24 weeks - Getting Better All the Tii-ii-me

Beatles reference. Anyone?

It's been a pretty good week, actually - balancing Pea (sometimes literally), school (3rd grade), school (St. Thomas), home, and Dylan, too. Part of it is due to my concession of a few things I just can't do anymore - like run around the school during "breaks" to get errands done. I've always been grateful for our native-German education students (placed here for one year as interns), but Miriam has been extra-helpful around here lately. Relieving! Then, I've also just plain reduced my to-do list; not because I ticked everything off, but because I know it'll never all be finished ... so why stress about it? So, my to-do list lately has included actual tasks needing doing (copies, emails, dishes, etc) instead of the big picture stuff (curriculum planning, new idea brainstorming, interior decorating, etc). If time allows for it, I'll do that stuff then.

All this means that I've had more just-be-at-home time; and I've been enjoying my walk to and from school more, as well. I even got to enjoy last weekend just sitting outside, reading while Dylan studied. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that the weather has been ultra-cooperative lately! It's October already, and it was 86 degrees today - wow! Hell-O, Indian Summer. I just love the heat so much, so having the warmth along with the beautiful fall colors everywhere has been really uplifting. (It still gets chilly overnight, and I have to walk to school with a jacket even if it's 80 come 3pm ... so the colors have still changed.)

I've also taken more time to read for Friday nights' Communion and Liberation gatherings, which has given me much needed time to focus on my faith-life. That's been a huge help, I think, and gives me a good chance to re-focus during the week if I catch myself feeling overwhelmed or over-tired like the past couple of weeks.

To go along with all of the lovely weather, here are TWO photos in skirts and bare legs =) from Tuesday and Wednesday.

Prayers for Pea! Hopping around like a busy little baby!