Monday, October 20, 2008

Overwhelmed!?!

It has been almost a month since I have posted on my blog. Yes, it has been updated since then, but Derek has been writing the most recent posts. The title should explain it all. Since school started I have been so OVERWHELMED!! It seems that I have not had a moment with nothing going on. I did not go to my classroom once during the summer. In fact, I didn't even think about school or lesson plans. I have been behind on planning my own music lesson plans and then I got a few new responsibilities at work that have just about put me over the edge.


This bulletin board hangs in my classroom and no I didn't just undecorate it to put up something new. It has looked this way since the first day of school on August 20. I have a great idea of how to decorate it. In fact, I have all the materials which sat in a stack on my table at home for about a month and now they are in a drawer in my classroom. This bulletin board has been a constant reminder of how much I have to do and no time to do it.

Other than work, I was also in charge of our ward's Super Saturday just over a week ago and it was just so time consuming. I had to find 5 speakers organize 3 home decor projects, collect all the money, pick up the projects, and make sure that a luncheon was going to happen. Also all the advertising, etc. I am so glad it is over. Not to mention all the football practices, games, dance lessons and gymnastics that I have to get my kids to. My house is a disaster. The laundry hampers are full (and it seems that I can do laundry all night and they are still full??) Most of our meals have been eaten out.

When I was at my breaking point, a few weeks ago, my 18-month-old niece was diagnosed with leukemia. It was at this point I realized that I had to stop and decide what was important to me and what I was going to put off until later. About two days after we found out about my niece, I had planned to miss Braxton's football game so I could do my dishes instead. Needless to say I went to the game and the dishes waited for me until the game was over. Many things were put on hold as we packed up that week to visit my sister and her daughter in the hospital. For now, the bulletin board will stay empty because I still don't have the time to get it done. Now it is a reminder that nothing is as important as family.

5 comments:

Allison Holt said...

Jen.... I'm glad to see YOU finally post(not that I don't enjoy Derek's) Family truly is the most important thing. If you want me to come up on one of my days off and decorate your board or clean your house or whatever else you need done just let me know. I am only working 3 days a week.

Trish said...

And to top it all off, you have annoying family members staying at your busy home. You are the best hosts ever! Thanks for making us feel so at home.

Arfmann Family said...

Jenn
I've realized most everything can wait..dirty toilets, ugly yard,sickening oven...everything but poopy diapers and kids growing up! I think we're all having a reality check right now, which is good. I can't believe the trip is in 3 weeks. We got the HSM3 tickets and i'll get carnival tickets today. It'll be fun to see all of you. See you soon.

Adam and Aubrey said...

What a busy mom you are. Make sure when you go on that trip, to make a to-do list for me! And I'm serious! Don't scrub your house down, I can do that while you're gone! I don't do a dang thing all day! So bring it on! And you should make the kids in your class decorate the board. Just tell them to go at it! Yay for family.

Kristin said...

I'm just impressed that Derek contributes to your blog. Jeremy is doing well if he remembers to even look at our blog. I didn't know you are a teacher.

Sorry to hear about your little niece. I appreciated this post so much, as I have been overwheled with life, family, work, etc., too, lately. Good luck with the weeks ahead.

We would have loved to catch up with you all while in UT. However, it was a crazy trip that went way too fast. We will visit again. :)