The other day I was browsing the photos I have taken this year. I did that to refresh my memory of what we’ve accomplished this year. The end of the year is fast approaching, and there are several tasks I need to get done. One, I like to update my blog about what we’ve done. Two, I like to create a slideshow every year because it’s so fun for my family to look back on what we’ve accomplished. (I’m really in trouble this year since I’ve taken most of the photos with my phone camera, and those don’t get organized like the ones that go directly into Lightroom. Sigh.)

Three, I have to test my third grader for the first time. Figuring out which test I want to use has been a pain. I have found no detailed information about what each test is like, though I’ve gotten lots of anecdotal bits and pieces from different people who have tried one or the other. I have come to resent the fact that I need to test my child at all. We could spend our time actually learning and doing something useful, but I digress… I know I have no right to complain when teachers have to deal with this practically every month of the school year, and I only have to do it once every three years!

Anyway, when I was browsing those photos we took this past fall, I felt like I was looking at photos I took the PREVIOUS fall. Usually time is going so fast that I look at photos and feel it happened yesterday, so this was an unusual sensation. It felt longer since my in-laws had visited us. It felt longer since we bought that storm trooper Halloween costume. And it felt much longer since my son attended his pottery class and chemical engineering class. But it was this school year that all that happened!

I’m not sure why. Has this ever happened to you?

My guess is that it has something to do with how the rhythm of my day has changed since the winter break. We have less appointments, so I’m not driving as much, though we’re still quite busy. I spend a lot of time planning lessons, executing them, and most of all, my son is playing piano 1-2 hours a day, and we (my husband and I) usually sit to listen. (He needs/wants a bit of coaching.) This makes for a full but relaxing day! I’m not used to relaxing that much, but I like it! And actually, I’m relaxing in other ways too. I exercise more, cook more (I’m on a quest to learn how to bake bread!) and sometimes I watch a television program (by myself!) in the evenings. A year ago if I wasn’t doing something for the boys, I was writing or editing. Every minute of the day I was doing something that needed to get done. My new schedule is making me feel a bit self-indulgent, but I don’t want to give it up!

I also realize that I have not written many blog posts lately, and that makes me sad. I do love blogging. But life ebbs and flows. We have busy seasons, quiet seasons, shifting seasons. I have been ebbing more than flowing, I think, but soon, I am sure words will start to flow again. In fact, they already have, so you can expect more posts from me in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, I hope you’re doing well and enjoying spring. If you have a moment, leave me a comment and tell me what you’re up to.