Wednesday

Dear (Dreary) Wednesday,

Your weather matches how I feel - physically, that is.  I think I have a head cold, but unlike the usual symptoms of such, I can breathe through my nose and I'm not coughing.  Really, my throat hurts and is swollen, I feel dizzy, and I can't hear very well.  Apparently these symptoms manifested themselves in snoring last night.  Hard to believe!  The boy graciously retreated to the futon halfway through the night because I was, ahem, too loud.

Anyway, that's not why we're here.  I thought a general update would do me some good, because with an unpredictable schedule lately, I sometimes forget where my time goes and what the heck I'm doing these days.  And since it's 2:28 in the afternoon in the middle of the week, no one else is around to talk to...

I've been very thankful for small opportunities the last few weeks.  I've been praying that I would use this weird/wonderful/stressful gift of time for good and meaningful things, and God has really responded to this.  I joined a morning Bible Study (more on that later), have been getting healthy amounts of sleep, been able to work out more, met friends during the day, spend much-needed time and mental energy on classwork, and had some last-minute babysitting gigs for some of the cutest in Minneapolis. Not bad.  And I'm still working very part time for a program at work, which has been a nice time-filler as well.

I often feel anxious though - not really so much about finances, but about time.  I have this complex that it's not socially acceptable to work less than 40 hours a week outside the home, unless you are a.) retired b.) a student or c.) caring for offspring or d.) living in Europe where I hear they get it right with shorter work weeks and more vacation time.  I need to remind myself that 1.) I AM a student!  Taking 10 credits.  And just because my classes are in a nontraditional schedule, they still take up a large amount of my time (and should!), and 2.) Who cares what is socially acceptable?!  I have a gift that very few people in this culture have right now: time.  I pray I can use it wisely for God's glory, and 3.) if anyone wants to go to Europe to experience this time/work cultural phenomenon, I'm in.  I have the time.

Well, that felt good. Thanks for listening - I need to remind myself of the big and small ways that God has showed up recently; good reason to trust that he'll continue to!

Off to nap this sickness away...
Julie