Volleyball Season

Man, I don't know about this volleyball thing.  I mean I love coaching.  I do.  The last 2 nights of practice have really helped my attitude.  But before that...  I've lost 9 pounds since starting; not on purpose.  I just don't have any time to cook so I eat popcorn or cereal for dinner (which really is not that uncommon for me).  But I've been doing that almost every night...and that is a lot.  And when I don't feel like one of those things, I just don't eat.  I mean who wants to cook at 10 at night?  I don't mind eating then, but if I am just getting home then... I am not going to cook!  So since I am not cooking, I don't have anything left-over for lunch so a bottle of fruit 2day and some crackers or cookies is usually it.  Stony doesn't like me loosing so much weight..I don't really either.  I think I have an optimum living weight and when I am above or below that, I am tired and emotional.  Plus, when I am not at my optimum weight my pants and my bras don't fit.  The whole weight thing and the food thing is really minor compared to everything else...except that it is effecting my emotions which effect everything and kind of make me sound like a irrational, insecure, discontent person.  Which I am not.  Writing this is making me realize how much I need to eat better!  (Stony made me chicken and rice last week at the restaurant so I would at least have 2 meals this week.  He's sweet.  But those are gone, sad.)

The thing that makes me most unsure about coaching is the time spent away from my normal life and spending time with my family.  I leave work early for practice and for games.  I am gone on Saturdays for games.  And I have to try to get up earlier than normal for work so I can get at least 6 hours in...which has been really hard the last 3 weeks.  Plus I am still trying to finish my online coaching class so I can be certified by the state.  I am able to coach at games only because of a technicality in the wording of the laws.  And since I am getting up earlier and have no down time when I get home (because of the class and work I bring home), once I go to bed, I'm out.  I used to get up with Stony when he came home or wait up for him and we would get an hour or so together.  That hasn't happened in 3 weeks.  And he started working all nights again 2 weeks ago.  We are missing each other!!

Mom and Dad and Gram and Poppa are all getting ready to head back to AZ at some point in the next month or 2, so we are trying to put a family dinner together...so far every day they suggest, I'm at practice.  Grrrr.  And I haven't gotten to spend any real time with my sister or Alyssa in the last 3 weeks.  I miss them terribly.  I was used to seeing them at least once a week!  And there are just a lot of things about fall that I feel like I am missing out on.  Splitting wood, watching football, the last few tries at water skiing, silly stuff like that and a lot of family fall birthdays that I won't be and haven't been a part of.

There are good things about coaching though.  The volleyball season is just a season; my time commitment is temporary.  I love the sport.  I love the guys I am coaching with. And I love my girls.  I have a rock-star team.  They have been working really hard!  And they are improving so much!  This is the first week that we have had 3 practices in a row and that has been so wonderful.  I ran a conditioning practice on Monday and not one of my girls complained.  They all kept working hard and cheering each other on.  (The varsity also had a conditioning practice and there were 3 complainers and 2 sitters on their team.)  They are eager to learn and that shows.  I feel like this week has been a break through as far as how I connect with them, which is nice.  And I feel like this week I have a "important" position on the coaching staff.  This week has definitely helped my attitude and perspective.

So there you go.  Obviously the good things don't out weigh my health and my lack of time with my family, but they help my current perspective.  I just hope that somehow, this season has an impact on these girls for future good.  And even though this is a little rough, I am glad I am coaching!