I'm in School Full Time

Sometimes I have asked myself, "What do you do with your time Karen?"
For about 30 years, I could easily answer that.

I'm the mom.

I remember once talking with a friend who also was a mom but spent MUCH of her time doing other things. I didn't know how she did it. I was exhausted just working at home. I didn't feel like I could afford much time doing other things because my house and family would suffer if I did.
Sometimes I felt like a failure, that didn't contribute much to the world.

I only went to two years of college and didn't even graduate with ANY degree.

As I was watching this friend go to and fro, and feeling exhausted for HER, trying to do all that a family requires and still take on a lot of projects and always on the go, I remember thinking and then telling her, 'I just need to KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING"
 I felt such conviction in saying that. I KNEW in my heart that that was EXACTLY what the Lord wanted me to do, and I felt a confirmation from the spirit that this was the MOST important thing anyone could be doing that was in my shoes.
If I couldn't keep life AT HOME together, nothing else mattered.

I'm the mom.

I have LOVED being the mom, and with all of it's ups and downs, I wouldn't trade it for ANY OTHER CAREER.

Well, now, all my children are "raised", so to speak.
My baby is 18, she is away at college.

My days seem to be busier than ever, but I find myself questioning,"What is it that you DO all the time Karen?"

The answer came to me the other day while driving. It was pure inspiration.

                              "I am in school FULL TIME"
I hear a lot of women now days saying just that, or some have gone back to school part time.

I have NEVER had the desire to do that, and now I see why
.
I am already doing it.

I thought this through. This is my WEEK.

On Monday morning at 9 am, I have a Zumba class to start off my week,
I then, rush off to a Meditation class as a stress buster to get  THROUGH the week.
Then I have a Cancer Support class to keep positive about living with cancer. Not that I have it anymore, but my world is full of people who do., and that is a very important SKILL to learn, how to live in this world with the challenge of cancer.

Then I have a break for lunch. :)
Monday afternoons, I spend 3 hrs in a Service class called Relief Society Presidency meeting.
I learn TONS in this class about helping others and at the same time helping myself.
There are about 160 women in this organization that have needs and most of them have families that have needs, and I am in the leadership of this group to help meet three of those needs.
Faith, Family, and Relief.  I spend several hours each week in a "Lab" for this class. I go with one or two other women to meet these 160 women in their homes in a personal setting.

Monday night, I have a Family Class with my husband and daughter and 5 grandchildren. We learn about living the gospel and we help teach each other basic Christian principles.

Tuesday, I have the day off.
I use this day for Re-grouping and catching up on all the things that get neglected the rest of the week. I try to keep this day JUST FOR ME.
If I feel like sleeping in, I do it.
If I feel like reading, writing, cleaning house, or whatever my heart desires, I do it
It's my "Fill my Pitcher' day.
I do, on occasion,spend the evening  going to my "LAB" for the Relief Society class, making visits.

Wednesday, classes start early as I have a 5:30 am Temple Class,
They repeat it at 6:00, and 6:40 if for some reason I can't make the first one.
At 9:15, I have my exercise class again, but instead of Zumba, it's Step Aerobics this time.
I run home and shower and then hurry off to an Addiction Recovery class.
I have someone that I love dearly that has a Pornography addiction, and I need to learn about addictions to help me love him in spite of his problems, and come to understand that the strained relationship is not because he doesn't love me, but because he has an addiction that controls him.
I take a lunch break after that, then I have the afternoon off to catch my breath.
I am in charge of dinner on Wednesdays, so I take care of that. ( for my grandchildren)
At 7:00 pm, I am off again to a Religion Class.
This year we are studying the Book of Mormon in detail.
I get home from that about 9:30 pm.

On Thursday, I have to work, but I am lucky enough to start off my day at 6:30am with a Yoga class.
With the economy the way it is, we have been a little tighter than usual with money, so I have to help bring in a little bit if possible, and I have a need to complete projects that feel like I have completed something. I also love the feeling that i have I helped someone out.
I clean houses.
I love to clean, and I have learned that people are willing to pay $20 an hour to have me do it.
I usually have one house I do in the morning, and one house I do in the afternoon after.........you got it....... my lunch break. :)
Thursday evenings, I once again, go to my "Lab" for my Relief Society class, and make visits to people's homes.

Friday, I have my exercise class again at 9 am
This is my slow day and I actually get a TREAT at 1 in the afternoon.
My brother is a massage therapist and INSISTS that after cancer, I need a weekly massage for 90 minutes.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

What a blessing.

What do I do with my time???

Now, I keep MY PERSONAL HOME FIRES BURNING!!!!!!!!
I have found that if I take care of myself, I can be of GREAT SERVICE to others.

I think I am in the best classes of all right now in my life.
I am really learning A LOT, and I am growing in so many ways. ( we're not going to talk about weight)

I had to ask myself, "WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR?"
I think this year, it is "Religion"
That's great major

But , I will always be
"THE MOM"