Timing is Everything and Looking Ahead...

If you didn't see my Facebook post last night or if you missed the KTC email yesterday, I have accepted an offer to serve as the Interim Executive Director for the Knoxville Track Club through March.

It was unexpected but the timing is perfect.

I have been perfectly happy this summer and fall building my consulting business and taking some much needed time to think about the future. I have been blessed to have had great success in the business early and have been working with several steady clients on some awesome projects.

Then life happened. The outgoing KTC Director was offered a position in his original professional field that he just could not refuse. Good for him and for his family. I am thrilled for him. He has done a great job over the last 18 months and leaves on great terms.

So what is next?

I will serve as the Interim ED through March and I will continue to work with my clients through Altman Consulting.

What happens with permanent ED position for KTC????

The KTC Board will open the position to the public (it will be posted ASAP). I will have to apply just like everyone else. I have my resume and reference list ready to roll when the position is posted. If the committee likes my resume and current credentials then I will participate in the interview process. Ultimately a committee of the Board will decide on the next Executive Director.

I want them to choose me. I want the opportunity to come back to a job that I loved and work with the people that mean so much to us.

I appreciate the texts, emails, and Facebook posts in the last 24 hours welcoming me back. It reminds me that saying yes was the right answer and submitting my resume is a good move forward.

For now, I have details to finalize for a little race coming up on Thanksgiving Day. Hope to see you there!

I fully believe that if you are going to utilize social media as much as we do then you post the bad with the good. The good - we had a great day yesterday with Jackson at the game. We are fortunate to have a friend that gave us three tickets and we were able to visit with so many friends before the game. We've found a great new babysitter who is awesome with both boys and stayed with Karson while we were out. It was nice to indulge Jackson in some much needed alone time with mommy and daddy.

With that said, I am so weary and this is where I talk about how un-fun this past week has been and seemingly continues to be. I find myself wanting for the days when we were just tired because Karson wasn't sleeping.

This has been one of the most challenging weeks we've had in a long time. First, Jason hurt his leg last Sunday. That took us on this emotional journey because he has been training so hard for a marathon in one week from today. On the same day, Karson woke up not feeling well. I know this because he took a nap about 90 minutes after getting up that day. He isn't much of a sleeper so that is an instant sign that he is sick.

K recently had his 15 month vaccinations and the doc said he might run a fever and that a mild reaction is normal one week later. He was grumpy on Monday but his symptoms weren't worse. Same things on Tuesday. By Wednesday, he was intolerable. He was up most of Wednesday night with a high fever and vomiting. When he did sleep, he was restless and kept us awake all night with worry and debating on whether or not to go to the hospital. I took him to the doctor on Thursday and hoped we be on the upswing. Not so much. Again, fever and vomiting on Thursday night. Basically, a replay of Wednesday.

He slept well Friday and Saturday night but he's developed a rash (maybe a reaction to the MMR) and is still on a roller coaster of emotions and symptoms. Laughing at times and unbearable in the blink of an eye.

Here is my very quick pity party. I wish we had help. I wish that we didn't have to pay someone to help us whenever we need it. We are blessed to have the BEST neighbors that help when they can. Unfortunate timing, she was in Australia and he had injured himself early in the week so we didn't want to burden him. A couple of friends offered help but they have their own kids and asking them to stay all night probably isn't appropriate. We didn't hear from some friends all week.

I poured two cups of coffee today and both were cold before I got the first sip. That has been the pattern all week. And, I won't lie that I am a little green with envy looking at Facebook and seeing all the great race results. I am a little jealous of the folks who have (or can make) the time to train. I just don't have it in me to get up at 4 am to do it...usually because we've been awake all night.

Pity party over. The reality is that we've had a rough week. There will be many more. There will be some great weeks. It is always a mix. That is life.

I learned new lessons.

I am reminded that life rolls in seasons. It is a marathon so to speak and not a sprint. There will be ample time for training in the future. I choose to put training on hold so that I have time to pursue other opportunities and activities. I still run but don't have a plan. And, honestly, it is really refreshing to leave the watch at home and not know my pace or distance.

I am a lucky gal. I am blessed and humbled to be able to be a wife to a great husband (who by the way has been incredible this past week despite the 9 stitches in his leg), chase after our two generally healthy boys, run my own business, and serve the community in so many special ways. I am also blessed with some great upcoming opportunities to do what I love in the fitness sector (stay tuned....some of you will get very excited about what lies ahead).

So that's that. If you wanted roses and happy faces then you'll have to wait for a future post. If you wanted reality then this was a good dose of it. For now, I am going to finish my cold coffee and get us ready for the week ahead.

See ya on the roads.

2014 Year in Review (So Far)

A bad run  usually sparks reflection for me. Last Friday's terrible run did just that and I thought I'd do a quick recap of 2014 to date.

The Good:

• Celebrating 12 years together with my best friend
• Celebrating 10 years of marriage to that man
• Two beautiful boys with red hair
• Taking a leap and starting my own business
• Great friends who encouraged me to take the leap
• Awesome clients that I am privileged and humbled to represent
• New friends
• One of the most enjoyable and successful Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon events that we've had in all these years (Thanks MOC members! You guys rock!)
• A successful foot surgery for Jackson
• Lots of great things happening for friends...engagements, marriages, children, new jobs, and more
• Being able to see my grandparents fairly often and having them be part of the boys' life
• An upcoming vacation
• Having a comfortable home and cars to drive us around
• Celebrating Karson's first birthday with friends and family
• Celebrating Jackson's 5th birthday with friends
• Celebrating the removal of Jackson's cast with so many good friends
• AYSO and the Fire Dragon team
• Trains....Jackson LOVES trains
• Athletic balls....Karson is obsessed
• Our neighbors, Janet and Lester
• Being named 40 Under 40
• Being lucky enough to be asked to serve on a variety of nonprofit board of directors and give back to this awesome community
• Being healthy and able to run, yoga, and whatever other activity that I want to do

The Bad:

• A long summer due to Jackson's surgery with few visits to the pool, splash pads, and very little time playing at Ijams and the Quarry
• Teething...I forgot how awful teething can be - especially when the little one cuts 4 teeth in two weeks
• Being hit hard with the realization that even as adults, some folks are totally two-faced and not who you thought they were
• Needing to stay on a regular schedule of covering the gray hairs (I guess that is good for Lauren!)
• Wrinkles

The Ugly:

• Not sleeping for at least two years....through the end of pregnancy and since Karson was born
• Not sleeping...Karson still doesn't sleep through the night but it is getting better

So much more good than bad. And, the "ugly" really isnt' that terrible. I have a kid that is excited about life and that is really awesome.

I am looking forward to what the rest of 2014 brings for us. It seems that each year is harder than the one before but always in a good way. Each year, I learn more about myself and the world. And hopefully, I become a better person with each passing day, week, and year.

See you on the roads!