calm before the storm?

It's pouring rain right now, and there's a bit of thunder, but I've seen no lightning. Oldest is out driving around, impervious to Mom's "suggestions" to come home before the road floods (flash floods actually are predicted). Friend is moving this weekend (I am unable to help, though I helped a different friend move last weekend) -- feel badly for the weather the crew is going to face tomorrow and Sunday. I need to clean my house tomorrow for a friend who is coming to spend the night, and I need to keep/resume packing for my Kenya trip. [Oh, and I need to go to "work" in the afternoon to register folks for the week-long conference I am supporting -- they are coming in this Sat. & Sun.]

The Kenya trip is crazy-making. British Air (our carrier) allows each of us to have 2 suitcases weighing up to 70 lbs. each. [Other carriers have dropped their weight max to 50 lbs. per bag.] I probably have enough stuff for 5 bags weighing 70 lbs. each. And I want to bring it all -- most of it is donations (medical and school supplies) -- and some are books a good friend asked me to bring..... I have to call the airline and confirm how much I can bring (pay for the extra bags) and how much it will cost me.

Planning the itinerary with our Kenyan hosts, and answering the questions of "my" American travelers is driving me batty. Wish I could remember (that is, successfully remind myself) that it's not all about me. That it's not that I'm being ignored (answering the same question over and over) and that it's not that I'm insignificant (when other people are asked questions that concern me). It just gets frustrating. I have so much left to do and so little time to do it, and then what? If I don't get it all done, how poorly does it reflect on me? Does it mean I'm not worthy? (I know the answers to all these questions -- but knowing and internalizing are two different things!)

I went out tonight to see "A Prairie Home Companion" with friends and family. It was fine, but unremarkable. Then spent awhile on the phone speaking with my brother, the father of my nephew who just lost his best friend in a seizure/drowning accident overnight. Am now praying for Travis' family, as well as for my friend Dick, who is in the hospital with a gangrenous appendix and he's suffering due to the infection.

I feel like the storm may be calm when I'm back at home in August, with no plans made....