Of the Balance Required

I have a fellow education student who is a parent at school who often says to me "I don't know how you do it".  Indeed she's not the only one to express that sentiment.  I think these past two weeks have made me compartmentalise all the areas of my life in very minute ways.  The things I juggle and balance have all been separated out from one another rather than flowing fluidly in and around my days.


For me, the ability to be engaged in all the things I do is about obedience.  It's about knowing what work God has ordained for me to do and setting about the business of doing it within His strength, and there are times when I'm more aware of this than normal.  I think it's a dangerous thing to compare ourselves with others and think that we need to be like others and do what others do.  I think it's also important that we each understand our own strengths and limitations and work to create a positive way to balance the things that God has given us to do.  I think when we sit within the place God wants us to be that balance is easier to find.

This week balance in life has come with planning in small snatches of time rather than a broad sweep approach to the week. Half an hour for a lecture here, a phone call as I walked into a friend's home to make a dr's appointment there.  Brief thoughts of meals and shopping have occurred between writing the other half of an assignment due on Sunday.  Extra hours at work and parent/teacher interviews have been squeezed between preparation for Camp next week and finding time to do my Uni reading and weekly tasks.

This week I've gone slower, more deliberately.  My head still spins on occasion and I'm off to have that reviewed by the doctor today.  But this week when my friend said "I don't know how you do it", I was more aware than ever that aside from obedience I'm not sure that I do "do it".  I think God does it.  This week I think He's done it because I don't think I could all on my own.  In slowing down God has had time to work in the small moments in ways I don't normally take time to notice.

The question of balance then becomes this:  What is the work that God wants you to do?  And then... Are you doing it?

You know what though?  I'm looking forward to life's balance being something that feels second nature again.  Seeing everything through the filter of a dizzy, cottonwool-filled head is somewhat tiring.

Pixie Days

I've been sharing the last couple of days with a very special pixie-girl in the form of my 3yo neice.  She is possibly the cutest little thing on the planet, complete with pink teddies.  Yesterday she came with a treat for me, from her Daddy.  I've decided he's not so evil after all....he'd mentioned fairy floss to Miss Mischief.  We've heard nothing else from her for days!  The california rolls have completely absolved him from that error in his ways.

So my kitchen table has been covered with pinkness and playdough.  A purply pink colour because I know she loves that.  We made mini cupcakes in bright pink patty pans....with purple icing.  Today it will be chocolate for Miss Mischief to share with some friends tonight.

It's nice to share some slow days at home with a purply pink little pixie girl.  The perfect medicine for vertigo recovery.  Which is now all better :)

...Still counting....

I had decided I would be well again by today.  It's the last work day of a dear friend and colleague who is now officially on maternity leave.  I was supposed to train another aide today.  Tomorrow the Secondary's are having Pi Day with pies for lunch.  Friday is Open Night.  I was going to be well.

But I'm dizzy.  Constantly.  The side effects of an otherwise undetectable middle ear infection.  The anti-vertigo drug I was prescribed is helping.....a bit. 

So I'm not well.  Not yet.  But I will be very soon.  In the meantime, I am not allowed to drive and Miss Sunshine has scoured through the freezer to see if there is enough to make dinner from.  Pasta with creamy mushroom and bacon is on for tonight.  I wonder what else can come out of the fridge and pantry between now and when it is safe enough to drive again.

Mr Busy is having my pie for lunch tomorrow.  I'll see my friend at her baby shower.  I plan to be well by Friday.  In the meantime, does anyone want an excuse not to do a thing?

Down for the Count

Above is my current best friend.  The tissue box.  After having a dry, scratchy throat all week I've finally developed a full-blown cold.  Thankfully I don't work on Thursday's so I just slept away the afternoon.  And bought something to stop my nose from running.

Miss Mischief is half way through cooking dinner - roast chicken.  Is that not comfort food for sick people?  I think so.

So...I might feeling like chatting more when I'm feeling better.  Right now I'm just all stuffed up and germy.  Nothing in your head works properly when you feel like that - not even your brain!  I think I sound worse than I feel though.  My boss was not keen to stand too close to me this afternoon!  I can't say I blame him.

You know what the worst thing is?  I've never had a cold this early in the year.  I have this awful feeling I might end up with two this year.  That'll just muck up my one-cold-a-year habit!

Monday Menu Plan: Week Beginning 27th February

Preparing for the week ahead gives me a small sense of calm.  Of knowing where I'm heading and how I might get there.  This week has begun busily - don't they all?!  Miss Mischief is going to be baptised on Sunday during the morning service so I've been madly texting family to let them know, and getting rsvp's back - all very last minute!  Uni started yesterday so I've been wandering quietly through each unit to see what's what.  You can't imagine how excited I was to discover that my 3rd year subject basically finishes half way through the semester, apart from an assignment due at the end.  Third year's will be on teaching rounds so the unit basically stops.

One of the things I'm still figuring out is the best time to menu plan and grocery shop.  I used to do it while Miss Mischief was at Girls' Brigade.  She's no longer doing that and my week has changed from last year as well.  I must confess, shopping as soon as I've dropped the kids off at school is almost dreamy - there's no one there at that time of the morning.  Probably because families in public schools are still dashing about trying to get their kids off to school.

This week's meal plan is looking like it might include:
Monday:  Chicken teriyaki, rice
Tuesday:  Pork & apple hot pot (Nigella Kitchen, p.464)
Wednesday:  Tomato & bacon pasta
Thursday:  Chicken schnitzel, vegies
Friday:  Sloppy Joe's
Saturday:  Looking for inspiration.....?
Sunday:  Chicken & dumpling soup

Even though I don't work on Tuesday's I go to staff meetings after school so I'm trying out a new Nigella recipe that will take a nice slow cook.  I'll get it ready before I go and it will be done when we get home.  I love it when a little bit of organisation becomes my best friend.

Cabin Fever

Fry's Hut.  Photo credit: abc.net.au

I've had a couple of delicious sounding weekday lunch suggestions - keep them coming!  I'm being inspired already.

Do you ever find yourself oscillating between two places at the same time?  Uni doesn't start til Monday and I'm working one day less per week.  I find myself quite tired - especially after days like today.  I seem to need the extra day to rest.  Yet I'm oh-so bored with the extra day at home.  I feel like I'm being naughty, coming home on a Tuesday morning!  I'm sure the days will soon fill themselves with little effort from me.  And I'll get better at being home more.  For now I'm cooling my heels and watching episodes of The Cosby Show without the children.  Much to their chagrin. 

It seems my youngest brother has a touch of Cabin Fever too.  To combat our combined boredom we're meeting after school drop off and heading into Costco together.  He's on a scouting trip for prices and package sizes.  Me?  Well....he needs someone who's a member to go with him.  I can't deny the man, now can I?  He needs me.  So the two of us and his precious little 3yo pixie-like daughter will take a little drive.  I don't even need anything...except to enjoy the trip.  And the company.  

After all, pixie-like little girls are the most precious things ever.

Menu Part 2

 photo credit:  allrecipes.asia

The cure for an extra week without Uni?  Menu Planning.  And grocery shopping.  I finally have the week all sorted for meals...and lunches.  The kids will enjoy the addition of salami for lunch variety, I'm sure.  They get so bored with sandwiches.  And I don't blame them - I don't eat sandwiches very often.  My current favourite lunch is an assortment of antipasto bits and pieces.  Homecooked sliced egglant, roasted tomatoes and roasted capsicums with cheese, olives, carrot sticks & hommus with ham...and salami.

This week we're headed into some more warm weather again.  While Miss Sunshine and I are longing for the day that we can rug up, Dh has been doing mini happy-dances about there being more of summer.  I'm just so grateful for cooling that allows me to plan whatever I feel like without worrying about how hot the house will get.  And it will get warmer in here now that Dh has finished cutting back some hedges that were giving a little bit of shade.

Monday:  Roast chicken, vegies
Tuesday:  Pasta bolognaise
Wednesday:  Honey mustard chicken drumsticks, vegies
Thursday:  Nigella's meatloaf, salad
Friday:  Baked potatoes, coleslaw, cheese, bacon
Saturday:  Chicken kebabs, salad
Sunday:  ???

Inspire me - What's your favourite weekday lunch?