The new year rushes in . . . and by?

Wow!  I knew it . . . no sooner would I be back a school than I would be writing the date in the double-digits. Tomorrow I'll be writing "January 10th, 2011" on the board at the front of the room.  Nine days gone by "just like that" (imagine fingers snapping)  I always have such great plans for the new year, but they always seem to be caught in the crossfire of the realities of life.  What's that John Lennon quote? Ah yes, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."  Getting caught up in the busy-ness of life seems to be the default of my life.  While I was making other plans to read more, rest more, exercise more and eat less, worry less, hurry less, life happened.  Each day is once again (still, actually) full to the brim.  I rise from my bed at 5:00 each morning and retire to it at 9:30 each night and wonder how the time got away from me yet again.  I've heard that in the last days time will "speed up."  I think there have been physics studies that discuss how that could actually, physically happen, but I think we are just so controlled by our busy, full-to-the-brim lives, that with no time to stop and think, time really does seem to speed  up as it flies past us.  Or maybe I'm just feeling the it's-back-to-work-tomorrow-morning blues . . .

You see, it's not that I mind my weeks, it's just that I really do enjoy my weekends.  This weekend I was able to go over to Brook's new home and help her do some more moving in.  We washed and dried dishes in preparation of putting them in the newly scrubbed cupboards.  We scoured the filthy stove (complete with mice tracks and nest debris) and sorted the boxes in the spare bedroom, sending a large pile to the car for the DI and another pile to the dumpster.  Tylynn dropped Greg off on her way to a bridal shower, and he helped do some carpentry work and the heavy lifting.  Corey and Steven joined us for lunch in Rupert, and then Corey came over to help fix the broken futon frame.  Tylynn came to pick up Greg and we all had great fun at Greg's expense as Tylynn explained her frustration that Greg wasn't very fun on their Christmas trip to Disneyland.  We left feeling like we'd had a great day, and we were happy with our progress at Brook's.  Today I taught my Relief Society lesson and Corey and I had fun visiting with Ty and Greg again as they stopped by to drop off some things for our garage and pick up some things they'd left here. 

Some would wonder why I would choose cleaning mouse dukey as an enjoyable weekend experience.  I assure you, it wasn't the cleaning, lifting, and de-mouse tracking.  It was the time spent with my family.  In this busy, run-everywhere-and-I'm-still-feeling-behind life, the one new year's plan I will not allow to get caught in the cross hairs is my determination to take every chance I am given to be with and do for my family.  This is my life that will happen as I'm busy making other plans.