I'm noticing a pattern to my life here in Denver. When we still lived in Raleigh, I blogged about the "rhythms" of life and not knowing what kind of beat our Denver life would have. To tell the truth, I don't know if there is a specific beat yet - but I'm beat.

Busy is the beat, which leaves me beat, which leave the VanderHouse messy and things not done and sleep not slept....you get the picture. On the surface, it seems as if things should be steady and sure. However, between work, church, City Group, date nights, missional outings, family and catch-up-phone calls....things remain crazy. What looked like a stable schedule has morphed into one that changes day-to-day. For example, I go in at 9, but do I actually get to leave at 6? Not usually. This week I stayed late 3 days, and worked Saturday morning. Goodbye schedule. Cooking - what should be a regular (and welcomed, relaxing) occurrence, has only happened maybe once this week. Between dinner with our City Group, date night with (a new couple) friends of ours (!) and Adrian cooking dinner because I'm not getting home until 7 or later, one of my most relaxing rituals has gone out the window this week.

I actually love coming home and making dinner for us. I get to work with my hands, create something and have a visible, tangible and tasty finished product. I like being able to stand and move around and not be sitting in front of a computer. And, let's be honest, I like being the chef instead of Adrian :) I miss cooking meals.

Walking to and from work leaves me beat too, although I'm starting to just walk 4-5 blocks to the bus and then grab it to the office. Leaves me less sweaty and frantic in the morning - a good thing all around. One day this week, there were lots of mini adventures on my walk. On my way TO the office I found an iPod Nano on the sidewalk. Judging by the kind of music playing and the 4 people who may have walked past that spot, I found the owners and returned it. On my way home, I lost a shoe and didn't realize it until a block and a half later (one of my heels had fallen out of my purse). By the time I noticed it was missing and turned around, a guy had just grabbed it from the middle of the street where it had been laying and thrown it to safety on the sidewalk. Miraculously - it had not gotten run over. Thankful for that little blessing.

Because of the late nights at work, travel (to my cousin Andy's wedding in St. Louis!) and random schedule....the house is a mess. The turtles want to eat, but in the meantime they're enjoying basking on the log Adrian set up for them. My laundry wants to go in the closet, but instead sits folded on various surfaces in the bedroom. I want sleep, but instead I woke up on MY ONE DAY OFF listening to the thumping of my neighbor's bass music through our bedroom wall....grrr.....

All in all, I'm thankful for how God is sustaining me in the midst of an exhausting period of life. I'm thankful he's given me a husband who cares for me so well and in so many ways. I'm thankful for reminders of why we do what we do. And I'm thankful that next weekend, Adrian and I will be celebrating our 2 year anniversary with a little mountain getaway. Right now, I may be most thankful for that - and the promise of extra sleep that it brings. Amen.