in the words of a friend....

i realized that i needed to write a prayer letter 2 days before it was due.
unfortunately for me, that day (Monday) was very full of stuff that had to be done...so i didn't get to start writing til the day it was due (this is far from my best case scenario).

...so i somewhat jokingly (but there's a bit of truth in every joke) asked my friend Merilee to write my prayer letter for me (i've asked her to write my letter more than once in moments of frantic "oh no, my prayer letter is due soon...and i don't have anything to say" panic...but she hasn't done it for me yet...i'll keep asking though - someday i'll hit the jackpot...plus, i bet if she would just do it someday you'd all get a very honest, accurate view of my life - with a slightly different perspective. maybe i should start a "Merilee should write Melissa's prayer letter" petition and send it around - or maybe i should ask her (not jokingly) more than 1 day before its due...

anyway - this is what she emailed me a few days after my initial request...i thought it was beautiful - and worth sharing...

dear friends and family - some transitions are smooth and long and easy, you find yourself totally prepared and ready for it, and it gently leads you into what you love to do... but let's be honest, this month isn't like that at all. most days i wake up thinking, 'i have a lot to do today.' and before i've stopped dreaming or my feet have hit the floor my brain starts racing. so, if you find yourself speaking to Jesus today on my behalf, I'd invite you to ask for grace for me and for the community of people that have to bear the brunt of my transition into and through busyness, frustration, and steep learning curves. i'm blaming kolkata. i think it can handle it. - melissa

see what i mean?! she's pretty good - and has a great pulse on what the days are like for me recently - and in some ways she'd probably be more vulnerable than i can be at the times when i feel most overwhelmed.

i had a meeting today with Beth (my friend...and in the context of this meeting, my "boss") - it was really good...and we talked about the year ahead...and goals...and objectives...and a new schedule for me - implementing some things that will hopefully help the brain stop racing...give me some organization, combat the tyranny of the urgent...and help me start making progress as i continue trying to understand, and begin dreaming into the responsibilities that are mine.