Hurry up and wait...

There was at least one episode of MASH when the main characters talked about how life in a MASH unit was all "Hurry up and wait"--that there were periods of crazy rushing around surrounded by a lot of sitting and waiting. 

This week at school has been kind of like that for me--moments of utter chaos surrounded by time spent sitting and watching my kids write final exam essays.  There is, of course, that never-ending mom and teacher "to do list"...but in many moments this week I have just sat and done, well, nothing.  I have felt guilty several times and invented things to do(and been interrupted by "emergencies" several other times).

I think that is God's way of reminding me to observe Advent--to wait quietly and listen for "what next".  To remember that sometimes we are to just wait.  What a great reminder in this crazy, busy world...

Now if I could just grade all those essays in a speedy manner.....

Free hotel rooms and other fun

Two summers ago when we went on our Great Midwestern Trip one of the hotel chains I have an account with was running a promotion that if you stay two nights you get a 3rd free, but can't use it until a certain date range.  Turns out the date range ends on this December 31.  D'oh.  So we tried to use it to stay somewhere when the family was skiing..didn't have enough points.  Tried to buy something else with it (like a gift card) didn't have enough points.  Hmm...So I started trying different cities and times...turns out, that although I can't buy a $25 Target gift card with my hotel points, I can use them for a free night at our local branch of the chain.  Interesting.  This actually turns out well, though...because we don't need a dog kennel reservation if we are just down the road!  Mr Ranch volunteered to stay at the house and it turns out that his dad arrived in time for them to have a guys (and dogs) night!

The kids enjoyed a little tv (literally, a little tv according to The Boy, who said, "Ha!  This tv is so tiny!")  They quickly discovered that even with cable there is "nothing on".

After a dinner at Jimmy Johns, we retired to the hotel and the kids played in the pool for hours...followed by movies on the kindles, bed and our free breakfast (might have been the best deal ever...since Mr. Ranch, who was technically staying with us, according to the hotel, and Grandude joined us).

Maybe next summer we'll earn another free night :)