Where Have I Been?

No, really. I'm asking. If anyone knows, clue me in. I feel like I've been lost.

The world has been a whirlwind since my last post in December. If I remember rightly (and there's no guarantee of that these days), it was just at the end of my semester. It was right before the endless cycle of events, visits, and family and friend stuff.

Now, much of that was great. We had a Renaissance Christmas party on the 19th at the in-laws, which was fun and delicious. The next day was the roleplaying joke-fest of the visiting Parker Horde, followed the next day again with the open house for same, both of which were terrific.

Then began the rounds of family visits. Joanna's entire clan was out from their various points around the country, making it a big Polman time. We were either seeing them or my family at all times for two weeks. The Polmans numbered twenty with all kids and adults tallied, and for an introvert like me, that can be a bit hairy. It was good to visit with Tim, my brother-in-law-in-law who is now a pastor out in Georgia and is the kind of guy who takes a sniper's training course so as to dominate paintball games, and I did get in some fine X-Box time with him and my other brother-in-law-in-law, Dave. But getting the kids ready every day and being among so many folk for long hours and ingesting vast quantities of quite tasty but very girth-enhancing food was just draining.

Finally all that came to a close this week, leaving me just time enough to try to take care of a few of the issues that have been piling up in the intervening weeks--like preparing for classes which start on Monday and taking care of the registration tags the DMV fails to send us every year so that we get pulled over at least once per annum for expired tags.

Fascinating stuff, isn't it? It's been a struggle to get back on here because my life seems to be in a strange, shapeless place, floating free from anything I've known before. My many-times-aforementioned secret project fell through completely (though I'm still not telling what it was, as it may come back one day); I've not really written anything in weeks; I'm staying up even later than usual and have no idea why. My motivation seems to have been sapped completely, yet I've never felt like I've wanted to pursue my calling more strongly. I get weepy watching The Chronicles of Narnia or just listening to the dramatization of them on CD.

Kathie mentioned to me in November that she was praying for major changes in my life, which I much appreciate. Perhaps this is some sort of point along the journey, but it seems a pretty low one. Still, blogging again may be a help. I make no promises to reform, as I've failed on that score far too many times to try it again. But something is underway.

I'll stop now before the rambling becomes interminable. Thanks for sticking around this far. All further prayers and thoughts are most welcome.