Ridin' the Rapids (and a Recipe)

I feel badly about neglecting my poor little blog this fall! (And my friends' blogs and my Facebook friends...apologies all around.) I mentioned awhile back that I badly needed to find my rhythm to be able to get back into it.

Things have finally settled in to a rhythm, but it is not one that affords me much alone time. I used to blog while my kids were at activities, especially theater rehearsals and classes; now I stay at classes, since that's my job, and I end up sticking around for rehearsals, too, just to help out. I used to blog after my kids went to bed; now I am usually helping kids with homework until late, and when they go to bed, I go to bed. I used to be able to sleep in if I needed to; now I get up every day by 7:30 to get Chicklet on the bus, and I'm up at 7 on the days I drive the carpool to the Christian school. So I'm toast by 11 p.m., which used to be early for me! I am working 10 hours a week now too--another big change.

And the driving! At least 5 trips a week to the Christian school and back (35 minutes), plus Bantam10's piano lessons, cornet lessons, tap class, tennis class, and enrichment classes. Not to mention theater classes that the middle four kids attend with me, and guitar lessons that Blondechick and B14 take at the same time and place as Chicklet's ballet class. (Hmmm, I think I left some extracurriculars out of my last post! Will edit.) And none of these activities are long enough to leave and drive somewhere with wireless, before I'd have to return to pick up kids.

At least the gym class (tennis) ends this week. Enrichment classes are over for the year in 3 more weeks. And we'll get a long break from theater classes and rehearsals from Thanksgiving to New Year's.

But it's a busy season right now, and I am really missing having time for reflection and quiet. Tonia is a soccer mom in a similar season right now, and I recommend her post "Survival Guide for a Quieter Species," especially if you are an introvert, which is the end of the spectrum that I lean toward. (I know some of you may have a hard time believing it, but to recharge my batteries, nothing works for me like alone time!) I especially like her first point on prayer and her Ephesians paraphrase.

Now it's time to wrap up my rare hour of quiet and re-enter the rapids! I smell butternut squash baking in the oven; I'm making squash soup for dinner. Super easy, super yummy!

Butternut Squash Soup for 12(ish)

Pierce 2 large butternut squash with a fork and bake whole on a cookie sheet in the oven. When cooled a bit, slice in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds and remove peel.

Melt 4 T. butter in a large pot and add 2 small onions, chopped; saute until onion is translucent. Add chunked up squash, 2 qts. chicken broth, 2 t. salt, pepper to taste, 1.5 t. nutmeg.

Mix well and transfer to a blender in batches; blend until smooth. Heat, adjust seasonings to taste--and enjoy!