	Lucky in Kentucky
Landing in Kentucky was the beginning of what would be the craziest emotional rollercoaster yet. I flew in a day earlier than Lauren, so had some time to kill and on my way from the airport, I saw a sign, "Churchill Downs, next exit" so I veered off the road and headed to the famous location of the Kentucky Derby. I grew up loving horses and to be able to see where they hold the derby was super exciting! I turned the corner and my eyes gazed upon this grandiose building. I pulled in and just had to park to see the track. Walking into the building was super exciting. There was so much to see, and people were walking around everywhere. I found races were going on and people were betting on them. I asked a nice worker, Robert, if I could go into the track to watch since I have never been to Churchill Downs. He was so kind and let me watch the race. Even though it wasn't the Kentucky Derby, I could just imagine the thousands of people all gathered for the exciting race. After the race I walked back to Robert and asked him all sorts of questions, and I couldn't believe how helpful he was. He told me that I should go buy a ticket for the next race. But I had no CLUE what anything meant, nor any of the horses. So he gave me a sentence to memorize and I walked up to the lady at the counter and said, "Okay I need a 2,4,8 box, trifactor thingy, and I hope that makes sense!" The lady laughed at me and said ok! So I paid my $6 and had a ticket to my 1st horse race! I walked back into the track and watched the race. I was such a nerd too, because I really didn't know who to cheer for, but assumed I wanted 2, 4, or 8. So I just cheered those numbers and after the race ran to Robert and asked if I won! The winner was 4 then 2 then 8. SO WE WON!!! Cause of the box thing.... I think! I was jumping up and down and hugged Robert and was SUPER excited! So I went back to the lady and collected my $60 and walked out with a smile! I just won at the Kentucky Derby....or at least that is what I told myself! I hoped this "luck" would carry over to my game in the morning. After leaving the track I headed to the parent's house of a girl, Stephanie, I met at the Motherlode tournament in Aspen last year. Their names are Joni and Jim Lyman and they opened up their house to me and Lauren and they turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of the weekend. I got out of the car and gave these wonderful people who I never have met a hug and they set me up in their upstairs bedroom. Then they made me a delicious dinner and we sat around the table for a couple of hours just talking and enjoying time together! That night I also got a call from my "good luck charm friend" Peter, who had decided to drive down from Chicago and would be there in the morning. I was excited! That morning I woke up and met Peter for a movie, then picked up Lauren from the airport to head to the playing site to practice again. It was a little rough again and was hoping that it might come together in the morning. We headed back to our "house" and once again Joni and Jim fixed us a delicious dinner. Game day approached and the pressure was a little thick in our first time playing together. Our 1st game was at 10:45 and we were playing against Paige Davis and Courtney Guerra. We were ranked 10th and expected to win. The game began, and we played really well out of the gate. We won the 1st game, 21-15 and we were feeling good. Then the second game they came out fighting and took game two 21-19 to force a game 3. It went back and forth and eventually the game to 15 was tied 10-10, before I had a hit to get us 11-10. They sided-out for 11-11 and then we scored a point for 12-11 then I dove for a dig that flew back on their side and landed in for 14-11. Paige and Courtney scored 12 before Lauren made a great hit for the win 15-12. YEAH! We won our 1st. That was good for 2 reasons! The first round was single elimination and we needed to win that to stay alive, so it took a little pressure off us. It was also Lauren's first time playing this year and of course our 1st match playing together. This set up our second match against Jenny Kropp and Nancy Mason. They are a great team and took us in 2 games 21-12 and 21-19. Fortunately we were still alive since we won our first match and made it to the double elimination bracket. We were still going and would play Angela McHenry and Lisa Rutledge on Sunday morning. We went back to our "home" and AGAIN Joni and Jim cooked Lauren, Peter and me another dinner. And this time Peter made us all a yummy appetizer called, "Sunday morning win!" We laughed and hoped it would be true to its incredible taste. Our 1st match of Sunday morning was at 9am and started off pretty shaky. I wasn't playing well in game one and we lost the first game 13-21. I then talked to Lauren about switching up our strategy and had her run to the net to block, while I played all the defense. Well this turned out to be the difference and we won the second game 21-16 to yet again force another 3rd game to 15. It was fairly close till 5-5 when they made a run to be ahead 9-6, then 12-9 before we made a huge push and fought back to win, 16-14!!! YEAH!!! I couldn't believe it that we came back AGAIN and won in 3. And this put us in 9th place (my 1st ever) and would set us up against Holly McPeak (one of winniest AVP players in the history of beach volleyball) and her dynamic partner of Angie Akers. I knew we had nothing to lose and was excited to play against them. The game began and we had Lauren run to the net and I was able to play defense again! Well God must have put wings on my back because I was able to play the best defense I have ever played. We hung with them the entire time before taking the lead 19-16 and then winning the first game 21-19. OH MY GOSH!! We just won the first game!! Against Holly McPeak! I knew they would definitely play tougher in the 2nd game but we stayed with them and the game was close the entire time 19-18, 19-19, 20-19, 21-20. At 21-20 Lauren served Holly and she made a great "cut" or angle hit and I dove out in the sand barely touching it and it went back over to their side. I thought it was going out but Angie played it then Holly couldn't play it back over and WE WON!!!!! We just beat Holly McPeak and Angie Akers in 2!! Peter, Joni and Jim were cheering us on so loudly and I jumped over the fence and gave them a hug! Then a ripped my phone out of my bag and called my parents screaming! The entire crowd around us must have thought I was 2 years old! I won mom, I won dad!! I was jumping up and down! I couldn't believe it! I was in shock!! And honestly in the game Saturday night when we lost to Nancy, I was talking to my parents about how frustrated I was and how hard it was for me. And then less than 24 hours we beat the #4 team of Holly McPeak and Angie Akers. God sure has a unique way of working in my life. You couldn't imagine the smile on my face and the excitement around us. We weren't even done yet! We would play the Lindquist sisters for a 5th place finish! They both are 5'6 and don't block but play amazing defense! I think the long day got to us and their defense was too good and they beat us, 21-16, 21-16. However we still finished 7th, the best I have EVER done!!! I was so excited to make it that far and to do it with Lauren, whom I have never played with and only practiced with once!!! I guess that "Sunday morning win" appetizer worked. I also told Peter (who I like to call my "agent" that he was there the 1st time I made the main draw in Chicago, the 1st time I got a 17th in Kentucky, the 1st time I got a 13th in Miami and now the 1st time I got a 7th!!! So I told him to quit his job and become our coach!! Ha ha!!! Finishing 7th was so wonderful and unfortunately little did I know that excitement would quickly dissipate. After the match, I was talking to Lauren about setting up plans for Atlanta in 5 days, and she told me that she needed some time to think. After 30 minutes, she told me that she wasn't going to play with me in Atlanta and instead she would play with Paula Roca. At first I was really bummed, since she said if we did well we would play Atlanta together and since we finished 7th, I thought that would be considered "good" and safe to plan to play with her. I guess she might have had other plans already so this left me hanging trying to find a partner in less than 10 hours. Registration for each event is by 11:00am Monday morning and this was all happening late Sunday night. AS much as I was frustrated and wanted to ask why, and all sorts of questions, I remember the graciousness of Saralyn and used her as my model. I told Lauren, that I understand and thanked her for being my partner to beat Holly McPeak! I also expressed that I always wanted a chance to play with her to see how well we could do, and felt really positive with the way I played, so I guess there can't be any regrets! However about 10 minutes later, reality set in and panic began to find a new partner. I already had my plane ticket to and from Atlanta so I quickly tried to figure out all my options. I wasn't having any luck in finding a partner so my old college setter from CSU who was playing indoor at Adult Nationals in Atlanta and was asking me to come play with them. They had started on Saturday and didn't win a game yet. Thinking I probably would be out for Atlanta I thought I might as well. And then she told me if I did, their wonderful and super generous sponsor Tom Kawono from team Shinkara would pay for my flight! I couldn't refuse the chance to go and play with my wonderful friends from Colorado and my incredible setter, Alison Peckham from college! I didn't know if playing indoor would be too good, but it sounded like I might be able to help them out. Needless to say, that night I didn't sleep too well. I had to share my bed with Lauren and then take her to the airport after she "dumped" me and that was hard to do. So I woke up at 5:00am and headed to the airport to Atlanta on my $562 (one way trip). I landed at 8:25 and ran to the train to make it to the gym for their next match. I haven't played indoor (on a court) since October when I played for my college's alumni match, so I was a little nervous. And since they had not won a game yet, we were in a do or die situation. If we didn't win this match, then we would be done and our match was against all the former All-American players from University of Hawaii. Yikes! We lost the 1st game 18-25 and I was anxious to see if we could pull it out! But we did and won the second game 25-17 and the third 25-23 and were down in the 4th game 22-18 before winning the match 26-24. We were still alive and I wish I could have taken a picture of the girl's faces. They were smiling and gave me a huge hug and thanked me for coming. That in itself was worth the early morning trip and craziness to get there. I love seeing them all smile and especially my wonderful setter Allie. It's amazing to me to know that I haven't played indoor in really almost a year, and Allie and I can walk on a court with no practice and just connect! I love that girl. Since we won, we played again later that night and won that game in 4 too! The girls played so well, and I was amazed by their heart, determination and the defense they played! Player for player we didn't even hold a candle stick to these teams of former All-Americans and international players. We just played together and with our chemistry we were able to over-achieve in this "open division!" This team went from not winning a game to making it to the quarterfinals of the adult open division! With a quick dinner and early morning, we were up again to play against team USA (the national training team) at 8am. We lost the 1st game 24-26 won the second game 25-20, and then ran out of gas for the third and fourth games losing 25-23, 25-21. With that loss we finished 5th in the tournament and the girls said they had a great time. It was worth every minute playing with a team I just enjoy. And even better, I was able to spend the next day with my friends who I miss so dearly in Colorado. Living in CA where the people are really different, I often forget how caring and real my friends in CO are! New, yes another one, partner for Atlanta: In between the two games I was playing with my indoor team, I was able to text message a couple of people about playing the AVP in Atlanta. I found out that Lauren (my recent/old partner) just dumped me to play with Paula Roca. And Paula Roca dumped Stacy Rowerhorst too! So Stacey sent me a message and we talked and decided to play together right before the deadline. I feel like I should show you a commercial here, and say "we will be right back to, ‘As the volleyball world turns' after these messages!" This was the BEST possible solution to what seemed to be a difficult situation. I have actually been watching Stacy all season and wanted the opportunity to play with her too! She was one of my other "Ideals" in the beginning and now I get a chance to play with her. She is super, super sweet and already so positive to play with. I am strongly praying that she will see the potential that I see, and will stick it out with me, because I really like her and think she is talented. It's funny how God has worked in my life and I know that many of you really prayed for me and Lauren and hopefully I can ask for those same amazing prayers with Stacy! With that, we play tomorrow in Atlanta at 9:45am and once again it's single elimination. I will have to see Lauren there and Saralyn my 1st partner will be playing with Janelle Ruen, so it's going to be a dating reunion!! So please, please keep us in your prayers and hopefully this partnership can be one that lasts, and I can leave the island of drama/soap operas. I never liked those anyway! And for those of you who have been trying to email or call, I apologize, I haven't had a chance to stop running around playing until today when I was able to squeeze this 10 million page summary in. But if you did make it all the way to here, I am so proud of you, and you deserve a treat, so go find some chocolate or ice cream for all your hard work reading!! Ha ha! Thanks for being in this journey with me and all the support you have given me. Some of your emails last week were the encouragement that kept me going and not having too many anxiety attacks! Prayers were answered and your love and support was much appreciated! I promise the next one (newsletter) won't be this long, just wanted to tell you everything that has happened in the last 7 days!

Lucky in Kentucky

Landing in Kentucky was the beginning of what would be the craziest emotional rollercoaster yet. I flew in a day earlier than Lauren, so had some time to kill and on my way from the airport, I saw a sign, "Churchill Downs, next exit" so I veered off the road and headed to the famous location of the Kentucky Derby. I grew up loving horses and to be able to see where they hold the derby was super exciting! I turned the corner and my eyes gazed upon this grandiose building. I pulled in and just had to park to see the track. Walking into the building was super exciting. There was so much to see, and people were walking around everywhere. I found races were going on and people were betting on them. I asked a nice worker, Robert, if I could go into the track to watch since I have never been to Churchill Downs. He was so kind and let me watch the race. Even though it wasn't the Kentucky Derby, I could just imagine the thousands of people all gathered for the exciting race. After the race I walked back to Robert and asked him all sorts of questions, and I couldn't believe how helpful he was. He told me that I should go buy a ticket for the next race. But I had no CLUE what anything meant, nor any of the horses. So he gave me a sentence to memorize and I walked up to the lady at the counter and said, "Okay I need a 2,4,8 box, trifactor thingy, and I hope that makes sense!" The lady laughed at me and said ok! So I paid my $6 and had a ticket to my 1st horse race! I walked back into the track and watched the race. I was such a nerd too, because I really didn't know who to cheer for, but assumed I wanted 2, 4, or 8. So I just cheered those numbers and after the race ran to Robert and asked if I won! The winner was 4 then 2 then 8. SO WE WON!!! Cause of the box thing.... I think! I was jumping up and down and hugged Robert and was SUPER excited! So I went back to the lady and collected my $60 and walked out with a smile! I just won at the Kentucky Derby....or at least that is what I told myself! I hoped this "luck" would carry over to my game in the morning.

After leaving the track I headed to the parent's house of a girl, Stephanie, I met at the Motherlode tournament in Aspen last year. Their names are Joni and Jim Lyman and they opened up their house to me and Lauren and they turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of the weekend. I got out of the car and gave these wonderful people who I never have met a hug and they set me up in their upstairs bedroom. Then they made me a delicious dinner and we sat around the table for a couple of hours just talking and enjoying time together! That night I also got a call from my "good luck charm friend" Peter, who had decided to drive down from Chicago and would be there in the morning. I was excited!

That morning I woke up and met Peter for a movie, then picked up Lauren from the airport to head to the playing site to practice again. It was a little rough again and was hoping that it might come together in the morning. We headed back to our "house" and once again Joni and Jim fixed us a delicious dinner.

Game day approached and the pressure was a little thick in our first time playing together. Our 1st game was at 10:45 and we were playing against Paige Davis and Courtney Guerra. We were ranked 10th and expected to win. The game began, and we played really well out of the gate. We won the 1st game, 21-15 and we were feeling good. Then the second game they came out fighting and took game two 21-19 to force a game 3. It went back and forth and eventually the game to 15 was tied 10-10, before I had a hit to get us 11-10. They sided-out for 11-11 and then we scored a point for 12-11 then I dove for a dig that flew back on their side and landed in for 14-11. Paige and Courtney scored 12 before Lauren made a great hit for the win 15-12. YEAH! We won our 1st. That was good for 2 reasons! The first round was single elimination and we needed to win that to stay alive, so it took a little pressure off us. It was also Lauren's first time playing this year and of course our 1st match playing together.

This set up our second match against Jenny Kropp and Nancy Mason. They are a great team and took us in 2 games 21-12 and 21-19. Fortunately we were still alive since we won our first match and made it to the double elimination bracket. We were still going and would play Angela McHenry and Lisa Rutledge on Sunday morning. We went back to our "home" and AGAIN Joni and Jim cooked Lauren, Peter and me another dinner. And this time Peter made us all a yummy appetizer called, "Sunday morning win!" We laughed and hoped it would be true to its incredible taste.

Our 1st match of Sunday morning was at 9am and started off pretty shaky. I wasn't playing well in game one and we lost the first game 13-21. I then talked to Lauren about switching up our strategy and had her run to the net to block, while I played all the defense. Well this turned out to be the difference and we won the second game 21-16 to yet again force another 3rd game to 15. It was fairly close till 5-5 when they made a run to be ahead 9-6, then 12-9 before we made a huge push and fought back to win, 16-14!!! YEAH!!! I couldn't believe it that we came back AGAIN and won in 3. And this put us in 9th place (my 1st ever) and would set us up against Holly McPeak (one of winniest AVP players in the history of beach volleyball) and her dynamic partner of Angie Akers. I knew we had nothing to lose and was excited to play against them.

The game began and we had Lauren run to the net and I was able to play defense again! Well God must have put wings on my back because I was able to play the best defense I have ever played. We hung with them the entire time before taking the lead 19-16 and then winning the first game 21-19. OH MY GOSH!! We just won the first game!! Against Holly McPeak! I knew they would definitely play tougher in the 2nd game but we stayed with them and the game was close the entire time 19-18, 19-19, 20-19, 21-20. At 21-20 Lauren served Holly and she made a great "cut" or angle hit and I dove out in the sand barely touching it and it went back over to their side. I thought it was going out but Angie played it then Holly couldn't play it back over and WE WON!!!!! We just beat Holly McPeak and Angie Akers in 2!! Peter, Joni and Jim were cheering us on so loudly and I jumped over the fence and gave them a hug! Then a ripped my phone out of my bag and called my parents screaming! The entire crowd around us must have thought I was 2 years old! I won mom, I won dad!! I was jumping up and down! I couldn't believe it! I was in shock!! And honestly in the game Saturday night when we lost to Nancy, I was talking to my parents about how frustrated I was and how hard it was for me. And then less than 24 hours we beat the #4 team of Holly McPeak and Angie Akers. God sure has a unique way of working in my life. You couldn't imagine the smile on my face and the excitement around us.

We weren't even done yet! We would play the Lindquist sisters for a 5th place finish! They both are 5'6 and don't block but play amazing defense! I think the long day got to us and their defense was too good and they beat us, 21-16, 21-16. However we still finished 7th, the best I have EVER done!!! I was so excited to make it that far and to do it with Lauren, whom I have never played with and only practiced with once!!! I guess that "Sunday morning win" appetizer worked. I also told Peter (who I like to call my "agent" that he was there the 1st time I made the main draw in Chicago, the 1st time I got a 17th in Kentucky, the 1st time I got a 13th in Miami and now the 1st time I got a 7th!!! So I told him to quit his job and become our coach!! Ha ha!!! Finishing 7th was so wonderful and unfortunately little did I know that excitement would quickly dissipate.

After the match, I was talking to Lauren about setting up plans for Atlanta in 5 days, and she told me that she needed some time to think. After 30 minutes, she told me that she wasn't going to play with me in Atlanta and instead she would play with Paula Roca. At first I was really bummed, since she said if we did well we would play Atlanta together and since we finished 7th, I thought that would be considered "good" and safe to plan to play with her. I guess she might have had other plans already so this left me hanging trying to find a partner in less than 10 hours. Registration for each event is by 11:00am Monday morning and this was all happening late Sunday night. AS much as I was frustrated and wanted to ask why, and all sorts of questions, I remember the graciousness of Saralyn and used her as my model. I told Lauren, that I understand and thanked her for being my partner to beat Holly McPeak! I also expressed that I always wanted a chance to play with her to see how well we could do, and felt really positive with the way I played, so I guess there can't be any regrets! However about 10 minutes later, reality set in and panic began to find a new partner. I already had my plane ticket to and from Atlanta so I quickly tried to figure out all my options.

I wasn't having any luck in finding a partner so my old college setter from CSU who was playing indoor at Adult Nationals in Atlanta and was asking me to come play with them. They had started on Saturday and didn't win a game yet. Thinking I probably would be out for Atlanta I thought I might as well. And then she told me if I did, their wonderful and super generous sponsor Tom Kawono from team Shinkara would pay for my flight! I couldn't refuse the chance to go and play with my wonderful friends from Colorado and my incredible setter, Alison Peckham from college! I didn't know if playing indoor would be too good, but it sounded like I might be able to help them out. Needless to say, that night I didn't sleep too well. I had to share my bed with Lauren and then take her to the airport after she "dumped" me and that was hard to do. So I woke up at 5:00am and headed to the airport to Atlanta on my $562 (one way trip). I landed at 8:25 and ran to the train to make it to the gym for their next match.

I haven't played indoor (on a court) since October when I played for my college's alumni match, so I was a little nervous. And since they had not won a game yet, we were in a do or die situation. If we didn't win this match, then we would be done and our match was against all the former All-American players from University of Hawaii. Yikes! We lost the 1st game 18-25 and I was anxious to see if we could pull it out! But we did and won the second game 25-17 and the third 25-23 and were down in the 4th game 22-18 before winning the match 26-24. We were still alive and I wish I could have taken a picture of the girl's faces. They were smiling and gave me a huge hug and thanked me for coming. That in itself was worth the early morning trip and craziness to get there. I love seeing them all smile and especially my wonderful setter Allie. It's amazing to me to know that I haven't played indoor in really almost a year, and Allie and I can walk on a court with no practice and just connect! I love that girl. Since we won, we played again later that night and won that game in 4 too! The girls played so well, and I was amazed by their heart, determination and the defense they played! Player for player we didn't even hold a candle stick to these teams of former All-Americans and international players. We just played together and with our chemistry we were able to over-achieve in this "open division!" This team went from not winning a game to making it to the quarterfinals of the adult open division!

With a quick dinner and early morning, we were up again to play against team USA (the national training team) at 8am. We lost the 1st game 24-26 won the second game 25-20, and then ran out of gas for the third and fourth games losing 25-23, 25-21. With that loss we finished 5th in the tournament and the girls said they had a great time. It was worth every minute playing with a team I just enjoy. And even better, I was able to spend the next day with my friends who I miss so dearly in Colorado. Living in CA where the people are really different, I often forget how caring and real my friends in CO are!

New, yes another one, partner for Atlanta:

In between the two games I was playing with my indoor team, I was able to text message a couple of people about playing the AVP in Atlanta. I found out that Lauren (my recent/old partner) just dumped me to play with Paula Roca. And Paula Roca dumped Stacy Rowerhorst too! So Stacey sent me a message and we talked and decided to play together right before the deadline. I feel like I should show you a commercial here, and say "we will be right back to, ‘As the volleyball world turns' after these messages!" This was the BEST possible solution to what seemed to be a difficult situation. I have actually been watching Stacy all season and wanted the opportunity to play with her too! She was one of my other "Ideals" in the beginning and now I get a chance to play with her. She is super, super sweet and already so positive to play with. I am strongly praying that she will see the potential that I see, and will stick it out with me, because I really like her and think she is talented. It's funny how God has worked in my life and I know that many of you really prayed for me and Lauren and hopefully I can ask for those same amazing prayers with Stacy! With that, we play tomorrow in Atlanta at 9:45am and once again it's single elimination. I will have to see Lauren there and Saralyn my 1st partner will be playing with Janelle Ruen, so it's going to be a dating reunion!! So please, please keep us in your prayers and hopefully this partnership can be one that lasts, and I can leave the island of drama/soap operas. I never liked those anyway! And for those of you who have been trying to email or call, I apologize, I haven't had a chance to stop running around playing until today when I was able to squeeze this 10 million page summary in. But if you did make it all the way to here, I am so proud of you, and you deserve a treat, so go find some chocolate or ice cream for all your hard work reading!! Ha ha!

Thanks for being in this journey with me and all the support you have given me. Some of your emails last week were the encouragement that kept me going and not having too many anxiety attacks! Prayers were answered and your love and support was much appreciated! I promise the next one (newsletter) won't be this long, just wanted to tell you everything that has happened in the last 7 days!