On deck with my loves

Swimming is the kinda sport where you give it your everything. You're at the pool 10 plus hours a week (just talking TYES here), and your teammates become your family. I'm pretty sure they have seen more of my ups and downs than anybody.

I've always loved these 2 little girls who swim in the group below me. (I say "little", they're in 6th grade now, but I met them when they were 8... so they're still little :P) I always end up going to their meets to watch them compete, and to help Coach Kris out with the youngins'. I honestly don't mind it.

Over the past few months, I've gotten pretty close to 5 of the girls: Alexis, Alison, Aubrey, Jacy and Mary. They're all 11 or 12, and some of the most awesome girls I know. I know they look up to me, and I love how genuine and innocent they are. High school is so un-innocent, and so I love how amazing they are.

Today, I fell in love with them more.. if that's even possible. Seeing their pure joy and love for swimming, and for each other, was the coolest thing ever. None of them won overall, but they were all droppin time, and swimming their little hearts out. The smiles when they dropped time was so exciting. Alexis nearly tackled me into the pool after dropping 8 seconds in the 200 free. Alison jumped up and down after winning her heat in the 200 breast. Mary's smile was the biggest I'd ever seen when she dropped time. Aubrey got me soaking wet when she went a personal best and placed overall.

They have SO much energy and love. Those little girls are SO awesome. Aubrey asked me if I'd coach in college so I could still come to all of her meets. I said I'd do my best to come and see her. They are so cute and so lovable, and made my day ten times better today.

Love them!!

The Things I Do For My Baby Brother

It's 38 degrees. It's windy. And I'm outside at a baseball game. Actually, that's not a hundred percent true. I'm waiting in the semiwarm car until the game starts.

Hopefully between the 2 sweatshirts, letterman, fleece parka, double fleece blanket, and jug of mrs maria's hot chocolate we will be able to keep warm!!

Oh the things I do for my baby brother!!!

A Reason to My Busyness

Up until like 2 weeks ago, my life was crazy hectic. I'd be at Falls by 5:30 for swim practice, get home around 3, doing homework till 5, eat a quick dinner and head off to practice, get home at like 8:30, eat again and shower, then do homework till 11 or so. And do it all over again. 5 days a week. Umpteen weeks a year. Over and over again.

Weekends were sometimes worse. Swim meets on Saturdays and Sundays, then church Sunday nights, and they were jammed packed with homework. It was insane.

I complained. A lot. I hated not ever getting to see my friends to just "chill". I longed for one day to sleep in, and it never came. Driving to practice which used to be my sanctity began to be spent repeating pre-cal and physics formula's over and over again. I went over AP US History time-lines in the shower. I never had time for anything, and hated it.

Then high school swimming finally ended. The 6-week grading period finally ended. This week I have had so much free time, it's weird. I watched a TV show with my dad and brother (hated it, don't even ask. It scared the wabeejee's outta me!). I got to church early on Wednesday. I watched Kole's opening baseball game (f-f-f-f-f-reeeezing! 40 degree weather just shouldn't be allowed for a baseball game!). I had no homework that had to be done. I had time to play with my puppy (mental note: need to give her a bath before Daddy gets home today so he'll be happy, supposedly she smells like a "dog"... heaven forbid :D), I got to just breathe.

And as much as I loved that for like 2 days, I'd do anything to get a somewhat busy life back. I hate the time that I have now to let my mind wander. I spend too much time thinking about Clay, Devin and Layla. I feel so helpless. I think about a good friend of mine who was in a car accident this week. I hate being able to think.

Throughout the busyness of my typical daily routine, I didn't have time to think about what was wrong. My mind had no time to just "wander". Pre-cal, physics, English and History AP kinda consumed any time I had when I wasn't swimming.

I need my busyness back. I need to keep moving. I need to do something. I'm involved in Relay For Life at Cy-Falls trying to get a group of students together to go fight for cancer. I can't participate in the event itself because of a church commitment, but it means a lot to me now with everything happening. I had kinda pooped-out the past week ago with everything else going on and majorly slacked off. No more of that. It's on. Cy-Falls will be there on April 23-24.

This weekend is going to be a busy one (thankfully!). KJ needs a bath pronto, Kole has a baseball game tonight. Tomorrow morning/afternoon I'm volunteering at a little kid swim meet. Saturday night Kole has day 2 of his baseball tourney. Sunday morning will either be a swim meet or Kole's tourney, depending on what time he plays at. And church Sunday afternoon/night. SO glad I'm going to be busy!!

Emotional Rollercoaster

Growing up I've always thought that the world was perfect. This year has been so rough, and I'm pretty sure I've been on the emotional rollercoaster of a lifetime.

I had a friend pass away completely unexpectedly. Langham High School, and a lot of my friends took the hit with me. October/November was a rough month. I can't get the picture out of my head when my dad and I had to say goodbye. Today marks 4 months since Clay passed away. Miss him everyday.

Another friend from middle school was diagnosed with Leukemia last Thursday. Once again Langham has taken a hit. She is home now and doing okay, but it's still hard. Cancer isn't supposed to take over one's life when they are seventeen. That's not how it's supposed to work. Devin, we're praying for you.

And Layla Grace. I don't know her. I've never met her. She's a 2 year old who has stage 4 Neuroblastoma. I've read her mom's blog, and it brings me to near tears each time. No 2 year old should have to go through that. Layla Grace, keep staying strong. We're praying.

I'm not especially close with any of these people, but the thought that it could happen to any of us is heartbreaking. Cancer can affect anybody. Accidents can happen to anybody. It's no where near fair, but we all try to take comfort that Clay is in Heaven with our God, that Devin is doing really well, and Layla Grace is still fighting.

I'm cherishing my time with friends and family now while I can. Because anything can happen.

Clay, Devin, and Layla Grace: we are praying for you and your families. We love you!!

Keepin' Your Chin Up

"Just keep your chin up" --Coach Kris

I had just swam the 100 free at prelims, and I hadn't been having a good meet. Coach Dennis said that I had been burrying my head off my turns, and if I wouldn't have done that then I woulda dropped time. Coach Kris was there too while we were talkin, and was like "yeah, just keep your chin up Ky". He gave me a look which meant "keep your chin up while you're swimming, and in life in general" Coach Kris knew I had been having a rough week, and we both knew what he meant.

I went on to add 7 seconds in my 200 IM, it was not very pretty. I hadn't swam that slow in years, and considering the 200 IM is supposedly "my event" I was kinda upset about it. That's actually an understatement, I was pretty ticked. But I remembered what Coach Kris said, and shook it off.

Somehow enough people scratched to where I made finals in 200 IM. I decided I'd swim it again, knowing I would do better this time. I dropped 5 seconds in finals from my prelim time, and even though I was two seconds off my best, I considered it a succesful swim.

Sometimes coaches can give the best advice, "just keep your chin up"

College + Water Polo = Possibility??

I've only been playing water polo since my freshman year. I'm starting my 6th season, and have only been a "starter" for the past 3. I am the sprinter, and occasional goalie if Jodie wants out of her "cave". Last year we had an amazing season, I was co-captain. We made it to the regional tourney (first time in Falls' history), and I made 2nd-Team All-Region. We then advanced to the state tourney and we got 8th, and I made honorable mention.

All that sounds really cool and impressive, but really, when I compare myself to other teams, I never figured I'd ever have a shot at playing in college. Especially not at a big school like A&M.

When we went to tour A&M today, I get a text from Michele. Michele was the goalie my freshman year, and was always my "passing buddy" during practice. She graduated and now plays polo for A&M. She texted me saying there was a polo tourney going on up at A&M, and that I should stop by the REC center and watch them play. I jumped at the chance. I haven't been able to play polo since October, so the opportunity to watch college-level polo was huge! When we showed up I realized somebody who works at Cho-Yeh also played polo for A&M (I guess I always knew she played for A&M, but didn't make the connection till I saw her parents and younger brother), so I was SO stoked to see the game. I saw other Cho-Yeh people there too, and I thought it was so cool. When we were watching the polo game, I realized "wow, maybe I can play water polo in college. I think I'm faster than most of these girls!". I have never seen myself play water-polo, but the fact that I could compare myself to them was neat. My dad even leaned over saying "girl, I don't know why you didn't think you could play. You could totally play with this team!"

Now, who knows what this next year will bring, but the thought that I could play polo in college was totally exciting to me! It's a very real possibility :)

Thinkin' Ahead

Almost everybody in high school knows what they wanna do when they graduate, where they wanna go to college, and what they wanna major in. I know NOTHING!! I've wanted to be a youth-minister, or an elementary teacher for a while. I'd ultimately love to work at Cho-Yeh forever. But because that prob won't happen.. I gotta look at other options.

I'm going up to A&M tomorrow to look around. Maybe I'll be able to figure out if I think I'd like a huge school or not.

Everybody keeps saying "don't worry about a major right now, just take gen-ed your first year"... Problem: when being in AP and dual-credit classes all through high school, that isn't exactly an option. I'll already have most of those credits.

My thing is this-- I'm 16 (and already naturally indecisive). How do I wanna know what I wanna do when I'm 50???

Rememberin' the Ike Days

Sunday evenings always mean spending time with my youth group at MYF. We were playing dodgeball when all of a sudden the lights flickered. I figured Kelly was probably just trying to get our attention, but when even the sponsors all looked at each other, I kinda figured something was up. But the lights were on so we were pretty sure it was just a power surge.

Low and behold a few minutes later they go off and don't come back on. Just imagine: 10 dodgeballs still out, 20 middle schoolers running around, 5 high school guys (yes, I was the only girl older than 13 there) thinking they're cool, and no power. Yea, chaotic sums it up. Luckily everybody stops playing and Mr. John comes to the rescue with those candles everybody has at Christmas services that you pass the light with. (none of us had our cell phones for light bc we all turn them in when we get there). We started to sing campfire songs, and when the power doesn't come back on, we all begin to leave.

So then I'm driving and there are no street lights or stoplights, but luckily everybody drove cautiously.

When Kole and I got back home, we realized we had no light, no radio, no computer, no wifi for our iPods, and that doorbells don't work. We ended up lighting 5 candles and we all played cards via candlelight. Mom almost caught fire, dad warmed up frozen cookies via his applepie candle, and Kole experimented dropping food into candles.

The lights eventually came back on though and now we are all back to our own business. Daddy is watching tv, Kole is watchin something else, mom is ironing, and I'm blogging from my iPod in bed enjoying the wifi again.

Hurricane Ike-- I don't miss you AT ALL, k?

Valentines

"The only love that lasts forever is God's perfect love"

I don't like Valentine's Day very much. I believe it to be a made up holiday, and when I see high school couples going all out with balloons and chocolates and teddy bears that are bigger than their actual girlfriend, I find it all a little extreme. Why should you treat somebody with love on one day of the year? You should love them everyday, so going all-out once a year to show "love" to somebody who (since you're in high school) you will probably break up with and end up not marrying (yes, yes, I understand, you're "in love"... or so you say) is a little ridiculous.

Now off my soap-box.

I have kinda been dreading Valentine's Day. I was supposed to be at Cho-Yeh this weekend for Midwinter-Madness, but that fell through. I'm spending the day doing homework and reading The Great Gatsby, how fun!! What an AWESOME Valentine's Day... right? *yay sarcasm*

But in church today I realized that Valentine's Day means more than just love for a boyfriend/girlfriend. No matter if you're in a relationship or not, we all have a God who loves us more than ANY boyfriend/girlfriend ever could. e-v-e-r.

God's love is perfect :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Divin in Dry: Regions 2010

After our district swim-meet last weekend, I had placed 4th in the 200 IM (still workin on uploading that video) and ultimately advanced onto our Regional swim meet this weekend. The top 6 swimmers in 4 districts (CFISD, Conroe/Woodlands, Spring, Klein) all swam against each other in prelims Friday night, then the top 16 swam at finals today. The 17/18 spot were considered "alternates" and had to swim if somebody backed out at the last second, but more than likely wouldn't swim. I didn't swim all too hot in prelims last night, I added 2 seconds from my district time, and ended up 17th. I was pretty bummed b/c I either wanted to make finals, or I didn't. I didn't want that "in limbo" spot number seventeen.

Today comes around and I decide that I'm not going to get to the pool at 2:00 for warm-ups for a meet that started at 4:30 (or so I was told) to hang around for an event where I probably wouldn't get to swim. So I decided I'd get to the meet around 3:30, do my own little warm-up, then hang around till the 200 IM was over so I could go home. There is a store called Sam Moons [like Harwin] up near the Conroe pool, so Mom and I decided we'd go shop around before the meet. At 3:15 we are heading to the pool, and I get a text message from Sam (swim TYES with) saying "WHERE ARE YOU? The meet starts in 15 minutes!) I go into full panic mode, while thinking 'why, thank you high school swim coach for telling me the wrong start time of the meet!'. Luckily the 200 IM wasn't the first event, so I ran into the pool and changed for the slim chance I'd end up swimming. No warm-up, no time for anything. But then again, I was sure nobody would scratch region finals.

The event before the 200 IM is up, so I decide I better go check and make sure I don't have to swim. (remember now, I haven't warmed up, haven't been in the water since last night, have only stretched minimally, as I am sure I won't have to swim) I count how many people are over near the starting area, and I count 7. I recount, thinking "I know I'm bad at math, but I should be able to count 8 swimmers", and count 7. I start getting a little jittery, but figure somebody must be sitting somewhere. Just in case I take off my shorts and put on my cap. They call all the swimmers over and up onto the blocks. Still only 7.

"Would the alternate swimmer please step up?"

Crap! I haven't warmed up, my hair is still DRY for crying out loud! I quickly stretch a little bit, then get on the blocks.

"Alright, you are swimming in regional FINALS" I say to myself, "just go out and do the best you can"

"Take your mark.... BEEEEEEP!"

I honestly never remember what goes through my head while I'm swimming. I can remember hearing coaches, I can remember seeing team-mates, but that's about it. Well my high school "coach" was standing behind a massive crowd of people, and my high school team wasn't there. I do remember seeing some girls I used to swim with in year-round that now swim Jersey Village on the side of the pool cheering me on, and I remember thinking it was so cool that they were supporting me.

In the end, I added a 3 seconds from my district time, and a second from my prelim time. But considering I didn't warm up, wasn't really prepared to swim, I'll take it.

I don't think I'll ever argue with Coach Dennis now when he tells me I need to get in and warm up or warm down, it really does make a difference diving in dry!

Finaling in regions (even if it was consolations) is a huge deal, especially for me. I now have something to look forward to next year!

Facebookin' at School

While all the teachers are complaining that the servers are down at school today, we are all enjoying the day. When tech people try to fix the servers, they somehow unblocked all the internet? AKA facebook is now unblocked.

So who is listening to Mr. Keeble in AP History?? Oh yeah... nobody :)

Thanks for giving us all laptops CFISD!!!

Happy Happy Fun Fun!!

Our junior high youth group has made a sundae called Happy Happy Fun Fun (aka HHFF from here on out, because typing that over and over'll get REALLY old) that is now available at Kim's Creamery at West and Queenston. $1 of every HHFF sold gets donated back to our youth group, and at the end of the week the youth group with the most sales gets $25. This is going on for a couple of weeks, and at the end the most popular sundae will become a permanent at Kim's. Our junior high got to create the sundae, and this is what they came up with. Suprisingly, it was Kole's group who had this idea, and I gotta give it to Kole, and his friend (my stalker) Jacob, the sundae is pretty good!

HHFF is made up of 2 scoops of Birthday Cake Ice Cream, 1 scoop of vanilla ice-cream, sprinkles, gummy bears, whipped cream, and a cherry (or 2).

It's REALLY good!!! And it supports a great cause :)

Districts 2010

The day started off with 3 periods of school. Swimming, English, and art for me. HA! easy school day. In swimming we all had to go reteach our guys how to shave [all of the guys had to shave for districts, and it was the first time in like 6 months I had shaved. Oh how I was SO excited Thursday night when I got to!! Don't ask questions, it's a swimmer thing]. Then all of varsity met in the pool area for a delicious breakfast of pancakes, smoothies, kolaches (note: did you know "kolaches" isn't a word according to the spell-checker thing???), pigs n' a blanket, fruit, bagels etc put on by the parents. It was so yummy! Then we were all set free to "chill" how we wanted to. Some watched a movie, some played Phase 10, a few got in and swam around for a little while. Jodie and I made a big banner out of butcher paper to take with us to districts. Then at 1:00 we all loaded up the bus. 19 swimmers, 4 coolers, 3 crates of food, and all our bags pretty much filled the entire bus. The bus-ride was rather quiet, all of us lounged out in whatever seats weren't filled with all our "stuff" and listened to our music. We pulled into Ranch with an hour and a half to spare before our warm ups started. Most of that time was spent hanging out with swimmers from other teams who I rarely see. It was pretty cool how our "Team YES group formed", representing 5 different schools. Then warm-ups occurred which involved RIDICULOUS-ness. You'll have to see the picture to get what I'm talking about. Then the actual swim-meet. Our 200 medley relay went okay for us. We got 9th out of 10 teams. Not too great by any standards, but it's okay. 200 IM was next for me, most def my best event. I raced against 2 Olympic Qualifier girls and 1 Junior National swimmer. Those 3 took the medal spots, but I came in 4th and dropped 2ish seconds. Once I hit the wall and saw my year round coach's face, it was all worth it. He was so proud. That moved me on to the regional meet this Friday. My next race was the 200 free relay. I anchored the relay. We got 9th again. Once again, not good, but it's all okay, I was still so stoked about my IM. My last event was 100 back. I added a second, and it wasn't all that great, but even if I wouldn't have messed up my start and had swam my best time, I still wouldn't have been a contender for podium or regionals. I walked away proud of myself for doing my best, and sticking it through the season even when the situation got tricky, and when I was on the verge of quitting.

Now one more week of tapering and early mornings. One more week and high school swim season'll be done for me. One more week :)

I'm posting some pictures of the day, enjoy! I'll try to upload my 200 IM on here as soon as I work out the video.

Some Team YES! kiddos, Ally and my best friend Renee


Sam and Connor who swim with me on Team YES with their tights on for warm ups. I was so proud of them that they shaved! And didn't terribly cut themselves! haha


My awesome bright drag suit and purple tights that I wore for warm ups!


My best friend Renee and Sam who I swim with on Team YES! It was so cool how all of the Team YES kids all supported each other throughout the entire meet even though we were all on swimming against each other. I guess we're all too used to swimming together. Not that we minded at all :)


Jodie and I with our sign that we made for Districts


Cy-Falls Varsity Swim Team 2009-2010


Cy-Falls Varsity Swim Team 2009-2010

Your Love is Strong

Amanda Rossy always sends these positive and encouraging text messages every morning. I typically get them right after I get outta swim practice, and I love whatever she has to say. I'm usually not in too great of a mood after high school practice, so her positive words always are a good way to "restart" my morning.

Yesterday's said

"So why do I worry? Why do I freak out? God knows what I need, You know what I need"

and I l-o-v-e-d it! I thought I had heard something like it before, and so I immediately went through my collection of quotes trying to find the one I had that resembled it. And I couldn't find it! I didn't come anywhere near to it either. I was pretty bummed. So I turned to my second resource... GOOGLE! (who woulda guessed... ask my physics group, Google solves most problems) It was a song!! I think we might have sang it at Camp Cho-Yeh my first summer, because I don't know where else I woulda heard it. The lyrics are so true and so positive, I love it! The song is called "Your Love is Strong" (<-- click on the hyperlink and it'll take you to a youtube video so you can hear it)

So yeah, there's my little blurb for today (or well yesterday). It kinda goes a long with this semester, where I tend to over-worry about everything, especially when school is concerned. So now I'm not worrying or freaking out (well, I probably still will, but I'll always have this song in the back of my head and maybe won't freak out too much??)

Here's the lyrics to the song, Hope you have a great day!

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Chorus (3x):
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

(Chorus 3x)

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons