Making Plans

I am a planner.

For those that know me at all, that was kind of a "well, duh!" statement for me to make. I am actually one of those people that enjoys planning and organizing...it's my thing.

And I love "to-do" lists. I love making them...and I LOVE checking things off of the list. Sometimes I cheat a little if the list is full of hard, time-extensive projects...I write a few easy things that I don't actually need reminded of to get done...or I have been known to write down things I have already completed that day just so I have something to cross off. Don't judge me...it keeps me motivated.

This last month, and the next couple months to come, is one long, continuous "to-do" list of things I need to accomplish before leaving for Cambodia. Some are no brainers, like purchase plane ticket, but that is not as easy as you might think. I have tried to be my own travel agent in the last couple days, searching all the sites, figuring out the cost vs. "itinerary-that-won't-kill-me" ratio. I have decided there are professionals who do this for a reason. So tomorrow I am trying a whole new round of agents since the ones I had contacted already have not been too helpful (thus the plan to do it on my own formed and is now being kicked to the curb).

Others things on my list are labor intensive, such as designing and writing newsletters, support packets, prayer cards, business cards, donation receipts, information cards, address labels, bulletin inserts, fundraiser fliers and labels, etc. This seems to take me longer than it should, and makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes, but I love being able to look over the completed projects with a smile and sigh of relief.

I have to remember, though, that my life is not and should not be driven by a list. I have to be flexible. If there is a default in my brain, it most likely is set to "task-oriented." That's not a bad thing, as long as I don't forget that there are other things I need that no one makes lists for...like relationship with other people. Relationship with God. Being a living, active version of Jesus' compassion to the world. Those are the important things. The list can get finished another day.