Just in case you haven’t noticed (because not all of it I’ve been able to keep it unpublished until launch as I develop all the new pages), stephanieunderconstruction.com is under construction! As of February 3 (praying all systems go according to my meager web development skills), this page will be the landing page for my new business, Heart and Sole Fitness & Wellness! This blog will still remain (and become much more active), but as a tab on the main bar on the top of the page and not the first thing you see when you click on the website. (Hint: subscribe to the blog if you want new entries sent right to your inbox) The blog itself is not going to change–it’s still going to be about my holistic journey, athletic pursuits, and the bits and pieces of life suitable for the world wide web.
Speaking of life…big changes for the husband and I. The rumor mill has just been laughable to hear as it gets back to us the “reasons” people fabricate to make a good story. The lengths people have gone to in order to find “what’s up?” with us is beyond disappointing. Being probably two of the straightest shooters on the planet, I just fail to understand why grown adults won’t come and talk to the source directly. Integrity? Mind boggling. Shows you who your true friends are, I suppose.
Anyway, husband and I have freely made the decision that we needed to make some big life changes–probably one of the hardest decisions we have ever made in our marriage and one that was not come to lightly, but it’s needed. It’s hard, there’s some grief, I’d be lying if we weren’t a little scared, but also very excited. We get to care for families and ourselves in deeper ways, and that means the world.
This is the busiest month I can ever remember, even more so than any holiday season and all the responsibilities that it entails, trying to put all the pieces of transition in place for those that will follow in our footsteps so it is as seamless and smooth as can be, as well as make sure everything is in place for our move forward so that we have the basic essentials ready for us to hit the ground running. Even in all the work, stress, sadness, and grief–there’s joy. I can’t wait to embark on this next step with my husband.
Several years ago, as I began this journey, I had an encounter with a temporary employee that had known me before I made any changes in my life, and about a year later. She paid me the greatest compliment I had ever received up to that point, “you smile more than you used to.” Once we made this final decision in moving forward, even in the hard choices, someone I care for looked at me in conversation a couple weeks ago and said, “I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time.”
Joy. It’s not happiness, it’s joy. Joy in the midst of life and the circumstances that we can’t control, but God has such plans for our lives that blow our minds when we just follow Him in obedience. He has been so faithful to us in this process and we just continue to trust. Even in the sadness of leaving behind what we know, even in the moments of fear of what we don’t know. Trust and obey. He’s got it covered.
I was listening to the radio on the way to the office the other day and Skillet’s “Awake and Alive” came on from my playlist:
I’m at war with the world and they
Try to pull me into the dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I’m slippin’ from your arms
It’s getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last
I’m awake I’m alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ’cause this is my life
Here, right here
Right now, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive
It’s my time…God is with us, God goes before us.
Stay tuned for more in a few weeks as the dust settles and the new website launches. The new homepage for Heart & Sole is pretty spiffy if I do say so myself (especially since I have ZERO website building experience beyond what I’ve done here) and will have pages for all of the different services available. Don’t want to overwhelm with all the info at once. Also, the most up-to-date information is available on my business Facebook page, facebook.com/heartandsolefit
And more coming on this blog about me, my comeback from my hysterectomy recovery, and the road back to fitness as I prepare for my races this year. More later.
Heart and Sole Fitness & Wellness 