It's Been Awhile...

11 months!
...which isn't totally surprising. Taking on a more administrative role as associate dean sucked up a lot of my time this past academic year. The past eleven months had other transitions, too, that included tangible upheaval like moving houses, but also some changes in the way I see and think about faith and the world. As a result, I took a hiatus from blogging.

My wave getting closer to the start line.

I got to run a full marathon a week ago, and this third time around, my body is requiring more rest. The first half was at a good pace, and I felt good, but my body started breaking down around mile 15. My knee and hip on one side really began hurting so it was a struggle to finish. The emotions were running high and that wall hit. I ran by my friend Susan and her church at mile 22, and their cheers were encouraging. Then Susan gave me a fig newton and asked if I needed anything else. I started crying saying, "I hurt so bad." Susan gave me a hug and replied, "It's almost over - only a 5K left."
Getting to tell a friend the truth of the pain helped me despite me thinking, That's a lie - it's more than a 5K! (It was about 4 miles instead of 3.1 miles. When you're tired and hurting, that 0.9 mile makes a difference!)

Pam and I waiting in the OC spot before the race.

Susan and I on my last "long" run before the race.

I finished the race and quickly discovered my body was and is still tired. So I'm forcing my body to rest. I'm doing some activity, stretching, and massaging my body to let it heal before I tackle the next goal.

Finished!

Yesterday I realized that the full marathon and the rest I'm requiring now is how my year has been. The first semester wasn't too bad. I was busy, but there were times I worried that I wasn't doing enough to justify the position. Then January hit and not only did I have larger projects to work towards (faculty evaluations, assessment reports, etc.), but there was almost-daily demand managing incidents as they came up.

A whole lotta coffee and a dirty desk means it's the end of the semester!

This is how I felt at the end of the semester: asleep in a turned over trailer tent.

So needless to say, I am glad this semester is over. I'm still wrapping up some of those larger projects, but with classes being over, it's a little easier to manage.

Graduation is always bearable with friends next to you.

H spent a day with me at the office right before finals week, and she cleaned while I sorted. Oh, I love that girl!

I also decided to reclaim my journal and blogging time. From the advice of a colleague, I started journaling about work specifically; for example, the lessons I've learned. The exercise has given me some control over situations and helped me be able to not constantly be thinking about work.  I can reflect, write it down, and then not be thinking of the million tasks for work I "should" be working on.

I'm looking forward to the summer. I'll blog next about that, but first, I probably have a baseball game to attend. All three are playing now keeping us very busy! Despite the fact that I still bring a book to games because it's hard for me to pay attention to baseball for too long, seeing the kids happy makes my heart happy.

C has gotten to play on this team for six years now.

L Child is pitching now.

H surviving the slow outfield position.