In the last three weeks, I have started three blog posts and abandoned them all.

In fact, I have had several false-starts with blogging in the last year or so. I can't quite put my finger on why. I can't figure out why I am hesitating to say what's on my mind but I need to write something today because writing makes me feel better.

This has not been my favorite week. On Tuesday, someone I've known more than half my life died unexpectedly (in all transparency, she was battling cancer but she was in treatment so the news of her passing was shocking).

The love of her life happens to be someone that is very, very, very dear to me so I am sad for so many reasons.

The news this week sucks. Two mass shootings in less than 24 hours killing and injuring multiple people at both. This on the heels of another at a food festival. I saw a stat that we've had more mass shootings than days in the year so far in 2019.

How does this tie together?

We never know when our time is up. You could leave home tomorrow and not return. We don't get to choose when we go but we do get to choose how we live right now.

I saw another friend post about the "dash" and it's importance. The content of the post focused on the dash that represents your life between birth and death. That post came along at the perfect time for me.

So I ask, what makes up your dash?

Think about it.

What makes up your dash? It's not necessarily about what others think about you. To me, it's about what you would want to remember about your life.

My dash will represent the great adventure of life with Jason and the boys.

As a youngster, I never dreamt of a husband and kids. Other girls had big dreams about weddings and raising a ton of kids. I wanted to work. I wanted to make enough money to have nice clothes, a nice car and maybe a nice apartment. I mean, why buy a house???

Then, along came Jason. He is the love of my life. He is the love of my lifetime. I have yet to have a day in 17+ years together when I couldn't wait to talk to him - even if it had only been a few minutes - and tell him all the silly things.

Then, we had the boys. Again, I never dreamt of being a mom. I was steadfast for about 25 years or so that I would NOT be having children.

Now, I have two beautiful boys. They are smart and funny and mostly well-behaved so far and I literally miss them when we are apart. I cannot wait to watch them continue to grow into young men and then adults.

I feel pretty good so far about what makes up the dash between October 23, 1976 and the unknown date of my passing. I have had some great experiences and adventures. I still have a lot of things I'd like to do and accomplish but at this moment, I am proud of where I am.

So, as we head in to a new week, think about your dash and your priorities. Hug your family. Text a friend and tell them you love them. Send a thank you note to someone. Buy a coffee for a stranger.

See you on the roads! Kristy

Plenty of Milestones

I came home this afternoon and collapsed in sheer exhaustion. I was also hiding from the children who were fighting over one marker but we'll just blame being tired.

As usual, we've been going nonstop lately. Really, we've been nonstop all year.

Starting the new job has been amazing and I love it but it's been a lot to learn and trying to take in all of that information and manage day to day tasks is no small feat. Next week is six months and it's flown by and I am looking forward to many more months and years with MEDIC.

Additionally, we had #CHKM marathon season. This was the hardest year I can remember in at least 8 years. Altman worked more than 60 hours per week every week from late January through mid-April. Yes, mid-April. And no, the answer to the question is no. He doesn't get a day off on the day after the marathon. The two weeks post-CHKM are still 60 hour weeks while he returns equipment, follows up with all partners and then finalizes results for the company and school challenges among other things.

We launched right in to a crazy May with work travel, a huge MEDIC event and wrapping up school and pre-school. Suddenly, it's the end of June and I am in the midst of major milestones in our life.

On Saturday, itty bitty turned 6. I don't even know how that is possible. I do but at the same time I can't comprehend it. He's heading to kindergarten in just a few weeks. Kindergarten!!!!! Say what????

He's a little person. He uses big words and he's hilarious. And he's cute and he is sweet and kind to other people. We have our days (many of them) and it's possibly because he's a lot like me but I am so grateful to be his mommy. He completed our family and will always be my baby.

It's a big milestone and his birthday was a big deal but we aren't done yet..................................

In less than two weeks, Jackson will be 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10.

Double digits.

10.

Did you catch that?

10.

I realize I am biased and I don't even care. He is smart. Really smart. And he's kind. He is the nicest human that I've ever met besides his father. The apple definitely doesn't fall far from the tree there.

This one made me a mother. I never dreamed of having kids when I was growing up. In fact, I didn't want them. When we decided to have kids, I had no idea how challenging it is to raise a tiny human and keep them alive each day.

He made me a mother and he's been a blessing. He's been kind and patient since birth as Jason and I try to figure this parenting thing out. We've had many #parentingfails but he's always called us the best parents ever.

Once we reach his birthday then we are on the fast track to the new school year. You know, the time when we will have a kindergartner and a 4th grader.

Wowza.

So. Many. Milestones.

And yet, there are so many more to come.

See you on the roads. 

Staring Down Marathon Week

I pushed Karson in the jog stroller today. Because of our schedule, it was the only way to get in the miles for all of us. It was hard. He is heavy. Everything feels heavy right now.

We are at the starting line of marathon week. Participants are tapered and anxious for race day. We are in the throws of several “marathon” days before we get to the weekend when the days run into nights then late nights and early mornings and there is no rest. And, you should know that we are anxious too.

This has been one of the hardest planning years that I can remember. Whether I was a KTC staff member or not, I have been part of this event since year one.

In the early years of volunteering and with Altman as Director, we didn’t sleep at all. The last few years, there is a little sleep but never more than 4 or 5 hours. I suspect that there will be less than that this year.

Everything is new again. The finish line change really does change everything.

It’s been challenging. Scratch that. It’s been hard.

It’s not just the race changes that have made things hard. Life is always challenging. We have a new normal with my transition to MEDIC (which I LOVE but more on that later). 
Raising kids is hard. It would be silly to say otherwise. We have two amazing boys who have very different personalities and interests and they rarely get along for more than 10 minutes at a time. They have activities and homework and we have to integrate their schedules with ours. 

I wouldn’t change any of it. I tell them that we are blessed with opportunity and I mean it.

That said, everything feels kind of heavy right now as I look at the week ahead. Keeping things together at home while Altman works 16+ hours a day isn’t easy. He starts working as soon as he is up and he works late in to every night. This week, I won’t see him in the evening until Thursday. He has to be out every night this week with final prep for the weekend. That’s probably not a big deal to many of you but he’s my person and I miss him when we can't be together and catch up.

The kids need to be fed, homework needs to be completed, laundry needs to be done and so much more. On top of those things, I still have that full-time job where I am still learning so much and also planning for our next fiscal year. :)
I'm also fortunate (and grateful and humbled) to have been invited back to do live coverage on Sunday with WBIR and have a little more studying to do before race day. 

Is this the year when I fail to do all the things?

No. No it’s not but I can tell you that not one extra thing will be allowed this week. We are in survive and advance mode. 

It’s race time for the Altman family and we will shrug the weight off our shoulders. We will be focused on keeping up with the pace during this marathon week. And note that I didn't say finish line because that is well over a month away, but if we can get through this week then we are past the proverbial “wall” and can make it to the end.

See you next weekend.