A Tribute

Well.

I’m a little overwhelmed with emotion in writing this post—

and I can’t quite come to terms with the fact that playing soccer on the competitive level is over for me.

So I’m going to do my best to express myself through writing, but... bear with me.

Okay.

So.

Soccer has been a part of my life on the team level for at least 18 years. EIGHTEEN YEARS that this sport has been a part of my life.

EIGHTEEN Years.

And I don’t quite know how to say “thank you” to the sport, to my coaches, to my teammates, and to my family.

I’ve grown in ways I never anticipated or even knew that I needed.

This sport has been the catalyst for personal improvement, spiritual realization, character development, and so much more.

I’ve developed a love for pushing myself to my absolute limits.

I’ve been pushed to places that ultimately end in tears. Oh so many tears.

With different teams, we’ve taken wins, and suffered losses. But in the end, it wasn’t about the wins and losses for me. It was about growth; personally, as as team, and for my teammates. And often, it was taking the losses that ended up in teaching me the most.

I’ve made friends that I’ll have for a lifetime.

I’ve developed a deep-rooted passion for this sport.

And I just want to say thank you.

Thanks for the memories.

Thanks for the development of who I am.

Thanks to my coaches for believing in me. For putting up with me. For cultivating my potential. You have no idea what your trust, support, love, and un-ending hours of work, training, laughs, and time away from your families have meant to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Soccer,

Thank you for being a sport that’s physically demanding, emotionally exhausting, and mentally straining. Thank you for teaching me that I am capable at conquering hard things. Thank you for teaching me that being a good teammate doesn’t mean just helping secure a win. Thank you for stretching me, molding me, and refining me into the player and person that I am.

I love you.

I’m not ready for this season of my life to be over.

I’ll never forget the gratitude that I have for a coach that took a chance on a player he knew next to nothing about. I’ll be forever grateful for the chance I had to play soccer at SVU.

I just hope you all that still get to play at the competitive level never take it for granted.

Summer Lovin'

**this post is late... and that cute VA and I are no longer a thing... more deets to come on that

Whoa whoa whoa.

I'm back in Virginia.

I flew in on a red-eye.

This summer went SO freaking fast. I don't think I had a single day where I didn't go somewhere or do something. Wild.

But. So fun.

Okay.

So I flew home and it was so good to see my mama. I missed her!

And her and Jaden and Avery picked me up from the airport.

We went to Utah for Matt's wedding. It was honestly so fun! I was punched in the face by mom because I stole her phone when she was texting and driving at 80mph. I almost called DHS but because I'm not a fetus anymore I don't think it would have done much good.

He had an outdoor wedding and he looks so so happy. And that is awesome. I love his family and they are so so fun!

Jaden has a little fling with Isaac Young- lol. We sang "Summer Lovin'" from Grease all summer long. Hope they have a real fling one day ahahah.

*note: I want an outdoor wedding... it was gorrrrgeous*

I got to see so many of my college buddies! And that was amazing. I saw Tat (and her filled womb), Kora (played indoor with her (got my a$$ kicked), and Mac! We also took a day to go out to Tooele. I visited with Lori, Shawn and Windy, Kaylee and her mama.

I also stayed the night at Kaylee's and holy crap I miss that girl and love her sooo much.

Okay. So our Utah trip was bomb.

Came home and started working for the YMCA. It was a hard adjustment going from the cities summer camp programs but overall it was good. I love being treated like trash from a 10 year old hahaha. I also started reffing soccer games for them and that was so so funnnn! I freaking love soccer and doing that didn't even feel like work.

Mom and I went on our trip to Disneyland and instead of it just being mom, me, Aunt Shannon, and Parker... Rebecca, ShaeLee and Stephanie came. And I was SOO glad they did. It was seriously so freaking fun. We were running the whole time.. we got an extra half day and we seriously lived up every moment that we were in the park. I still crave beignets. The churros were uh-mazing. I had so much fun bonding with my family. I want to go again. Like, right now. Thoroughly convinced that Disney is the happiest place on Earth.

We went camping, did lots of hiking, some swimming, and lived it up. I spent lots of time with my niece and nephew. Spent lots of time snapchatting, skyping my love... and boom now I'm back.

Okay, lets take a second to talk about long-distance relationships. I have two words: they suck.

BUT.

When I was back with my boy-- it all became worth it. I feel like I'd walk over hot coals to be able to call that man mine. I love him. And I'm excited for the future.

^^too sappy? Maybe. Get over it haha.

Okay.

Senior Year.

Senior Season.

I'm stoked. I'm excited. I'm nervous.

But hey.

Let's Go.