Shifted and Shepherded

I have a lot of "next things" these days. I could relive my pity party from this week with a minute-by-minute detailing of ALL THE THINGS. But that wouldn't do anybody any good. Suffice it to say that I set a very early alarm every day - which pained my summer-break heart - and from the moment I got up until I was in bed and blurry eyed, there was not a moment of rest. It felt like each time I sat down to do one thing, I added five next-things to my list.  I came home Thursday night from working my non-teaching job and wanted to cry. But I was too inadequate to even muster the tears. In our former, non-fundraising, paperwork-free life, Chad would have tried to 'fix' me by cuddling with me and putting on a cheesy movie. But there was no time for movie-watching. We had work to do, forms to fill out, letters to write, and budget spreadsheets to update. So, instead, he followed me to the porch (I had to water the flowers) with a glass of wine. He held it for me unti...

Friends... (See what I did there?)* Here is a picture of some pictures. I walk past this every morning, and it still feels surreal in the most incredibly blissful way. Then I look around at the work to be done. Commitments, deadlines, and to-do lists take over, shoving my joy into the back seat and peeling out to start the day in hectic busy-ness. Friends, I'm tired. I'm stressed.  We stayed up late to watch the fireworks then woke up early to get the oil changed, apply for passports - you know, life stuff. It's been a while since I slept well. I have a few things on my mind. I bet you do too. It's the nature of the world, to have a cluttered brain. The other day my friend asked, "What do you do all day?" This question was prompted by the fact that I am a teacher and, therefore, in theory I have summers off. It was an innocent question; I took no offense. And I could have listed the two errands it took me three hours to run because I had to drag...