it's really only Monday?

I feel like I have been going constantly for ages...unable to sleep in, etc. I am getting run down for sure. I really need a day off...I am REALLY looking forward to labor day...it couldn't come soon enough. That and Friday when I get to sleep in!
I don't want to be down, I want to be happy and peppy but this schedule is really tiring and wears on me! Saturday, I was doing music - related stuff (recording for an album for someone, then going to an extra rehearsal at church that I ended up having to stay for) from 9am-8:30pm with one 30 minute time slot that I was home. I had to be at church at 7am the next morning until the 11:00 service was over (I did the slides for the 11:00), then had to be back at 5:15 for the kids choirs. I had Friday morning off except for teaching 2:45-4:30, but that's only one day!

I love my job, and I love what I do...mixed with teaching and gigs and all the other things I committed to prior to accepting this position, it's really putting a damper on any fun I may have time for..let alone our house...our house is so messy...it's so so bad!!! I do what I can, but I am so exhausted when I come home from work, and Mondays are the only days I get to come home at 4:45! I wish that I could close my eyes and everything would just magically be in place and clean just this once! Then maybe it would be easier to keep up. It's a daunting task when it piles up...I have no idea how I am ever going to get it looking how it's supposed to! What a mess...

I'm finally learning the ropes and really feeling a lot more comfortable with what I do at work. People are so encouraging, and there are a bunch of incredible people who go there. I'm impressed with the quality of the choir, and it has been a blast to sing again. There are 50 some regulars in choir! It has been too long since I've sang in choir. I thought I had lost my voice forever (I kind of damaged it being a 1st soprano in 2 choirs for 4 years in HS, hitting lots of ridiculous high notes without much training, and yelling way too much while cheerleading, etc.) but it's coming back...sort of! Tom does a lot of technique work in choir (he went to Julliard for opera!), which gives me a chance to relearn how to sing properly.

I love working in ministry. It's hard work, but it's worth it. It is so rewarding. The environment I work with is great, and I really like every one of the staff members. They are all so friendly and helpful. I definitely have to ask lots of questions a lot. Slowly, those questions are getting less frequent. My office is pretty much amazing and huge, and has large windows all along the side (which look down on the street and the playground full of daycare children playing). I definitely don't feel trapped in that office.

I guess my current state would be incredibly overwhelmed and frustrated at the lack of hours in each day. That pretty much sums it up to be completely honest. It will pass...I need to stop feeling like this, but it's difficult to make it go away! I also need to come up with lots of healthy slow cooker recipes...because there is only 1 night a week that I come home in time to make a good dinner, and a lot of times Madison is so busy with law school that he can only do a limited amount of grilling. Any ideas? (we ate sandwiches tonight for dinner...)

Getting used to this schedule is exhausting and leaves very little room for energy for the weekend...I am looking forward to the day my body catches up and gets used to this schedule.
Sunday, I'm at church at 7am-11:20am, and 5:30-7:15.
Monday, I'm at church from 8:30-4:30
Tuesday, I'm at church from 8:30-4, then I zoom over to a music store and teach from 4:30-5:30.
Wednesday, I'm at church from 8:30-8:30, if it is a good rehearsal. Sometimes later if not.
Thursday, I'm at church from 9:30-6:30
Friday I'm off of work for the church job and teach 3-4.

The first time in literally months I was able to sleep in was in Brookhaven a few weeks ago, and that was "only" until 9am because the dog needed to go out at that point. I have had something going on Saturday morning or early afternoons for a very long time! I am hoping that I can start sleeping in a little more on Fridays. Madison doesn't have class til 9:30 which is nice.

I am constantly exhausted and getting more addicted to caffeine...we have diet coke and coffee in the break room, and I definitely put it to good use. I haven't been sleeping very good lately either...2 days ago I went to bed at 11:30, woke up at 4am and didn't go back to sleep until 30 mins before my alarm went off! It's weird...drastic new schedules will mess with ya I guess.

The puppy is so sweet...I love her! She's sitting by me chewing on her duck right now. She's incredibly snuggly and sleeps all night. She sleeps with me and loves to get under the covers. I have always wanted a snuggly dog and she is definitely snuggly. She has to be touching one of us at all times when she's laying down or sitting. We take her on one long walk and a few short ones a day, which is good for us and her. That's enough to put her to sleep when we want her to go to bed.

One thing about switching to working 45ish hours a week from working 8 hours max, I wasted a lot of precious time...I don't have time to do things I enjoy anymore, because the weekends and Fridays are taken up by a very much needed nap and housework. I really covet those hours back that I had time to watch TV, sew, do things I enjoy. Such is life, and as I get used to everything, I will become more efficient at everything and be able to do things I enjoy in small doses, but for now, it's slightly depressing coming home, eating, and feeling so tired and ready for bed.

God is providing for us through this job, and I know it's in His plan and I will get adjusted. Ministry is where I fit in, and I really feel like it fits me well too. This job requires a lot of energy, and somehow I am able to do it all so far and will get better at it. My house is so disgusting right now, and I am quite overwhelmed in that area. I know Madison and I will be working hard at the house tonight and tomorrow when I'm not playing a gig and going to a band rehearsal at the church.

People have it worse than me. This is a sweet job in a sweet office. Doesn't pay extravagantly, but it's enough to pay the bills and I am able to use my gifts which is what I really want also. It's just a matter of getting used to an entirely different lifestyle. I can't believe how spoiled I was, getting to spend so much time at home last year! Now I know what it's really like to have a "real job". I feel all the rest of your "pain" now :)

It has been forever...

I'm a bad blogger. Here are some updates:

• us: Madison & I are doing well. We are getting used to a different lifestyle with me working 40-50 hrs a week and him going back to school starting Monday and working. Sharing a car can be frustrating at times, but it is still going to work at least until he may have to leave for the summer for an internship or job. We are enjoying having time to hang out most evenings. He's singing in the choir which makes my Wednesdays a lot happier.

• job: I love my job. It's tough and long and tiring, but rewarding. My boss has been very nice about giving me lots of grace while I learn a lot from my many mistakes. I am finally feeling like I am getting the hang of it! It is a wonderful environment with wonderful people. Teaching starts full force this week, so I am going to be incredibly busy. I definitely get tired on weekends like this where I have to work every day on the weekend, but I won't have weddings for 2 or 3 weeks now, which is great. A lot of people ask me what I do as Music Assistant. I attend staff meetings, I get the order of service nailed down, I proofread the bulletin, I schedule musicians and rehearsals, I get arrangements to every hymn and often transpose them in Finale for organ, piano, bass, drums, percussion, synth, guitar, Tom's lead sheet, and the choir. Then, almost every week, we have guest musicians (brass quintet, string quartet, sax, vocalists, etc.) I spend the bulk of my time getting music ready in finale and assembling peoples' folders. I order music and maintain our music library, take calls for my boss, attend and prepare for all rehearsals, etc., etc., etc. That's not all, but that gives you an idea.

• We got a puppy! After we got back from NC & MI which was extremely fun by the way; we got a puppy from a place in Pontotoc! Her name is Lady, and she is a 3 month old Boston Terrier. She's so sweet and easy! She has lots of energy, and keeps us very entertained. She also sleeps a lot though which is great. She sleeps through the night and doesn't cry or anything. I am always sad to leave her for work in the morning. Right now, she's about 7 lb. She will get to about 18 lb.

That's about it. We're in full swing starting Monday with Madison in school. Fun fun! I will try to be better about blogging.