Is it May yet?

I know it has been a while since I last blogged. It's not because I haven't had anything interesting going on or because I've had nothing on my mind. In reality, it's because I've had too much going on and everything on my mind. I've been too scattered to sit down and really form any single thoughts or topics. My mind has been like a pinball machine with thoughts, to-dos, busy schedule, emotional highs and lows, and everything else that could possibly keep me distracted from focusing on any one thing for more than a moment. At this point, I'm just ready for April to end. Once I can get through April, a lot of stress and busyness will fade out.
See, I have this presentation I have to do at a retreat next week and well, I've not made a whole lot of progress on it. Okay, in reality, I've not even began forming my collection of random facts and quotes into some type of presentation. Yes, I have actually done some research and have notes from this research down, but there's a lot more that needs to happen before I can present it. I've just been soooooo busy with other various requirements and life that I've struggled to have adequate blocks of time to sit with it and figure it out. Here's to getting it done at the last minute! Less than a week left to prepare it, practice it, time it, prepare visuals, and present it! I also have two mission presentations to do in this next week. I'm excited for the opportunity to share my story for sure. Tomorrow, I spend the day volunteering at our Special Olympics track and field meet. I'm also preparing to leave the state for five days immediately following the retreat next weekend. I've had my car in the shop twice now repairing stuff and doing routine maintenance. To top everything off, I have also not been sleeping. Running off of sheer willpower and deadlines!
I'm not saying all of this to say, "oh, woe is me." Nope, not at all. April has been a really great month. I've had some great experiences and spent time with amazing people and I've learned a lot! I've been loving life. There have been some tough and even sad moments, but life has been good. Mostly, it's just the fact that the end of April happens to be the deadline for a major project/presentation, runs into my big road trip to Georgia, and prep for both of those things on top of the rest of my crazy busy schedule. I'll be excited to just get through it so I can put all of that behind me and start focusing back in to preparing for Thailand and raising funds. So yes, I'm so ready to finish April and start May!
Fun news for you: I took my first Thai lesson on Wednesday. It was great! I'm so excited to have the opportunity to learn some basics of Thai before I actually move to Thailand and go to language school! More fun: I attended a silent retreat back at the beginning of April and it was a wonderful experience! So nice to be in a community of people, but completely at peace in total silence! I've also spent some wonderful time with friends this month. Good things are happening.
It's getting late now and I have an early morning dog sitting and coaching some Special Olympics tomorrow so I'm going to leave you with this thought. "Oh God, help me to believe the truth about myself no matter how beautiful it is." -Macrina Wiederkehr. What feelings does this quote bring up within you? How does it affect you? Feel free to share your thoughts. I was very intrigued with it and have sat with it many times since I heard it at the beginning of this month.
Also, I promise to blog better when this presentation is done and over with! ;-)