Exhaustion - who said it has to be bad?

Work, football, cheerleading, church, housework, repeat.

This season of my life seems to be busier than normal. Don't get me wrong, it would be silly of me to complain about being busy as that is part of my identify. I thrive when stretched thin, I do my best work when I am faced with a deadline. This late summer/early fall is definitely a new level of busy for my family and I am LOVING IT!

My day job is heading into an abnormally busy season as we end our fiscal year and enter our annual planning and review season. Fun times, earlier starts on my day keep me from staying up late and wasting too much time on Facebook or random web searches.

My#3 son is playing football for 5 Star and he is really flourishing with an excellent coaching staff. I couldn't have hand picked a better group of kids, parents and coaches for his particular personality and needs. Plus, I LOVE football. Probably more than I should love a sport, maybe even more than cheerleading. Did I say that outloud? Shhh, don't tell anyone.

Son #1 heads off to his sophomore year in high school, gasp, 10th grade - oy vey. He is doing wonderfully well and, sigh, very adulty now. Certainly not mamma's little boy any more.

Son #2 is starting tennis, a sport I believe he will excel at, I just wish there was more for him to do in this sport at this age. High School will provide more opportunity, but for now it is shuttling him to private lessons and giving him some of my time to beat me on the court.

Cheerleading Team #1 - LBSS - I love these kids. Camp was great, a stretch for our team - a new opportunity to grow and experience coaching from a different perspective and choreography at a new pace. Season is just starting and Coach Rosie is back to help kick us into gear! We are returning national champions and expect our competition to hit it hard. We have only one way to go - UP and we don't have any opportunity for complacency.

Cheerleading Team #2 - yes I said it, number two. I didn't have enough going on so I decided to take on a recreation team that cheers for the 5 Star Football program. 26 girls, most of them are 13, we are just getting started and I know what you are thinking :) - But we do not have any drama, dissension or discord at all. This is a team of girls who have little cheer experience and are working their buns off to get ready for football season. I am honored to lead them this year together with two coordinators (who are awesomely fun) and expect GREATNESS from them.

That is enough rambling for today, but I am sharing this to encourage you to get off the COUCH! Start pursuing those things that matter. Engage in the lives of those around you - make a difference. It is possible to be a mom and have a life of your own. I wish I had a little more time to clean my house and cook regular meals every night, but nobody has ever died from a few cob webs and semi-home cooked meals, right?

Live, dream - DO IT, don't wait for the right time. Make a difference in the life of a young person this year. Do that thing God has been whispering into your ear. You are not too old or too young or too busy. You can! I believe it. There is nothing wrong with falling into bed exhausted every day. You will sleep soundly - I do, every night.

Lead with Optimism

Love this link from Harvard Business Review!
Lead with Optimism

Smiling in My Own Mirror

I was reading a book this morning, Yesterday, I Cried by Iyanla Vanzant. There is a passion that stirred me and warrants printing here:

"I had forgotten to celebrate my strength and my victories. I thought that would be selfish... I had never thanked my Self for all that I had gotten me through... I know there are far too many people suffering alone from experiences that are common to us all. Experiences that we have come through with flying colors but are ashamed to talk about and afraid to celebrate. After all, what would people think should we be caught smiling in our own mirror?"



Hmmm. What a unique way to view life, isn't it? I can certainly celebrate for surviving some things in my past. We all can, right? Have I characterized self celebration as arrogance? Probably. I want to look myself in the mirror each day and smile, not because I am so great, but because with God all things are possible. He has used the broken places in my life for His glory. What the enemy meant for destruction, God has used for good.



I can hold the hand of a young, single mother and know that she needs a babysitter for Saturday morning so she can go to the grocery store alone, some extra cash and a new pair of sassy shoes. I don't have to ask. I can comfort the broken hearts of divorcees. I can pray without asking for some of these needs because I have been there. I understand the needs of parents with high energy children. I can see the value in children who talk too much and move too frequently. It isn't an issue because I HAVE BEEN THERE!