Christmas is coming so fast!

I'm trying to slow down. Really, I am. In the grand scheme of things, I'm doing OK on time: granted, some people won't get their Christmas cards until after Christmas and a couple of gifts still need to be wrapped. Other than that, everything is done. I'm usually way ahead on everything, though, so I feel like I'm scrambling.

Still, this is my favorite time of year. We've had some wonderful Christmas celebrations already, with more to come:

Work Parties: Mitch's employer hosted a very nice dinner at the Elk's Club in Alma. It's a brand new facility, and we had the *best* prime rib. The Admissions party was a good time, as always. We do the white elephant exchange: hot presents this year included a sexy firefighter calendar, the infamous "half-shirt" (a polo that looks, from a distance, like you're only wearing half a shirt) and some awesome 'eighties workout videos.

DeYoung Christmas: Little kids + presents = FUN! Watching my nephews open their gifts was fantastic. It was also great to go to church with the whole family (the pastor called us all out when she asked who was traveling for the holidays) and eat *all* the tasty food. And I had my first experience with "A Christmas Story." Mitch and his brother laughed hard at the "triple dog dare" scene, while Mariah and I just kind of looked at each other. I guess it has to be a part of your childhood!

"Our" Christmas: Mitch has always worked up through Christmas Eve, so we've basically rushed around trying to get to my parents' house in time for our usual traditions. This year, though, we both finish up today and we're not leaving for my folks' 'til tomorrow afternoon. So we get to have our very own "Christmas" this year! We're having a nice dinner together and watching Charlie Brown Christmas, and while we're sleeping, Santa is going to make an early stop at our house. On Christmas Eve morning, we'll open our stockings and a few gifts and have a nice breakfast together before heading out to the various family Christmas celebrations. It's fitting, I think, that we get to do something special for just the two of us in our new home.

Eccles and McGrath Christmases: On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we'll celebrate with the Eccles and McGrath families, respectively. I love all the time with my extended family...but the *best* is Christmas morning at my parents', when we open our gifts under the big tree and have a special Christmas breakfast. Someday, when Mitch and I have kids, I want this tradition to continue under our own tree.

We are so very, very blessed. We've had challenges and disappointments, successes and joys; but looking back, I can see God working in even the hardest times. As we gather with family and friends this season and as we share gifts (including ones that can't be wrapped), I hope we reflect on the season's most perfect treasure, the birth of our Lord and Savior. He's sustained us and blessed us, and continues to do so each and every moment.

I'm so bad at surprises.

Good: I love sharing everything with Mitch.

Bad: I love sharing everything with Mitch.

What?

Obviously, marrying your best friend and having someone with whom you delight in sharing is a good thing. Most of the time. At Christmas, it's a very bad thing. Because I desperately want to tell him all about the AWESOME Christmas presents he has coming. I want to brag about my deal-searching and my patience in waiting for the *perfect* purchase. I want to show him his gifts the moment they arrive. But I CAN'T. Because it's CHRISTMAS. And these are supposed to be SURPRISES. And I'd say someone else should call me and let me tell them all about these fantastic finds, for a bit of relief, but it just wouldn't be the same.

Because sharing with Mitch is my FAVORITE. Good thing Christmas isn't too far away!

Confessions of a Lapsed Cyclist

I am terribly ashamed to admit this, but until last night's beautifully, brrrr-y night ride at Heritage Park in Adrian, I hadn't ridden my bike since the race at Maybury back in August. Sad, I know! It was a combination of distractions: buying a house, moving and getting settled into said house, working my tail off, squeaking in some time for homework...I know, I know: there's no excuse for neglecting my bike. But I didn't miss it enough to carve out some quality time in my schedule.

Until last night.

I'm not quite sure what possessed us to drive two hours down to Adrian for a night ride. I think, mostly, it was the promise of hanging out with some folks we hadn't seen in while. Maybe I was just trying to get Mitch to use the awesome light I bought him for Christmas last year. Maybe, on some level, I knew I needed something social to get my behind in gear. Whatever the case, I'm so glad we went! It was freezing when we started...I was practically dressed for a night on the slopes, minus the ski pants and mittens. My thoughtful husband surprised me with an early Christmas gift: a pair of cold-weather biking gloves so I wouldn't either (a) freeze my little paws trying to wear my regular ones or (b) crash into a tree because braking and shifting is near impossible in mittens. But once we got on the trail, I warmed up. It seemed to be a pretty technical ride, made even harder by the fact that I don't even have a light for my bike: just Mitch's headlamp zip-tied to my helmet. I believe an actual bike light is now on my wish list!

Since we were in the area, we also decided to go cheer on Rick at a cyclocross race in Davisburg. I had never seen cyclocross, and it was crazy! Rick was really good at the obstacles (that's probably not the technical term), though he did catch his toe on one of the hurdles and do a faceplant. Ouch! He still finished second, and I believe he was seventh or eighth overall in the series.

Oh, speaking of race series, I don't think I updated on our final CPS results. I ended up second behind Nichole, who blew everyone away. After a hard-fought season rife with injury and illness, Mitch earned fourth in his class. Rick took third, and both of them will move up to expert next year. Two of my other teammates, Jake and Aaron, took sixth and fourth in their classes, respectively. Overall, the On 2 Wheels team had a great season!

And as we look ahead to the spring, Mitch and I are still undecided about our schedule. We both like CPS but are interested in trying some of the Tailwind races. Mitch wants to try an endurance race or two, and we're both considering Ore to Shore in August. But for now, I can say training season has officially hit the DeYoung house. In fact, Mitch is cranking out a CTS workout downstairs as I write. I'm scheduled for an appointment with the trainer on Tuesday. Oh joy!

Thanksgiving Weekend...

...Facebook-style.

Wed. afternoon: Surprise! Mitch brought me flowers for our five-year anniversary. It's on Thanksgiving, but he'd be hard-pressed to find a flower shop open tomorrow. I love him!



Wed. evening: Traffic, traffic! So much time in traffic! We just want to get to my parents' house...

Wed. night: Thought we'd be skipping the South Lyon Hotel this year. Not so - time to go see some good friends from high school!



Thurs. morning: Mom is so prepared - hardly any work left to do. Boys are in the boat house making our mantel. I better do some studying.

Thurs. afternoon: Family! McGrath and Eccles combined, and we're having a blast. Already talking about Irish Car Bombs on Christmas Eve. Reminded Dad we *will* be going to church that night...

Thurs. night: Everyone's gone and Dad's lecturing about something political - maybe discussing Sarah Palin? Liberal lawyer uncle said he'd vote for her over Obama if he had to choose. Whoa.

Fri. morning: Let the hunt begin! Time to find the perfect Christmas tree.





Fri. afternoon: Staining our lovely mantel. It's going to look awesome!

Fri. night: Back home making yet another pumpkin roll. Thanksgiving Round Two in the morning.

Sat. morning: Just whistle while you work...let's get this house clean. Now our kitchen sparkles.

Sat. afternoon: DeYoung Thanksgiving - so much food! I love my in-laws, especially my sweet nephews. Quality time with my sisters-in-law while they boys futilely go hunting.

Sat. evening: Christa made our Roman shades - such beautiful, meaningful touches to our new home. Between them and the mantel, our living room got a face lift.







Sun. morning: Off to Bronner's with Mom D., Christa and the kids. Hope the boys get lots of that wood cut!

Sun. afternoon: This place is a glorious Christmas extravaganza. The kids are being so good waiting for their group to go see Santa. I want to buy so many festive things!

Sun. evening: Finishing up the Christmas decorations - photos to come. Mitch showed up at the back door covered in deer blood. I think he's been initiated into the neighborhood.

Sun. night: Relaxing with a little James Bond. What a fantastic weekend!

Bright Spots

Today I had an OC (student who is a member of the Orientation Committee) in my office. She was lamenting the fact that I had stepped down as their advisor (it's a complicated, regrettable situation). She said the whole group was considering invading my office and not leaving until I agreed to come back. It was funny and sweet and sad all at once, and made my day.

Then the new president of the Ski Team, which is still stuck with me for their advisor, came in for help with the team's national registration. He was so frustrated and confused, but I helped him get things figured out. He, too, always leaves so appreciative of my help, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. These kids are definitely getting baked goods before their races, and I'm bringing my "Go Scots" cowbell to at least one race this year!

Iceman 2009

When Mitch and I first started racing, we kept hearing about this thing called Iceman. People talked about it kind of reverently, like it was *the* race to do. Well, I'm not a strong enough rider to seriously consider this type of huge event, and I had to go to class anyway, but Mitch raced this year. He did very well, despite the move and homeownership putting some limits his training plans. Here's a quick video to give you an idea of the sheer scope of this race. Try to pick Mitch out at 1:27. He's in a green jersey, number 1656. He's on the left side of the screen and our friend Rick, sporting the Voodoo jersey, is on the right.

Food!

Fantastic friends.
Wonderful family.
Two parties at our house.
A whole mess of food.

-Tacos (a Halloween dinner for eight)
-Jello shots
-Smoked cheddar and apple fondue with sourdough bread
-Spinach artichoke dip with pita chips
-Mostaccioli (a birthday dinner for eight) with Caesar salad and garlic bread
-Chocolate cake with butter cream frosting

One amazing, exhausting weekend!

Office Strategy: Refuse to Play Games

We have a silo problem. No, not the kind with grain and such. The kind where I do MY job in MY department with no thought to how it impacts other departments. The kind where we reinvent the wheel, but all the wheels are different sizes, so our wagon just gets all mangled and stuck in the mud.

All the new material on organizational structure and the like emphasizes the need for interdepartmental roles: people who can move fluidly between functional areas and not DO all the jobs (that's just simple cross-training), but rather coordinate mutually beneficial initiatives. In other words, organizations need people who can solve the silo problem.

I'm seriously trying to knock holes in the silos around here. It makes people uncomfortable. It forces people to relinquish control. It's VERY stressful at times, trying to advocate for one department in another, and trying to get everyone to see the big picture rather than focusing on what this means for their own personal turf. But it's necessary and it's getting results.

My newest silo-destruction project started today, when my department decided to take an open full-time position and create a social media coordinator role. Without getting into a lecture on social media strategies, let's just say that our target market seeks information in a bunch of crazy ways, and responds well to information delivered in a bunch of equally crazy ways. To a certain extent, social media is organic marketing; but there are ways an institution can give the social media garden a little natural fertilizer and clear more space in which it can grow. There might even be the need for a little selective weeding now and then, too. But I'm getting dangerously close to a lecture, which I promised not to deliver.

Anyway, this is CLEARLY a marketing thing. But that department has been talking and talking and talking social media to DEATH. In fact, I might even smell some decay from here. Could be the cows. Eh. Digression, sorry. Simply put, they do not have the human resources to implement a consistent, comprehensive social media strategy at this time. Ideas and intentions are plentiful, but time is not. We, on the other hand, have access to a resource that could implement a consistent social media strategy with a primary focus on student recruitment. Sure, it's not perfect: ideally, we'd have a whole team of folks who could manage initiatives across the entire organization. BUT this could open doors: if - no, when - we're successful, the marketing folks could have some leverage and say, "LOOK! This WORKS! Let's EXPAND! Give me more BODIES!"

So, since this position will be a silo-demolishing role, I took these thoughts to the marketing office and braced myself for the gut-level "get-off-my-turf" reaction. Even with all the collaboration in which I personally engage with that department, I knew it would happen. I'd likely respond the same way. But I refused to play office games. I will not participate in politics. In all my interactions, I will wholeheartedly affirm and recognize the value of every individual's contributions. But I will not back down from a challenging situation because I know, at the end of the day, we'll only advance our mission and do right by our students when we open up and stop trying to control every corner of our respective real estate.

And it was good. Or it will be good. We'll have a couple more challenging moments, but this is the first chance I've had to pave the way for another highly interdepartmental role. And I'd like some more company out here.

Can I pull a "Sleeping Beauty?"

I'd be up for sleeping until all the action passed and everything was solved. Or how about a vacation? I'd like to leave my grad work for my team to do (for once), let the rest of my office figure out the issues (my brain hurts...) and just get refreshed. I don't think any of that is going to happen, so I'll do the next best thing: go to bed and wake up with a better attitude tomorrow morning.

Fifteen Minute Update

So apparently there's this unspoken rule that no new projects will begin after 4:40 pm on a regular workday; this is also the case when you have fifteen minutes until lunch and just wrapped up an item on your to-do list. So, rather than buck convention and get started on something else, I decided to update my neglected blog!

Geez Louise, where to start? Well, work is nuts. I just finished a modest amount of travel (high school visits and college fairs in Clinton and Ingham Counties) and am now back in the office. It's a busy place right now, especially as we prepare to implement our new administrative software system. Also, my boss, who is pretty much the best boss EVER, just took a new job with LCC. He's leaving in early November and it is literally taking four people (including yours truly) to cover his responsibilities until we hire a new director. Gah! Did I mention he's also in charge of the ENTIRE software system implementation? This process was already going to be rough, but now we're going to have our work REALLY cut out for us.

The house is great, though. This weekend is dubbed "Window Treatment Weekend," as Mitch's sister is coming up to help me with that overwhelming task. Good thing she is an EXCELLENT seamstress and has wonderful taste. We are also happily heating our home with wood, thanks to our new outdoor wood boiler. Did you know you could buy wood by the semi load? I didn't...but you can, and we are!

And with a phone call that interrupted my blogging (a welcome phone call, though, from a favorite colleague), it is now time for me to head to the Rec for my lunch time workout. I guess you'll have to wait for photos from the Davenport/Zinger wedding (unless you're on Facebook and have seen them already...cheater...).

Free t-shirts from the White House?

OK, so this isn't as funny as the Sarah Palin/Hillary Clinton one (still a favorite), but it gave me a good laugh this morning. Enjoy!

Time to Get Fit

I haven't posted a lot about biking lately, because there just hasn't been that much to report. Between moving, school and work (I am now recruiting in Clinton/Ingham counties and have had some evening college fairs to attend), I haven't touched my bike since Maybury back in August. So sad, I know! Also, though I continued to go down to the Rec for lunchtime workouts, the room my friends and I were using for our group strength training sessions was unavailable all summer. It wasn't quite the same hitting the weight room with my iPod, so the trips weren't as regular.

So, while Mitch turns his attention to preparing for Iceman, I've started concentrating on overall fitness in anticipation of next year. My current regiment includes 2-3 days of strength training at lunch (our room is open again!) and potentially a trainer ride in the evenings, if I have time. The new addition, and something I think will help augment the limited time I generally have in the evenings to hit the trainer, is a little bit of running before our strength workouts. Now, I did track and field in high school and college, but I was never one of those people who just went running for the heck of it. I was a sprinter, so we rarely ever did those long, grueling distance runs. But I think building up some semblance of endurance, even if it's minuscule by others' standards, will help me be a better racer.

It's too early to set season goals. It's also hard to set place-related goals when your class is really small. But I do know that I want to see significant improvement in my times next year. I want to feel stronger, faster and more confident. So it's time to get fit!

House Photos

I'm guessing most folks who read this blog will have already seen our updated house photos on Facebook, but I'm putting them here anyway:


See my pretty mums along the front walk?


You can't see all our backyard from this photo, but Mitch has pulled out over a dozen of our scraggly apple trees. We'll replace some of them with new trees in the spring.


Here's our living room. The fireplace has been nice since the weather has been so cold for the past couple of days.


Another view of the living room.


One more angle of the living room. This weekend, I got new pillows to replace the red ones on the couch.


Our awesome kitchen: Mom and Dad got us the microwave as a housewarming gift.


Pretty dining room - Mitch's sister is going to make our window treatments later this month.


Here's my little library.


Guest room - who wants to visit?


Our bedroom, complete with the crazy cat. He likes the new place, too!

Masters of the House!

That's me and Chip today: contentedly ruling the house for the day! After two days of working on the PR/Admissions photo shoot while feeling like death warmed over, I took today off to (1) get at least moderately healthy again and (2) get new Internet access installed. The Verizon Air Card just wasn't working well, so we gave the local wireless a try. So far, so good!

This day is great for my sanity. I've felt like life was just piling up around me, and I didn't have time to fully address the massive mounds at both work and home. Now, having dedicated a day to changing our address, getting the last of the stuff from the apartment and making progress on homework, I feel like my personal life might be somewhat more under control. And with the photo shoot wrapped up, I can refocus on the rest of my work tomorrow.

I love this life. In an email to my dear friend, Jenn, I wrote that God has truly provided for us and put us in His perfect place, despite our constant insistence to do things our way, not His. We are so very blessed.

A Beautiful Day

On this lovely Saturday:

*I went to the Orientation Committee Recognition Brunch up in Mt. Pleasant. Since The Embers closed, we've struggled to find a nice venue for this, and I think it's an important event, particularly to provide some closure for the seniors. This year, though, we found a winner: Riverwood Resort, where they provided a fantastic brunch for our students.

*I swung by the Alumni Board meeting. It's usually a bit intense, but I've gotten used to the 20 minutes of grilling I get each time. As always, though, the group is supportive and enthusiastic.

*I gutted the garden along our front sidewalk and replaced the ragged hostas with bright, beautiful mums from Harrier Farms in St. Louis. They have the most beautiful plants; in fact, when I decided I needed another mum and drove to Andy T's in St. Johns, I couldn't bring myself to buy one of their less attractive (more expensive!) mums. I did, however, treat myself to half a peck of Empire apples (the best!) and a loaf of fresh sourdough bread.

*I made chicken salad - a favorite of mine, though Mitch isn't a fan - and applesauce from the overpriced, not-great-for-eating Macintosh apples from Uncle Johns. The apples smelled to good simmering on the stove, and I still have plenty for a pie tomorrow. Maybe apple-raspberry?

*I unpacked all my books, officially completing my little library in the new house. Well, it's complete except for the chair and a half that will eventually replace my bowl chair, anyway!

*As the sun set, I settled myself on the couch to wrestle with the Internet (our Verizon Air Card doesn't work so well, so I think we'll take it back and get the local wireless service) and do some homework. After this nice little break, I swear I'll finish my management chapter on evaluating environmental opportunities!

Oh, blessed weekend...

All Moved In!

That's right, folks: we successfully moved into our new home on Saturday! No furniture was dropped, no precious china shattered, no feline flattened (probably because he was at my parents' for the weekend). We are now smack-dab in the middle of unpacking, so there are unattractive cardboard boxes everywhere. However, as soon as I feel the place looks decent, I'll post some new photos!

Let me tell you, though: it's wonderful. There's so much space! Our kitchen is gloriously organized in the kitchen, not spilling over into the laundry room. The neglected bikes live in the garage, not the bathroom. We have clothes in the closet, not ski boots and ice skates and rollerblades. Glorious!

The strangest thing, though, is getting used to the idea that we're staying here. I've been regularly packing up my life and moving from place to place for almost ten years, between college and our various apartments. Every time I would unpack, the idea that I would be packing back up again crossed my mind. We didn't arrange tools on shelves; we left them in cardboard boxes. I saved packing materials. I got used to living without a sense of permanence.

And now, it's permanent. Wow.

The Whirlwind I Call My Life

Whirlwind...that's an apt description for everything right now! First, we closed on our house last Thursday and immediately got to work. So far, we've painted everything on the main floor (the basement will be a winter project) and just have a few more touch-ups to do. I started cleaning last night and hope to finish up tomorrow while Stanley Steemer cleans the carpets. We've also installed two of the three screen/storm doors we bought. For the next two days, then, we'll be packing up our apartment in preparation for Saturday's big move. Yikes!

Second, my fifth term in grad school started this weekend. I have two management classes: Strategic Management and Global Dimensions of Management. I don't have a sense of the workload yet, but I hope I don't fall too far behind over the weekend. In addition to the move, I have Mim's bachelorette party on Saturday night, and then I have to head down to my parents' to pick up Chip since he'll be staying there while we move. But good news: this is my second-to-last term. MBA, here I come!

Third, work is insane. I just finished two all-consuming weeks with the Orientation Committee, guiding them through training and Preterm. They have become an absolutely awesome group over the past few years...completely different from their traditional image, in many ways. I'm so proud of them! When I get a spare minute, I'll try to post their spoof on the alma mater from A to Z. It was pretty hilarious! In addition to wrapping up with the OCs, I'm helping plan an extensive two-day photo shoot, I'm a member of the steering committee for the implementation of the new campus-wide administrative software program, I'm planning travel season for my new little recruitment territory (Clinton and Ingham counties), I'm doing Web and portal upgrades in preparation for next year, I'm trying to get publications finished, and I'm getting the Alumni Ambassadors rolling for the upcoming year. Phew!

Fourth, I'd like to talk about how I'm still training and spending lots of time on the bike...but truthfully, my racing season is done and I haven't had time to do more than hit the Rec a couple of times since Maybury. I even bought a sweet new helmet that I have yet to actually try out! Mitch hasn't been able to ride much, either, primiarily because his knee was healing so slowly. But he took his stitches out this weekend and went for an easy road ride, which he said felt good. I know neither of us can race Addison this weekend (bummer, because I really like the course) but I believe Mitch is still considering Pando, if he can get back in good riding condition. Otherwise, he'll simply focus on Iceman in November. Overall, I have to say this has been an awesome racing season for us. Being a part of the On 2 Wheels team was great, and I definitely improved over last year. I look forward to some good training this winter so I can be an even stronger racer next year.

OK, I have to go run some errands around campus now. Thanks for reading this insanely long update!

A closing date!

This Thursday, at 3:30 pm, we'll close on our first house!

I'm just thrilled...it will certainly be a blessed day! Coincidentally, some of our friends are closing on their first house on Thursday, too. I sense some celebrations on the horizon!

Loan approved!

Yesterday afternoon, Rural Development approved our loan application for our house! This means we can set a closing date, and I'm pushing for Thursday. The plan is to paint on Sunday and Monday, spend the rest of the week packing and cleaning, and then move in next Saturday! I'm SO EXCITED!

Last night, we bought all the paint we *think* we need. I absolutely love the colors we chose...I suppose I better, since I'll have to live with them! We also picked out screen doors for the ones that go out to the deck, and a nicer storm door for the front door. As long as we can borrow a friend's truck, we can get those and our washer/dryer set on Thursday.

It seems like we've been in the "hurry up and wait" stage for a really long time. I can't wait until there's a little more action!

On Sunday Nights

On Sunday night, I get ready for Monday morning. The kitchen is sparkling clean, and I can smell the coffee grounds I've just put in the percolator. When I open the refrigerator, I see jewel-colored water bottles lined up on the top shelf, alongside two gallons of milk. Neat rows of Yoplait yogurt flank fresh bags of deli meat and cheese, ready for lunch the next day. Bright bags of fruit fill the drawers and spill out onto the shelves, washed and cut. Fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and maybe the odd pepper join the scene, all ingredients for the coming week's dinner. I close the fridge, and my family and friends smile back at me, haphazardly grinning from their Christmas cards and save the date wedding announcements.

There's just something about seeing a full refrigerator that gives me a strange sense of peace. I see God's blessings, food He will use to sustain me and my husband throughout the week ahead. I see planning and preparation that will make the week go smooth, and healthy meals that will keep us strong and fit. I see the table we'll set for family and friends who may visit, and the pleasure we'll take in our time together.

On Sunday nights, the stage is set. It's always beautiful.