Four weeks

Today marks the first day of my winter break.  I turned in my last paper yesterday afternoon, and while I have some meetings this week, I'm out of homework and deadlines mode.  Spring semester begins on January 9, with my first class the next day.  That's four full weeks to, well, do a lot -- but still, it's a break from the pace of the last fifteen weeks or so.  I have some things to do related to my research and my spring course.  The house desperately needs cleaned, and I do want to put up a few Christmas decorations.  I've been trying to lose some weight recently (4.5 lbs. in two weeks! -- only 2 more to my first goal, which I'd hoped to reach by Christmas), so I want to get out for some good walks and maybe some jogging.  And of course, I want to sit with my husband and kids with no sense of needing to get time by myself to finish some reading or paper.  I think four weeks will be just enough time to do all of that for at least a little bit before starting what may be my busiest semester yet.

This marks the end of my sixth semester of graduate school -- three for my master's program in twelve months, then three more in my doctorate program over the last 18 months.  I have just two more semesters of classes -- this time next year, I should be celebrating the end of my coursework -- and I'm just maybe starting to believe that, at some point, I may actually finish this program and get my PhD.

For now, though, I'm celebrating what I've accomplished so far -- and resting up for what's left.