Hello week #3 of 2024. It’s time for me to fess up about something. My life for the last several months has been a bit of a whirlwind. Not complaining really, just being honest.

I’ve done a half-way decent job trying to keep up with it all but to be honest…most of 2023 is a blur. And life is about to get kicked up another notch over the next several weeks. I thought now was a good time to bring you up to speed…

Anticipated Arrival

That’s right…another grandbaby to love & spoil. If you read my post last week you know about my “One Word”. And this new arrival ties into my “Word of the Year”…HOPE. Amidst all the darkness, there is light. Amidst all of the fear, there is goodness. Amidst all this hate, there is love. Amidst all the death, there is life.

How can you not be excited about the hope that comes in that little package. As Carl Sandburg said “A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.”

Reality

So, why so hectic? Aside from the holidays and all the “normal” stuff that keeps me busy day-to-day, just trying to plan for this new addition has been a lot. Some of the planning has been mental but now it’s getting close and the physical planning has also begun.

I have always been present for the birth of each grandchild. In years past I have also tried to help out a bit after my son goes back to work a couple weeks following the new baby’s arrival. And the plan is to do that again this time. Our current winter weather may be a factor in making the trip(s). My son & his family live 4 hours away from me so it takes some extra planning.

Baby #5 is due on January 25th. Of course, we all know babies come when they want…not when they’re due. And as most mothers know…we’re already well into the “it could be anytime” phase. So, I’ve been trying to prepare a lot of things in advance. Namely my blog posts.

I have no control at this point over when I’ll need to be out of town. So, I may or may not miss a weekly post. But I’m trying to do the best I can to keep “all the balls in the air”. If you know what I mean.

Preparing

My blog aside, I’ve just had a lot going on in my life lately. The blog is actually one of the things that helps keep me sane.

Truth be told, I’ve been pre-writing most of the posts since late summer. For those of you who don’t already know…I’m a Type-A personality and that alone keeps me hopping 😊

It’s already mid-January and based on the doctor’s predictions, there was a good chance the new baby might already be here. But we’re still playing the waiting game. Which again, given the current winter weather I’m totally fine with waiting. Anyway, I have worked up some “super simple tips” posts that should get us through to beyond the first part of February. No matter where I am I should be able to keep up with doing the actual “posting.”

But we all also know what happens to plans…

I’ll keep you posted (no pun intended)!

Some Final Thoughts

You may have seen the old “I Love Lucy” scene in which Lucy & Ethel are working at a chocolate factory. You see them at a conveyor belt that’s moving candies along. More and more candy come at them that needs to be wrapped. It comes faster and faster and they get increasingly frazzled as they struggle to keep up. That’s been me for the past 6 months or more.

Do you ever feel the same way? Think about all the dishes, emails, meetings, reports, calls returned, grocery shopping, cooking, laundry folded, children tucked into bed, friends comforted, random errands run, etc. etc. Most of a person’s tasks, even all of them, could be individually rewarding and done for a good purpose, but taken as a whole they’re often too much. It’s certainly gotten this way for me. There’s a great article by Dave Ramsey that helps put it all in perspective. If your life also seems hectic, I’d encourage you to give it a read!

I’ve had to really watch my mind and its sense of “must” when it comes to a lot of everyday tasks. I’ve tried to concentrate on choosing to do the task, rather than being driven to it. I remind myself – when it’s true – that I actually don’t have to do a particular task at that particular moment.

I’m also trying harder to just take things one moment, one step, one day at a time and just breathe!

Thanks for reading this week’s confessional. Hopefully, I’ll be back next week with a more normal but simple crafting tip for you! Click “Follow Me” to stay in touch. I hope you have a wonderful week!