one foot in front of the other

I have so much going on right now that I sometimes feel like I am taking crazy pills...but in a good way:

-Kids go back to school this week. Two different schools and three different levels (elementary, middle and high school). Three different uniforms. Ack.

-Lots of work-related stuff going on. All good but I am buuuuuussssy. Political season kicking into high gear.

-In process (almost done) of moving three children, two dogs, one cat and one snake into new (to us) HUGE, OLD HOUSE where Jon moved in last week.

-Trying to get CURRENT HOUSE sold. Found housesitter to stay there 'til it sells. Still have about 1/4 of our stuff at old house. Moved many truckloads today with Jon while children with their father for the weekend.

-Fretting about the possibility of carrying two mortages til house sells, or having to rent current house if it doesn't sell in next 7 weeks before first, larger house payment due on new house.

-Need to get started on new book which publisher wants in 7-9 months.

-Busy planning details of wedding taking place 9/3 in town 3 hours away. I have lots of MUCH APPRECIATED help from Kimi, mother, Robert & Nicole, sister Betsy, etc, but still a lot to coordinate with food, drink, music, flowers, etc.

-Need to get wedding rings. Went to jewelry store tonight and Jon and I both figured out what we want. Now we will order them online (and in researching where to order online, stumbled on this QUITE ENTERTAINING LIST of things couples have asked this particular online jeweler to engarve on their rings.)

-Need to get wedding dress altered.

-Must get wedding license

-Need to arrange lodging for several members of Jon's family coming to wedding

-Must get fireman out to go over new house with all of us to talk about fire safety issues, how kids can use fore ladder from top floor and what kinds of smoke detectors we need and where. (If I seem obsessed with this, it's because it's a very, very big 100 year old house where - for the first time in my whole life as a mother - the children will be sleeping one a different floor from me).

-Must get estimates on fence at new house for dogs and figure out if/when we can afford it. (I wish we could start a "build Jon and Kate a fence" wedding registry ;-)

In the midst of all that's going on, I am trying to take time to reflect on all these huge changes and how lucky I am. I never would have imagined one year ago today what good fortune would come my way in 2006. I feel like if I exhale, I'll wake up and it will have all been a dream.