busy-ness

often in my head, as i'm trying to organize myself to get the next task accomplished, there's a busy signal going...as i'm already working on something. or maybe when i get ready to start a task, my head makes the same sound as a car that's being started that's already ON...you know, since i'm usually already doing something.

and i'm not sure what it is that allows my mind to wander for just a minute and then when it comes back decides we're going to get started on something NEW when we haven't finished the thing we were working before we wandered...you know?

it feels good to be busy. we've gotten a lot done this semester. i wonder sometimes how well we've gotten all that stuff done, but then i try to remember to just focus on the progress and lessons that i may not be able to measure...

it also feels good to not be busy...especially after months of being really busy. we went to our local hs park day yesterday and just hung out. i decided shortly after arriving that we'd leave when the kids asked to leave. so we were there for almost five hours. the weather was gorgeous. and these are kids my guys see weekly at co-op, chess club, robotics, rock climbing...but all these activities are focused and at least semi-structured, if not full blown structured. none of them are full out socializing activities. and let me tell you...watching the kids at park day yesterday was like watching adults at happy hour after a week at work. you could just see how gratifying it was to the kids...how relaxing and fun. it was a sharp contrast to their interactions during the week. not to say that they don't enjoy their more focused times together...i believe they do immensely. but we'd missed park days for a few weeks now and i think yesterday was just really something they needed. and it was awesome to be able to drive them there and watch it. and honestly, it was a happy hour for the mamas, too...

balance.... i think if i don't try too hard to find it, it just pops up at the right time. but then i worry if i think too much about it, it'll just get all out of whack again. but then luckily, my mind's already on the next issue--a grocery list--so i guess i won't chase it away...
peace