I took this picture a few weeks ago. I loved the symbolism it showed of Tyler's many hats.....literally. The last couple months have been a busy time for him! He has actually had to wear all 3 in one day going between his different duties as our breadwinner and daddy! We are transitioning into a new chapter and are now in the last pages of the current one. But the next chapter has already started writing itself whether we were ready or not!
Tyler has spent the last 6 years at our Alma mater, Red Bank. He has grown a lot in his teaching career there. He has done many different roles as a geography teacher, technology coordintator, U.S. History teacher, dual enrollment and the list goes on.....! If you didn't already know, Tyler and I also grew in love at Red Bank years ago. As cheesy as that sounds, its true! :) I can still remember his first year teaching there when I brought Garyn, a newborn, in to see all our past teachers. Then again, with Ansley, everyone celebrated with us as we grew to a family of four. We have a lot of new friends, as well, that we will stay in touch with and miss.
Garyn's first football game, only 3-4 weeks old.
He has been coaching football since his first year and has worked with a lot of great coaches. He has learned a lot from these guys coaching wise. As well, they have all helped him be a better person in some way or another. The last two years he was the defensive coordinator for Red Bank, making his duties even harder. But I think most of all he has enjoyed his time with the kids making great relationships that both the coach and player benefited from. This year he coached baseball, too. We have a love-hate relationship with baseball. Spending 4+ nights/days a week for hours at the field can be so tiring. As you know, the kids and I went to a lot of games. 1) It was a chance to see him, even if from a far. 2) The kids enjoyed being outside and I like the inning or two I got to see in between keeping up with Ansley. Tyler loves the time with the players, I think because he gets to act like a kid again. Yet, also be an example for them; a good one hopefully.
Garyn and Tyler 2011 football season.
Ansley and daddy 2011 season
With all that said, this was Tyler's last year there. He was contacted about coaching at Soddy Daisy earlier in the spring and after a lot of prayer and just plain waiting, he is going to be the defensive coordinator and more importantly, the ninth grade Geography teacher. Hence, the SD hat you see next to the RB one. This is an odd combination, really, since they are rivals. (Ironically as I sit here writing this, he is next to me wearing a Soddy shirt and RB shorts, haha) Seems odd at times still to think we will be wearing navy and gold. However, it is simply a new job and welcomed change. We will be moving closer to that area, as well, making his drive to Soddy shorter than from where we are now.
In the last 6 weeks or so, he has been going to early morning workouts with the football team before heading to work at Red Bank. Then, he had the lift-a-thon to attend, parents' meeting, coach meetings and the last 2 weeks he has been conducting spring practice! All while still coaching baseball and teaching at Red Bank! I still don't know how he did it without walking in a practice with the wrong colors or just plain falling over from exhaustion!
First game day (Ansley wishes she had an orange Orioles shirt!)
Lastly, there was still yet another hat he had to wear. Garyn's baseball team this year is the Orioles. Daddy has been helping coach on nights that his other coaching duties don't interfere. We love this coaching hat the most! So fun to watch and encourage Garyn. While we get intense at times, its a lot more laid back than some of the high school games we watch/coach! Tyler isn't so sure, though, that he can handle the young ones. He has to really step back and have fun when everything isn't going like he planned. Garyn has had some hard times, himself, when he wasn't able to score before 3 outs or even worse when he didn't get a hit. He has had a lot of breakthroughs in his confidence and competitiveness, learning while his team may not always win; he can be happy about his hit. Yes, this hat has brought a lot of lessons for both Tyler and Garyn this year.
All but one of these many hats he has had to wear are ending soon. He has another week at Red Bank, training the next technology coordinator and cleaning out his room. Garyn has about 5 more games left in his baseball season. And of course, Soddy 2013 football season has only begun. We will be moving into his new classroom soon and becoming fully immersed in this new chapter of his career which becomes all of ours, honestly.
I am so happy that he is called Daddy in our house. He takes that role very seriously, along with being my husband. No matter how many hats he has to wear, we come first on his priority list. We love him more than words can say and are excited for this next chapter, and hopefully a less cluttered dash!
