So, I completely missed my 500th post. Maybe you did too, given the complete infrequency of my posting and the dull content matter when I do finally post!

Things have been interesting. I’ve been in a funk for a while for various reasons, one of which being that we decided not to have youth group this semester. It’s been such a big part of my life for the last eight years or so and then suddenly, it was gone. Now I’ve come to terms with it and am filling my time with other things and finding the new “normal” if that makes sense.

My job was also in jeopardy – layoffs came in June but I was luckily safe. Since then, things have been quite precarious and made more so by my overactive imagination and penchant for conspiracy theories. (I come by this naturally, if you have ever met my mom!) I had my review the other week and asked my boss point blank where things stood and she said they were improving. Later that day, a proposal I had submitted was accepted by a commercial supporter and that gives us some work well into 2009. Whew!

My finances have hit a new low, however, and that doesn’t seem to be improving. I think there are a lot of reasons for this but right now I need to focus on how to fix it. I’ve applied for some part-time gigs but have to say that I have no energy or desire to work all day and then go work a second job. But it may well have come to that. We shall see.

And now, of course, fall is upon us and therefore so it the biannual flare up of the fibro. Love it! (Not so much.) Tonight we went to setup at a new facility where our church will be meeting starting tomorrow and I definitely overdid it. I hate that! It happened last weekend too when I volunteered at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night walk. So much so that I missed the race at Dover the next day…

I’m leading a women’s Bible study this fall too and we chose The Frazzled Female by Cindi Wood. I have to admit – I was missing me some Beth Moore when we started. I love her studies and feel like I get a lot out of them. But the ladies chose this one and so I decided to work through it. It has been great. It is really working on me, especially this week’s lessons. One of our assignments is to fast from a negative attitude or worry that is weighing on you. Any time it comes into your head, you are to remember our memory verse, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24) My fast is going to be about my finances and I’m going to try it tomorrow. I hope that it changes my outlook – maybe it will even give me some direction and clarity about it all. I hope so!

So that’s it – what’s been going on in my corner of the world. Hope you are all well!

…which is what I would like to be catching. But unfortunately, that hasn’t been in the cards for me lately. Ramona was in the hospital over Labor Day weekend and my sleep got messed up then, then I was sick off and on last week and this weekend and then last night (when I was wickedly exhausted) I had wildly disruptive dreams. I can’t remember the last time I slept for more than a couple hours.

But the good news is…I finished the alphabet!

As in, yeah, yeah, I know it’s been forever since I posted here. I am virtually at a loss. That, plus my current addiction to Facebook, have me wondering about continuing with ye olde blogge. However, I just looked and saw that I have 502 posts – this is 503. That is really quite amazing.

I am considering taking a creative writing course at the community college next month (if I can afford it). Maybe that will get my creative juices flowing again…

I’m all about being undignified these days…

And I am trying to:

-finish the alphabet!
-keep up with my Bible study, “No Other Gods”. It’s really good – I’m just constantly behind after Creation, workcamp and trying to get back to “real” life
-reorganize my house
-keep up with the housework
-work with the vet to reduce or eliminate Ramona’s need for insulin
-reconnect with old friends
-stay connected to current friends
-find a new place to spend 40 hours a week
-get up the courage to get an MRI on my knee
-get back on track with my nutrition plan
-do meal planning each week
-keep up with the neverending pile of wash
-finish “Searching for God Knows What” by Donald Miller
-decide what to do about women’s Bible study for the fall
-start a Bible study for young adults
-figure out where we are headed with youth
-decide what I want to do about some other issues that are weighing on me (how’s that for vague!? You love me anyway!)
-go to bed early tonight, since I was up last night with hungry, annoying cats (yes, part of the new plan to get off insulin. Tonight there will be sleeping – no matter what I have to do to get it!)