	Family, Friends, Farwell in San Diego
This last AVP tournament of the season started off nicely with chocolate covered strawberries and a surprise visit from my Mom. Unfortunately, it didn't end so happily, as we lost our only match to Michelle More / Suzanne Stonebarger, the #10 team, 11-21, 20-22. On Thursday I was able to pick up my mom from the airport and we immediately headed down to San Diego. My mom's wonderful cousin, Andy Jones, opened her home to us and we stopped by to give hugs and drop our stuff before heading to the event to practice. We played on Mission Beach in San Diego and the set up was great. Brooke showed up and we practiced for about 45 minutes before heading to our AVP Christian Fellowship meeting. This was perhaps the greatest addition to my experiences on the AVP tour, and a couple of us athletes were able to sit together and share our struggles that week and pray for each other. This time I even drug my mom along and of course everyone loved "Bonnie." Afterwards, my mom and I wanted to grab dinner and I wanted to invite Brooke and her parents who at the last minute decided to fly down, to a dinner at Olive Garden. This turned out to be one of the highlights. All of us talked and talked for about 2 ½ hours. It's amazing how much we found out about each other and how similar our families and lives really are. Lots of laughter and connections were being made and it was great to share this with my teammate. I told my mom, from all my partner switches, I am a little gun-shy and reserved in making deeper connections, for the somewhat painful separations afterwards. I have a tendency to get really attached to people in my life and when things don't work out, I usually have hard times disconnecting. I found myself still reserved with Brooke, even though she has been an answer to my prayers in a partner. I never thought I could find a partner to pray with before a match, so it was great to end off the season with her. The next day we found out we were playing at 3:00pm due to the format that was ALL single elimination. I still don't know why they did that to us players. The tournament was on a real beach and no real reason for the single elimination. Anyway, when I woke up my wonderful Aunt had made breakfast for us and we all sat out on her porch and enjoyed a great breakfast together. Shortly after, my mom and I headed down to the tournament to watch before I had to play. Even though it was nice to sleep a little, waiting all day to play is a little draining. All the anxiousness and excitement has to last all day till 3:00 in the afternoon. Before we started to warm up, my wonderful support group/fan club all showed up. My mom's other cousins Greg and Janelle, as well as my wonderful and supportive friends, the Forseth's all came down to support us. Even Brooke's boyfriend and roommate along with her parents were all cheering us on. So we definitely had the best cheering squad. The game began and it was close to 7-7 before the head referee came up to me and told me that Brooke and I were "unprofessional" meaning he didn't think our swimsuits matched in color. REALLY? This was quite frustrating because I was wearing red/black and white, and Brooke was wearing red/black and white. Hmmmm, I think those were the same colors. Well, after a 5 minute interruption we continued to play but Suzanne and Michelle were digging a lot and beat us handily in game one 21-11. Brooke and I came back out after settling in a little to make a run in game two. After 16-16 they pushed to take a 19-16 lead before we came back one by one to tie it 20-20. Unfortunately they hit a ball over on one contact that hit the back line to win the match 22-20. Due to single elimination we were done and finished with a 17th place. It wasn't the way I wanted to end the season, but playing the #10 seed team is tough even though I thought we could have won it. When the last ball dropped and after letting it sink in, it was weird thinking that this season was over, and my 22 week straight adventure was actually ending. I told my mom I was going to go order a huge bowl of ice cream or big piece of cake. I was so excited to be able to order whatever I wanted and not have to go buy anymore flights, rent cars, or schedule practices. However, that excitement lasted only a short time before a little part of me was sad. I did want a break but knew I would miss playing every weekend a little. I would also miss all the AVP staff who are fun to see each week. I would miss the adventures but not the break-ups. Ha ha! Leaving the event, after all my thanks to people in the AVP, my mom and I headed to eat dinner with all our family. My mom's uncle Gordy (Pearl Harbor survivor) along with all the cousins, Greg, Janelle, Viki, John, Andy, and Bev were all there and we had a wonderful time catching up and eating together. Being with family is such a wonderful thing and I have realized that for me personally, family is so important and I am so thankful for the supportive, loving family that I have. So to have those moments together is really a joy for me. The next days were still busy with lots of driving but I was able to have a few more great moments with Bruce McNicol and his family and my Oma Ruth in Ontario before packing my "life" in a suitcase for Colorado. Anyone who knows how I travel, I really do pack my "life" and these crazy airline rules of $25 for a 2nd bag are designed to kill me! So I packed my suitcase as much as I could and then had 2 carry-ons. I know I am crazy but I was leaving for 6 weeks. Also, today I just found out that technically even though this AVP season is done, I will be playing the Motherlode in Aspen, CO this year with a player I have always wanted to play with, Diane Pascua. Then an hour ago I got a message that the AVP is expanding the Manhattan Beach AVP to 32 teams instead of 8, so I could still play in that as well. This will be on Sept. 19-21. Since I have had so many partners, I won't be eligible for the "team" events in Cincinnati, Santa Barbara and San Francisco, but will hopefully play in Manhattan. So I guess this isn't the last you will hear from me.....sorry. But you'll have a little break until after the motherlode in Aspen. So we don't have to say goodbye quite yet, but thanks in advance for all the support over this season so far. It has made more of a difference than you will ever know! Barefoot to sponsor me in Aspen!! I am so excited!! I also just found out that Barefoot will be sponsoring Diane and I in Aspen for the Motherlode. Last year they made the tournament so fun for Catie and me and I am so excited to be there with them again. They treated us like superstars and was fun to be apart of a group! So if you go up there, we will be the "Barefoot team!" Thanks Barefoot!!

Family, Friends, Farwell in San Diego

This last AVP tournament of the season started off nicely with chocolate covered strawberries and a surprise visit from my Mom. Unfortunately, it didn't end so happily, as we lost our only match to Michelle More / Suzanne Stonebarger, the #10 team, 11-21, 20-22.

On Thursday I was able to pick up my mom from the airport and we immediately headed down to San Diego. My mom's wonderful cousin, Andy Jones, opened her home to us and we stopped by to give hugs and drop our stuff before heading to the event to practice. We played on Mission Beach in San Diego and the set up was great. Brooke showed up and we practiced for about 45 minutes before heading to our AVP Christian Fellowship meeting.

This was perhaps the greatest addition to my experiences on the AVP tour, and a couple of us athletes were able to sit together and share our struggles that week and pray for each other. This time I even drug my mom along and of course everyone loved "Bonnie."

Afterwards, my mom and I wanted to grab dinner and I wanted to invite Brooke and her parents who at the last minute decided to fly down, to a dinner at Olive Garden. This turned out to be one of the highlights. All of us talked and talked for about 2 ½ hours. It's amazing how much we found out about each other and how similar our families and lives really are. Lots of laughter and connections were being made and it was great to share this with my teammate. I told my mom, from all my partner switches, I am a little gun-shy and reserved in making deeper connections, for the somewhat painful separations afterwards. I have a tendency to get really attached to people in my life and when things don't work out, I usually have hard times disconnecting. I found myself still reserved with Brooke, even though she has been an answer to my prayers in a partner. I never thought I could find a partner to pray with before a match, so it was great to end off the season with her.

The next day we found out we were playing at 3:00pm due to the format that was ALL single elimination. I still don't know why they did that to us players. The tournament was on a real beach and no real reason for the single elimination. Anyway, when I woke up my wonderful Aunt had made breakfast for us and we all sat out on her porch and enjoyed a great breakfast together. Shortly after, my mom and I headed down to the tournament to watch before I had to play.

Even though it was nice to sleep a little, waiting all day to play is a little draining. All the anxiousness and excitement has to last all day till 3:00 in the afternoon. Before we started to warm up, my wonderful support group/fan club all showed up. My mom's other cousins Greg and Janelle, as well as my wonderful and supportive friends, the Forseth's all came down to support us. Even Brooke's boyfriend and roommate along with her parents were all cheering us on. So we definitely had the best cheering squad.

The game began and it was close to 7-7 before the head referee came up to me and told me that Brooke and I were "unprofessional" meaning he didn't think our swimsuits matched in color. REALLY? This was quite frustrating because I was wearing red/black and white, and Brooke was wearing red/black and white. Hmmmm, I think those were the same colors. Well, after a 5 minute interruption we continued to play but Suzanne and Michelle were digging a lot and beat us handily in game one 21-11. Brooke and I came back out after settling in a little to make a run in game two. After 16-16 they pushed to take a 19-16 lead before we came back one by one to tie it 20-20. Unfortunately they hit a ball over on one contact that hit the back line to win the match 22-20. Due to single elimination we were done and finished with a 17th place.

It wasn't the way I wanted to end the season, but playing the #10 seed team is tough even though I thought we could have won it. When the last ball dropped and after letting it sink in, it was weird thinking that this season was over, and my 22 week straight adventure was actually ending. I told my mom I was going to go order a huge bowl of ice cream or big piece of cake. I was so excited to be able to order whatever I wanted and not have to go buy anymore flights, rent cars, or schedule practices. However, that excitement lasted only a short time before a little part of me was sad. I did want a break but knew I would miss playing every weekend a little. I would also miss all the AVP staff who are fun to see each week. I would miss the adventures but not the break-ups. Ha ha!

Leaving the event, after all my thanks to people in the AVP, my mom and I headed to eat dinner with all our family. My mom's uncle Gordy (Pearl Harbor survivor) along with all the cousins, Greg, Janelle, Viki, John, Andy, and Bev were all there and we had a wonderful time catching up and eating together. Being with family is such a wonderful thing and I have realized that for me personally, family is so important and I am so thankful for the supportive, loving family that I have. So to have those moments together is really a joy for me.

The next days were still busy with lots of driving but I was able to have a few more great moments with Bruce McNicol and his family and my Oma Ruth in Ontario before packing my "life" in a suitcase for Colorado. Anyone who knows how I travel, I really do pack my "life" and these crazy airline rules of $25 for a 2nd bag are designed to kill me! So I packed my suitcase as much as I could and then had 2 carry-ons. I know I am crazy but I was leaving for 6 weeks.

Also, today I just found out that technically even though this AVP season is done, I will be playing the Motherlode in Aspen, CO this year with a player I have always wanted to play with, Diane Pascua. Then an hour ago I got a message that the AVP is expanding the Manhattan Beach AVP to 32 teams instead of 8, so I could still play in that as well. This will be on Sept. 19-21. Since I have had so many partners, I won't be eligible for the "team" events in Cincinnati, Santa Barbara and San Francisco, but will hopefully play in Manhattan. So I guess this isn't the last you will hear from me.....sorry. But you'll have a little break until after the motherlode in Aspen. So we don't have to say goodbye quite yet, but thanks in advance for all the support over this season so far. It has made more of a difference than you will ever know!

Barefoot to sponsor me in Aspen!!

I am so excited!! I also just found out that Barefoot will be sponsoring Diane and I in Aspen for the Motherlode. Last year they made the tournament so fun for Catie and me and I am so excited to be there with them again. They treated us like superstars and was fun to be apart of a group! So if you go up there, we will be the "Barefoot team!" Thanks Barefoot!!