The Life of a Coaches Wife

I am always so hesitant to put in writing my views on being a coaches wife. I just feel as if it is a world that I have just begun to understand and take grasp of. I have so much to still learn about this profession and the role of supporting it but here are a few of my thoughts and experiences so far.

I am coming off of a short little season where I have been doing a lot of activities in the world of football. First off, I survived our first job shake up when we experienced a head coaching change at the end of this season, we went to the National Football Coaches of America Convention where I got to meet wives from all over the nation and we have been hosting our amazing recruits the past 3 weekends here in Boone where I mingle with families and future players and begin what will hopefully be real relationships.

Nothing is secure in this profession which I think is the hardest part for any wife and on top of that our husbands are extremely busy. But this year I got to feel that insecurity when the day after our season ended we also found out that our head coach would no longer be at Appalachian. In many professions...no big deal if the boss gets fired, your job is still your job, well....not in coaching. When the head man is let go most likely so are the rest of the coaches.This will not be the last time this happens to Nic and I but for the first time I feel like we handled it really well. Here are a few things that I think help me through such a time of uncertainty...

1. My trust is in the Lord. If we have to move I believe it is at God's will and that there is something extraordinary on the other side.

2. I trust my husband. He will always be the best coach he can be because it is in his nature. I trust that he is doing exactly what God has called him to do and I find no resentment in encouraging him to pursue his dreams.

3. You can't worry about something that has yet to happen. There is no need to worry about not having a place to coach or having to transition. The WHAT IF's in this profession are endless. I refuse to play the guessing game and I just take our challenges as they come. At that point it is to late to worry...only faith will lead you through it.

4. I am not in denial. I accept the ways of this profession. We will move. He will one day be fired. It is possible to be in a place I am not a huge fan of. He will be busy.

5. I am not only not in denial of the negatives but I focus on the positives. My husband is awesome, loving, passionate, and the greatest man I have ever known. He will be an amazing father. He will always take advantage of the time we have together. I am made to support someone like this and I find joy in it. God has blessed us. I am so excited for the adventure.

I have come across some bitter wives already in my experience as a coaches wife. I vowed when I married Nic to encourage him in his calling. I will do that till the day I die. And I trust him and I trust the Lord that he will always put family first. And as long as these things are in place I do not think I have anything to worry about. Everyone says I will change my mind when I have kids. I'll deal with that when it comes. But as a kid-free young coaches wife this is my time to lay the foundation for my time as a coaches wife. I believe in being a coaches wife I will have access to be apart of countless lives and play an encouraging role not only for my husband but these players and their families. This is Nic's ministry and as it is his, it is also mine.

So all in all my view is...being a coaches wife is a blessing. There are many other parts of who I am, but I still take the role with gratitude.

Just another piece of what I call my Journey :)

With Much Love,

Hello 2013 :)

In my opinion New Years Resolutions are simply for new beginnings. I see them as kick starts to things you have wanted to do or been meaning to do for a while. To me ambitions, goals, dreams, visions are forever going. There are tons of things I want to see happen in 2013. I want to see Nic and I's mentor program become active and begin reaching the lives of our communities youth, I want to own a home, I want to think more seriously about adding a little one to our family, and I want to continue to make a difference in my job and advance my social work practice. These are all goals, ambitions, and visions coming to pass, they are not technically (in my opinion)...RESOLUTIONS.

Here is a resolution....to BLOG more often :)

I really enjoy blogging and I enjoy being able to talk about what is going on in my heart and my life. I have recently read back over my blogs and realized that it was silly that I let the hobby go. In 2013 I hope to blog more :)

When I look back over 2012 I really see it as a planning and preparation season. 2011 led up to my marriage, my entry into the working world, and a shifting in where my passions exercise. In 2012 I feel like I was able to build foundations in all the things 2011 brought me and was truly able to establish myself in all the newness. This year I feel like will be a year of new adventures and exciting outcomes from last year.

It is hard to blog in a preparation and planning year. There is not a lot going on and the things that are stirring in your heart still need time before they are put out in the open. I think this is why I have taken a little time off.

2012 was a fun year though I can tell you that. Nic and I did so many creative things, continued living our lives and working our amazing jobs, we have made decisions for our lives that we know will move us forward, and we have had great vacations, holidays, football seasons, celebrations, made new friends, and continued to grow deeper with the old.

I was in 4 weddings this year. I watched my brother get married, my sister-in-law get married, 2 of my best friends, and then I also got to attend my cousins wedding. So many new family members and so many great parties :)

Nic also won the Southern Conference Championship in football. We launched a community program and I have also set more ambitions to my career as a social worker.

I can't wait to continue to tell you about what this year will bring…the ups and the downs and of course the funny moments. I hope to also share with you all that I learn and am inspired by along the way. My blog is called The Journey of Fearlessness which I believe is still the vision for my walk through life. To live fearlessly in fear of my God. Knowing his plans are best for me and to trust him in all that he shows me and tells me. I had to overcome a lot of fear in 2012....and I hope to share with you more of that story now that it's past.

I hope you all have a neat resolution and something to use the new year to help you kick start. But I hope your dreams and visions are growing everyday...no matter what year it is :)

With much love... Kira Cardwell