Growing Up

Wow it has been a really long time since I last posted. I'll try to get you caught up on everything that has been going on. I have panic attacks and I am on meds for that. Also I am going to start taking counseling ( which I am less than thrilled about but realize I need it. ugh.) I am now working at Chick-Fil-A which is actually going very well. I like the people I work with and the work isn't too hard.

Basketball is almost over. Tomorrow is our last game of the season. There were not enough girls able to go to Nationals so we went to state instead. They played very well against some pretty tough teams. I really have enjoyed coaching this season but I hope I get to play next season. I miss playing.

Growing up is hard. I never thought about hard it would be to grow up. When you are a little kid you don't think about things like bills, car repairs, rent and paying for your own food. Now that I am at the age where I actually have to start thinking about those things, growing up seems slightly overwhelming. Ok actually a lot more than slightly. Then I have all he emotional and physical junk going on and that just adds more pressure. Life is tough and at this point it seems its only going to get harder. Does it ever get better? Or do you always have to strive just to be ok?

What Kind Of Trophy I Would Like To Win...

I am not really sure what auntie means by "what kind of trophy" but I will do my best to try and answer it. If I could choose what competition I would could win a trophy for I think it would be either drama or basketball. In basketball I think it would be really cool to win a first place trophy at Nationals. Especially if we beat a really hard team to win it, then it would mean a lot more to my team. It would be really cool if we one it in the 4th or 5th bracket, because that is where they put the tough teams. The highest bracket is 6 and I do no think we could compete in that bracket, we would get slaughtered. :)

In drama I think it would be if our church youth drama team was able to go a drama competition and compete. That would be really cool, especially if we were able to win a trophy. I think that it would be most fun for winning for a skit set to music, I am not sure what the technical term for that is though. That would be an amazing opportunity. Those are the kinds of trophy's I would like to win.

Basketball game

On Saturday we played in the Claude tournament. We played against the Nazareth Swiftetts. They have won the State championship 6 or 7 times. Before our game we watched our guys team play Sunray. They won it by one. So that kind of got us pumped up for our game. The game started pretty well. I forget exactly why, but we had to redo the jump. We played pretty well in the first 2 quarters. I think we held them pretty close score wise. We were having trouble with our offense though. We are strongest in defense. Another problem we had was hustle. Poor Candace was out there working her tail off and most of the rest of us were just out there watching. She was not very happy and neither were our coaches.134. In the second half things got worse because most of us ( except Candace) are out of shape. So we were out sucking air while running up and down the court. The other team was very fast. So in the last quarter, in order to get us to start trying, my dad gave us goals to aim for. He wanted us to make 30 points and to keep them from scoring 70. We managed to keep them from scoring 70 but we only made 20 points. The final score was 68 to 20. So now we get to run a whole lot more in practice.

Something about me

So I'm supposed to write 5 paragraphs on something about me. Here it goes.

One of my favorite things to do is play basketball. I have been playing for 8 seasons or since I was 10. I was not very good. My dad has always been my coach.

In my middle school years I played very poorly. I was kind of awkward. I hadn't grown into my legs yet so I tripped and sprained my ankle a lot. It got very annoying.

As I got older I stopped being so awkward and was able to play a little better. I still couldn't play as well as I would have liked too though. I played as hard as I could though.

Then when I moved up to high school I started playing well enough to be a starter, or maybe it was just that we didn't have that many girls. A normal number of girls on the team was 7 or 8.

The summer between my freshman and sophomore years I was at a shoot around and I dislocated my knee cap. I was out for around 6 weeks. Then I did it again that November. That time i was out for 3 weeks. Then I did it again this season at the 2nd basketball practice. It has taken it about 6 weeks to heal again. This time we went to a doctor and found out that if I do it again, I have to have surgery. So I'm exercising it and trying to keep it healthy.

Going to the funeral

We are going down to the Dallas/Fort Worth area today. My grandpa's funeral is on Thursday and the viewing is tomorrow. So we'll go down this afternoon and come back late Thursday after the funeral. We have to come back so soon because of basketball. We have a tournament in Claude this weekend. I am going to miss the game on Thursday (which stinks since we are playing Claude) but will be back in time for the game on Friday. Please pray that we have a safe trip and that Courtney doesn't get too lonesome by herself.

Chaos in my life

So we found out yesterday that Grandpa has Merca ( i think that's how it's spelled) which is a blood infection that is very hard to get over. He also has pneumonia and his lungs still have liquid in them. It will take another 24 hours to know whether or not the antibiotics are working.

This week is just complete chaos. We have had basketball and play practice almost every night. Tonight I have a bball game and then right after the game we have to book it to dress rehearsal for the dinner theater. We had to do the same thing on Tuesday only we missed half the game. I was not very happy. But Nicole and I talked to Liz because we both have games today and got her to move dress rehearsal to 7:30 instead of 7. And yesterday I just kind of broke down at church. I guess I needed to. I talked to Dyane and that helped some what, but mostly what I need to do is get things straightend out with God.

Bball

My verse for this week is 1 John 2:17 " The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." Hopefully I'll remember it next Sunday.

So this week is pretty much like last week except all the bball games got canceled because we couldn't find a gym to play in. Apprently WT's volleyball team is doing better than expected. If the games keep getting pushed back I just might be able to play in most of them. That would be cool, for me anyway.

Update On My Knee

Yesterday I went to the doctor and he said I could get off my crutch and get rid of the knee immobilizer!! So now all I have is a knee brace with really big hinges. But it's so much better than the knee immobilizer. They have me doing exercises to build my knee muscles back up on the inside of my leg. It's just on the inside because the muscles are weaker on that side. They don't want me to strengthen the muscles on the outside because they are too strong as it is and that's why they are pulling the knee cap out.

The exercises are ok. I can feel the muscles being stretched out and worked, it's a weird feeling. I have to back in 2 weeks so they can check and see how I'm doing. Hopefully I'll be able to play in 5 weeks. Cause that's when we play Nicole's team and I really want to play against her! It would be so cool. I'll keep praying that my knee heals quickly.

This week

The next two weeks we are going to busier than usual. I have school everyday from 9 to either 4 or 5. Then from 5 to 6:15 I have bball practice. I have to leave bball practice early because I have to go to play practice on Monday,Tuesday, and Thursday from 7 to 9. Monday and Thursday is practice for the Dinner Theater practice. Tuesday is practice for the Christmas play. Oh also on Thursday this week we have two bball games. But I only get to see the first one because of play practice. It's crazy!

It's almost as crazy next week. Especially with them moving practice to 5 to 7. I don't see what was wrong with 4 to 6. I guess that was the only time we could use the gym. It will be interesting to see how the games go on Thursday. Hopefully the team will do well.

Yet more things to do...

Liz has given me the opportunity to do the Christmas Mime but I don't think I'm going to do it. I have a crazy schedule as it is. I thought I was busy in September but I was wrong, this is busy! We are spending an average of 10 hours a week at church. And 6 of those hours is play practices! The other 4 is just regular church services. Then you add in 6 hours of bball practice a week, soon to be more when start having games. Even though I'm not practicing I'm still there for most of the practices. Plus Bobby and Courtney are working at the flower shop with Uncle Steve.

It's too bad I can't get my permit. With everything that's going on with my knee I probably won't be able to get my permit until December. I pray I get to play bball in December. We have a tournament in Claude that I really really want to play in. Nicole goes to school there and it would be awesome if we got to play against each other. That would just be cool. Maybe Courtney will get her drivers license soon. It would be helpful.

My dumb knee

On Tuesday at bball practice, I dislocated my kneecap...again. This is the 3rd time I have done it. So now my parents are making me go to the doctor. I do not like doctors. It's nothing against them personally. I think it's great that people can get help with their medical problems. But personally for me, I don't like them. They always find a reason to stick a needle in me. And I HATE needles!! I guess you could say I have a phobia of needles, and maybe doctors too.

Maybe this is God trying to teach me to trust him more. Cause I'm not the best at that. But if it is why did he have to pick one of my biggest fears? Couldn't he have done taught me some other way? I guess that's a stupid question to ask since He's God and knows everything. I'd probably not get the point if it had been something else. Just please pray that I have peace and that nothing is seriously wrong with my knee.

The JB

Practice went well yesterday. Nobody threw up, and really there was no gasping for breathe. Coach just had us station drills which isn't too hard. The rest of practice went well also. We have almost every body back this season, except for the seniors obviously. So we should do OK this year. We have a tall team this year (for once!!).
There are 5 girls altogether that are considered tall. We'll probably all be posts.

I cannot wait for Courtney to move here!! She'll be here in about a week and a half!!
She is also going to play bball with us. It should interesting. So now instead of talking on the phone all the time, I'll be talking to her in person all the time. She really like the Jonas Brothers, so they are a common topic of interest. We are probably going to the Dallas/Fort Worth area for Thanksgiving because that's where my mom's family lives. And I found out that the JB ( A.K.A the Jonas Brothers) are playing the half time show for the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving. It's almost impossible to get tickets to the game, but Courtney was just excited about being in the same city as them. I told her she was crazy. I said I would probably be excited if it was the same room, but the same city? I mean, seriously! She needs to find a boy that she can actually talk to. Instead of some boy she can only listen too.

the first day of basketball

Basketball starts today! It will be interesting to see how it goes. Most of the girls have been playing volleyball so they will be in shape, but those of us that don't play any other sports will probably be gasping for air most of practice. I just hope I don't throw up.


Bobby also starts practice today. He can't even stretch without going outbursts like " ouch! This hurts!" or " dude I'm out of shape!" Hopefully he doesn't tear a muscle today. That would stink for him.

Aunt Laura has tendency to go around the house singing nonsense songs, well most of them are nonsense. They rest are just songs that she has changed to the words too. It's quite amusing.

September

So this is the first week of September. Where has the year gone? I mean just yesterday it was May! Now it's only a month until my 17Th birthday. I feel like everything is just rushing by at top speed. But I feel better than i did when i last posted.

Life is like a roller coaster. With tons of ups and downs. You just have to learn to expect that you won't stay happy forever. And you won't feel sad forever either. Like it says in Ecclesiastes 3 " there is a time and a season for everything." So that day i was just feeling low.But now I'm happy that its fall.

I love this time of year. The trees begin to change and the weather gets cooler. I can start wearing long sleeves again. Fall also means basketball. Which is one of my favorite things to do. Fall is the season my birthday falls into. So i have multiple reasons for liking it. School is also in the Fall. It's OK. I mean it is not my favorite thing in the world, but it's not the worst thing either. speaking of school i should probably get started on it.

School

Now i have to go back to doing school. blah. It was nice that i got a two week vacation off, when i was only supposed to get one. But the week after nationals all of us were just wiped out! I can't wait till the banquet! It's going to be soo much fun! Our basketball is going to make a slide show of pics from nationals for the banquet. It should be fun.

nationals

Nationals went pretty good. We got 4th in the 2A bracket, which is pretty good for our first time going. It was a lot of fun. There were 2 cabins and a lodge. The boys slept in one of the cabins and us girls divided between the other cabin and the lodge. Haley, Candace, and I slept in the cabin while the rest of the girls slept in the lodge. Cammy's mom stayed with us for one night, but had to move to the lodge because she wasn't feeling good and the lodge had a bathroom. So my mom stayed with us. We won our first game against the Victoria Cobras. They were really nice. Our second game was against team USA red and they beat us. We didn't have games on wednesday because that was when the showcase was held. It was the all american teams adn the 3 point and slam dunk contests. On Thursday we played the HSAA Dallas Blue Angels and they beat 42 to 45. It was close. On Friday we Played team USA red and we beat them. But that night Candace and Cammy had to leave so we were left with only 6 girls for the next game. And I didn't know if i could play or not. I got to play some but not much. Then during the game T.K rolled her ankle again and she had to sit out for the rest of the game. So for most of the game there were only 4 girls in. They did really well. But we still got beat bad. it was 59 to 11 and I was high point with 4. IT was a really fun week. i can't wait till next year!

Nationals today!

Well the fundraiser yesterday went ok. It was cold though so by the time we closed, we were numb. But we got $110 in donations alone! We'll know sometime after next week how much we earned. We leave today and i'm sooooo excited!! I hope that dale doesn't preach long because i'm going to have a hard time concentrating!! Please pray that nobody gets injured, that we all get along, and that we have a safe trip. thanks.

Kettle Corn

Tomrrow is the kettle corn fundraiser. I just hope it's not cold tomorrow otherwise we are going to be miserable!! And by the end of the day i'm probably going to be sick of kettle corn! Only 2 more days!! YAY!! I just wish it was here already! Yesterday the news guy came. it was pretty cool. Candace and T.K talked on camera, but we had to make them. It will come on Sunday night after we leave! So if somebody could tape it, that would be awesome! It will be on channel 4.

The Scrimmage

The Scrimmage was awesome!! We only lost to the guys by 3 baskets! and we would have beaten them, but we let them score a couple times. But then dad had us do 3 minutes drills against them and we tied them the first time (thanks to a half court shot by candace. it was awesome!!) and then the next time we beat them!!!! It was really cool. T.K got hurt though so we are praying that she will still be able to go to nationals. Tomorrow a news crew from channel 4 is supposed to come out and do a story on us so are all really nervous!!! Only 4 more days till we leave!! Please pray that no one else gets hurts.

Practice

Well it snowed but it didn't last long :( Today is the last time we will scrimmage the Varsity guys at practice. We are definitley going to make it hard for them to win this time!!! Even if they have beaten us pretty bad all the other times lol. We had a really good practice yesterday so hopefully todays's will be good too. We can't wait till SUNDAY!! We have a fundraiser this saturday at Market Street. It starts at 9 and we will be thre till 5. so if you want to deop by and by some kettle corn we'd love to see you!