RC's going climbing...I'm stuck in the zoo

So RC's leaving tonight and will be gone all weekend. Climbing at Red Rock (Kentucky). I'll be here...in the rain...with the dogs. Oh well. I'm sure I'll come up with something fun to do...

Oh...and I did! I rode my bike 25 miles today!

A New Day for the US (and the World)

Wow. Barack Obama is now president-elect. So many changes will now come for the US. The next 4 years is going to be quite interesting. Not in a bad way, not in a good way...but definitely different.

Progress...but not so much at the same time...

There are piles everywhere in our house. Seriously...piles and piles of stuff - clothes, papers, books, picture frames, items to go to goodwill. I have to get this all organized before I go insane!

I attacked the clutter...but for some reason it always comes back! It never ends!!!

Piles

There are piles everywhere in our house. Seriously...piles and piles of stuff - clothes, papers, books, picture frames, items to go to goodwill. I have to get this all organized before I go insane!

La di da...

Yesterday was a good day. A & I are friends again! Not that we weren't friends but I think life kind of got the better of us there for a bit. But from now on we're smooth sailing (well, until the next bump in the road). :) N&T's apartment looks GREAT! I hope they were surprised when they arrived home last night. I hope it's a wonderful week of being home and married.

I'm behind...but it was a GREAT weekend! So therefore worth the behind-ness. :)

So I'm a little behind on here...I could make up some stuff and put it on here, but I don't think that would be very fair. Basically...it was a good weekend. I enjoyed great company of friends and my husband. I flew home on Saturday and got to watch RC participate in the bouldering competition at the climbing gym. Tons of fun! Then we basically relaxed and played with the dogs and ate some good food. It was good to be home and not have a "schedule" for 36 hours. :)

Did a fantastic speech for my "final" at DCW: "How to get rid of your roommates when they just won't go away!" It was awesome...everyone loved it and we all laughed. It was humorous AND dramatic! :)

I was also able to take a mental and physical break for a bit before coming home from Colorado. Still didn't get in an incredible hike, but walked for a bit and got some nice pictures....and Yes...I DO want a new camera!

I do love Colorado. How long before we get to live there? Who knows...

All I know is we need groceries...leave husband home alone for a week means there's no food when you get back. ;)

Woke up to SNOW and 25 degrees!

Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs...it's BEAUTIFUL HERE!!!

Last DCW speech today. I have to incorporate humor or drama into it some somehow.

Also need to get in touch with MR and/or AJ about tomorrow.

*****

Ku Jesu Bambelela!

But I really need to get OUTSIDE!!!

The weather is gorgeous and I'm stuck inside working...and I'm in the middle of the ROCKIES!!!

I got an email sent to 300+ people about DJ...oh amazing technology...and the fact that there are that many people praying almost makes me pee my pants!

DCW:

SCORRE= Subject, Central theme, Objective, Rationale, Resources, Examine...do I get it? yes! does it make sense? yes! New speech today-no more dancing hands while I'm speaking!

I'm really hoping to get in a hike & some good quiet time. It's so hard to be in the middle of creation and not BE IN it.

*****

Ku Jesu Bambelela!

DCW...

Despite a 45 minute delay b/t Chicago and Denver, I made it just fine. MJ picked me up and we had a nice conversation on our drive to the Springs

Speeches are not my favorite thing. Especially when I don't know the people I'm speaking in front of so giving my first speech was a little difficult, but I talked about the dogs...so that made it fun.

Oh my. Glen Eyrie is a BEAUTIFUL place! When we arrived it was like they cued the bighorn sheep somewhere and they came down and were eating grass. RC is going to be really jealous when he sees all the climbing opportunities here. I wish he could have come.

When do we get to move to Colorado???

*****

Ku Jesu Bambelela!

N&T's WEDDING day!!!

My biggest goal today is to do whatever N&T need today, love & serve them well. Pray that T sees Jesus in a BIG way today.

I also need to get packed! I leave for Colorado at some too early time tomorrow morning.

*****

Ku Jesu Bambelela!

Oh dear...I'm running out of time...

Okay, so I'm realizing that I leave in less than 48 hours...and I haven't started packing yet. Argh...lots to do between now and then on top of helping with and going to a wedding!

*****

Ku Jesu Bambelela!

Haircut!

Got my hair cut today by Jamie @ Urban. That place is FANTASTIC! Not only that, but I'm now addicted to Bumble & Bumble!

Okay, so my hair hardly looks different (trying to grow it out so not a lot of cutting done) but it looks happier and healthier already!

By the way...just have to say, RB is AMAZING! I love this girl! I am so thankful for her and all that she's doing with kids in Mattawan! Met her at Starbucks today and just love seeing her heart!

*****

Ku Jesu Bambelela!

Today

Okay...it's already been a crazy day...staff meeting this morning and now a million errands to run BEFORE I get home to tutor C at 4pm.

Oh sometimes I think I can do SO much in one day!

*****

Ku Jesu Bambelela!

4 going on 17

Email is a never-ending battle. It's clean...the mailbox is empty. For 15 minutes. Then my mailbox refreshes and is full again! Bah. Email. Whatever happened to normal people writing letters, scheduling meetings and phone calls??? I'm considering boycotting email. Unless it's from family.

Poor DT. We were supposed to talk on Friday. But his little girl, M, had to get her cast off AND have a regular doctor's visit that of course included the dreaded shots. When we did connect on the phone you could hear her in the background, "I'm very upset right now Dad. I need peace and quiet!" So, needless to say, in order to give the 4 year-old (going on 17) her peace and quiet, we put our phone call on hold. :)

*****

Wow. This life is ridiculous sometimes. I think we all need less work time and more vacations...or is it rest? Ku Jesu Bambelela!

Rambling thoughts on a sunny afternoon...

Not that I don't love having company/visitors - I DO! But they are very good at consuming lots of time...and therefore making it very difficult to move forward on any kind of todo list.

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that life kind of stops for company. Not in a bad way, it just prevents me from accomplishing what I WANT to accomplish and instead changes my priorities to what I SHOULD accomplish. Hmm...not even sure if that makes sense to anyone reading this, but it makes sense to me. I think. Also reminds me of maybe how we're supposed to live as followers of Christ...

This weekend RC's parents visited. It was great to have them here. We enjoyed going out to see the Sandhill Cranes as they make their way south for the winter. We were able to take them to our respective offices and show them where we work. It was great fun for me to see RC's building. I've seen his desk, his cubicle, his entire area. But I'd never seen the entire place until yesterday. Kinda one of those places that once you leave on Friday, you really don't want to go back until you have to on Monday I guess.

Strange now that I think about it though...he's worked there for nearly three years and I've never gotten to see it. Because I didn't ask? Because he didn't want me to see it? Maybe because he just didn't think about it. He's been in my building...seen all there is to see. Maybe he wanted me to ask and I didn't. Oh well...mystery will probably never be solved...cool thing tho - I got to see where he spends so much of his time. It's such a cool place!

I don't feel like I've done a very good job of taking care of myself since getting back from Africa. Great intentions, yes, no action. So...this week, at least 3 days, I need to make a point to take better care of myself. Yes, it should be every day, but let's start small okay? I need something I can't fail at right now, people.

Holding on

Wow...okay, this isn't as easy as it looks. Life happens, then those three goals aren't quite as big as you thought they were. Or you don't have a choice and have to do the other, less important things, but are somehow now MORE important. I know...confusing. Anyway, I digress...

I'm realizing that no matter how crazy my life gets, someone else's is always more crazy. ALWAYS. I think I'm at the end of my rope...but really, I just need to reach up and grab on a little higher. Ku Jesu Bambelela!

Why?

Why do you stay up when you're tired and should go to bed? why? What's the point? To spend 5 more minutes on Facebook? To check Steap & Cheap ONE more time?

Argh.

Andrea...go to BED!

Does it ever end?

I'm trying to be positive. I know I SHOULD be positive but sometimes there are those days when it just feels like the world is crashing down on you...you know?

I DO feel better and more awake than I ever have (thanks Provigil) but I'm still trying to figure out how to manage all this awakeness. Due to the awakeness, I also have more energy (hence 2 bike rides and a walk yesterday).

I'm going to try copying my sister on this whole 3 goals a day thing and see how it goes. Maybe this will help with the overwhelmed feeling AND all of my awakeness/energy.
Today's goals:
1. Get first floor cleaned and swept
2. Vacuum basement
3. Get desk/office space in usable condition (that means no more crap on my desk!)

Meh

Why? Why does it matter? Why can't I seem to get a plan in place and stick with it? Why does it seem like I have no control over anything? Other than the fact that I don't...

I seem to be sitting at a crossroads right now. The crossroads being here and now. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. My heart is loving and hanging with high schoolers, that's for sure. But when it comes down to it, I feel overwhelmed with the idea of trying to do something brand new and paving a new road in Kalamazoo. I don't feel like many people understand...maybe that's because I've been talking about it for almost 3 years now and there still isn't anything to show for it.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

I just need to figure out a time when I can sit down and make a plan for this whole thing...