Time for a break maybe?

Today is my sister's birthday, she turns 19. On my way home from taking my make-up physics exam I talked to her and she informed me that people are getting together to go out to eat tonight in recognition of the occasion. I am excited about it. I haven't really hung out with my sister since she left for school in August, and I will also get to see my cousin Christa and some of Kate's (my sister) other friends. I generally like the people that she hangs out with, so it should be a pretty good time. Shortly after talking to her my mom called me to ask if I was coming, during the conversation we started talking about my plans for next quarter and whatnot. She knows that I don't really have any money to speak of, and I told her that I was considering taking a quarter off from school to work and try to catch up a little bit financially. It's justifiable I think. It's no different than co-opping for a quarter. She said that if I did something like that I should take a vacation. She pointed out that the last time I took a vacation for myself was July of 2005. I guess since then I have either been working or going to school or taking kids on a Young Life trip. I used to take weekends off and go to the Gorge by myself to take some time and just do nothing. I think its good to do things like that and I generally advocate it, and yet somehow I haven't done anything like that in forever. I can't even tell you the last time I had a weekend like that. So maybe it's time for a break. I don't necessarily feel like I need a break, but like most things in life, its hard to get an accurate picture of what's going on while you are in the picture yourself. It's easier to see what is happening from the sidelines. Henry Nouwen uses the analogy of a basin of water all sloshing around. You can't smooth out the water with your hand, you just have to step back and let it settle on its own, the only thing that can calm the surface is time left alone. So now I am off to dinner with my sister. I'll have to consider that whole vacation thing while I am at work tomorrow, or maybe in between my classes...