they came they came they came!!!!!!

You are so beautiful, to me, can't you see?? You're everything I hoped for. You're everything I need. YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, TO MEEEE!!!!!

After what felt like years of waiting for these babies, they have finally arrived.

I have yet to take them off.

They even have my name on them.

I can't wait to see these lovelies in action!

Ahhhhhh....... all is right in the world.

It's a beautiful day to be alive!

I love you white kanga-leather cleats!

harvest or die

School dances are the bomb.com. Like holy flip. So much fun I just can't even. And it's the best ever when you get to go in a huge group with all of your best friends. So I guess I could say that I'm one lucky chick. One lucky dancing fool chick (what...?).

My date was Jake. Isn't he just so cute?

Here's how I asked him....

//hay jake.... harvest?\\

His response was pretty clever...

//thanks for "baleing me out of a lonely night so "bale" yes!\\

We had the best day date (fatcats in rexburg), the best shirts (mine and rose's idea thank you very much), the best dinner (and you all know how much i love dinner-outback), and the BEST TIME EVER.

This is one of my best friends. Her name also happens to be Sierra Michelle. What are the freaking odds?! 

I don't know why I'm so strange....

I just like to dance.. that's all.

not a bad wednesday night

SURPRISE!!! We're going to the JAZZ GAME. And if you think that's the best part, you're wrong.

We're flying.

After coming home from a stressful day of twelfth grade, hearing these words come out of your mom's mouth is more than enough to make you want to scream and run laps.

Guys. I LOVE THE JAZZ. Too bad they suck this year. 

But I guess we we're their good luck charm because the one game they actually won was the game we were at. That's what's up kids.

So basically I'm in love with Gordon Hayward. We're like the same person. I play center midfield and he's like the center midfield of basketball. He makes really good passes... I make really good passes. He scores sometimes and mostly from far out... I score sometimes and mostly from far out. He's number 20..... I'm number 2.... Both have a 2 in it!!! We're basically meant for each other, am I right?

Sorry not sorry to all those hopeful boys out there wanting my love. You have no chance.

Even though they're going through a little rough patch this season, the Jazz will always be my favorite and I will support them until I die. And I'm so grateful we had this special opportunity! 

Alright boys..... LET'S GET ANOTHER WIN DANGIT!

the hardest challenge of my life

Alright everyone... We're just gonna get real serious for a bit. So buckle up.

I can honestly say that I've had a pretty darn good life. I've never had to go through something super sad or tragic. Don't get me wrong, I've dealt with hard stuff. But for the most part I've just been here chillin' like a champ! 

Then one day at soccer practice my right foot started to hurt. It felt like the bottom of my foot was being stretched. And I've totally felt that before! And it usually goes away after I start running on it. So it definitely wasn't anything to be too concerned about at the moment. And that's just what happened! For the next few practices and even the next game I was perfectly fine. My foot felt like it was being stretched but after I ran for a little bit it went back to normal.

Then our next game was against Highland (super awful team who we are complete rivals with and we hate with all our guts). The stretching feeling was back (surprise). But this time, during warm-ups and stuff, it didn't go away. So I started praying LITERALLY PRAYING that it would go away so I could #1. play in this huge game and #2. play well.

The game started and yeah my foot was bugging me enough that it was constantly in the back of my mind nagging me, but I was able to play. I sprinted a few times and made a couple of long passes and what not. But then the pain started to intensify. It was hurting so much that I had to ask coach to pull me out (something i absolutely hate doing). Coach asked me what was wrong and immediately the tears started spilling (i don't cry in public. ever.). So clearly this was a big deal. I told coach my foot hurt so bad I could barely run on it. I was fine walking and like, half jogging, but running was no bueno. So I took all my gear off on that leg and let coach try to rub it out. He taped my arch and put some tape in my shoe and told me to walk. I was pacing back and forth for the rest of the half..... And it was all I could do to keep myself from crying like a fool. My foot was still hurting like mad so I didn't get to finish the game. I only played for about 20 minutes. And that was really hard for me.

Our next game wasn't until the following week so I had five days to rest my foot and pray that this cramp/stretch(?) wouldn't come back. I took it really easy that weekend and by Monday I was feeling pretty good.

Our next game was even bigger than the Highland one. It was senior night emotion cup against school rival IF. Holy poop this was a big game and I was more than stoked for it. So during warm-up I was babying my "injury" and I was thinking that I'd be good to go. Maybe not at 100 percent but all I wanted was to play. Coach noticed I was babying it and asked me if I was okay to play. Duh I told him yes. So I started! It was already an emotional night because it was senior night. Which meant that for 11 of us it was our last game against IF and our last game at ravsten staduim. So as nerves were piling up and adrenaline started pumping, I was going crazy. The game started and I was feeling okay. I made a few really great passes and was able to get up and back the field fine. Then, About 12 minutes into the game, my foot gave up. Literally gave up. I couldn't put any weight on it and when the ball came my way I just watched it roll past because I couldn't move without being in a world of pain. And that was it. I was done. No more senior night, watching my team barely squeeze by with a win, sitting on the bench in front of all my peers. I wanted to die. As soon as the game ended it was all I could do to keep myself together so I could hobble off the field into my mom's arms. Both of us were crying. It was terrible.

My dear sweet grandpa had a foot doctor appointment earlier that day and just so happened to pick up one of his cards that he felt he needed to bring to my mom. So one of the first things she told me as she was holding me up (since i clearly could barely stand on my foot) was that we were going to the doctor, and that she had faith everything would be okay.

So that's what happened next. I went to the doctor. He ran some tests and I got an x-ray. The conclusion was plantar fasciitis. It's where the tendon in the bottom of your foot cramps us and is really tight and inflamed. And I had a really bad case of it. I ended up getting two steroid shots, a prescription for foot pill things, and a medical boot. At the time I thought I would be more sad than I was but I guess I knew that this was what needed to happen and I accepted it. I wanted to do whatever it took to heal and recover as soon as possible so I would be able to finish my season.

So this was me for three weeks. My foot was feeling better but it wasn't even close to 100% yet.

After a few more days and a second visit to the doc, I took my boot off. The next day was our first district game. I suited up and tried warming up. After about a half a lap though, I knew I wouldn't be playing. So I did my best to get my team pumped up and cheer them on while they played. We won so the next game we had was against rival Highland for the district title. Once again I suited up and tried to warm up. I was feeling better so I told coach I could maybe go in if he absolutely needed me. I took my newly found position on right bench and cheered again. I felt so awful leaving my team up to playing these tough games without me. It was so hard to just sit there and do nothing. And me being the type of player that I am, just analyzed the whole thing. It was almost torture.

When I got home from that game I broke down. No one understood what I was going through. No one understood how much I love soccer and what it felt like for me to sit there and feel useless. No one understood how hard it was for my team mates to come up to me and say "we need you out there" or have parents ask me if I was okay because clearly I was not okay. And it was almost harder to have some of the people I cared most about (and thought they cared the same amount about me) just stand in the back and not mention anything at all. Honestly, I thought I lost some friends while I was going through this. See? No one understood. Even I didn't understand why the one thing I love most in this world was being dangled in my face. And I couldn't do anything about it. Basically my world was crushed. And I knew my season was over.

 Unfortunately my team lost to Highland so we were up against Hilcrest next. This was the game that determined who would get to go to state. As agonizing as it was, I didn't dress down. I cheered so hard from the bench that I lost my voice. We lost that game too. So we were done. It was really hard. But at the same time I had a feeling we wouldn't be going so I was able to keep my emotions in check.

I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. And after I was able to clear my head, I was able to better think about what some of the reasons behind this trial could be. My mom told me that she had a strong feeling that this was a prevention of an even worse injury that could have eliminated my soccer career all together. I now have a new appreciation for patience. And I was able to see beyond this short period of time. I still have four more years of soccer in college to focus on. My career is nowhere near being over. So for all of these things I am grateful. I'm grateful for the years I had playing soccer for Skyline. I'm grateful for my team and all the amazing friendships I have there. I'm grateful for my talents. And I'm grateful for the love and support I have from my family.

I can proudly say that I have made a full recovery. And while I'm still going to the doctor and taking the necessary precautions I need to prevent plantar fasciitis from coming back, I am doing soooo much better. And I'm back at it! Hitting the gym almost every day. Preparing for my future soccer career. 

Hallelujah for healthy bodies.

Here's my team at the end of season party. Gosh I love these girls.

And also I was awarded District First Team AND All Conference Second Team. So I guess I'm alright with how things ended.

Soccer is the best.

the key to motivation

1. Come to know the love that our Heavenly Father has for you.

2. Come to know yourself and who you are.

3. SERVICE.

4. There is opposition in all things. If you have no ups and downs in life, you are dead.

I have the BEST friends and the CUTEST little sister. I'm so stoked to be a member of the LDS church and I love love love the chances I get to attend meetings and devotionals where I feel a little bit closer to my Heavenly Father. And a special shout out to Justin Osmond for giving one of the best firesides I've ever been to. The church is true and the book is blue. 

We can do this, people. This life can be a piece of cake if we let it. 

Do these 4 things and I promise you will make it.

 We got this.

ps...... click here

a week in the life

So basically I had the coolest week ever. I was given the opportunity to visit SVU again for a second recruit trip. So DUH I jumped on that! I was so nervcited. It was gonna be a blast! And my whole goal for the trip was to experience what it would be like if I were to go to school there in a year. I think I accomplished that pretty well.

So here's some handy dandy highlights (and lowlights) of the week:

I had to get up at 3:50 IN THE AM to catch my flight out of IF. That was a struggle and a half for sure.

//the view of the sunrise from the plane\\

Virginia was absolutely B-E-A-Utiful!Like for real. Reds and Yellows and Oranges all over the place. Love Love Love.

Bugs=bad. There was the biggest bug in our room right above my bed. It was sick nasty. But don't worry. I slayed that beast like a knight in shining armor. (that's funny because the SVU mascot is the knights. HA!)

//no joke it was like three inches long\\
//don't leave the windows open at night time kids\\
//especially if you're in virginia\\

Everyone was sooooo nice! After I met someone, it wasn't like, "oh you're a soccer recruit. cool." and then they left me alone. People talked to me and asked me all kinds of questions. And I felt like I made some friends! I got to hang out with some of the freshman girls on the team and some of their close friends all week. We just chilled and played ping pong and watched the World Series (go sox) and it was so awesome. And completely weird at the same time because halfway through talking to a really nice guy, I'd find out he was an RM and my mind would be blown. Like holy crap. I'm having normal conversations with returned missionaries who are like 5 years older than me. And I was fitting in. AND ENJOYING IT. Holy poop. I must be growing up or something. 

//some of my new friends\\

Watching their girls team play was the bomb.com. Okay, I'm the type of player that when I'm watching a game from the sidelines I analyze everything. I think to myself ohhh pass it there and this will happen, or dribble through and cut a pass back and you could create an awesome goal opportunity, or even jog back to that gap so when this person gets the ball you're in the perfect position to make a play. Yeah. Some call it crazy. I call it passion. So that's exactly what I was doing while I was sitting on the sideline with the team. Holler atchya gurl. It made me so fetching excited to play, I just can't even put it into real words. (i guess i just did buuuuttt yeah....) (awkward).

//my view of the starting line up\\

//this was me watching them practice\\

Okay the food situation sucked. Because of all my lame allergies I legit ate nothing all week. The cafeteria at SVU is beyond pathetic. It's so small and the options are so weak! Let me just say that the freshman 15 is real..... Unless you're Sierra. Then it would be the freshman -15. Or -50. Give or take. I'm just glad that my sweet mommy packed enough food for me to survive for four days. Hallelujah.

I got to go to class as a college student! It was like high school on steroids. Especially since it's such a small school, there were no joke 16 kids in one of the classes. It was a grand time.

//this was a philosophy class. is it weird that i was enjoying it?\\

College kids are weird. Especially weird Mormon ones. (i mean that in the most loving way possible). We went to FHE on Monday when I got there and it was hilarious. It was like a lame mutual activity times 10 but everyone was way into it. Seriously I died. But on the flip side... the LDS environment was flippin awesome. You could feel it everywhere. The team said prayers before their game and their practice, I went to institute, seriously all the guys were RMs or planning on going on a mission, and one of the four main questions I was asked when I met someone new was "are you a memeber?" I was so proud to be able to answer yes to that question. And way stoked that the head coach told me to pray about my decision again. Seriously it was so awesome to be in that kind of environment. The church is so true.

//me and mah roommate killin it at FHE\\

The dorm life is a cool life. Two Chainz.

I've never panicked more in my life than when I had to make a flight connection coming home. I flew in to Chicago from Roanoke and had 3 minutes to get from one gate to the next. Or. That's. What. I. Thought. We hadn't even parked at the gate when the boarding time for my other flight started. AND I had to wait for my stupid carry on bag because they had to put it under the plane because the plane was so stinking small! GAY. So after saying like 50 prayers (some of them out loud), and sprinting--LITERALLY SPRINTING--to my next gate, I made it. Barely. So close that I'm pretty sure I was the last freaking person on the freaking plane. I was running on pure adrenaline and when I finally sat down in my seat and could catch my breath I was sweating profusely and my hands were shaking like mad. It was nuts. All I know is that prayer works and I made my flight. WHEW!

//during all that panic i somehow managed to snap a pic of the final boarding sign....?\\

So that pretty much sums up some of my favorite parts. But guess what peeps. We're not done! I made a video!!! Get excited everyone. It's the most amateur thing I've ever done in my life (besides redo my room) (if you missed that whole ordeal and you're dying to know what the heck i'm talking about, go find that post because i'm too lazy to find it for you) I lost my train of thought..... Oh yeah.... It kind of shows my week in a nut shell. So take the next five minutes of your life and watch this bad boy.

HERE's THE VID HOMIES.
disclaimer: you might get motion sickness. deal with it.

(hold on. the vid is coming. computer is being dumb. like a lot. and i'm sad. and i just want to be done working on this post because i've been sitting here for over an hour(s) and Gabe is waiting for me and this is turning into the most marathon post of my life and i'm dying of heat because my sweatshirt is too hot and my fingers are cramping because i've been typing so i'm going to be done now. the vid is coming) i promise.