{Life} It's Been a Big Week

It's been a big week.

Crazy week.

Went-so-fast, I'm-still-on-Thursday week.

Monday was normal. I was finishing up all the school I needed to do for my upcoming classes, then I had volleyball practice. We went out for supper as a team afterwards. I love my team. I love spending time with them off the volleyball court. I followed Mary Frances to the restaurant, and that was quite the experience! *lane change* immediately followed by *lane change*

Tuesday morning was class. Tuesday afternoon was senior night volleyball-our last home game. It was a big night because all three teams played. All three teams also won :) It made for a late night! :)

Wednesday morning was more school work. Wednesday afternoon was class and then grocery shopping. . I had one of those experiences that you only have when you drive yourself. I got into the check out line, and had all my stuff on the belt when I reached in to grab my wallet and realized I'd left it at home. Which was a little awkward. I kid you not, the wallet has a mind of it's own. (It's like the one ring in the J.R.R. Tolkien books) Wednesday night I spent packing for volleyball nationals on Thursday.

Thursday morning, we left at 5:00am. I had to get up at 4:15am. It was really, really early. Anyhow, it made the first game at 9:00am a little rough. We played four games on Thursday. It was rough, rough. Fun, but so rough. We were just NOT playing our best. Thursday evening we made matching bows. Rachel was our ever-patient teacher. She had a group of giggling girls with lighters to keep under control. I'd say she managed quite well because nothing caught on fire :)

Friday. We played games. But we were done shortly after lunch. Most of my team went to a pumpkin patch. But I really, really needed some quiet time. So I stayed with my parents who grounded me and got me on the right track. We joined the team for dinner at a restaurant called "spaghetti works".

Which brings me to one of my nationals HIGHLIGHTS. Our buddy team. So we signed up for a a "buddy team". You get to meet them, hang out with them, encourage them, make them gifts (remember the bow making, we made bows for our team :), watch them play, and in our instance, go out to eat with them. They were from Fairfax, VA. I'll admit, I was worried. Getting to know people out and out scares me. But I had Hannah on one side and Mary Frances on the other, so I was set. As is, I had nothing to worry about. Those girls were fantastic. They were homeschooled, they played volleyball, they watch movies, read books, and can sympathize with our inability to make a circle. I loved them. It was really hard to say good bye on Saturday, knowing there was a big possibility I would never talk to them again. I really wanted to get to know them MORE.

After dinner we had a team movie night watching Moms' Night Out. Ironic, a bunch of teenage girls getting together to watch Moms' Night Out. But it was comfy, all sprawled all over the hotel room, passing around a bag of kettle corn.

On Saturday we had two games. The last one was playing for the championship in the bronze division. It was probably one of our better games. But their jump servers, and 6'1" hitters got the better of us. I was personally exhausted. So, so tired. But we finished, we had pictures together. Then we went out to lunch. I have to say, at that point, I was ready to be done with volleyball. It's been a day, and I'm ready to jump back in, but I have to wait a whole year. Nationals was a special way to end. It was a humorous, fun, exhausting, loud, and unforgettable experience. With that, I'll end my descriptions and my blog post. :)





OH, WAIT! One more thing. So, during one of our last games, Mary Frances served and it was a really good serve. Obviously, she yelled in excitement. Her gum went FLYING across the floor. It was hilarious. And a little embarrassing, because I squealed and jumped out of the way. :)


Ah, man. One other big, exciting thing. Out of the 18 teams at the tournament, ours was chosen by the refs and tournament directors to receive the sportsmanship award. Pretty special, if you ask me!


EEK! I can't forget a picture!!

{Life and Pictures} Dedicated Support

Something shocking happened this week. At least my family was shocked.

I'm still getting over it :)

My dad missed the kickoff of my brother's football game. Really.

This might not seem like such a big deal, but my dad has never missed a sports event (or part of one) for any other reason than going to another event. He calls himself the "athletic supporter" and "head water boy" but he has never missed a game, and spends a great deal of time making sure everything is worked out. Say Tyler has a game in Hutchinson and I have a game in Salina. Mom goes with me, dad goes with Tyler. But I still had one parent with me. I can't remember ever going to a sporting event without having at least one parent with me. And I probably take that for granted too often!

My dad has always said he never lets "work get in the way of sports" :) But now, after ten plus years of involvement (coaching), cheering, and supporting us, he messed it all up! I'm left speechless.

2003 (Tyler is in the sandy colored hat at the end of the bench)

Flag football 2007

 My parents talk about watching me play volleyball in fourth grade and wondering if they should let me keep trying something that didn't seem to be something I would ever be able to do :) But at the time, they were always encouraging. After every game, they kindly asked me what my "good thing/bad thing" from that game was. (What was a personal high/low for me) My good thing was always my serving. I was so proud of my serving :) It must have seemed ridiculous how excited I would get over serving successfully (from the ten foot line!) To this day I cannot figure out how they watched something SO slow! It must have been painful! Nonetheless, they let me keep trying and never discouraged me. I'm so glad they did. I've enjoyed volleyball more each year I have played.

4th grade volleyball coached by Jesse and Erin. :)

5th grade volleyball coached by my parents and my aunty :)

 Because of my parents, sports is something I can look forward to. I know they will work as hard as they can to help whatever team I'm on (playing whatever sport!). Even sacrificing much of their time and sanity :) Like watching nine-year-olds try to play volleyball. Or spending all day driving to Hastings Nebraska to watch me play two games. No matter what level I'm at, my parents always make me feel like it's the most exciting volleyball they've seen :)

2012 Last game on JH

 That support and dedication is something I should never take for granted. :)