I'm Semi-Retired - What Do I Do Now?

This is possibly the first time in my adult life where I can actually say my life is relaxed and unhurried. And when I think about what I have been doing for the last several years, it is mind-blowing. Between August and November daily having to rush around to volleyball, take my kids places, inform my husband what the schedule is and what I made for dinner. Then during the spring season coaching on 8-9 weekends.

I have been coaching volleyball for 27 years in a variety of different capacities. Most recently I coached club for Austin Junior Volleyball and high school for the Austin Royals, a home school team. I have taken off during the club season a couple times in the last 10 years, but I have coached the Royals for the last 15 years straight. When I started with the Royals, I thought I would do that forever. But I'm not. The 2021 season was my last. On one hand that is hard to say and on the other it brings such relief that, in my opinion, can only come from the peace of Jesus.

Ever since we had our firstborn son in 2014 I kind of knew the clock was ticking. We had a second son in 2016. Both boys traveled everywhere with me when they were infants during the Royals season. To be honest, as time went on, I found myself wondering when my time would be done. I was tired and weary of administration and it really was a year round commitment. We dream of moving to Colorado and sometimes I thought that if we moved then that would be a reason to say goodbye to the Royals. It was hard for me to comprehend leaving just because I was done. But really leaving because God showed me that I was done.

In 2019 I gave up a large portion of my administrative duties which helped a great deal. But in 2020, I started saying, out loud, "I'm not sure how much longer I can do this." Prior to this, every year, I would pray and ask God to show me when it was time for me to be done. Then I just kept moving forward.

This time it was different. I started seeing a life beyond volleyball.

• Summer not spent preparing for the season. (The possibility of vacationing in August.)

• Fall where life is not dictated by the volleyball season. (And we can spend a whole week at the beach instead of just a few days.)

• Spring without off-season practice. (And no disruption to my morning workout schedule.)

• Days without emails to respond to. (And days that I don't check my email at all.)

• And no more 2-A-Days. (I will NOT miss the sheer physical and emotional exhaustion.)

• And no more trip to Omaha for the National Tournament.

I realized I can still be in the gym working with kids by doing clinics, camps and lessons. And it was ok to say goodbye to these athletes I had poured my heart and soul into.

At the moment I can't think of a particular scripture that God really used last year in this process. But I think of Ephesians 2:10

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

This was our theme verse for the 2021 season. All I have ever wanted is to walk in the works that God has for me. I want to be who God made me to be and serve Him wherever He has me! The most important thing is to know Him and be in His presence. Then the joy that we have in Him overflows from us.

Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

So I coached the 2021 season. I'm so thankful that the Lord gave me the last season, I was able to experience everything one more time. It was a wonderful 3 months experiencing all of my lasts and the girls were amazing.

What do I do now?

• I enjoy each day educating my boys at home.

• We play outside.

• We run errands when we need to without a super tight schedule.

• We go places.

• We don't rush around.

And I do coach. I have the privilege of encouraging many young volleyball players in the Georgetown area. I'm so thankful for the many female athletes I have been honored to work with through the Austin Royals. And many people I call friends are those I met through the Royals.

I am now in a season of waiting and praying about what the Lord has for me next. I have felt called to work with coaches in some capacity. I want to mentor and encourage coaches. I'm working on a few things...

But for now I will point my boys to Jesus each day.

#coachforhisglory