A Stress Ball

Normally, I don't get stressed around the holidays. Busy, sure, but not stressed.

However, right now it's a little different. Why, you ask?

1. This coming Saturday is my oldest niece's bridal shower, which I am co-hosting. It was a big to-do to get invites made and addresses gathered and invites sent and waiting for people to RSVP. AND, this all had to be planned within just a few weeks because the wedding only had 2 months to be planned anyway. Seventy invites were sent out. Yes, you read that right: 70. That doesn't even mean the actual number invited, because some addresses had multiple people invited. And do you know how many people have RSVPed? 6. And total people confirmed to be there? Oh, about 13 (and yes, that includes her mother, those hosting, and family helping with the shower). Today was the deadline for the RSVP. Do you not know what that means?! Argh! Plus, I am putting together a guest/memory book for her and that's taking some of my time.

2. I am in charge of putting music together for church every Sunday (although there's usually someone who picks out the hymns). However, I select someone or people for any special musical numbers. Oh, yes, and I'm also the choir director. This coming Sunday is our Christmas program, with, you guessed it, LOTS of music! And while overall the pool of really talented singers in our church is small, I know that there are others that CAN do music, and so I've been trying to incorporate those people that aren't normally asked to perform (singers and instrumentalists alike), but I tell ya, trying to wrangle all of those different numbers together, not to mention getting the choir in tip-top shape for their numbers, well ... it's stressing me out, as there have been some issues with things coming together. (So much so, that I've been focusing on everyone else, and the quartet I wanted to do, will now have to be a solo with me, which is fine, except that I sang at Easter, but now it's too late to have someone else sing it. *sigh*)

3. While I have done a couple of things for Peppermint Creative, I am probably not doing as much as others, seeing as I have many other things on my plate. Of course, we got most of the stuff really recently and that puts a crunch on the designer wanting layouts to showcase her new designs. Sometimes I think those other ladies are so much better than me! But, I'm trying to get better. I just can't scrap as quickly as they can! :(

4. And, of course, Christmas!!! We did a preliminary survey of gifts we already had a few weeks into November, but I haven't had a chance to look back and see if we need to get anymore gifts, not to mention getting things wrapped and prepped. Christmas is next week! Ack!

I know, I know. B R E A T H E. And, just take it one at a time. And, I'm trying. I am. Sometimes, though, I think about it, and ack! It freaks me out. I think part of the reason I'm stressed is because I'm having to depend on others -- let go of the control, because I cannot control them.

*more breaths* At least Brian and the cats entertain me and make me smile.