Listening to Our Bodies and Resting

   Last night I was exhausted and felt like I had been hit by a truck.  By 9 p.m., I was in bed and watching Bewitched on dvd.  I got through 1 1/2 episodes before I turned off the TV and went to sleep.  That may not seem too unusual to many people, but I struggle with insomnia and for me to go to sleep that early is very odd indeed.
   This Summer was a busy one for us and Jeff and I felt like we were constantly on the go or working on projects.  We did take a vacation at the end of the Summer when Josh came home, but for all but 2 of those days, we were helping corral our grandsons who are 1 and 2 years old and are BUSY little people. ;)  Three days after our return home, I was back in the classroom subbing for the 4th and 5th day of the new school year and then back again right after the weekend.  
   I had originally had high hopes for getting a lot done today and had a very long "to do" list.  However, my body told me that it needed to rest.  I tried to argue with it, but it won. ;)  I finally admitted defeat and whittled my "to do" list down to the most essential things that needed to be done today.
   Bread has been made, as my dear hubby needed it for the sandwiches that he takes to work with him each night.  The rolls I had hoped to also make today, were not.  Scrapple was cooked up on the stove and put in the fridge in a loaf pan to set up so it can be fried later for dinner and served with some sweet pears and crisp apples.  Comfort food for the weary.  The blackberries were picked, the few that escaped the early killing frost, and that garden bed watered.  I may shred up the squash and freeze it for later, or it may wait until tomorrow.  I have not decided that yet.  I think I will roast the tomatoes in some olive oil and sprinkle them with some fresh cracked pepper and a bit of sea salt while I am cooking dinner tonight and then set some aside to freeze for pasta dishes later this Fall and Winter.  That is about as ambitious as I am getting today.
   I have come to find over the years that if I do not listen to what my body is trying to tell me and rest when needed, that I will crash and burn.  I will be more likely to fall prey to many of the viruses that sweep through the school and will take longer to recover from them.  In adition, I will not handle stressful situation very well.  I am working on trying to find a balance in my life in that area also and walking away from certain situations that cause my stress levels to rise to unhealthy levels.  I am hoping, that by listening today and resting, that tomorrow I will have more energy and be able to tackle more of the things on my "to do" list.