I think I've become nocturnal

I had just finally gotten my body to be a little more accepting of early morning hours (which is good, because my first class of the day is at 7AM!) However, lots of homework has been keeping me up later and later, and then last night I pulled an all-nighter just so I'd be able to finish assignments due today. I spent more hours than I'd planned to napping this afternoon, and now here it is, after midnight, and I'm alert and wanting to work on projects, when I should be in bed.

We've been getting more settled in since the move - More pictures and decor are up, most things are unpacked, and I would say we're pretty well "moved in." Some areas are still in need of tweaking, and some areas (like my desk!) are in coping mode until school is a little less hectic.

Finding a budgeting method that works for both of us and is simple to track is something we've been working on since we got married in December. Finding a way to communicate easily about where we are within a month (financially) is harder than I thought it would be! It's one thing to be keeping track of money spent & bills paid individually - merging that is a little tricksy. We don't want it to be something that requires daily or weekly spending "confessionals"! Anyway... So, since the move, I haven't really been filing any paperwork, so the piles that were accumulating at our old apartment during the time before midterms & moving were simply... packed into boxes & moved to the new apartment! Last week I unpacked some of those boxes, but only transferred the piles of assorted papers from boxes to my desktop.
Tonight, I'm in full-on filing mode! It's looking great, I've cleared 2009 paperwork out of my files, and my piles of stuff to trash or shred are growing!
Organizing stuff sometimes gives me the weirdest high :)

Maybe by the end of this week I'll get my body back onto a better sleep schedule. For now, I'm using the nocturnal tendencies to my advantage!

Upheaval!

Over the past few days, we've been moving. From a single-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom apartment. We have at least twice the space now. We've moved from 450 sq ft to twice that. And.. it is lovely :)

The space is relaxing; even amid the unpacked boxes and things-in-transit, there is so much more white space on walls and vacant floor space, that even the unpacking process hasn't been so bad.

Still, it's been a lot of work and we're still in the process of "getting settled" and finding homes for everything. Rooms are taking shape, stuff is finding homes, and gradually, it's transitioning from feeling like "The New Apartment" to "Home."

Yesterday I unpacked the books and loaded up the bookshelves. Funny how that part of things, to me, is one of the key factors in making a place feel like it's finally mine :)

The testing of our faith works patience

"I would love to be a patient person."

By this, I mean: "I wish that situations that necessitate patience didn't leave me feel like I'm chafing against uncontrollable restraints that leave me with no choice but to remain in the situation and either continue chafing or deal with my impatience."

In other words: "I wish being patient was easy."

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We are moving. Hopefully, a week from now, we will be doing the last bits of cleaning at our old place and have begun getting settled into our new home. Until then, homework and packing and everyday housework & errands- plus the hours at work at school- continue to clamor for my time.

I am living by lists. Lists, and 3x5 cards :) Because I need them for school, I have a stack at the ready, plus a pen handily nearby, and have become Queen Of The Jotted Notes. "Check on files for a classmate" "Email pics to a professor" "Remember to study for that one rescheduled quiz in that one class" They cover my desk. Amid them are school schedules, bills coming due, days off to submit for approval at work, and more.

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How to prioritize? My brain is far more big picture than nuanced by the details. This can be good, as it keeps me (usually) from obsessing over the minutia, but when faced with a moment like this - moving, studying, maintaining - my brain looks at the Everything that needs to be done and goes into full-on spazz out. "Oh no there is no way I will accomplish it all!!!" (This accompanied by late nights and early mornings because, darn it, I also struggle with prioritizing!)

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Because of the move, I contacted our internet provider to see about transferring service. After a month of calls and follow up calls and follow up follow up calls, I told them I was moving and gave them a last day of service date. Oops!! A week later, I discovered they had already disconnected service. A few phone calls the next day finally restored service. Sunday afternoon, we lost service again. Several phone calls later, they decided there was nothing to do but send out a technician. The soonest they could send someone? Tuesday, within a vague 3 hr range, during a time when neither my husband nor I would be home.
I am torn between venting my irritation and frustration and general crankiness at all of the juggling and hang-ups (not helped by the internet issues, but not solely caused by the internet issues either), or responding in a gracious, godly way.

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This morning in chapel, the speaker talked about the little servant girl in 2 Kings 5. Go, read it! It makes all of the frustrations and stresses I'm struggling through seem so petty. She was torn away from her land and from her people, but look at the graciousness and care she showed to a foreign master, as well as her unwavering confidence in God.

I want to evidence that kind of confidence. Even in the petty (but big deal in my world!) things.

Oh, how abundant is Your goodness,
which You have stored up for those who fear You
and worked for those who take refuge in You,
in the sight of the children of mankind!

-Psalm 31:19-