I’m going to go ahead and apologize because this is going to be like a big projectile vomit of words and stuff. Maybe I’ll even throw in a few videos and pictures. I’ve started writing posts over the past six months while things have been silent on here, but nothing was ever completed. I hate to say this phrase because everyone says it and it often feels like some cheap excuse or cop out that people are actually proud of, but I’ve been busy. I’ve been often overwhelmed, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a “curl into a ball on the couch and never leave” way.

Most of you who read this probably know somewhat what’s been going on, but in case I haven’t talked with everyone or you don’t follow my life in your homepage feed on Facebook (what, you have better things to do?! Who would have thought …), here’s the run down. The job at BCM that I was working part-time turned into full-time. It still says “part-time” on some of my stuff, but it’s 40 hours/week (which translates into about 50-70 if you’re in ministry) and I get some benefits now, which is cool. That started in the middle of July and this is the first time I feel like I’ve been able to breathe just a little. The BCM job is contracted for a year, so who knows if I’ll still be doing it after July 2014. After the past two years, I’ve learned that statements declaring what I’ll be doing in the future are silly.

I’ve also been keeping up with my freelance design and video business. Maybe not keeping up well, but keeping up, nonetheless. I’ve finished a few sites and completed a few videos and I still have more work, so that’s good. I don’t really go out pursuing work right now, but I haven’t been turning down opportunities either. I’m torn between which life i want. For the time being, I’m fortunate enough to participate in both. If I keep up this pace, I might never be able to get married and have a family, but it’s not like anyone’s beating down my door for that anyway, so I’ll keep going for a while and embrace things as they are.

Oh, I do have an intern, which is cool to say. I’m not as good at the whole slave driving thing as I would like to be though. Sometimes I’m like, “Oh, you don’t have time to do that? It’s ok.” He’s a pretty good worker though. Hopefully I’m teaching him the things that he needs to know.

Speaking of my intern, one of his BCM responsibilities is to edit the BCM News and create cool and informative videos. We often have issues with parking at the BCM, so we created a public service announcement about how people without permits should not park in the lot during business hours. If you skip to the 1:17 mark on the video below, you’ll see a nice PSA featuring yours truly. Yes, that is part of my job.

Here are a few other little points where my life has changed over the last six months to a year:

  • I talk about poop a lot. I don’t know what it is that makes the topic so interesting, but probably at least once a day, poop comes up at BCM. Our students are obsessed with gross things. We also like to laugh at them.
  • Often times, when I go to tell a joke that would make my students laugh to my friends that are my age, they usually don’t laugh and they look at me like I’m in kindergarten. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to find funny anymore. The jokes usually involve poop.
  • It’s not really a day at BCM unless I’ve had my hand in toilet water. Things break. Someone has to fix.
  • I’m more of an adult, yet less of an adult than I’ve ever been in my life. I make more phone calls, manage more people, plan events effectively, mentor and minster to students, teach Bible studies, manage budgets, clean more than I ever have before, etc., etc., however I do most of that wearing athletic shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops. I have toys on my desk and I have a hard time controlling my cheese ball consumption. I’m worse than I ever was at RSVPing to invitations and I actually try to let my voicemail box fill up so I don’t have to deal with people’s phone calls. I eat a lot of meals using disposable utensils and plates.
  • I realized that once upon a time, I used to go to concerts and shows, art exhibits, museums, community events and run in 5Ks. That doesn’t really happen much anymore. Kind of sad. (On that note, I really do want to make time to see the Annie Leibovitz exhibit in Columbia soon.)
  • I don’t cook as much as I used to or have people over to my house as much, however, when I do get to do those things, I enjoy them even more.
  • I get frustrated with Millennials even though I technically am one.
  • I’m sure there are other things, but I’m out of time and I’m sure you’re bored by now.

Anyway, that’s stuff. Oh, we went on a retreat a couple of weeks ago and it was quite successful. Not having to plan that anymore has afforded me a few extra minutes to write this. Below is a highlight video of what went on at that retreat. If you’ve ever been to Garden City, you might see some familiar scenery. My intern shot the footage and I edited it. And yes, I’ve used the song before, but it’s such a good song and I didn’t have time to go digging for new ones.

BCM Fall Retreat 2013 from April Adams on Vimeo.