Fall 2012

I have this really bad habit of not doing any posting during the summer, then things get awkward and I have to sabotage my page with like a million pictures. So ready or not, here it comes...

This summer consisted of:

Tanning.. Kind of.

Sunday Silliness

The city I fell in love with:

SAN FRANCISCO

Celebrating the grandparent's 50th

Slurpees 

Strawberry days fair and rodeo!

A little bit of lacrosse (I'm awesome I know)

Movies that made us laugh and cry 

Morning silliness 

Sister missionaries*

Random trips to City Creek with the sista

ISAAC RUSSELL CONCERT

Ping pong/golf/football... all in one

eXtreme Air Sports 

....And many, many more adventures in between. Now the school year has started (we are three weeks in and I've already found myself struggling to keep up), lacrosse has started, and the time to blog has come again.

Now, the thing with blogging is that it becomes my procrastination escape. Like now, for example, I have an astronomy test next Wednesday and an art history test the following day that I have yet to study for--however, I did write a paper that is due today and read/analyzed a Shakespeare play. That is the beauty of 15 credits... Last year, since I managed to get a more than decent GPA I decided to step it up a notch and get all my schooling done before the mission, this requires me to take 15 credits this semester and another 15--I believe--for next semester.

 So my days end up looking kind of like this:

I know what you're thinking, Kathy quit your complaining... it really does not look that bad... My head can barely handle what I've had to do so far, not to mention all the little in between things that I have to do while my mom is at work, bahhh I can't wait until my sister can drive!!!! It's only Wednesday, I hope I can make it through the last two days of the week without any collateral damage.

That is all I have for you so far but trust me, the busier I get the more likely I am to post things... Which is horrible but at least it helps!

False alarm!

Just kidding, lacrosse season is NOT over! Wooooooooo!!!! I got a text on Saturday from mama coach (coach's wife) telling me that we made it to the playoffs!! I did a little dance around my house I was so happy. Our official last game for the season is this Saturday April 21st at Westminster's Dumke field @ 10 am. We will be playing Westmin to determine if we go on to play at 4 or not. Hopefully all goes well, as coach says, "every team is beatable on any day." Gotta love that man.

In other news, yesterday was quite an eventful day. My puppy turned 8 years old! I am about to go on a search for Tuck Ever Lasting's stream, just so I don't have to ever worry about my puppy getting too old. After church we made her some treats once again, she loved them.

Hugs for the birthday girl!

One happy pup.

Sunday was not only eventful because of Lady's birthday though. My 20th birthday is coming up, as nervous as I am to be out of my 'teens' I am excited to actually be taken seriously as an...adult. Sure, we will go with that. Turning 20 means lots more responsibility, means I am one year closer to marriage. It also means I am one year closer to deciding whether to go on a mission or not. Through the past couple years I have been toying with the idea of going, which means I have also been trying to find excuses not to go. Every now and then I would come across a quote or a person that said something about going on a mission. I would hear it and "take it into consideration" but not really LISTEN to what they were saying. 

The last time I bore my testimony during sacrament meeting was probably 10 years ago when my grandma would nag me so much that finally I would go up just to make her happy... Our ward's testimony meeting was yesterday, and for the first time in ten years I felt my heart beat like I was already up there. Immediately I knew that I had to go up (isn't that THE worst feeling ever?? gahhh). I tried bargaining with the Big Guy.. I tried to pick someone in the audience and use them as an excuse, "well, if 'so and so' goes up I will" and every single time I did that they would go up. I tried convincing my sister to go, she said no. I looked to my right, down the bench sat Sister O, the young women's president. I caught her attention and invited her with a very subtle head nod.. she said yes. 

Since she is my partner in crime in young women's I should have known better to ask her. Here we were, president and secretary, making our way up- the bishop with a big ol smile on his face... I thought I was headed towards disaster. Before I knew it my sister had followed me up (no wonder the bishop had smiled... ).After all was said and done, I couldn't remember what I had just rambled- I prayed it was something somewhat spiritual, I made my way back to my seat next to my mother and realized how much of a relief I felt. Like the whole world was lifted off my shoulders. As I sat I realized something, the reason why I hadn't gotten up in so long... Years ago I had made a New Year' resolution to bear my testimony during sacrament meeting every month. GAHHHHHH! Well, I guess I will just have to get used to that heart-in-my-throat feeling... 

After sacrament meeting my mom and I had a lovely talk with a newly married couple in our ward about their life, studies, and missions. I thought, "oh no, here we go again. More mission stuff." 

Before I knew it I was disclosing all sorts of information about what I had thought and heard about missions. How everyone keeps bringing it up. I guess you can call yesterday a major change of heart. After a few tears and a really guilty feeling for not listening to the spirit/prepared earlier I realized I now have ONE year to prepare. So I guess this makes my decision final, within a year and a little bit I will be out somewhere serving the Lord for 18 months. 

Some may say this decision was a bit rash, but I know deep inside that after YEARS of thinking about it, it was finally time to make a decision. And now, by sharing it with all of you, I am now committed to see it through. It will be very, very hard to leave my family. It will be hard to be out there with people I don't know, but I also know that many blessings will come to my family because of it. I am thankful for the things I felt and experienced yesterday, I know Heavenly Father loves me. I cannot wait to share with others this glorious, life-changing gospel. I hope for all of your support and most importantly, I expect letters every week!!

Well, you read it here first. I guess I should have titled this post, "BREAKING NEWS: mission announcement." haha. 

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?"- John Green

Have a great day.

Another semester has come and gone...

Where does time go?!?! Seriously, I feel like the lacrosse season is just starting and I'm still trying to get to the new schedule. Apparently time likes to continue while I'm still stuck in the last month or so... I have been absolutely horrible with blogging, so as usual here comes my ridiculously long blog post about all the wonderful things I have done.

First, lacrosse... I made it through the season- ALIVE! Who would have thought I would fall in love with this sport? Definitely not me. It was hard work to try and get to the level of these girls, I feel blessed that Coach even let me stay on the team. The season started with the Boise Tournament where we got a taste of collegiate level lacrosse, I guess it's a faster paced game (what do I know?), one in which we got our trash kicked but for a first year team we held our own and even won one of the 4 games. Oh, I didn't mention, 4 games in one weekend- 3 games on one day.. It was killer but it was a TON of fun.

Don't we look happy after so much pain?

After that tournament things started to look good. Despite having to play the top 2 teams in our division (Utah and Westminister). We completely turned the tables for our Salt Lake Classic tournament where we again had to play 4 games in two days, but instead of winning only one, we won all but one! This team has seen an incredible amount of improvement, I even scored my first goal at this tournament! I ran around the field like a nutcase, I was so happy. First goal ever!! Please check out this picture and clap for me, wherever you are, a single clap will do :)

We came across the same team as above the following but this time on our field, where once again we were able to come out on top. April brought a game against Weber where we won 25-13, another win for the Wolverines! Our last game for the season was against BYU... I was sad that we closed the season by playing them because 1) they are a division above us, and (2) let's be real, it's BYU.. we got murdered... But in the end it was a successful season where we ended raking 3rd in our division, right under Utah and Westminister. Not a bad place to be, especially for a first-year team. I could not be more excited for next season, I am missing lacrosse already and our last game was only last week. 

I guess this is a better time than any to thank everyone who came out and supported through the freezing cold and the blazing heat of bipolar Utah. I love having all of you there. There is a picture that was taken during a game that sums up the support of all my family and friends, take a look: 

I don't know if you can tell but all the people that mean the most to me are in the background... My mom, Tina, Natalie, the Border clan, and Andy. Despite Natalie being busy with school she has taken the time to come up and see some of my games, My mom and my sister endure endless hours of heat and cold to come support- here or when we played in Boise and Salt Lake. And of course Andy, he has been at EVERY SINGLE game. I am so thankful for all the love and support. 

Last night UVU had a club's banquet in which the men's lacrosse team won an award for Most Improved. Jorie, being club president, and I went with our men to support. It reminded me how blessed we are to have coach Williams. His dedication and hard work with BOTH the men's and women's lacrosse amazes me. His work is purely voluntary, he does not get paid to coach us, yet he puts in so much love and dedication. "Practice makes... PERMANENT." Love you coach and mama coach. 

I am grateful for the experiences and the friendships I have made. Here is to a successful season, to new friends and to a successful second season. Can't wait to get back out on the field. 

I'm Getting Old and Senile

The older I get the more it seems like I forget things, I feel like Alzheimer's is kicking in early... However, one thing I can't forget is how sweet my grandpa is. Ever since I was little he would always play with me, I blame him for my love of sports.

Saturday I got to spend some much needed time with him before going out on a date. We headed over to the bowling alley and did his most favorite thing in the world: play some pool. He is about half the size of the pool table but boy is he good at it. I remember playing with him when I was younger, I had no idea what I was doing. Last year I played pool almost every single day on campus with some friends, so when I took my first shot on Saturday my grandpa was pleasantly surprised that I could put up a fight. One large pizza, a bag of chips and 3 hours later, my grandpa and I walked out of the bowling alley happy as clams.

I love my grandpa, I am so grateful for all he does for us.

I know it's a little blurry but it was too cute not to put up. 

Awkward..

So I have this little problem with spitting. Ever since I had my sinus infection (and possibly before..hehe) I've been spitting left and right. Specially because of all the running I do, my lungs get all nasty and I have to spit. For those of you who have seen "She's the Man" know of that little scene where Amanda Bynes spits and it hangs off her chin.. Long story short, I did the same thing.

People laughed. That's all I have to say about this. So thank you Amanda for making me feel really cool for a split second, right before I realized people have seen.. ouch.

My hopes for becoming cool have gone down the drain. I'm losing points quick. So long as I don't walk out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck on my shoe or in my pants I'm good for a while longer. 

Quick Little Tid-Bit

Thanks to all of those who came and supported the UVU Women's Lacrosse team last night at the Water Garden's theater, it was really appreciated. We had about 65-70 people turn up, that's almost $200 dollars for our team! It was a very fun and successful evening, Let's get more of these rolling!

The girls (minus Jorie, she was watching a movie)

Look at us representing our team! Woot woot! A few other highlights from the evening: 

Time To Catch Up!

What is this? Third week of school? Yeah, definitely time for an update...

This semester has started out rough but I am very excited to see where it goes. I didn't think I was going to be able to go to school but I am lucky I have grandparents who love me and want to help out. Their support is appreciated, and an answer to many, many prayers.

I was super stressed about not being able to go to school for a couple reasons. First, I would have absolutely nothing to do and second, I have fallen in love with lacrosse. In order for me to play I had to be a full-time student, I had already payed some of my dues and been to every practice. Luckily my grandparents stepped in and saved the day. Now I am at a solid 15 credits with ethics and values, human development, dance conditioning, interpersonal communications and a couple institute classes. And most importantly getting to play lacrosse.

Last week as a team we got to man the club rush booth and a table by the bookstore in search for some new recruits. I made shirts for most of the girls on the team (some which I still haven't finished..), ate lots of candy and made some flyers for our upcoming fundraiser. Very VERY busy week but definitely worth it.

Yes, my fingers are in fact still green and yellow.. shirts turned out pretty dope.

Friday night brought the Vegas themed dance at Noah's. That was definitely an interesting experience. I had a lot of fun though, my lacrosse buddies are CRAZY.

 

Saturday brought the greatest practice of my life. Good ol' Utah has issues managing weather... Practice was held outside in the middle of a slush storm. At first it was rain, then it was snow and then back again. Whatever it was, We (mostly me actually..) had a blast.

My bestest lax buddies. Too bad you can't tell how soaked we are...

We are hoping people come out and support tomorrow. As a team we would really like to go far and in order to do that we need all the support we can get. We finally found a goalie, that puts us one step closer to having a full team. 

I am very content with the way things are working out. I am working hard in school and running my tush off at practices. This should be the best semester yet!