~ Calm Before the Storm ~

     I have just under two weeks left of my break from school before I start back into the madness and whirlwind it is.
     January 18th I begin to tackle two new courses, which I must devote as much time as possible to in order to obtain a C or above to keep my GPA boosted. I just got the thrill of getting a B and thus being taken off of Academic Warning. It is a delight, yet a stressor, to keep tackling, yet slowly but surely I am making progress.
     Meanwhile, I will be starting my 2nd grader on more intense levels of work, covering what he is struggling in, and gearing up to prep him for 3rd grade. The first part of the semester we focus on covering the basics of his current grade, the second part is for those loose ends and more specific areas he needs help in, then the last part of the second semester and over the summer is all prep on the upcoming grade level. It works out pretty well for us so far.
     In the middle of that I have my list of things to do before the baby gets here. I am so excited, we all are, but there is much to be done in order to make the transition as easy as possible for us. The more I work to prep now, the more I can focus on my precious new little one when he or she gets here.
     In this calm before the storm of my current life, I have been trying to read as much as possible because I know I will not get much leisure reading time once school starts. I will be cramming in my textbooks info that will fry my brain and have nothing left but goo. On top of reading, it has been inspiring me and stimulating me to write. I was reading one particular book and wondered why I kept thinking about a particularly story of mine that is in queue to be written when I finally realized that the main character of the book I was reading was the same name as the sister of the main character in the story I am writing. I laughed then almost panicked and wondered if I should change the sister's name, then forced myself to not panic since they didn't have the same last names and it really wouldn't matter to the readers anyway. The sister is stuck to her name in my opinion. I can't think of her with any other name, so there it is. I realize I will come across stuff like that from time to time. No matter that "I made it up" there will always be similarities or resemblances because we, as a whole, are influenced by similar things, have access to the same news, etc. As long as my story is not completely similar to another, then it really doesn't matter for the "smaller" things like similar names. BUT.... I WANT TO WRITE!!!! I reveled in this weekend when it was rainy and my guys were on the back porch so I got to have over an hour to myself to write in bed with the windows opening while listening to the rain. WHAT BLISS!!!! I added much to the set-up and would have kept going had my husband not asked about dinner and then I realized I needed to eat something. Seriously. Writing is almost an addiction I think. If given the opportunity and in the "write" frame of mind, I could sit all day and not even eat anything due to being so lost in the story and that burning maddening need to purge it from my head and get it out as something tangible. I had hoped to be able to write more during the pregnancy, as it is likely I will have even less time to write than I do now once my little one gets here, but pregnancy does not change that I am still a student and a homeschooling mom with a house to run and keep going smoothly. There is little time to write, but I'm working on it.
     I gave up Facebook this week for our week of prayer and fasting that my church encourages. Since I can't exactly fast from food because I already struggle to get enough in me each day, I chose Facebook, and to no waste my time on mindless things when I am tired or not feeling well. It's easy to get lost in that junk. It steals the story from me. I feel recharged. I SOOOOOOO needed this time. I have been so close to burnout for a while. I almost don't know what to do with myself given this break from school and the madness that ensues, but I am learning to breathe again and embracing every moment with my son while he's still the only child, and trying to get household projects accomplished, and maybe, just maybe, I will get the spare room inhabitable again and dive into my neglected art. Oh to get my hands messy and sticky with paint smears again!!!
     Another year gone, a new one arrives. This year is the one for potential and progress.
     I am ready!



Until next time,

~ Crystal