Blogging has been pushed to the back-burner lately. I blame several inconveniences for ignoring this new hobby: having sketchy internet signal at home (probably because I still "borrow" signal from my neighbor's wi-fi), surviving my first year of teaching and completing it with my head above water (after swimming through piles of end-of-the-year assessments and paperwork), entertaining my ever-so-lively mom in my house for nine jam-packed days, and then welcoming summertime by vacationing at the lake. Now, none of these reasons have been negative reasons, but the desire is mine to update my blog. And let me assure you, there is A LOT of updating to do.
Let me start with this thought- I am stunned, and still in somewhat disbelief, that it is currently the middle of June, 2010. Where on earth did the time go?!?! I feel like I just began my first year of teaching. I can still feel the nerves and excitement as I prepared to meet my students for the first time. And now, two weeks have already passed since I watched them drive off in school busses, wiping tears fromboth my eyes and theirs, saying goodbye to many of them for the last time. Where did the time go?
I have already returned from vacation at the lake...actually, I returned almost a week ago now. We planned the trip for weeks, psyched ourselves up for it, and now it has come and left us (with many fun memories, no doubt). Where did the time go? Parker and Jordan completed their first year of college. Say what?! That one still gets me. They are traveling for TNU this summer, leading worship in camps across the Southeast Region. They are challenged with decisions to be made over questions resulting in huge impacts on their futures. Really? Where did the time go?
Recently it seems that as I see friends, more often than not we are saying, "Where have you been? It's been too long! We need to get together!" By the time we do get together, we realize just how much "life" has occured since our last meeting. Where did the time go?
Life is crazy. Life is busy. Life is short.
I am an active person. I experience difficulty in saying, "No." I am overcommitted, but truth be told, I enjoy living life that way. I love to stay busy and live life hands-on. However, I am coming to believe that this is not actually what God intended when he gave me breath to life and to live it abundantly.
Last week, as three good friends of mine and I spent a week relaxing, being lazy, and having fun on the lake, I had an epiphone- this is what life should be like. Not just on vacation, but there should be glimpses of this rest, relaxation, and enjoyment in our everyday living. Wow! Rocket science, I know. Therefore, this summer, I am going to fully enjoy the two months summer break that accompany my teaching career.
I realize that life is not always as perfect-perfect as it is during vacation, but after such a whirlwind of a year, experiencing many changes, challenges, and blessings, I am intentionally going to take the time to just...be. To breathe. To read. To listen. To laugh. To rest. To create. To grow. To love. To experience life the way God intended for me to live.
At the end of the summer break, I do not want to be haunted by the question, "Where did the time go?" I desire the feeling that I embraced the summer months; that God stretched me, taught me, and prepared me for this next chapter.
Life is crazy. Life is busy. Life is short. But, even as cliche as it sounds, God is good. He is sooo good. I'm anticipating this time to enjoy Him.
(And as long as my...ahem, my neighbor's...internet remains faithful, I'll be able to blog about it.)
What are your summer plans?
