I *needed* this.
Between one thing and another, I've been hovering on the edge of being seriously stressed out, anxious, and depressed the last few days. Even though it's not quite accurate, really, I've been feeling like I've got far too much to do, and not nearly enough time or energy to do it.
And then today was our church's women's retreat, and it was... so very much what I needed. Good, encouraging teaching, fellowship, relaxing walking around in the woods in between things... and yes, lots of chocolate, too. :) And I got a neat little book by John Piper on joy, which I will definitely be reading with my devotions this week. Today has been so very peaceful, and I've been both surprised and thankful for how much I've been able to just step back from everything that's been going on. Yeah, I've still got a lot going on, but I think today's really helped in getting my mind and heart back on the right track again. God is so good!
And! In a rather random turn of subject, I meant to say how the karate tournament Thursday night went, but I've been rushing around so much I didn't get to it. So, now that I'm here -
Thursday was pretty crazy. I was behind from the moment I got up - it was rainy and dark and Mom accidentally slept past the time she was going to wake us up. So we rushed to get ready, and rushed to get the the Busches' house, where Nef and I spent the rest of the morning watching their three youngest children. LOL, they're quite... energetic. Lots of fun, but energetic, to say the least. ;) And then between one thing and another we were running behind again and got to karate just barely in time to run to get in line as the class started. And then after class we finished errands and came home, where I used what time I had to get as much editing done as I could (winter issue of Teach just came in for editing), and to try to get in some more last-minute practice for the tournament. And then we headed back into town, where we had first the awards ceremony for completing karate summer goals, and then... the tournament. *dun dun DUN* :P
It was... both better and worse than I'd anticipated. Heh, I wound up at rather a disadvantage on several counts, both in terms of how nerve-wracking it was, and in terms of judging. First, Nef, Eric, and I were hoping to do our form as a team instead of individually, but found out only a couple days ago that there wasn't going to be time to allow team competition. Then, Nef and I ended up being tied as the lowest-ranking belt levels in our division (we were the newbies, being judged against more experienced people, all or most of whom had also competed in several other tournaments before). And in addition, the judges are always toughest and dock points most on the first three competitors (nope, not just a perception thing, a fact, because of the way the judging works)... and I was the very first person up. Yeah. Very scary.
It turned out all right, though. :) I wasn't exactly performing at my best, certainly, and it was pretty disorienting and generally terrifying, not knowing exactly how things were supposed to work. But, I didn't panic, and in general I did all right. And in the end... I've currently got a two-foot-high trophy sitting next to my desk, and none of the judges scored me under a nine (the scoring going from 0.00 to 9.99). :D
LOL, nah, not nearly so prestigious as it might sound - it was really quite low level, as competitions go. Still. I'm very happy, and relieved. And Neffie got a trophy too! *is very happy*
Karate trophies are very big, gaudy, sparkly things. *pats it*
Anyway... there was more I was gonna talk about, but I've definitely got to get to bed.
*yawns and staggers off*
And then today was our church's women's retreat, and it was... so very much what I needed. Good, encouraging teaching, fellowship, relaxing walking around in the woods in between things... and yes, lots of chocolate, too. :) And I got a neat little book by John Piper on joy, which I will definitely be reading with my devotions this week. Today has been so very peaceful, and I've been both surprised and thankful for how much I've been able to just step back from everything that's been going on. Yeah, I've still got a lot going on, but I think today's really helped in getting my mind and heart back on the right track again. God is so good!
And! In a rather random turn of subject, I meant to say how the karate tournament Thursday night went, but I've been rushing around so much I didn't get to it. So, now that I'm here -
Thursday was pretty crazy. I was behind from the moment I got up - it was rainy and dark and Mom accidentally slept past the time she was going to wake us up. So we rushed to get ready, and rushed to get the the Busches' house, where Nef and I spent the rest of the morning watching their three youngest children. LOL, they're quite... energetic. Lots of fun, but energetic, to say the least. ;) And then between one thing and another we were running behind again and got to karate just barely in time to run to get in line as the class started. And then after class we finished errands and came home, where I used what time I had to get as much editing done as I could (winter issue of Teach just came in for editing), and to try to get in some more last-minute practice for the tournament. And then we headed back into town, where we had first the awards ceremony for completing karate summer goals, and then... the tournament. *dun dun DUN* :P
It was... both better and worse than I'd anticipated. Heh, I wound up at rather a disadvantage on several counts, both in terms of how nerve-wracking it was, and in terms of judging. First, Nef, Eric, and I were hoping to do our form as a team instead of individually, but found out only a couple days ago that there wasn't going to be time to allow team competition. Then, Nef and I ended up being tied as the lowest-ranking belt levels in our division (we were the newbies, being judged against more experienced people, all or most of whom had also competed in several other tournaments before). And in addition, the judges are always toughest and dock points most on the first three competitors (nope, not just a perception thing, a fact, because of the way the judging works)... and I was the very first person up. Yeah. Very scary.
It turned out all right, though. :) I wasn't exactly performing at my best, certainly, and it was pretty disorienting and generally terrifying, not knowing exactly how things were supposed to work. But, I didn't panic, and in general I did all right. And in the end... I've currently got a two-foot-high trophy sitting next to my desk, and none of the judges scored me under a nine (the scoring going from 0.00 to 9.99). :D
LOL, nah, not nearly so prestigious as it might sound - it was really quite low level, as competitions go. Still. I'm very happy, and relieved. And Neffie got a trophy too! *is very happy*
Karate trophies are very big, gaudy, sparkly things. *pats it*
Anyway... there was more I was gonna talk about, but I've definitely got to get to bed.
*yawns and staggers off*