Hi friends. I have been missing you so I thought I’d pop in to say hey and see how everyone’s doing. Thank you to those of you who reached out to see where I’ve been.
The school book fair is DONE! Whew it’s a lot of work! From pre-sale gift certificates and conference call planning to the class preview days to the actual L O N G week of sales to wrapping it all up and calculating the financials… when it was over I didn’t want to see another child or hear another voice for at least 24 hours. I spent maybe 50 hours there and I didn’t sleep much last week, probably from the adrenaline of it all, plus having to be at school by 7am each day with my daughter. Luckily Mr. B was in town at the beginning and at the very end of the week to help with that. It was a lot of standing and moving and my body was in extreme protest and I’m still recouping.
But… I gained so much from the experience. I met almost all the school’s teachers and faculty and many other parents. I feel involved and appreciated. I have a boatload of ideas for how to make next year even better. Yes, I’m excited about doing it again. 🙂
Somewhere in there also since I’ve been away were hosting a very successful neighborhood block party, taking the Daisy troop to Disney on Ice, and various meetings and birthday parties and doctor appointments.
Next up is hosting Thanksgiving, a long-needed trip alone with Mr. B, various meetings at school and with some faith leaders and our mayoral candidates re: handling city issues, a Daisy Scouts meeting, girl scout cookie training (shoot me now please), a 7th birthday party, some home repair projects, Chanukah gifts and festivities, some travel and some visitors, and all that December brings.
Mr. B sometimes hears my to-do list and asks me if all that absolutely must happen today. Mostly it doesn’t. So I’m seeing what can be dropped from my list. For Thursday, I’ve ordered in fajitas (I absolutely despise the traditional meal’s foods). Holiday cards might not get hand-addressed this year. We may not make it to that mid-week 6pm dance class performance. Dinner may be outsourced. Who knows!
Since being out of the house for over a week, today I’m looking around at all the stuff we have and tossing junk and running a carload of knickknacks to Good Will. Who knew I had three jugs of dishwashing soap from 2007 that was hiding in the cabinets above the washer/drier???
So thanks for your patience as we get through this busy season. I’ll be in and out through the next few weeks as I can. I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Xmas, Winter Solstice (or Summer Debra!), or whatever makes you happy.
It’s new for me to be ok with doing things halfway. Honestly, there’s only so much one person can do! I can’t help everyone with their projects and host perfect events with a clean house and still get rest and time with my family. Well, I could if people don’t mind coming for Thanksgiving and having no forks.
I do really love to know what others are doing with their lives. And yours sounds delightfully fulfilling. It helps me to appreciate the little things really do add up to such a rich life. Thank you for sharing.
kimberly recently posted…Day 95 – Sausage Kale Scramble
It’s such a delicate balance isn’t it Naomi, between doing what brings you delight and really committing to it and understanding that there is a limit to how much we can do. I’m glad you’re finding ways to allocate your energetic resources in ways that support you, and I know this continues to be a journey you dance with. Wishing you ever greater success with it in 2016.
Delicate is the perfect word for it, Deborah. The move from one day to another is tricky too.
What a wonderful sense of humor you are able to keep during this super busy time for you. Love it! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoying letting go of some of those items on your to-do list. 🙂
Elda recently posted…Alone For The Holidays, Again
Busy, busy! I’m better at pacing myself, I think, but then I get guilted at for not doing extra things people think I should.
SKJAM! recently posted…Book Review: The Land of Dreams
Sometimes I need to take a step back and ask myself whether I really *need* to do/have this or go/be that. Thanks for the reminder that halfway is okay! Cheers to self-care!
Heather Koshiol recently posted…Share: Listening & Learning
Hi Naomi,
It sounds like you are very involved with community, which is a wonderful thing. No, you can’t do it all, and you shouldn’t, but you are being a part of something larger and that is something to be grateful for.
I can relate to the house feeling somewhat abandoned. I had a busy week like that last week and was out every evening. It was so nice to have the weekend to really catch up. You always need some catch up time!
Take care of yourself. Love to the family and your (I can’t believe she’s 7) year old!
Amy Putkonen recently posted…What Did You Do Today?
Whew! You have accomplished so much! Congratulations! Please find time for yourself to stop and take a break…..heck…take a breath girl….you deserve it. Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays!
Debbie Goode recently posted…Yuma Arizona
I have been wondering how the Book Fair went!
Becky recently posted…April 2015 Wrap Up
Glad you’re going to get away and rest and refresh
with Mr. B:)
Sounds like good timing.
Peace to you in the bustle,
Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson recently posted…Of treasure and need….
Such a wonderful post Naomi…I sense a feeling of new found freedom in you and a letting go…it’s wonderful.. I bet the book fair was great, how could it not be with you in charge.
Now go ahead and enjoy the months ahead…with all the festivities and holidays…honestly we should’t miss out on the fun stuff…and really, no one is looking at the floors…
Happy Thanksgiving.
You accomplished so much! I hope you give yourself the same respect you’d give a good friend who had done something similar. It made me smile to hear your plan for Thursday. I have another long drive ahead of me, down to Albuquerque to pick up relatives, and then back up to Santa Fe, for a small family reunion of sorts. I am a bit too worried about it all, about why things have been arranged the way they were. Sometimes it’s difficult to step back and let somebody else make the plan! I hope your holiday is full of all the good things, and not too much stress. Holidays are always hard on introverts!
Good advice, Susanna. I hope you have a nice holiday drive with good music!
I’m trying so hard to be content with just doing what I can do. I go back and forth between not requiring enough of myself and requiring too much. I’m tired of it. So I’m running away to the Antarctic. So there. Heeheehee!
Dear world traveler,
I am soooooooo jealous. I haven’t even finished reading about your Galapagos adventures yet!
Love, me
I got all the Galapagos photos posted, and now I’m trying to finish up Peru before we leave – don’t know if I’ll get it done, but if I don’t, I’ll do it when we get back, then start on the Antarctic photos. Then in 4 months we start all over again… Don’t be jealous – you’ve got time!
janet recently posted…Peru