Balance, Margins, Goals, Oh My.

Yesterday was the 16th Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.  I've run the half three times in the last 6 years.  This was finally going to be my year to do the full.  Then I injured my leg in the Fall, pushed harder than I should have to keep running and ended up taking all of January off.  Leg is better, but there just wasn't time to safely train.  Even for the half.

Life (for me) is full of committing, then pulling back.  Setting goals, then realizing that I can't keep up.  Trying to find balance between home, school, activities...then remembering that life is short and this season of precious memories to be made will be over all too soon.

I would love to say that I've found how to live life with good margins in all areas.  Reality is that I work like a crazy woman for two or three days, crossing things off my list... then I crash and spend an entire day catching up on laundry and taking a nap. 

Balance is important, but it's not possible.  Not really.  Not if you are juggling marriage, kids, home, LIFE..

Margins are super healthy.  But the truth is, I'm horrible at saying no.  If fact I rarely do.  Unless the Coach makes me (bless him).

Goals?  We need to have things to work towards, look forward to.  Crossing the finish line is an amazing feeling.  You don't just get up one day and run a marathon, you have to plan, prepare, do the work.  But no matter how hard you work, life happens.  Kids need your time, there are injuries and illnesses, and sometimes we overestimate how much time we have to give.  

Most of all?  There are seasons.  Right now at the troops it's the season of older kids.  Precious, wonderful, FUN memories.  I'm starting to realize I can't accomplish much else in the long term.  It takes all of my time to just manage it all.

When the kids were little, there was a lot of hunkering down.  Saying no, staying home, being committed to naps and bed times and consistency.  We even said no to basketball - can you believe it?

Now that we have two who have grown up and moved off to college and no babies to tote around, I'm saying YES TO IT ALL!  

Want to be in the play?  SURE!

Want to run track?  OF COURSE!

Want to play tennis?  WHY NOT?

Want to play volleyball?  YOU BET!

Because it's such a unique season of life - these school years at home are over so quickly.  I'm loving it and we are cramming it all in with reckless abandon!

Never mind that I miss most of the tennis and I've missed all of the track meets and thank HEAVENS volleyball is over and DID YOU SEE THE PLAY?  Because it was amazing.  AMAZING!  

It's also a season of time together, watching our kids do hard things - and the Coach and I learning that we are a really good team.  

I might be a push over - but the Coach backs me up when someone needs a firm hand.  I might say yes more than I should - but the Coach is so good to make me slow down.  I may feel the need to take care of everybody - all of the time - but when I feel guilty for falling short?  The Coach reminds me that our troops don't need me to do it all.  I'm sure he would say he needs me, too, but truth is?  I am continually amazed at this man I'm married to.  

So very grateful for him.

And because I don't have time for a catch up picture post about the troops right now?  I'll leave you with this.  A picture of Little Man wearing Captain Hook's wig.  How fabulous is that?

Happy Monday! 

Time Away

The older I get, the faster it goes.  I have a harder time sleeping in and still get less done.  I dare not sit down, because then I have a harder time getting up and moving, again.  The coach and I are tired all of the time.  Or maybe it's just that we have so much going on and it's hard to keep it all straight most days.

But this week?  We are traveling together - just the two of us.  He's working.  I'm free to do whatever.  I'm not sure what that is.  I watched Netflix for so long yesterday afternoon that it asked me if I wanted to continue watching.  What?  Are you kidding me? It's not like I had laundry to fold or dinner to make.

So quiet in that hotel room, with it's big white King size bed and towels I don't have to use more than once.  I drank coffee and took a nap and picked up dinner for when the coach finished up.

I may not know what to do with free time.  But the coach and I sure do love having time together.  Traveling on Wednesday we talked and laughed read our books and I slept on his shoulder and I LOVE doing life with him.  It doesn't matter where we go or what needs to be done, it's better with him.

I miss the kids.  The schedule I printed out for them had already changed before our first flight took off.  I keep checking in with them to make sure they are getting everyone where they need to be and eating.  You know.  The main things.

They are doing just fine, of course.  Friends are helping with rides and practices - one track meet, one tennis tournament, and two volleyball tournaments just while we're gone.  My mom is helping pick kids up while the older boys are busy.  A sweet friend is coming to stay tonight so it's not such a boring Saturday for those at home.  It's all getting done there, while I'm here watching the snow fall.

Today would be a great day to catch up on my Bible in a year reading (I'm forever and always behind).  I may even check out some of the shops near our hotel.  I'll for sure pick up some lunch for the coach and deliver it to the exhibit hall.

I enjoy exploring new places and visiting new cities - one of the blessings of having traveled so much growing up.  I've found Starbucks and Target and Chick-fil-A, so we could stay here forever.  But it's very different than home, too.  Note to self, no one wants to strike up a random conversation in Wisconsin.  I'm sure they are just cold - seriously, 30 degrees in April?  Yikes.  At home I can't sit in Starbucks for five minutes without seeing a friend.

Then again, maybe I'll just take another nap and watch more Netflix.  This is rest.  The cessation of the usual and the being still.  I don't do it well, but I'm trying.  Even the Coach - who is here to work, said it's different than the office and classroom.  He's enjoying the break, too.

Even if I can't sleep past 5:30.  Which is OK, because the snow sure was pretty.  Even if I saw it from inside on the treadmill since I didn't pack all of my cold running gear.  Brrrr.

Happy Friday.