Tomorrow begins the state basketball tournament over in Yakima. As I sit here in utter exhaustion, I am revived when I think about where my favorite team is headed tomorrow and what the next four days could hold for them.
After a very successful season the Storm has made their way to Yakima and tomorrow afternoon, they will begin one of the greatest basketball tournaments ever played in the school's history.
It is predicted that they should win the state championship, something which we all hope will happen! What a season!!
Watching those players cut their own nets down last week (after having won the district championship) was something I will never forget.
Although upsets happen all the time, I look forward with great anticipation, hope, stress, and excitement to these next four days.
I leave for Yakima on Thursday... yup, I am even skipping school, play practice, piano lessons, C & C class, horse lessons, and homework (that's a tough one) just to go see the most awesome team in the world play. But it is so worth it!
And so as I finish this post, let me encourage you to tune into your radios these next few days, and read the sports section of the paper.... the Storm will make you proud. Go Storm!
"Once you sit on the Storm side, you bleed blue the rest of your life." S. Murray
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Runin' with Daddy!!!
Saturday morning dawned cold, windy, and slightly sunny. I rolled out of bed at 8:09 with a pounding headache and quickly slipped into my running clothes. After taking something for my headache I made some toast and then daddy and I got into the car. All the way to Everson, Daddy kept saying that it was too cold to run, that it had better not be cold when we got there, and that if it rained even a few drops he would NOT run under any circumstances.
Where were we going?
Well, we were going to both run in a small race in Everson. Both of us were running the 4 mile race as we had decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea to run the ½ marathon. We arrived in plenty of time and registered. Finally after waiting for what seemed like hours, all of us the racers moved to the starting line and then we were off. Aaaaah… running! Its great! The first ¾ of a mile were glorious. Both daddy and I were flying along and passing people. But after that the wind picked up, coming in strong gusts and making it feel as though you were running in place. My pace dragged and I watched as my dad got further and further ahead of me. Eventually he was so far in front of me that I could no longer see him. I think that the next 2 miles were some of the worst miles of my life. I have decided now that running in the wind is painful, torturous and all out frustrating. I also have a theory about mile 3, because in this race there was no mile 3 mark and in the last race I did, there was no mile 3 mark as well. What is with that???
After I turned onto the last stretch that was about a mile long, I felt better. I was in a rhythm, things were going great! I passed the coffee shop that my friend Bailey works at and she came running out and cheered me on!! I love her!
And so, much to my chagrin, my dad beat me! I am very proud of him though! Yay!!! The best part was that we both placed 3rd in our age groups!! Daddy with a time of 34:25 and me with a time of 42:14!!! It was so much fun to run with him and I am so excited for the next race that we can do together!
Where were we going?
Well, we were going to both run in a small race in Everson. Both of us were running the 4 mile race as we had decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea to run the ½ marathon. We arrived in plenty of time and registered. Finally after waiting for what seemed like hours, all of us the racers moved to the starting line and then we were off. Aaaaah… running! Its great! The first ¾ of a mile were glorious. Both daddy and I were flying along and passing people. But after that the wind picked up, coming in strong gusts and making it feel as though you were running in place. My pace dragged and I watched as my dad got further and further ahead of me. Eventually he was so far in front of me that I could no longer see him. I think that the next 2 miles were some of the worst miles of my life. I have decided now that running in the wind is painful, torturous and all out frustrating. I also have a theory about mile 3, because in this race there was no mile 3 mark and in the last race I did, there was no mile 3 mark as well. What is with that???
After I turned onto the last stretch that was about a mile long, I felt better. I was in a rhythm, things were going great! I passed the coffee shop that my friend Bailey works at and she came running out and cheered me on!! I love her!
And so, much to my chagrin, my dad beat me! I am very proud of him though! Yay!!! The best part was that we both placed 3rd in our age groups!! Daddy with a time of 34:25 and me with a time of 42:14!!! It was so much fun to run with him and I am so excited for the next race that we can do together!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Simple Pleasures
Due to the influence of one of my "brothers" (he will remain nameless although I am sure most of you can guess who it is) I was inspired to eat ice cream. And so, in pursuit of all things creamy and sweet I trekked to Edaleens in search of 2 flavors that would satisfy my ice cream deficiency. Only minutes after entering the store I emerged victorious with a smile on my face and a paper bag in one hand that held my precious two 1.75 quart tubs of ice cream. What flavors did I get? Well, one was bubble gum and the other was maple nut. I know, I know... who likes bubble gum????? I DO!!!!!!!! Maybe it is because I like the blue or the flavor or the weirdness of it, but whatever... Bubble Gum ice cream rocks!!!
When I waltzed into the house, with my cheezy I-did-something-that-just-might-be-considered-crazy-and-possibly-naughty grin, my family just looked at me and was rather speechless when I happily informed them that I had bought ice cream. Their incredulous smiles quickly turned into hopeful grins as they asked if I was going to share "my" ice cream. And my rather mischievous answer was "maybe..."
Over the last few days, my family and I have greatly enjoyed the ice cream. I must say that it is one of the best things to eat when you are doing homework and starting to feel overwhelmed or when you just need a refreshing "brain break". Nothing like funky blue ice cream or that wonderfully sweet flavor of maple nut to revive you!!!
My reason for eating ice cream?!?!?! Well, although I am taking this song totally out of context and although I am risking sounding extremely selfish I am going to put a quote up from the song "The Next 5 minutes" by Steven Curtis Chapman.
"I'm living the next 5 minutes like these were my last 5 minutes. Cause I know the next 5 minutes may be all I have"... and so why not eat ice cream!?!?!?!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
My Brothers...
Its 10:30 pm... I am doing math homework at the kitchen table, Grant and Andrew are doing chemistry and other stuff in the office. Dylan is already asleep (very wise). Every once a while I catch drifts of conversation involving terms that I have no clue about. Its quiet here, with only the fire making noise. Then I come to a halt in my homework... my brain can't figure the next problem out. I go ask my brothers for help...
Or...
I hop around the kitchen... grab the permanent marker and peek to make sure the boys aren't looking. A face sticking it's tongue out goes on Andrew's napkin, "poor Bill" goes on Dylan's, and "Get Well Soon" goes on Grant's. Hahaha... what good sports. They just look at me and roll their eyes. At dinner there is a constant stream of teasing, although there is still lots of seriousness. Grant wants ice cream... so eventually the ice cream appears on the table. I serve some up for Andrew to make up for me being "mean" to him.
Or...
My last day at the Larsen's, Dylan made me some popcorn chicken. Very good!!! I never get that at home! And it was even served on a plate with barbecue sauce!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yup, so this past week I found out how awesome and totally annoying brothers can be (and I think they have found out how annoying a second sister can be). Because my family was very sick I was been banished from my home, but welcomed in at another home that is almost like my real home. Becoming a temporary part of this family has provided me with great entertainment as well as a store of hilarious and fun memories.
The three guys that I call my brothers have been the brunt of some of the best practical jokes I could come up with, they have teased me to no end and been teased back, they have helped me through volleyball game after volleyball game, and they have provided a constant source of amusement for me. But despite all of the fun and good times, they have blessed me with yet another aspect. Countless times they have sat through one of my long upset speeches at school, or advised me on something, helped me with homework, asked me how I was doing, or encouraged me through IM, email, or talking.
For years I wanted brothers, now I don’t. Not because I think they would be bad to have, but because I already have them. They know that I call them my brothers and they just smile and take it when they hear about it. I have been called both sister and mommy by them… so I guess I am like a sister too. I go to school and church with them, play with them, eat with them, and study with them. They have seen at my worst (which probably means they have never seen me at my best) and I have seen them at some of their “not so good” times. Their patience is quite amazing… how many people are willing to explain a game to somebody like me (who takes forever to understand). I have to laugh at some of it... my, my. All three are crazy, in a good way though, and kindness is something I see in all of them. The best part though, is that all of us share something in common… we are children of God, making us truly brothers and sister in Christ!
So thank you to my brothers! Without you I wouldn’t be who I am today and have learned more from you guys than you know.
For years I wanted brothers, now I don’t. Not because I think they would be bad to have, but because I already have them. They know that I call them my brothers and they just smile and take it when they hear about it. I have been called both sister and mommy by them… so I guess I am like a sister too. I go to school and church with them, play with them, eat with them, and study with them. They have seen at my worst (which probably means they have never seen me at my best) and I have seen them at some of their “not so good” times. Their patience is quite amazing… how many people are willing to explain a game to somebody like me (who takes forever to understand). I have to laugh at some of it... my, my. All three are crazy, in a good way though, and kindness is something I see in all of them. The best part though, is that all of us share something in common… we are children of God, making us truly brothers and sister in Christ!
So thank you to my brothers! Without you I wouldn’t be who I am today and have learned more from you guys than you know.
Note: Post coming soon on my "sister".
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