where does the time go?

My husband writes in his journal every morning (and sometimes at night) and somehow, I don't find/make the time. 7:30 in the morning isn't the best time to be writing, but one kid is gone to school already and the other has just finished breakfast, so I can take a minute (just a minute) before I need to dress the remaining child, and shower and dress myself. My backpack is packed already, at least (that's only cuz it's the first week of classes and I don't have to carry tons of books just yet!)

Finals finished on the 14th -- I immediately hopped a plane and went to Northern Ireland to see a colleague who's working in a Presbyterian church over there for a year. It was fun to see a bit of Dublin before I headed into Belfast -- I spent 4 nights there -- free food and lodging -- but still the trip ended up costing close to $1000. Also got to see a former youth director (who I knew when I was 15) -- he is also a PTS grad and has now lived in N.I. for 30 years -- that was great. Not sure when I will have the opportunity to go again, so I'm glad that I took advantage of it. Family barely survived without me, and that's unfortunate. Hair was not brushed in 5 days (on the little one), so Mom had to cut out the knots when she (I) got home.... Dad was freaking out at the amount of work it takes to maintain a family -- mostly all he had to do was drive a lot to activities and appointments, but somehow that was stressful for him....

My folks came to visit -- allegedly to go to my field ed church with me (on their way to FL for the month of Feb.) -- but we had a blizzard, about 24" of snow -- so church was canceled. Not that I found out -- no one called me, even after I left a message on the church's answering machine -- but since I had not been emailed the church bulletin, I assumed that I was not participating in worship -- no one had included me since I'd been away, so that was fine that I decided not to go -- glad I didn't get there and then find out there was no church!

I sound bitter -- I'm really not. It's just the way things work around here/in my life. Another friend is having a really difficult time trying to work in a church (part-time, for pay) while still being in school and not yet being ordained. The schedule is manageable, the church is OK with it, but the COM is not. Another thing to pray about.

One of my classmates just lost her 23-year-old son in a traffic accident in Jamaica (where she is from) -- losing a child is (right now) the most difficult tragedy for me to imagine -- unfathomable how you cope after that -- I don't know when I will see her next and how(if) I can comfort her at all and help ease her pain.... I interviewed for CPE last week and was accepted into my first (only!) choice -- so my summer is planned for/taken care of (for me and my kids) -- but again, will confront loss on a large scale there -- that will be difficult for me -- I hope I can hold it together and give some comfort to those for whom it will be most difficult -- those going through it.

OK, enough time -- morning duties are calling!