards & grad cards

x A P - **4 chores

x A P - *praise music into folders

x A P - *water seedlings

x S A P - *wrap grad gifts if they arrive

x S A P - TUE:**print confirmation cards

x K - **Find VASES?

x K - **Katie gift card mailed to her

x K&A - *get maple syrup from Susan

x M - **"proofs" from photographer matted & on posters

x P - Philip practice recital piece

x S - **make bread

x S - *wrap any confirmation gifts that we already have

x S - Sarah practice flute

x **check lib due list

x check obits

This was all before 2:20, when we left for an orthodontist appointment, running a bunch of errands, a softball game, a baseball game, and a track & field competition. Daniel pinch ran in the bottom of the last inning and scored the winning run! What a thrill!

I'm beat! Good night!