Exams. Summer.

Just because I don't have to take exams anymore doesn't mean I don't still have to grade them.

Sigh.  I'm in the middle one one now.  Latino Literature and Culture.  The sounds of exam taking silence.  The calm before the grading storm.

The next few days are going to be a grading marathon.  I'm giving one exam today, one exam Friday, and then we have to have everything graded so that we can leave early Saturday for a long road trip to visit the boyfriend's family.  I'm excited but also a little nervous.  (What if we get into an argument on the road?  What will his family think of me?  What if I feel awkward?  What if I mess up when we're singing and playing at his brother's church?)

I've got a lot happening, a lot on my plate, a lot of work to do, but a lot to be thankful for:

1. I found out that I won a $1000 departmental award.
2. I was notified that the organizers of a conference at which I presented a paper last month are interested in including it in an edited volume.  This is ridiculously fabulous news in a field where publishing something is just about necessary to get a job; however, I need to edit it and expand it in a serious way.  And that's going to take a lot of work.
3. I'm going to Boston the last two weeks in May to be my professor's research assistant at Harvard and hopefully be able to take advantage of the libraries, etc. to do some of my own research for my dissertation.
4. I'm teaching a Spanish summer course all June and July.
5. I'm teaching a GRE test prep course all July.  (I didn't really want to, but I could definitely use the money.)

In the midst of all of that there are going to be visits with friends and more family meetings...Mom and little bro is one thing, but Dad and middle bro is quite another.  At least in my mind.

Anyway, I'm not complaining.  And I can't worry.  God has helped me keep it together thus far.  I have to trust that He will continue to do the same.