A Piece of Quiet

My new 2007 Mary Engelbreit calendar is called A Piece of Quiet,
and it has quotes each month about rest, repose and relaxation.
I wonder if it could be possible this year.
I thought when my children left home my life would be quiet.
Last year was my busiest year yet, even after two daughters’ weddings the year before.

What kept me so busy?

Work. The business is getting more demanding, but we’re not hiring more people. We opened a new store in Utah for which I did much of the planning, ordering, packing, setting up, and getting it up and running. I worked shows in Kansas, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Houston—some of the hardest work I’ve done.

Travel. In addition to shows, I was lucky enough to travel to Utah a couple of times, to Hawaii, and on a Mexican cruise with my family. It was all fun, but put me even farther behind and added to my busy-ness.

Church calling. Being in stake Young Women isn’t always busy, but it’s pretty big stuff when we are. With 16 units to orient, train, and attend ward conferences for, plus the pioneer trek we did, the dances, activities and meetings, stake auxiliary training and YW Recognition, it adds up.

Will it be different this year?

Well, I still have my calling, my job, and travel plans. I'll be working fewer shows and won’t have a store to open, but otherwise, not too different.

But maybe my calendar will remind me to slow down and smell the roses.

Maybe, amidst the busyness, I'll take time to rest.


Rest
is not idleness;
and to lie sometimes on the grass
under trees on a summer day,
listening to the murmur of the water
or watching the clouds float across the sky
is by no means
a waste of time.
--J Lubbock