Compulsive Fingertips

(My first wordle... I wonder if it was a productive use of time...)

I have enjoyed General Conference today.  It's always chock-full of uplifting and thought-provoking talks that inspire and prompt me to be/do better.

I love every talk, but particularly enjoyed the talk by Elder Ian S. Ardern on the wise use of time.  Probably because that's something I question myself with nearly every day.  I have anxiety over exactly what is the {BEST} use of my time each day, and frustration when, at the end of the day, I feel that perhaps I gave too much of it to something that could likely be considered a "disguised distraction."  I have a hard time making sure the "scales of time are correctly balanced."  Honestly, I have only the best, most saint-like of intentions each morning, but they often get skewed, or sometimes lost, at the onset of the day-to-day sporadic demands that bombard me from the moment I get up in the morning.

An example from this past week:

Thursday was Lexee's birthday.  It's also the morning I attend an Adult Continuing Education class.  Because the week had been so busy, I had not taken the time prior to Thursday to put together the every-year-of-your-life blog post for Lex.  I felt that it was important to get it done promptly that morning, so in between making breakfasts and lunches and sending kids off to school, I focused on the post.  Of course,  because I wanted to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible, I made one mistake after the other in sorting and collaging the pictures.  I still needed to shower and be ready for my friend Jeanne to pick me up for the class around 9:10 am.  Shilo had decided to skip her advisement class that morning, and needed me to call her out, but also needed a ride back to the school on our way to class.  In the busy-ness of my good intentions, I forgot something.  Something really important.  A sister (less-active/husband's-not-a-member/Bill's-home-teaching-family) in our ward had asked a huge favor of me several weeks prior.  Her mother had passed away, and she needed to be out of town for an extended period of time.  She had made all the necessary arrangements for her son to get to and from school except on Thursdays.  Would I be willing to get him and his friend to school for the next few Thursdays?  Of course, I said.  No problem.  I would be happy to help.

The first Thursday came along.  I had put an alarm on my phone, just to make sure I didn't forget, and Bill happened to be available to drive the boys to school that day.  Just like I thought, no problem.  The next Thursday rolled around.  I had seen it on the calendar the night before, and tried to impress it into my mind.  Around 2 pm the following day I remembered.  I felt sick.  Bill made the apologetic call to the dad.  

Before I knew it, Thursday (Lex's B-day) had come again.  Again, I had made a mental note Wednesday evening to NOT FORGET the arranged carpool, but again, the stuff of life came crowding in.  Luckily, this time I remembered before school was over.  Around 9:00.  I called Jeanne to tell her NOT to pick me up -- I would be late.    I frantically threw my newly showered hair up in a clip.  I yelled at Shilo to be ready for school when I came back by after grabbing the boys.  I drove like a maniac down the hill to pick them up, my familiar friend {anxiety} accompanying me in the car.  

In the end, it all worked out.  Kind of.  Kyle was home, but his friend had panicked about not making it to school on time, and had called his grandparents to come get him.  I called the school to excuse Kyle from advisement.  He was calm and unconcerned.  Shilo was ready when we swung back by our house, and I dropped them both off at school, and made it to my class before the opening prayer.

But I was so frustrated with myself.  Next Thursday, should my help still be needed, I will put a giant reminder note on the computer AND on the refrigerator... I know I will see at least one of them before the arranged carpool time of 8:30 am.

I'm determined to be a better "Master Manager" of my time.

No more Angry Birds.

(Just kidding... I don't play it, it's just on my phone because Mar put it there.  Really.)

I can't wait for more enlightenment tomorrow.