{Nationals}

Just the sophomores on our last home game

One win to Go...

I have finally come to the point that I want to talk about the National Tournament…the moment we have all been waiting for.

Overall, our whole season was an emotional roller coaster. There were very high highs, and very low lows. We have the most talented team I have ever seen, and luckily we were able to slide through most of our season with ease. We were challenged a few times throughout the regular season, but nothing compared to the challenges that arose at the National Tournament. I am a firm believer that ANYTHING…and I mean anything crazy and unexpected can happen in West Plains, Missouri.

You see more fight than anywhere else in the world. Everyone at the tournament is a winner. Everyone deserves to be there. There are underdogs and there are stars. Every single year, without fail….dreams come true and hearts are broken. There is a winner, and there is a loser. One thing that I have found is, no matter how rocky the road to a championship game may be….no one remembers the 2nd place team.

It breaks my heart that that was my team. We worked our little hearts out all week. We beat Barton College (Kansas), Iowa Western College, and the Defending National Champions- Western Nebraska....

We made it all the way to the top, to the National Championship game.

The game was against the huge powerhouse, undefeated Blinn College from Texas. I truly now believe that everything really is bigger in Texas. Anyway, without too much detail, we get beat. They were just the better team that showed up that night. We did give everything we could, and used everything we had but it was just not quite good enough.

I cannot really describe how bitter that loss felt. We lost the National Championship, and then had to stand there emotional, watching them celebrate with a little too much swag.

However, the sting did wear off and looking back now everything feels a lot better. I can now talk about the experience with a big smile on my face.

I got on the NJCAA web site, and nothing is mentioned about us. People remember the winners….only the losers remember how heartbreaking it is.

That is the brutal truth. That was the reality for my team. But, cheers to us for being the 2nd BEST team in the country! What an amazing experience to be there, playing for an audience of thousands. I felt more pressure, excitement, nervousness, and pride than I have ever felt in my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be there, and here for this past 2 ish years. I have come to love Rock Springs. It was always, always have a very special place in my heart. ♥

My apologies...

Well, well, well....It is that time of year again. You know, the one that I apologize for being a terrible blogger and getting too busy or wrapped up in the life all around me.

So much is happening...I mean Wow...I woke up to it being December 7. Where has the semester gone to? I am just about as close to being done with Finals week as you can get, I move home in 2 days, Volleyball is over....forever, I have to tell you all about Nationals, and I just might have a few other things to talk about as well. ♥ Just know, that I now can breath a little...I actually have time to do things for fun, and I will now be a little more committed to the blog...Oh, how I have missed you. Much love to come.

XOXO

Hello October

Hello October,
You sure have been good to me. Although I am only been into you for 5 days, it sure has been great. The weather has been nice, with the first hint of cold weather coming this morning (not like the 2 calendar weeks ago last year).

I think a lot of new changes are on their way.
We welcomed conference.
Welcome pumpkins.
Welcome scarves and sweaters.
Welcome my new Fall playlist of my favorite tunes.
Welcome new friendships.
Welcome my first tutoring paycheck.
Welcome October...♥

{Find the Love}

It takes over everything you are.


It makes you do things you never thought you could do before.


But that's what makes it so amazing....you can't control it.


It changes everything in a second....it's Love.





So many times when I go throughout my day, I feel like something is missing. I get so wrapped up inthe chaos of life that I forget to slow down...and love a little.


I want to fall in love with as many things as I can in my life...no matter what they are.





Today I am so grateful for my team. I love those girls. We are like sisters. Our season is progressing and it has been a bumpy ride, but I love it. I love the smell of the gym. I love the hundreds of cheering fans. I love running together and crying together. I am proud to be a leader and a captain of this team, although we have many. I love where I am at in my life, and if I had to choose...I would not be anywhere different.





There are many different types of love. I am not looking for love right now I am just loving life and hoping as I do that...new doors will open and I can reach my dreams. Never take any day for granted. We never know when it may be our last. Life is too short not to love.





It brings a whole new perspective when I look at each day this way. Love and Happiness are moments within us.

Source: media.photobucket.com via Paige on Pinterest

{Service...and The Help}

Do we really have any idea how blessed we are?

I have no doubt in my heart that there is someone up above looking down at us. Every moment of every day...someone is watching out for me. This week, is a testimony of that.

I am here to tell you that I know people come into our lives at the right time. Everyone we meet has a purpose in our life. Or maybe, just maybe we have a purpose in theirs.

I want to be the kind of girl that people can come in contact with, and be happy that they met me. I want to serve. I want to help people the way I have been helped.

My heart is so full....

I want to challenge everyone, wherever you are, to find someone this week and help them. Karma is real...or maybe a real big hoax... but there is something magic that comes back to you, when you take the time to serve others.

don't believe me? try it. you will see.

Speaking of Helping...and that big H word. I want to see The Help so bad. But before I watch the movie, I really want to read the book.

{Player Bio}

Today in between practices, we had to fill out our Athlete Play Bio Form for the College website and all that jazz... It truly was a simple task, but knowing me,it got my mind a churning...

In the bio, it asks just a few short questions. It is just general information really, but for some reason I always find it kind of hard to answer some of them.

I am still not really sure where I consider my hometown. There, I said it... I am not sure why this is so hard for me. I went to the same high school for all 4 years. You could say a lot of my childhood and adolescenthood (is that even a word) was spent in Fielding, Utah. Fielding felt like home for many years, but since all my family is gone from there...it doesn't feel like my home. Kate got married and moved on with her life. Dad moved to Idaho. Mom and the brothers moved to Millville. Kortnie moved out and went to college. Where is my home?

This summer I lived with Mom at her house. Home always feels like wherever my family is, so I guess you could say I lived at home. However, on this college player bio form...when it asked for my hometown, I couldn't really say Millville because I never grew up there, and I have no roots there. I am rambling I know, I just needed to voice the hometown dilema.

On to a more positive note, I wanted to share my 'favorite quote' with you. (this was also a bio question).

{Promise me you'll always remember}

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Christopher Robin to Pooh [In the Hundred Acre Wood]

The video is really quiet...turn it up:) This is from me to you.

{Sushi Night}

Well, we made it through the first week of two-a-days alive...bruised and beaten, but alive nonetheless! To celebrate this little accomplishment we all went out as a team to Bonsai, a little Chinese Cuisine for dinner!

I have only tried Sushi twice in my whole life! Once, forced by my track coach, and Second by my friend's Dad when I went to eat with their family. I didn't really know how I felt about it because I tried the super mild kinds...Until last night...I discovered....I LOVE Sushi!

I have a feeling I will be craving it randomly from now on throughout the rest of my life.

Do you recognize me as a blonde??

It was such a fun little dinner date with my girls.

After dinner, we all came back to the apartment dorms and a few of us decided to watch the Notebook. What a lovely evening. I hope to have more team bonding moments in the near future! Aren't my teammates beautiful?? I think so too!

Way to go team! Only one more week of two a days...