Phew!

What a week since I last posted. Most of the time was spent getting ready for Stitches, making samples, printing handouts and viewgraphs, packing visual aids and example sweaters, plus my own stuff, then the rest of the week from Thursday to Sunday was spent at Stitches. I am happy to report that before I left, every item of clothing in this house was washed, folded and put away. It was my main goal. Then no one could blame it on me if they didn't have socks or church clothes.
The conference was right in Baltimore at the Convention Center, but I went and stayed at the hotel anyway-it just makes it easier on the fam and on me. I taught 18 hours of classes over the course of the 4 days, and it was quite fun. I went back today and picked up several of my fellow instructors at the hotel to take them to the airport. We ate lunch at a wonderful tapas bar called La Tasca in Harborplace. It was delicious. I am still physically tired, but teaching energizes me mentally so I am pretty well back in the saddle of everyday life. Seminary went well today and it was fun to have day to relax with friends that I don't see very often. I still have a little unpacking to do and the laundry piled up while I was gone, but as usual, Eric and the kids did well without me. That used to bother me until I realized that them doing well was evidence I'd done my job-to teach them how to survive without me. So now it makes me proud that they can run the house pretty much on their own if I'm gone.

Today's letter from Jeff was, as usual, full of faith, good news and humility. He sent along this photo, which now takes it's place as my second favorite photo from his mission.
I think I will frame this one right along with my most favorite. You can see that one here.

I have missed reading everyone's blogs. Now that seminary has started, when I am good and try to sleep, I either do well at posting regularly or reading others' blogs regularly, but don't seem to do well at both. So, I will get around to making those connections a little at a time because I have come to treasure them, but please don't anyone think I've stopped reading or being interested.

I've discovered some challenges that my children are having and while it's hard, I'm trying to be solution oriented and not wallow in blame or self-doubt. In the meantime, the thing I feel I most need to do is take better care of myself so I can be more available to them. So there it is. Choices, choices.