New blog home

I have a new blog home!

I have finally created my own website, something I've intended to for years, and my blog will move over there.

Please come visit me over at my new website, lizoverton.com!

The website is still a work in progress so I welcome any feedback as I develop it.

I look forward to seeing you over there!

On the Run

I am finally on the run. And that's a good thing, not a bad one. After years of failed attempts, I am a runner!

I started running in October and I've been lacing up my running shoes to hit the pavement (or the treadmill) ever since.

Running is something that I've wanted to do for years, but despite several attempts, I never could do it. I've always admired runners. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe because I'm not athletic and running is something anyone can do at whatever pace they want. And it just always looked so freeing. Plus, running is something you can do pretty much anywhere--at home, on the road, in a gym, not in a gym, etc. and its fairly inexpensive. Get a good pair of running shoes and replace them as needed and that is basically all that's required (although as with anything, there are some nice nonessential accessories).

I work with a lot of runners. Some of whom are marathon runners. They're a great source of encouragement. Before I started running, every time I said I wanted to run, they urged me to do it and expressed confidence that I could. Now that I've started running, they praise my progress and encourage me to keep it up.

In fact, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be running right now if it wasn't for one of my co-workers: Mary C.

Mary is a fellow producer whose desk is adjacent to mine. Mary is a fast, strong marathon runner (she's even completed an ultra marathon--50 miles!) who has won some large, popular races. She's a great producer and strong person who has had to deal with more than her fair share of hardships. Mary's beaten cancer twice and she's working on doing it a third time.

When Mary told everyone that the glioblastoma she had beaten twice had returned -- stronger than before -- I wanted to do something-- anything -- to help. But I knew that other than praying for her and encouraging and supporting her, there is nothing that I can do. I can't make the cancer go away or make the battle any easier for her. It's a vulnerable, helpless feeling.

Shortly after her e-mail announcement, our marketing director mentioned that she was trying to form a WBIR team for the Buddy's Race Against Cancer 5K in support of Mary. Then it dawned on me that one of the best ways I could show my support for Mary was to start running. Running is her life and she had been the one to encourage me the most to start running and express confidence in my ability to do it. I couldn't ask for more motivation to get started than to do it for Mary. In fact, in that moment, I instinctively knew and I firmly believe, even though I certainly can't prove this, that if I couldn't have success with running now, I would never do it. This was my window of opportunity.

So I started running around the first of October with the race set for Sunday, November 13. That's less time to train than all the Couch to 5K programs. So I started training, determined to get out there and run for Mary, even if I had to alternate it with some walking to complete the entire 3.1 miles.

And for the first week or so, it was a little rough going like it had been in the past. I kept at it, but I couldn't help but think, "I'm not going to be ready for this." Then one evening at work, one of our anchors heard me mention my training and the struggle to keep it up and she encouraged me to take my time and slow my pace down until I could comfortably maintain it.

I tried it and it worked like magic. Running suddenly "clicked" for me. All of the times I had tried to run and failed, I was simply committing the common newbie runner error of trying to run too hard, too fast. I was trying to start out where I wanted to be, instead of allowing myself the time and training to get there.

After that epiphany, I took off. Not in speed, but distance. I ran a mile. Then a mile and a half. Next thing I knew, only a few weeks into my training, I ran 3.25 miles on the Sequoyah Hills Greenway, farther than the distance of a 5K. I wanted to throw my hands up in the air in an expression of victory as I ended that run -- and I should have. It was a big moment.

Race day! Mary C., and fellow first-time 5Kers Kevin, Hillary and I before the race

I continued to train and I ran the 5K on November 13 with many of co-workers, including some other first-timers like me. And I was genuinely surprised at my finish time: 35:15. That's an average mile of 11:34, about 45 seconds faster than I had gotten on the treadmill during my training. I give all the glory of that accomplishment, and all I've achieved since then, to God. He may have used Mary to inspire me, but I know He is the one responsible for enabling me to run and finish the race.

After that race, I was hooked. I thought I would keep running shorter distances and try to get faster. And I still want to do that. But only one month after the race, I found myself running farther. On Christmas Eve, I hit a milestone and surpassed 6 miles.

The next thing I knew, less than a week later, I found myself registering for the Strawberry Plains 10K in February and the Covenant Health Knoxville Half-Marathon on April 1. It sounded and felt insane, but I was just crazy enough to try it.

I almost gave up on the half-marathon training though a few weeks later, after I had a few difficult long runs for a variety of reasons. I backed off my training almost completely for a couple of weeks and that did the trick. I even felt excited to get back to it after a couple of weeks. I think I was just exhausted after the holidays and needed a break. I'm glad I listened to my body and took a couple of weeks off instead of risking overtraining or burnout.

Fast forward to last weekend, when I ran the Strawberry Plains 10K. We've had a mild winter in East Tennessee, but as I registered for that race in late December, my gut instinct said it would get cold by the time that race came around. The mild temperatures continued, but sure enough, not only did it turn cold last weekend, it was really cold -- and snowing!

But I got up and went out there anyway. Since it was my first race in really cold weather, I figured I would mess up the proper layering somehow, but I actually managed to hit it just right. I was comfortable -- not too  warm, not to cold -- the entire race.

I enjoyed running through the countryside in Strawberry Plains. It's a scenic route and although the organizers said it was a record turnout, it wasn't that crowded. For the last mile, one of the other runners struck up a conversation with me and we kept it up for the rest of the race. It was great inspiration to keep up the pace! I didn't want to lag behind and drop the conversation, so I pushed ahead to stick with her. It was kind and I don't know if I'll ever see her again or not, but I'll keep an eye out for her at future races in the hopes of getting the chance to say hello.

Mary was supposed to run the race and I was looking forward to seeing her there (she's on a medical leave of absence at work while she seeks treatment through a clinical trial in North Carolina). But she continues to receive treatment for cancer and she wasn't well enough to make it. And for Mary, that's saying a lot. But she gave me several shoutouts of encouragement on Twitter, which made my day.

I finished the race in 1:07:16, a time with which I'm pleased. That's an average of a 10:50 mile, 44 seconds faster than my 5K pace. I'm still a slow runner, but I'm pleased to be making progress. That's really all that matters at this point.

Next ahead... the half-marathon!

I've been training, but I know that it will still definitely be a very real test of my ability. It's not going to be easy (13.1 miles isn't easy period, but especially not on a hilly downtown/west Knoxville course), but I'm determined to face the challenge head-on. It will be a great feeling to cross the 50-yard line in Neyland Stadium and receive my medal for completing the course.

If you think about it over the next several weeks, please pray that my training will go well and I'll have the strength to complete the race.

Also, please pray for Mary's complete healing, as well as strength and encouragement as she undergoes her treatments. She's fighting back, but her battle is an intense one.

And if you haven't tried running, give it a chance!

Out on My Own

I can't believe it's taken me this long to get around to talking about a major, very exciting event in my life.

On November 5, I moved into my own two-story, one-bedroom townhouse!

I've waited and worked and saved money toward moving out on my own for years and the timing was finally right. I love my family and I am very blessed that they allowed me to stay at home, rent-free with few expectations or obligations, for as long as I wanted or needed. But I was very ready to be out on my own. I've always been independent and I had hoped all through college to move out shortly after graduation, but that didn't work out. More than two years later though--here I am!

I love my townhouse. It's one-bedroom and affordably priced, especially for its rather large size (895 square feet). The complex is older, but they've renovated it over the years so the apartments look good. The exterior of the buildings were recently painted and before I moved into my townhouse they put in new carpet, countertops and fixtures. I didn't know they were going to do that so it was a nice surprise.

And the closet space! There are closets everywhere! I went from sharing a small closet in a small bedroom with my sister, to having a large closet in my room, a large closet downstairs, a tiny one in the bathroom and a small one in the upstairs hall that's perfect for storing laundry. And a small storage unit off the back patio. Heaven!

When I looked out my back patio for the first time, I was delighted to discover that one of the apartment complex's picnic areas (grill and picnic table) is located only yards from the my back patio. One of the complex's pools is also super close. That will be perfect for summer entertaining! (Especially since grills are not allowed at individual apartments, per Knox County law.)

Most of all, I love the fact that I am finally at a place to practice hospitality. I've dreamed for years of being able to host girls nights, fellowship gatherings, dinners, parties, etc. I hosted a party and a youth leaders' meeting over the holidays and I look forward to the opportunity to do even more now that we've moved past that especially busy season.

I've also dreamed for years of having my own place to decorate (and my own kitchen). My home is still a work in progress and I've added a few things since I took these pictures a few weeks after I moved in, but here are a few pictures of my place.

The landing at the top of the stairs. I've replaced the pale flowers with a vase of silk red roses that add a nice pop of color to the area.

Upstairs bathroom (the full bath)

My kitchen :)

My kitchen from another angle

I saw that wall decal on Amazon and I had to have it. It's the perfect finishing touch.

My downstairs half bath is lighthouse-themed. It's tiny, so it's hard to show pictures of it. But it's nice to have a downstairs bathroom option, especially when I have guests.

My dining area. The wall decal says "Good company always welcome."

My living room. I've added some other stuff since then. The red curtains hide the white patio blinds and my patio door. I'm not a fan of the look of the blinds, plus I wanted the option to add some color to the room, so my dad graciously agreed to hang a curtain rod up for me.

I love books. And I have a lot of them. Everywhere.

For some reason I haven't taken any pictures of my bedroom yet, but I will try to do that soon and post them as well.

So that's the quick tour!

Hopefully one day I'll get the chance to give you a tour in person, followed up by a cup of coffee and some cookies over conversation.

My prayer for my new home is that it will be a place where people feel the presence of God and feel comfortable and at home as soon as they walk through the door. I want it to be a welcoming place where people leave touched and encouraged and blessed.

So come on over! :)

Stay tuned...

It's the end of the year. The time when most people, including myself, take time to look back over the past 12 months and ponder the unknown adventures the next 52 weeks will hold.

That state of reflection is where I've found myself for about the past week. While I wouldn't say that I make "New Year's resolutions," I do find it healthy for me to write down some goals I want to achieve in the coming year. I may not be that old, but I've already learned that I flounder around and end up frazzled and confused without vision and focus. I need direction and I have to be working toward a goal at any given time. That's true of everyone to an extent, but my DNA seems to especially require it. It doesn't have to be a massive undertaking, it can be something small, but I need to be working toward something.

So at the start of each new year, I set a few goals. Some very specific, some general. Some for fun and some that will take work, but ultimately lead to improvement in a particular skill or area of my life. Some don't happen and that's okay. Others change and evolve as the year goes on and end up looking entirely different than what I first set out to achieve. That's fine, too. In fact, it's usually better that way. God's plans are always better than mine.

One thing I've decided for sure is that 2012 needs to hold more writing and blogging. Writing is ingrained into the fibers of my being and I did very little of it (outside of work) in 2011. And that's gotta change.

So... stay tuned. I hope to give my blog a makeover and return to blogging on a regular basis in the near future.

Happy New Year!

Happy Father's Day

(From front to back) My youngest brother, me, my sister and my Dad in March 2011

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there--especially my own!

I am very blessed to have a father who serves the Lord and loves his family unconditionally. He isn't perfect, but I know he strives to be the best godly father and husband that he can be--with the Lord's help.

I could give countless examples of the many ways he has expressed his love for me or made a positive impact on my life, but unfortunately I don't have time at the moment.

My dad has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders in life and I'm very thankful that no matter what, I know I will always have his love. I also have no doubt that I wouldn't be the person I am today, without my dad and his influence in my life.

I love you, Dad!

Hangin' with my little buddy

My youngest brother and I have always had a special relationship. We're 14 years apart, so we pretty much skipped the whole fight-with-your-sibling drama and settled into a special kind of close bond from the start. It's more like an aunt/nephew relationship--except we live under the same roof. He's my little buddy and always will be--even when he's eventually much taller than I am. 

Holidays 2010

One of my all-time favorite pictures with Isaac. It captures his personality perfectly. The picture was supposed to be a "normal" one, but Isaac decided to go for a crazy pose as Mom clicked the picture.

Christmas 2003 (now this is a flashback--braces AND the beginning phase of my crazy hair!) 

A few weekends ago, my parents went out of town on a weekend getaway, so Isaac and I got to spend the whole weekend together. I thought about tons of different fun things we could do that Saturday and it took me forever to finally narrow it down.

Isaac has always enjoyed science and it's a subject we connected over early in his life. When I took biology my freshman year in college, Isaac somehow discovered my textbook and lab manual (I can't remember whether I found something interesting and showed it to him first or if he saw me studying and came over to see what was inside the book) and loved to look at them with me--at the age of 4. He would point at the pictures and say things like, "What's that?" and "How does that work?" He even begged me to help him dissect something (the dissection diagrams and pictures were some of his favorite parts of my lab manual). At the end of the school year, I sold my biology textbook but since I couldn't do anything with my marked-up lab manual, I gave it to Isaac and he kept it for years. 

I thought about taking Isaac to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga since he would absolutely love it and it's something I've wanted to do as well. But practicality won out and I decided it would be best to stick closer to Knoxville. A strong chance of rain eliminated a trip to the zoo, but then I remembered another "scientific" option nearby that Isaac hadn't experienced: the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

Here are some snapshots of the fun we shared that day, starting with a trip to AMSE.

Writing his name in Braille

Exploring the KNEX exhibit

He wanted his picture taken on the model rocket in the Y-12/ORNL exhibit. He surprised me with how much he knew about the history of Oak Ridge. He apparently recently watched a National Geographic documentary about the Manhatten Project on Netflix with my dad.

Having fun with the interactive exhibits

Although Isaac had never been to the museum, he'd seen advertisements for it that included pictures of the "hair-raising" atom generator presentation. So when he heard that they were doing a show that afternoon, attending it definitely had to be a priority on our list. We went and listed to the explanation about how the generator works and when they called for volunteers to try it out, Isaac was first in line.

Of course, I had to do it, too. I let another woman with long hair go first to see if it made her hair static-y and crazy afterwards and when it didn't, I went for it. It was crazy! You can't really feel anything, but it really does make your hair stand on end! But oddly enough, after I pulled away from the generator, my hair flattened back nicely into its former state.

We enjoyed some Chick-fil-A for lunch and delicious frozen yogurt sundaes at Menchie's, then headed down to campus for Game Time in Tennessee. UT's athletic department chaplain, some current and former Vols and Lady Vols and dozens of local churches were involved in the free event. It started in the afternoon with a mini sports camp for kids inside the Vols indoor football practice facility. The kids could take part in football, basketball, soccer or cheerleading training sessions with actual UT athletes. We got down there toward the end so Isaac only had time for one session and he chose soccer. I was impressed with the event. They wrapped up the sports camp with some testimonies and an altar call and the main event that evening included a presentation of the Gospel, some more testimonies and a free Christian concert in Neyland Stadium. But the evening events would have made for a really long day for Isaac, so we headed home after the sports camp and wrapped up the evening after dinner by watching Megamind.

We were both worn out by the end of the day, but had a lot of fun. I know I'll cherish the memories we made for years to come. :)

Local news in high def!

It's been a crazy, but fun and exciting week to work at WBIR.

After weeks of preparation, we're broadcasting in HD!

The past few months have been a busy and sometimes stressful, but exciting season. WBIR's managers reached an agreement a few months ago with the local FOX station (WTNZ--FOX 43) to power their local newscasts. We started out just doing the half-hour 10 p.m. newscast, but that agreement expanded to a one-hour 10 p.m. newscast and a brand-new morning show from 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. along with our HD launch. The new shows necessitated the need for more people, so we've also added several new reporters, producers and photographers to the team. After experiencing the layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts of 2008 and 2009, it feels great to experience the excitement of expansion and lots of positive developments, even though all of the adjustments that come along with that have sometimes been crazy.

So needless to say, Wednesday, June 1 was a very big day at WBIR! We even had a a brief station-wide champagne toast before the first HD show. It's not often one gets to do that at work! We launched in HD, unveiled a new set, expanded a recently acquired newscast, added a completely new newscast (well, technically that was this morning not yesterday) and launched some new graphics. Any one of those changes is enough to be a big deal, but doing them all at once is almost enough to make one's head spin. But everything went about as well as could possibly be expected.

I *love* the newly-renovated set. It looks awesome! Especially in HD. (We have a standard definition TV at home and HD ones at work, so I get to experience it from both worlds.) The old set had needed an upgrade for a long time, particularly the weather center, interview set and kitchen. Our production crews, directors and managers put in *tons* of hours to get everything ready to go and their hard work paid off!

Here's a video tour our promotions crew made that includes some behind-the-scenes looks at the 5 p.m. newscast (our first in HD). See if you can find anyone you recognize. ;)

Speaking of the 5 p.m. newscast, guess who got to produce it? Yours truly!

It made the most sense to launch in HD from our new set on 10 News at Five and I'm producing that show for the next few weeks while our new producer gets settled in. My permanent home will eventually be the 6 p.m. newscast. I felt excited and humbled to be a part of the first full-length HD newscast, even though I know things ended up that way simply because of our current schedule.

I always want the newscasts I produce to look great on air, but I've never wanted a flawless show as badly as I did yesterday! I was super excited, but a little nervous. It reminded me of the way I felt the first time I produced the 5 p.m. or the 6 p.m. newscasts. Thankfully it all went well and God definitely gets all the glory for that! We were all on our A game, but any number of things still could have gone wrong that didn't. 

My news director took a moment as the day got started to encourage everyone to soak up the excitement and enjoy the day, even as we dealt with all the craziness. Huge moments like this don't happen often in a journalist's career, but they are very memorable. And even now, only one day removed from the big event, I have to agree. Years from now, I think I will definitely look back on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 as one of the highlights of my time as a journalist. I already feel that way about it!

Anyway, here are a few behind-the-scenes shots, from a producer's perspective:

Our directors getting everything ready to go

And here we go! 4:57:40 p.m. began a new era for WBIR!

Michelle (our future 5 p.m. producer) and me -- the new early evening newscasts power producing pair ;)

Thanks for sharing in my excitement!