Pacing Myself

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I have never been a runner. I actually hate running, although one day I would like to learn to love it and become a runner. Is that weird? Anyway, they say that when you're running a race, you need to pace yourself (Who is "they", you ask? I don't know. Those people). Anyway, they say that you should not sprint a lot in the beginning or you could run out of energy towards the end. This past week has made me understand why they say that.

In life, I don't pace myself very well. I usually have a few very boring days (or weeks), and then sprint, sprint, sprint until I am exhausted and can't stand any longer. This past week has held for me a MOPS leadership meeting (which I had to lead), a Women's Christmas Decoration Celebration at church (which I was in charge of), a photo shoot, a 3 hour homemade-jam-making-session that totally stressed me out, a cookie jar making night for MOPS (that was 3 hours), MOPS the next morning (which I had to lead), a luncheon today at a hotel, a MOPS Christmas party tonight, 2 photo shoots tomorrow, and a large Christmas party at our house on Sunday. Oh, and on Tuesday we're having another party at our house for the church staff. The only reason I mention that I "had to lead" some of these events is that doing that puts a lot of extra pressure/stress on me. I do enjoy it, but it can get exhausting.

On Wednesday night I hit a wall. At 10pm I started to cry I was so exhausted. This morning I could not get out of bed. I laid there wondering what is wrong with me. Why do I do this to myself? These are all really fun things, but even too much fun can be a bad thing. When will I learn how to pace myself? It is Christmas, and I have even spoken in large gatherings about "choosing peace" and "being instead of doing." Yet I have the hardest time following through on it myself.

Then today, I went to an amazing luncheon at a hotel to watch the Azusa Pacific University choir. The lady next to me told me she was a photographer, who I immediately recognized and knew where her studio was. She is good. She found out that's what I do, and offered me a part-time freelance job. I really want to do it, and it would bring in some much needed money. It would be 1 1/2 days a week. But how? Can I do it? Is it the right thing? Everyone probably reading this is saying "Um, DUH! NO! You're obviously too busy!" But this is one of those things that falls in line with what I want to do, and could help financially. I am going to pray about it, knowing that God may say no.

So after tonight - no, after Sunday - no, after Tuesday, I'm going to start pacing myself better :) Just kidding. I really am going to try to do a better job of it starting now.

And now, here are some of the cute kids I got to photograph on Sunday. The best part? This is a family who moved in across the street. When the house was vacant, we prayed that a family with little boys would move in. These two brothers are 3 and 5. Isn't God good?! AND, the boys just happen to be wearing the EXACT same shirts my 2 boys took their Christmas pictures in last week. How odd is that?! (AND this location that I use all the time was featured on ABC's "Find my Family" this past week!)

(This is how the photoshoot started) :)

But soon, he warmed up...