Riding the Roller Coaster of Emoooootion... WHHEEEEEE!

I can't believe how quickly my departure date has come. I feel like it was just yesterday that it was decided I was heading over to Iraq and now I am leaving in less than two weeks! It's funny because I, as well as most people who know me, would not categorize me as an emotional or dramatic person....BUT man, the past week or two I have been on the roller coaster of emotion and at times have felt as if I'm having out of body experiences, watching myself overreact to the smallest of things. Who knew I could be such a GIRL. I guess it's to be expected being that I have had more than a lot on plate the past couple weeks, a lot of change on the horizon and a few hormonal spikes causing me to go certifiably crazy at times.

Thankfully my friends are pretty stinkin' wonderful and have not "unfriended" (such a facebook term) me because of my recent emotional instability. Actually my friends are so magnificent that they threw me a going away/early birthday party this past weekend and it was just what I needed. I mean really, what girl doesn't love being celebrated and told she's going to be missed?! I was overwhelmed by it all and felt so very undeserving of all the love they showed me by coming out and celebrating with me!

The night started at Wu's Garden, a Chinese restaurant in Vienna with dinner and conversation. It was perfect becuase we were able to be in a room pretty much all to ourselves for dinner and then we stuffed our faces some more with an amazing cake that Amy made from scratch!




Next on tap for the night was Karaoke!! Loads. Of. Fun. :D I have not laughed that hard in a long time. We had a few superstars in the group and a few (eh hem) not so much stars, but more super-entertaining.... and when it comes to karaoke that's all you need! I have a new found respect for rappers as Julie and I were out of breath by the end of Young MC's "Busta Move." They must have to be on some training regimen in order to stay in shape and be able to spit on lyric on top of another during their shows... or maybe they just don't have the moves that we have so they don't waste as much lung capacity shaking their money maker?! I don't know.. but I was out of breath and sweating by the end of our debut.

All in all, it was a memorable night and the most perfect send off I could've asked for! I love my friends and family, and am so thankful for each one of them and the joy they bring to my life! I will miss all of you while I'm gone but will carry you within me as a travel. Thanks to everyone who came out and made the night a blast!

Things that make me laugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs&feature=related


I don't know why I find this so hilarious, but I do. Enjoy!

A "Double-ya" :)

Here's a recap of our win today!! That's right, a WIN! WOOOOT WOOOT!

Episcopal played away against Holy Child today and brought our League record to 4-7 and 4-13 over all. The Maroon came ready to play this today and gave a great overall effort as a team! EHS did a great job of working the ball inside and out, getting each other clean looks at the basket on which they capitalized. Episcopal shot 50% from the field and 75% from the free throw line in the first half, which led them into half time with a 14 point lead, 23-9. Episcopal's defense is seeming to be one of Episcopals biggest improvements from the start of the season. The team as a whole was much more aggressive on defense, reeking havoc for Holy Child and blocking 9 of their shots!

Everyone played and gave quality minutes for Episcopal. Angie Phillips was more than a bright spot for the Maroon, scoring 10 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and a block. Breanna Jones and Mary Foran also chipped in for 13 and 10 points respectively. Abby Hart and Kelsey Knutson did a great job running the point and the team followed their lead of distributing the ball to the open player after breaking Holy Child's full court press. Holy Child tried to claw their way back into the game starting in the fourth quarter but Episcopal gained composure and finished the game off for the fourth ISL win this season! It was a great team effort for Episcopal so please join me in congratulating the girls for a solid win at an exciting time in the season for the team! Episcopal will play on Monday at Stone Ridge as they look to knock another ISL opponent off, preparing for the League Tournament that is less that two weeks away!! Great job, Episcopal!!!

Here's a couple pics of my cute little team! (they're not cute all the time... but hey, they're high school girls. What can you expect)

Ali and Tameka

Angie, Alessandra, and Abby

The Team :)

Kelly and Mary... being Kelly and Mary

A Crystal Ball

If you don't already know, I am preparing to go out of town on a temporary assignment for 6 months and needless to say I have a lot going on being that I'm smack dab in the middle of basketball season. Oh and I have a full time job that takes up my time during the day as well. If all of that wasn't enough to keep me busy, I'm now adding analyzing the possiblities of a new job and what that may mean for my future.

I had an interview today for the position of the Director of Navy Sports and although I haven't been offered the job I am really good at imagining possibilities and different avenues this job could lead my life. Great. Just what I need.... something to keep my mind occupied from all of the things I NEED to be focused on. I don't even know if I'll get offered the job but I'm already thinking about what that would mean about my upcoming temporary assignment AND what that would mean as far as coaching next season at Episcopal. Yay, more things that I can't control for me to ponder.

Bryson told me the other day that I'm really good at worry about things I can't control.... And he's right. I AM really good at that. But it's not so much that I'm worried about it, but I want to know what's going to happen. So I sit and think of all the different possibilities that could happen with the multiple variables I've got going on in my life. I DO trust that God is in control and I will end up in the place, but it'd be really nice if I had a crystal ball to pump the brakes on my ever racing mind so I could put my effort towards the more important things that I actually can control in my life. But that would be too easy now, wouldn't it?! :)

25 things about ME

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

1. I do not have time for this.
2. I am a good procrastinator (please refer to #1)
3. I do not have any tatoos
4. I use to want a tatoo of a basketball with my name above it on my ankle (a couple of my friends had one and it seemed to be the thing to do)
5. I am only organized when I have to be or when someone gives me a system with which to be organized
6. I'm leaving for Iraq in about 5 weeks....hence the need to be organize but please refer to #2.
7. I am very laid back.... except when I'm competing or am under a deadline... along with a few other random things... over all I'm laid back, you get the point.
8. I can play the trumpet.
9. I love music (esp. LIVE)... I can get lost in a song if it's got a good beat or the lyrics move me.... the combination of good lyrics and music speaks to my soul.
10. I am completely undeserving of what Christ did for me (us)
11. I love smells (good ones).
12. I love getting and giving thoughtful gifts...especially when they are a surprise!!!
13. Filling these things out makes me feel slef-absorbed but for some reason I do it anyway....
14. I am selfish at more times than I 'd like to admit.
15. I don't like disappointing people but am realizing I can't live my life trying to please everyone!
16. I just found out (literally) that my leave date for Iraq is now 14 March 09...officially (for now).
17. I use writing and music as outlets....and of course basketball.
18. Dried spit in a sink is disgusting and it DRIVES ME CRAZY.... spit and rinse, it's not hard people!
19. I hate for people to wait on me (being late is a pet peeve of mine) OR to be waiting on people.... it's rude and self-centered. Pick up your phone and call if something comes up... don't just have me waiting and wondering... b/c I'm good at making up horrible reasons (car accident) of why you would be late and then start to worry.... not cool.
20. I enjoy people and hearing about experiences that have made them who they have become.
21. I want to travel out of the country more than I have.... Iraq wasn't really what I had in mind, but it's a start.
22. I am protective of my friends and especially my family.... I become very NOT laid back when it comes to them.
23. I have been a romantic at heart since I was little.... but am starting to sober up and realize that love is a CHOICE not just a feeling.
24. I like smiling, smiling is my favorite.... and laughing.
25. I love the beach AND the mountains AND I wish I knew more about photography b/c I love pictures......a random group but I am following the rules for once... my list of 25 is complete!

Now it's your turn! I'm tagging Megan, Goggles & Grace, Watkins Clan, Campbell Soup, Abby, Lil Scotts, and Carrie!

Things I hear at work....

For the most part, the fact that I work predominantly with people that are at least 20 years my senior, goes unnoticed from day to day tasks. But it's moments like today that it's impossible remind me, I am not amongst my peers.



I was standing talking to one co-worker while another came up to join the conversation. She let out a big sneeze and I did what normal people do and said "Bless you." Her response?? "Thank you. Goodness! That just made me wet myself." What? Excuse me? Did she just say her sneeze caused her to "wet" herself?? She did. And I could not hide the fact that I was 1. shocked that she admitted that, 2. baffled as to how that can happen and 3. humored at the fact that she wet her pants because she sneezed so hard.



My co-workers then went on to say how that happens to them all the time and sometimes when they cough hard enough. By now, I'm literally on the floor laughing and they tell me something about how I have that to look forward to... But I couldn't really hear them I was laughing so hard. These are the types of conversations that I am not-so-gently reminded that I work with old, um, "developed" people BUT I love them and their uncontrolled bladders. I don't get to hear stuff like that when I hang out with my friends.... at least, not yet.

Inauguration Day

I am watching the inauguration as I type. There are so many people there and you can see the excitement!! Megan texted me with a poignant thought... People are worshiping him. Instead of chanting U-S-A! U-S-A!! It's, O-BAM-A!! O-BAM-A!!! It worries me only because I know what happens when you put your faith and trust in any man.... disappointment.

I know this is an exciting moment in our country's history. I pray that we remember it is God who has allowed our country to get to this point and prosper, and God will continue to be the one who holds the fate of our great nation in His hands. One man, elected as president can not be our savior... we already have one of those, his name is Jesus. My hope and prayer is that President Obama leads with humility, integrity and courage as the task he has before him will not be easy... there are a lot of people with HIGH expectations from this man. I pray that we as a people will remember just that, he is a MAN, not a god. Let's put our faith in God and prayerfully support the man we have elected into this position.

Proverbs 21:1 - "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."

God bless you President Obama, you will be in my prayers!!!