This morning my husband asked me what I was doing today (not snarky, just curious about my schedule). After I replied with my normal schedule for the day, he commented that he had to ask because every day is different. (I have weekly patterns, not many daily ones.)
The #dayinthelife trend has also had me thinking. So here’s one for the record books:
7:30 a.m. After the normal morning preparation — that I, at least, do have daily — the first order of business is a weekly video conference. Family updates from Europe and both sides of the US get us going into prayer together.
8:00 a.m. Now it’s off to the races. Just a few minutes before the next call, so throw a load into the washing machine. Then login to the work team weekly video conference. (We’re getting good at this globally, aren’t we?)
9:00 a.m. First meeting ended early, so I have a few minutes to switch the laundry to the dryer before logging into the second work meeting.
9:30 a.m. Technical difficulties with the final meeting — yes, we’re getting better at it, but technology still isn’t perfect! While I wait for the organizer to arrive so we can virtually connect, my hands are free to print and assemble some song books for church. Then a few minutes to handle some office emails.
9:50 a.m. We are good to go! Time and process management brainstorming is in full swing when I get a text from my husband, an hour earlier than planned, asking if I’m ready to go. Based on his location, I will be by the time he gets home. It’s a new plan.
10:15 a.m. Wrap up the call and pull on my boots and fleece. It’s a raw winter day. We are off to take a steer to the processor. The farm is a couple of miles from our house. The trailer is already lined up at the farm corral, so we easily load him and hit the road. That was the last “easy” for the day…
10:40 a.m. We are a mile past our street when the truck starts shuddering. Pull over. Check the tires. Well, look at that; the rear trailer tire is losing its tread. Limp back to the house. Remove the tire, grab a spare, and head to the tire shop to remount the spare on the trailer rim.
11:20 a.m. Keep in mind that a steer is sitting in a livestock trailer in our suburban back yard…
We drop off the tires, grab lunch and go back to pick up the tire and rim. Back to the house to replace the tire.
12:30 p.m. At this point, we no longer are able to get to the processor and back by his 1:00 meeting, so my husband heads back to work.
Keep in mind that a steer is STILL sitting in a livestock trailer in our suburban back yard… Fortunately, he is quiet, although restless. I don’t think I could have handled the mooing, if not.
I head inside to get some work done. Quantifying business results is a natural next step, right?
2:15 p.m. Text received from husband saying he is on his way back. I finish up and drag my mind out of spreadsheets to transition back to farm life.
2:30 p.m. Boots back on, and we give a road trip another try. The sun has come out, so the uneventful drive is a blessing. We make it safely, fill out a cut sheet, confirm arrangements, and head back.
3:45 p.m. Husband has a 4:00 meeting, so I drop him off at work. My two big tasks for the day were the report I was working on earlier and going to a local book store for some gifts. The store closes at 6, so the clock is ticking while neither is done.
4:00 p.m. I haul the trailer back to the farm and park it downhill by the well house. (In case you are curious, you need to hose down the trailer after use.) Switch keys and trucks, and head back to the house to switch back to my truck. (Musical trucks is another life motif.)
4:30 p.m. Take meat out of the freezer to thaw for dinner.
Now I am heading “to town” to pick up a few groceries for a party the next evening and hit the book store. There is one branch of the bookstore near our house, so I try that. No luck, so I keep going to the main store.
5:45 p.m. Success on 1 out of 3 books needed! Now to the grocery store. On the way, I check in with a family member and arrange to meet. He will hose out the trailer so it can be moved and unhitched. I will bring the truck back to the house without the trailer.
6:00 p.m. Grab groceries and head home to drop them off and catch a ride to the farm. All is well until we try to undo the 1965 trailer coupler. This city girl is far from a pro. We accept defeat and leave the rig parked for the night.
Still need 2 books, so I choose one from the bookshelf for the next day before heading to thriftbooks.com for its replacement and the third gift.
7:00 p.m. Check with husband on ETA. Almost ready. Get dinner lined up, and head to pick him up.
8:00 p.m. Empty the dishwasher so we can fill it again.
Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.
Now to clean up the kitchen.
8:45 p.m. I still need to finish the report from the afternoon, so I head into the (home) office to get it done.
9:15 p.m. Report is done.
Oh, yes, we need to order family picture prints. My grandmother is turning 100 this month, so we had motivation to have some nice ones taken. We sit down to look at options and place the order. Check that off the list.
9:45 p.m. Now the day is done. Time to wind down with hot water and bed.
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It’s days like this that have me question my life choices. Thinking it over, though, helps me remember why the days go like this.
Why did I get up and going? I love God and desire to live well the life he has given to me.
Why do I mess with all the farm stuff? I love my husband and want to help him fulfill his goals. (No, I don’t love cows…although I do enjoy beef.)
Why do I work? It is a way to love God and love my neighbor. Income is part of providing for myself and giving to others. (II Thessalonians 3:6-13)
Why do we give gifts? To celebrate the Greatest Gift and to share the love which we have received.
Why do I drive all over town and serve dinner? I am loving by serving.
Why do I bounce through the day like a pinball? Because I am not God, and sometimes needs must. My role is to accept graciously the schedule I am given rather than the ideal schedule I design.
The activities vary a lot day by day, and season by season, but these reasons still stand.