Stop the Treadmill!!!!

I am always amazed at God's wonderful, yet very personal provision for me.  If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you will know that I'm a homebody. I knew from the age of 14 that all I wanted to do was be a wife and a mom.  I never went to college.  I never had the desire.  Never felt the urgency. I attempted to go - but it wasn't for me.  I felt that it was a waste of time and money when I was just going to be at home.  God always closed the doors somehow.  And yet gave me other training to fall back on if it was ever needed. Little did I know at the time that I would marry a  minister and not only be a wife and mother, but a pastor's wife as well.  But God knew. 

I love being home. I love being a mom - most days.  I love my Calligraphy business.  Only God can take a hobby and turn it into a successful business venture and allow me to be at home and yet help with our finances. Being a wife and mom is costly.  You sacrifice a lot in today's economy in order to be at home.  But, it is worth every struggle.  I so enjoy watching my children grow.  Of course, I have my moments of insanity - but I do believe that is normal for all moms! (LOL!)

Since I have taken on the secretarial job at the church, I find my life to be more busy than it has ever been.  Running here and there back and forth to the beaches.  I enjoy that work as well.  Now that both kids are in school, I enjoy working side by side with Russell.  Serving him and the people at Ocean Park.  That extra income has enabled us to allow the kids to have an extra activity.  One of those things that we had to sacrifice before.  But, that too adds to the busy schedule.  Guitar lessons on Tuesday, Ballet lessons on Wednesday.

Enter wedding season!  This is the absolute busiest time of year for me.  From January through June, I don't stop.  I literally write every night.  I have brides that have booked me months in advance and then I have those brides that call me and say, "I just got my invitations back from the printer and I want you to address them.  They need to go out ASAP - can you help me?"  AAAAHHHHH!!!! Are you kidding me?????  How long have you been planing this wedding?  And you are just now thinking about this!?!  Amazing!  So - I work as many of them in as I can but eventually I have to say, "No, I cannot help you.  I have too many envelopes right now and it is not humanly possible for me to do yours as well and still function as a human being!"  I am nicer than that, I promise.  I really hate turning them away.

Now, back to God's provision for me. The whole purpose I started writing this to begin with!  This has been one of those months.  I have over 1000 envelopes to address this month, along with poems, letters, a custom invitation and 450 place cards.  I just had a mother of the bride tell me that her order is not going to be 175 envelopes - but more like 300!  That's a major adjustment when you have scheduled a wedding right after her.  Each of these clients have deadlines to get their invitations out in the 6 - 8 week time frame before their wedding so staying my schedule is paramount!

I was beginning to feel like I was on a treadmill!  (Too bad my body doesn't reflect that idea right now.  Wouldn't that be great!)  Get up, take the kids to school, go to the church (1.5 hours round trip in the van), pick the children up, take them to their activities, come home, get homework started, figure out what's for dinner, get them in bed, work on Calligraphy until midnight or later, go to bed, get up and start all over again!  So thankful for my wonderful husband that helps me constantly or I would be completely crazy by now.

So anyway - I was beginning to feel a little twitchy this past week!  The running had taken it's toll and the treadmill wasn't stopping.  I could hear Bob and Jillian (from Biggest Loser) yelling at me "Keep going!  Don't stop! No hands!"  Ahhhhh!  Then my Anne girl gets sick!  My world stops!  God is good.  Now I am NOT glad Anne got sick - not at all.  She's been pitiful for the last week.  Looking into those droopy eyes broke my heart.  But she's been a trouper and is finally on the mend.  But, I have caught up!  My calligraphy is on schedule, my house is somewhat in order and I've been able to sleep late!  I've had down time to watch Little House on the Prairie with my kids and old Mary Tyler Moore reruns at night.  (I just love Ebay!) 

Thank you Lord, for stopping the treadmill.  At least long enough for me to catch my breath in order to start again.  You know exactly what I need, when I need it.

Our craziness will begin again Monday but now that I've rested some and put things back in order, I feel as though I can take on the world.....at least until Tuesday!