	Planes, Trains and answered prayers:
What a crazy trip I have been on, from my body confused what time zone I was in and where I was waking up, to my emotions racing with my switching of partners. Well it finally came to an end! I will actually be in the same place for at least the next 2 weeks! Yeah! Perhaps the most important thing to start this out with is the appreciation of those of you who stepped up their prayers for me, for I truly feel some events/gifts this weekend were answered prayers. I am sorry for back to back updates, but since I got the last one out so late this seems pretty quick. Some of you that read my last update came through like champions for me. I have always felt that God knows the value I place on those around me and speaks to me through them. Before I sent my last update, I was trekking all around New York City's subway, and for those of you who have been there, at that point I wanted to go home. There is an F, D, Q, R, N, 1, 2, 3, F, J, ......lines/trains all going in different directions. On Thursday I was supposed to meet my new partner Brooke for our 1st ever practice at 4:45pm, so leaving at 3:15 seemed like plenty of time......well I was wrong. The instructions I had were to take the Q train on 23rd and 6th. When I got there, no subway, it was on 23rd and Broadway, but when I got there, no Q train. So another new-Yorker said I could take the N train there. I purchased my ticket and waited for my N train while three R trains and 2 W trains went by. I DID see two N trains but they never stopped, they flew by, and I swear someone waved at me as they passed like, ha ha!! Finally I asked the MTA person and of course, the N was "Express" and didn't stop there, so I would have to take the R to the F to the N!! Are you kidding me??? No wonder people in New York are considered angry people, although everyone was fairly helpful to me when I asked for help! Eventually I found the N train and made my way to Coney Island (scary place by the way) and since I was late Brooke and I only had a chance to practice for 30 minutes. First practices with new partners are like 1st dates. We are on our best behavior, funny, sweet, and super easy going. "Oh that is such a great hit.....etc" I'm speaking from LOTS of experience with my 5th partner. Each partner you have to start over and "prove" yourself and actually it helps you focus a little better and right away I knew that Brooke and I would have good chemistry. This I was very thankful for. After practice I braved the subway yet again, although, the ride home was a little scary with the people in my particular car. The teacher in me wanted to be vocal and tell these inconsiderate kids on my train to stop what they were doing, but then the human person who wanted to stay alive just kept quiet and read the same sentence in my book with one eye and kept the other eye on the 7 unruly kids. The next morning I woke up at 6:00am to make sure I would be on the subway for my next adventure to be at the playing site by 8:00am. My first gift of the day was seeing a couple refs in the lobby of the hotel who had an extra seat in their car to the tournament and invited me. I think I might have sprinted to the car, before proclaiming YES, YES, YES!! This was a great way to start my morning, since I was able to learn a little about our hard working refs and realized that many of them take vacation time from their "real jobs" to ref for us. That gave me a new perspective on them and was thankful for their kindness to me. Once I got there, I looked at the bracket and since Brooke doesn't have many points, our ranking dropped and we would start as the #24 team, which placed us up against the #9 team of Jenny Kropp and Nancy Mason, a very tough team. It would be a difficult game for the debut of me and my 5th partner of the year. Before warming up, I went over to Brooke and told her that this weekend I was looking forward to having fun and told her that I asked many of my friends to pray for us. She was really excited to hear that, and being able to share that with her, since it is so important to me, was already such another gift. My third gift was reading a couple of e-mails before warming up which really calmed my anxious heart and put a smile on my face. A couple friends, emailed and told me that I am doing what I love and to enjoy it while I can. But the email that stuck in my mind was from wonderful friend Patti Kranske, which said, "Keep your head up - you are where you are for a reason and you need to truly trust it. You're not always going to be able to figure things out, just go with it, and have fun. Things will fall into place when the time is right--- so keep smiling, have fun, play hard, and clear your head and just go for it!! You will be fine it's a lot of hard work but it is also fun and what you love to do." This gave me such a huge confidence boost and peace of heart/mind to just play again because I love playing. With a smile on my face, which was much needed, I warmed up and we started our game against the #9 team. Anytime you start with a new partner you never really know what it will be like when the "pressure" is on and how we will respond together. Well my 4th gift was given to me that day. Brooke was great in competition, super positive and even dealt with all my corny, silly jokes! We stayed loose and played really hard. Even though we were down 5-9, we kept playing our hearts out and tied the game at 17-17. They scored a couple more points and had game point at 20-19, when I dove for a ball, and she set me an amazing set which I killed to tie it at 20-20. It went back and forth until Brooke made a great shot to win the game one 24-22. Sweet! Our first dance a success, but even better was the excitement on the court and the love of the game I had again. And not because we won, but because we played hard and we did it together. Game two would be tough, since they are a really good team, rarely finishing below 7th. However, our defense and blocking kept working well and at one point I told Brooke if she got 5 blocks I would buy her ice cream! Ha ha! She got 4, and we ended up winning game two 21-16 to win the match and take a huge upset!! Totally unexpected but a great win to share together. After the win, I told her she is one of my answered prayers, and she said the same to me! This win set us up against Holly McPeak and Angie Akers again for the 3rd time this season for me. This game didn't go as well, Angie was blocking really well, and I didn't side-out well enough to win that match, but I was still proud of our effort and how well we connected for our first time playing. Since we were on a real beach, (compared to bused in courts like Atlanta, etc) this was a double elimination tournament so we were still in it, and would play Kelly Wing and Suzana Manole for a 13th place. The heat of the day was starting to really drain us, and it was difficult trying to stay hydrated. It was 96 degree and humid, we were putting ice towels on our heads and luckily they were able to water down the courts a bit, but unfortunately it didn't keep it cool for too long. Game one started and it was close till we took the lead at 18-17, but tough serving pulled them ahead and eventually they won game one 21-17. This was a team we knew we could beat and wanted to take advantage of the spot we were in since upsetting the #9 team. Game two was much different and we came out on fire, winning game two 21-12 to force a third game to 15. This third game was very close as well, 5-5, 10-10, before we made a little run and were leading 14-12. They made a great shot to earn 13-14. Kelly served me a deep ball and Brooke game me a great set and I hit the ball down the middle to win the game and match 15-13. YEAH! We were so excited! This would mean we would get to play Saturday morning against Pricilla Lima and Angela Lewis, another talented team on the tour. So after that match I took my 90 minute subway back to my hotel which got me home at 8:30pm, ate some dinner and crashed for the next day. Luckily I was able to catch a ride again with the refs again the next morning and was there ready to play against this tough team who I haven't played yet this season. Well, they were a good team and even though it was close in both games until 14-14, they ended up winning the match 21-16, 21-15 and we finished at 13th place. Even though we lost, my 5th gift was loving to play again and competing hard against great teams. Also, Brooke's brother, his wife and her boyfriend were all there to cheer us on, so I was thankful I was able to meet her friends and family and they are in the picture with us. I am SO SO very thankful for all the prayers you said for me and Brooke this weekend, and for those of you who took the time to encourage me. Even though, I first thought this "fan club" was silly and no one would read it, I sure have changed my feeling about it and feel that you all have made a difference in some tournaments for me! So thank you!!! I am so happy to be getting back home and not have to wear the same 5 outfits all the time. But I think my mailman might be happier to finally have room in my mailbox after I was gone almost 25 days! It's been quite the month of travel, emotional roller coasters, personal growth but ready to be back in a familiar bed for a little while. I am really looking forward to no cabs, planes, R-N-Q trains or hotel rooms. This weekend we play (ON THURSDAY) in Long Beach, for our 2nd date, and just found out we will be playing in the qualifier, which is really scary. Brooke doesn't have many points and we would be the #22 team and they only take 20 teams. The remaining 4 spots come from the single elimination qualifier. This will be a small tournament with only 24 teams instead of the 32 teams, so we will have to earn a spot and with the number of really good teams, this will be a tough, tough weekend. So please, please, please pray that we play well and keep improving each time. This has also been really hard for me to accept, knowing that I haven't played in a qualifier all year and have been ranked high, so now to be back in the qualifier is a little tough, but hoping I will still be able to stay positive and do well. Also, after this tournament I only have ONE more AVP left of this crazy season. After Long beach this weekend, the following weekend we will be in San Deigo for my final stop, so praying these last tournaments go well for us. I can't thank you all enough for the support you have given me and walking/running through this journey with me!

Planes, Trains and answered prayers:

What a crazy trip I have been on, from my body confused what time zone I was in and where I was waking up, to my emotions racing with my switching of partners. Well it finally came to an end! I will actually be in the same place for at least the next 2 weeks! Yeah!

Perhaps the most important thing to start this out with is the appreciation of those of you who stepped up their prayers for me, for I truly feel some events/gifts this weekend were answered prayers. I am sorry for back to back updates, but since I got the last one out so late this seems pretty quick. Some of you that read my last update came through like champions for me. I have always felt that God knows the value I place on those around me and speaks to me through them.

Before I sent my last update, I was trekking all around New York City's subway, and for those of you who have been there, at that point I wanted to go home. There is an F, D, Q, R, N, 1, 2, 3, F, J, ......lines/trains all going in different directions. On Thursday I was supposed to meet my new partner Brooke for our 1st ever practice at 4:45pm, so leaving at 3:15 seemed like plenty of time......well I was wrong. The instructions I had were to take the Q train on 23rd and 6th. When I got there, no subway, it was on 23rd and Broadway, but when I got there, no Q train. So another new-Yorker said I could take the N train there. I purchased my ticket and waited for my N train while three R trains and 2 W trains went by. I DID see two N trains but they never stopped, they flew by, and I swear someone waved at me as they passed like, ha ha!! Finally I asked the MTA person and of course, the N was "Express" and didn't stop there, so I would have to take the R to the F to the N!! Are you kidding me??? No wonder people in New York are considered angry people, although everyone was fairly helpful to me when I asked for help! Eventually I found the N train and made my way to Coney Island (scary place by the way) and since I was late Brooke and I only had a chance to practice for 30 minutes.

First practices with new partners are like 1st dates. We are on our best behavior, funny, sweet, and super easy going. "Oh that is such a great hit.....etc" I'm speaking from LOTS of experience with my 5th partner. Each partner you have to start over and "prove" yourself and actually it helps you focus a little better and right away I knew that Brooke and I would have good chemistry. This I was very thankful for.

After practice I braved the subway yet again, although, the ride home was a little scary with the people in my particular car. The teacher in me wanted to be vocal and tell these inconsiderate kids on my train to stop what they were doing, but then the human person who wanted to stay alive just kept quiet and read the same sentence in my book with one eye and kept the other eye on the 7 unruly kids.

The next morning I woke up at 6:00am to make sure I would be on the subway for my next adventure to be at the playing site by 8:00am. My first gift of the day was seeing a couple refs in the lobby of the hotel who had an extra seat in their car to the tournament and invited me. I think I might have sprinted to the car, before proclaiming YES, YES, YES!! This was a great way to start my morning, since I was able to learn a little about our hard working refs and realized that many of them take vacation time from their "real jobs" to ref for us. That gave me a new perspective on them and was thankful for their kindness to me.

Once I got there, I looked at the bracket and since Brooke doesn't have many points, our ranking dropped and we would start as the #24 team, which placed us up against the #9 team of Jenny Kropp and Nancy Mason, a very tough team. It would be a difficult game for the debut of me and my 5th partner of the year. Before warming up, I went over to Brooke and told her that this weekend I was looking forward to having fun and told her that I asked many of my friends to pray for us. She was really excited to hear that, and being able to share that with her, since it is so important to me, was already such another gift.

My third gift was reading a couple of e-mails before warming up which really calmed my anxious heart and put a smile on my face. A couple friends, emailed and told me that I am doing what I love and to enjoy it while I can. But the email that stuck in my mind was from wonderful friend Patti Kranske, which said, "Keep your head up - you are where you are for a reason and you need to truly trust it. You're not always going to be able to figure things out, just go with it, and have fun. Things will fall into place when the time is right--- so keep smiling, have fun, play hard, and clear your head and just go for it!! You will be fine it's a lot of hard work but it is also fun and what you love to do." This gave me such a huge confidence boost and peace of heart/mind to just play again because I love playing. With a smile on my face, which was much needed, I warmed up and we started our game against the #9 team.

Anytime you start with a new partner you never really know what it will be like when the "pressure" is on and how we will respond together. Well my 4th gift was given to me that day. Brooke was great in competition, super positive and even dealt with all my corny, silly jokes! We stayed loose and played really hard. Even though we were down 5-9, we kept playing our hearts out and tied the game at 17-17. They scored a couple more points and had game point at 20-19, when I dove for a ball, and she set me an amazing set which I killed to tie it at 20-20. It went back and forth until Brooke made a great shot to win the game one 24-22. Sweet! Our first dance a success, but even better was the excitement on the court and the love of the game I had again. And not because we won, but because we played hard and we did it together. Game two would be tough, since they are a really good team, rarely finishing below 7th. However, our defense and blocking kept working well and at one point I told Brooke if she got 5 blocks I would buy her ice cream! Ha ha! She got 4, and we ended up winning game two 21-16 to win the match and take a huge upset!! Totally unexpected but a great win to share together.

After the win, I told her she is one of my answered prayers, and she said the same to me! This win set us up against Holly McPeak and Angie Akers again for the 3rd time this season for me. This game didn't go as well, Angie was blocking really well, and I didn't side-out well enough to win that match, but I was still proud of our effort and how well we connected for our first time playing. Since we were on a real beach, (compared to bused in courts like Atlanta, etc) this was a double elimination tournament so we were still in it, and would play Kelly Wing and Suzana Manole for a 13th place.

The heat of the day was starting to really drain us, and it was difficult trying to stay hydrated. It was 96 degree and humid, we were putting ice towels on our heads and luckily they were able to water down the courts a bit, but unfortunately it didn't keep it cool for too long. Game one started and it was close till we took the lead at 18-17, but tough serving pulled them ahead and eventually they won game one 21-17. This was a team we knew we could beat and wanted to take advantage of the spot we were in since upsetting the #9 team. Game two was much different and we came out on fire, winning game two 21-12 to force a third game to 15. This third game was very close as well, 5-5, 10-10, before we made a little run and were leading 14-12. They made a great shot to earn 13-14. Kelly served me a deep ball and Brooke game me a great set and I hit the ball down the middle to win the game and match 15-13. YEAH! We were so excited! This would mean we would get to play Saturday morning against Pricilla Lima and Angela Lewis, another talented team on the tour. So after that match I took my 90 minute subway back to my hotel which got me home at 8:30pm, ate some dinner and crashed for the next day.

Luckily I was able to catch a ride again with the refs again the next morning and was there ready to play against this tough team who I haven't played yet this season. Well, they were a good team and even though it was close in both games until 14-14, they ended up winning the match 21-16, 21-15 and we finished at 13th place. Even though we lost, my 5th gift was loving to play again and competing hard against great teams. Also, Brooke's brother, his wife and her boyfriend were all there to cheer us on, so I was thankful I was able to meet her friends and family and they are in the picture with us.

I am SO SO very thankful for all the prayers you said for me and Brooke this weekend, and for those of you who took the time to encourage me. Even though, I first thought this "fan club" was silly and no one would read it, I sure have changed my feeling about it and feel that you all have made a difference in some tournaments for me! So thank you!!! I am so happy to be getting back home and not have to wear the same 5 outfits all the time. But I think my mailman might be happier to finally have room in my mailbox after I was gone almost 25 days! It's been quite the month of travel, emotional roller coasters, personal growth but ready to be back in a familiar bed for a little while. I am really looking forward to no cabs, planes, R-N-Q trains or hotel rooms.

This weekend we play (ON THURSDAY) in Long Beach, for our 2nd date, and just found out we will be playing in the qualifier, which is really scary. Brooke doesn't have many points and we would be the #22 team and they only take 20 teams. The remaining 4 spots come from the single elimination qualifier. This will be a small tournament with only 24 teams instead of the 32 teams, so we will have to earn a spot and with the number of really good teams, this will be a tough, tough weekend. So please, please, please pray that we play well and keep improving each time. This has also been really hard for me to accept, knowing that I haven't played in a qualifier all year and have been ranked high, so now to be back in the qualifier is a little tough, but hoping I will still be able to stay positive and do well. Also, after this tournament I only have ONE more AVP left of this crazy season. After Long beach this weekend, the following weekend we will be in San Deigo for my final stop, so praying these last tournaments go well for us.

I can't thank you all enough for the support you have given me and walking/running through this journey with me!