Creating my future, one miracle at a time

A day of end-of-the-year presentations by teens in the Diploma program.  (I'm on the committee, and have been for at least 6 years, and I think 7.) This was an excellent group of kids, over all.  Prepared, and knowledgeable.  We have two days of these, 9 kids in all.  They give their presentation (3-5 mins. on a topic of their choice), then we give feedback on that, and on the packet of written things they gave us two weeks ago.
Altho he doesn't have to (having already fulfilled all the required things), Thomas is taking advantage of the committee being "in session" to give his presentation of his Senior project.  He needs every opportunity to practice those communication skills.  And presenting a scientific, calculus-based project about gravity to lay people will be quite the challenge.  I'm especially excited because this year for the first time, we have a business owner, who regularly speaks in public and puts together proposals and such, on the committee.  His insights have been fresh and educational for some of us committee members as well as the kids.  And he knows how to give good criticism.  He makes it clear what you need to improve on, but leaves you feeling like yes! I can improve on it.

I don't know if I will continue on the committee since both of mine will be gone.  I do enjoy it, and love helping the kids to improve.  But, on the other hand, maybe they need someone fresher.   Maybe I need something new.  Very mixed feelings.

I just need to decide what I want to be, now that my kids are all grown up, and I have to figure out how to fill the NEXT 45 years.

I remember back in January I was going to keep track of all the books I read this year. Somehow I've not been doing that. Not that I've read anything worth listing. Murder mysteries, etc. Probably some of the best stuff I've read this year has been fan fiction.

I've got to cut back somewhere. It's all good stuff, and I love doing it, but I'm strung out a bit thin. But what to trim? I'm to the point of having to consider cutting one of the fun or rewarding things. I've already tried giving up all the ucky stuff I'd give up at the least excuse. I tried giving up cooking and laundry, but it didn't create enough free space, and Mark thought I no longer loved him. So I'm doing the laundry again. Cooking I'm still stalling about. And I do almost no cleaning. I hired a young girl to come in once a week. It helps, but not enough.

So what's going to go? The work for the Autism Society is definitely the most time consuming, and not the most predictable. I get caught on the phone, or yesterday someone stopped in to pick up something and stayed for an hour asking me questions and for advice. But I love it. And I'm making a difference in people's lives. Schooling Thomas takes almost no time now. Being online and reading fanfic is simply NOT on the table. Working at the Homeschool is also very rewarding, and keeps me around young people. And a great many of my friends are there. I don't know.