It's a New Decade!

Happy New Year and Happy New Decade! I generally don't get pumped about the new year but am feeling a little nostalgic today mixed with optimism.

Years ago, I started living by the notion that every minute of every day is an opportunity to reset. I don't always do it but I try really hard. Life is less stressful when you aren't carrying around a bunch of anger, resentment or whatever has your feathers ruffled. We are working to instill the same thought process with the boys. Again, it isn't always perfect but we continue to try.

I do love that so many folks out there take this as an opportunity to set goals for themselves. I have found over the years that many people just need that reset "button" and January 1 is a great option.

The last 10 years have been quite the adventure for us. We started the decade with a baby and now we have a 10 year old who is dangerously close to being taller than me. We welcomed the tornado otherwise known as Karson in to our lives and we moved to our current home. We welcomed new pets to the family and lost some of the best fur babies that I've ever had. There have been job changes for me and Jason has continued to organize the best event in town while making it better each year.

So here we are...2020.

In 10 more years, if we are lucky, we'll have a kid in college (or working - whatever he chooses) and another who'll be learning to drive. Our priorities and schedules and life in general will continue to change every day, month and year ahead of us. No doubt there will be plenty of tears but if the last 10 years is an indication, there will also be plenty of laughter, hugs and love.

For the next year and beyond, my plan is to focus on myself. I haven't focused on my running/fitness as much in the last 5 years and it's time to put some effort in to it. I have goals (nope - not sharing) and am looking forward to challenging myself.

I'm going to keep learning. Continually working on my professional skills and maybe even back in the health/wellness arena. I enjoyed that for so many years but haven't coached or taught classes in years because of the schedule.

I am ready to get scale back on stuff. We have too much. We've accumulated things over the years and it's time to part with a good bit of it. We are blessed to be able to afford our stuffed closets and full storage areas but the items we aren't using could be a blessing to someone else.

Lastly, I want us to travel more. I want all of us to have adventures that we'll remember forever.

Whatever it is that you're planning for the year ahead, I hope it's an amazing year. And if you fall off track, you can always get back on it. Just remember that every minute, day, week or month is an opportunity for a reset. Some resets aren't instantaneous but small steps can make a big difference.

Cheers to 2020!

Dear Jason...

My dearest hubs,
You did it again. You earned a top three finish (2nd to be exact) on one of the most mentally and physically challenging race courses that I have ever seen. 

All marathons are hard but this course leaves you alone with your thoughts throughout the majority of the run. There are few spectators out there unless you count deer.

I am so proud of you. I realized yesterday that Jackson learned hard work, resilience and determination from you.

You train in the heat. You train when you haven’t slept. You train on vacation. You seek help when injuries threaten you and you keep at it.

You run alone because that’s what our schedule will allow. And you don’t listen to music...what the heck by the way? It’s just you and your thoughts.

Day in and day out, I see you - the boys and I see you - putting in the work.

And through all of it, you never miss a beat as an amazing father and husband. You never miss a minute of work.

I spend race days in a state of anxiety and excitement. I love seeing you on the course (why else would I willingly push seventy pounds of kid) and then waiting for you at the finish.

Watching you out kick that dude coming down the stretch yesterday will be one of my all-time favorite Chickamauga memories. At the end of the day, I know it hurt but you weren’t going to let him beat you. 

Yesterday’s finish is a testimonial to your hard work, resilience (early Achilles pain and a late side stitch during the race) and determination to finish the best you could.

I am so proud of you. So, so proud. 

143 babe,

Me

Dear Jackson...

Jackson,

I am writing this because I want it to exist always so that you can read it now and in the future. I want you to know how very proud we are of you and how much we admire you.

I told you on Saturday that I was proud of you. I cried. Sure, I am super proud of your time at the State Championship but more than that, I am proud of your hard work, your resilience and your dedication.

You haven't had it easy my dear child. You won't remember but you've heard the stories. Your 20 week ultrasound showed us that your right foot was a club foot. Dr. Sears told me he would fix it and not to worry. 

You had your first cast on your foot just 7 days after you were born. I wanted to kill Dr. Sears on that day. I don't think I've ever felt that kind of emotional pain while you cried and I couldn't hold you. I had to let Dr. Sears do his thing.

You received a new cast every week for several weeks until you had your first surgery. After surgery, you wore these special little shoes for 18 months. We saw Dr. Sears for each check-up and then at 5 years old, you had a major surgery on your right leg to repair your achilles and to move your anterior tibialis. Wow. When Dr. Sears told me you'd walk on the cast, I am pretty sure I called him a liar. But he was right. 

As a side note, he was right all along. I can never thank him enough for being your doctor then and now.

After the cast, you didn't need therapy. We were told just to let you play. 

A few years ago, you said you wanted to run the Covenant Kids Run. So, we practiced a couple times a week and by the time we got to that one miler, you were actually ready for a 5K. 

As you headed in to 3rd grade, you said you wanted to run Cross Country. Maybe because we love running. Maybe because Dad could coach your team. You did well last year and ended the season with a personal best.

This spring, you were diagnosed with a heart murmur. The doctor will keep an eye on it but it's not harmful right now. That news didn't phase you.

You ran track in the summer - even when you weren't having fun - and tried your best at the meets.

You showed up for every single cross country practice this summer with a good attitude. You ran when it was hot. You ran when you probably didn’t want to.

Each weekend, you ran with me and we ran slow but we were working on endurance.

Then, this fall, you put in the effort. You ran hard at each practice. On weekends, we went to the track and you practiced running fast. You fell - at two meets - and you got up and ran hard to the finish. You could have quit. You could have stepped off course and been done those nights but you didn't. 

We gave you a race day plan for regionals and you followed it. And it paid off with a huge personal best. We gave you a similar plan for state and you followed it. And you had another personal best. 

Your dad and I are so proud of you. You worked hard and it paid off. Your hard work shows in your school work too. We see the days that you struggle and get frustrated trying to learn new concepts but you keep going. You keep trying. You didn't like your social studies grade so you improved it. 

You won't have a personal best at every race and you won't enjoy every subject in school. But you keep trying. You keep working hard. You keep bouncing back when things aren't great. You are dedicated to your sport and to doing well in school. 

My hope is that you continue to do all three through school, sports and life. You are a great young man and I am not kidding when I tell you that you are good people because you are a good person. 

We love you and we look forward to watching you grow up.

Mom and Dad