Hurry up and pass me by

This year has been one of sorts... For Matt it seems that school can't go quick enough, but with two mini-semesters in the Summer, 4 weeks I'm sure felt like eternity to fit in all the school work. I'm so proud of the dedication he's shown, working from morning until midnight or so on school papers and projects. I know I may be biased, but the commitment Matt shows to getting the job done right, even while in school- well I know any school district would benefit from his partnership.

And so the school saga stretches to now include my world. This past Wednesday was the orientation for the MBA program. I'm feeling more and more comfortable, but am ready to get this journey started. Life will have to change, and I'll have to learn how to commit less, which is the part of leadership I think that isn't talked up much, but a strength to know if you have any plans for longevity in a role. We start up in two weeks, and I'm doing what I can to get prepared. I hope this weekend to do my back to school supply shopping. I don't remember the last time I was this excited to pick out a binder and dividers.

I'm stepping into school on an act of Faith, prompted by the question of "What next?" This year has been filled with levels of success and contentment. I really do love my job. I love my role with my organization, and so I find the question of what next for me professionally doesn't apply too much, because my ambitions of someday working for "the children's home" have been met a bit ahead of schedule. But I am not the person to find contentment in just having met my goals. I need to grow, I need to plan and do more with my time and tallent. I feel it's part of the expectation of living life on purpose and being responsible for the life and time I'm given. So expanding my business knowledge is what I've decided to pursue. I don't know where I'll be when Matt and I do decide to start a family, or where my career here at CAHM will take me, so until then, I'll live by the scout motto- Be prepared.

Last night Matt's great-grandfather passed away. After the last couple of weeks it seems like there has been more than regular accounts of people's passing. A fellow Chaparral and friend of mine lost her eight year old son after suffering a seizure and drowned in his bath. A contact of the children's home was a young man, about my age, who suffered an anurism while working out. He later died. A three year old in my friend's neighborhood was bitten by a rattlesnake twice and died two days ago. I'm seeing too much of death's shadow fall on friends, and it makes me anxious to think how quickly the everyday picture of life can change. Sure many people have a lot of years to live with their spouse, but everyday I'm thanking God I have another with Matt. Its intense to live life with this overshaddowing thought, but it also helps with perspective... to live through love and learning more and more to be empathetic.

Meanwhile, work is feeling more and more like I'm batter's up for a baseball game. Who knows what type of pitch you will get next, but it's all going very quickly. I'm working on some 60th anniversary events, and as life would have it, I'm not seeing that things are going according to plan. I'm at the point mentally where I found myself almost 3 years ago in Istanbul, Turkey, and I say to this bull of chaos- I'm taking you by the horns and you no longer control the situation. I feel very responsible for these events and will do all I can to provide a wonderful outcome for CAHM. Next week has my name all over it, and I will be satisfied with my progress by next weekend.

For now, the I'm in the investigation and waiting to build the sure foundation for where I'll build the progress of next week. And I'll fill my time with the occassional project like creating a children's art work exhibit for the Round Rock Area Arts Council and introducing Debbie to State Rep Diana Moldonado so we can serve homeless single mother veterans and their children, when they return from war. While its amazing to participate in each of these meaningful activities, I'm balancing a need to immediately drop everything to go up to Arkansas for Grandpa Abner's funeral, the prework for my MBA, and everything just makes me wonder how much harder is this going to get to keep family first, and get everything done not just to code or standard, but so that I am proud of my work.

Time will tell, but I tell you, I look forward to November.
November, I will have made it through Yellowstone, hopefully having had trained well and not been eaten by a bear.
November- Ascend program will have completed the day retreat, and we will be on our way as young professionals making a difference in our community.
November, I will have completed a successful dinner and music and arts festival for the community.
November, I will have completed the fall grant writing
November, I will have been in my MBA for 3 months and balance this life transition of returning to school...
November, my birthday will come, and hopefully I will have birthday money to get some new clothes or a nicely used dyson vaccum.

So time- I tell you- hurry up and pass me by- I'm looking forward to November.