Catching Up Again

Phew! Sometimes it seemed like there was no end in sight, but I've finally reached the end of the semester. I'm not taking any spring or summer classes this year, so it's four months of freedom until I head into my fourth year of the five year program. Well, maybe not quite "freedom"—I am about to start the hunt for a summer job, hopefully one that involves working with kids everyday. Prayers in this area are welcome.

So, what have I missed filling you in on over the last month and a half? Let's see ...

... we have a new little nephew, Gabriel Keith MacDonald!

He's the littlest one. (^_^)

Not only is there this amazing new little person in the world, but this whole family is moving back to the Maritimes in a few weeks! John got a job in Cape Breton, so we'll get to see each other a little more often. I'm looking forward to that.

... the kids had the district and provincial chess tournaments. Malcolm, Maren and Aidan all advanced to provincials and played some good games against stiff competition. It's very fun that they continue to enjoy the game so much. I think Maren is a little disappointed that she didn't end up in the top three after having advanced to nationals last year, but she is using it to spur her on to focusing on developing her skills. Yay for mastery orientation! (Oops, a little Early Childhood Development-speak sneaking in there.)

... I had some really great courses this semester—Art, French, Writing by Women (which was incredible)—but this one was definitely my favourite:

This is the Intro Acting class after our final exam, which was a performance split between improv and prepared scenes. That was definitely the most fun I will ever have during an exam! Besides just being a great class content-wise, every person on that stage was awesome to work with and the group really clicked. Most of them graduate this year and I'm going to miss having them around, big-time.

This is such a strange time of life to be a student. I'm a mom and 32 years old (oh yeah! It was my birthday earlier this month), which means that there are some things about university life that I just really don't connect with—and that's okay. I did my own version of that phase and am happy to have moved on to other things. On the other hand, it makes me a little sad to miss out on developing deeper friendships with some of the great people I've gotten to know. I just can't pour the time and energy into new relationships when I barely sustain the relationships I already have and value so much.

Because no matter how well I do academically, I just can't seem to figure out how to balance everything! I know that I am hardly being original here, but clichés get to be cliché because they were true in the first place, don't they? Studies, kids, marriage, friendships, housework (ha!), spiritual life, creativity, physical activity, church community, maybe even a little bit of fun now and then ... I just can't see how to give every area the attention it needs. I'm pretty sure it isn't entirely possible, but I hope that I will learn how to choose priorities wisely and pray that God's grace will cover the gaps in the meantime.

For now, though, there will be less frantic balancing attempts and more enjoying life and the people I love! Bring on the summer!

(And a job. A good job. Please.)