I got the chance to take Stella, my youngest daughter, on an educational trip, which was great except for the guilt I felt about leaving Adelaide, my high school senior. Stella and I made some special memories and learned a lot, but we got home jetlagged, so of course I started the week off behind.

And Adelaide is a wonderful responsible kid, but the water heater went out in the front of the house while I was gone so she didn't do dishes or clean the kitchen or do laundry, and that was all piled up. Plus the dog hair was at the point it needed baling.

Stella hit the ground running the next day. It was an early morning--pack the lunch, drive her to school. When I got home there were student emails to answer and papers to grade, as we are in the middle of finals. I also had edits due for a project I am doing with Guideposts. I worked on all of that till Adelaide got up, then pushed it to the side because I wanted to spend some quality time with her.

My dad came to fix the water heater. Adelaide and I cleaned the kitchen. We went on a walk. Then it was time to pick up Stella from school and take her to basketball training for two hours, then to her friend's baseball game, then come home, make dinner, clean up, check in with my older kids, tuck in the girls, set an alarm, and fall into bed.

The next day I had a........

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