Hello!
Summer is halfway gone- so intense :/
We just finished with wrestling camp and are hanging out in Washington at the moment. I have played two tournaments in the last month in Denver and in Yakima, WA. They went marginal and I felt as if I need to take a step back and re evaluate what I am doing. Levi is doing well- wrestled a lot and made some money this summer. We are currently looking for a job for him! Can't wait to see what is in store :) just a quick update on us..
hope the summer is treating you well!  Drink a lot of fluids~

Update!

Hello. As I write, I am currently sitting in Phoenix as a resident for the very last time. We are moving back to Boise. Crazy as it sounds I am a much different person than when we were in Boise last. I feel as if I had some time with Levi to really figure myself out. I loved living here and really loved the city environment. It was a great time to spend with friends and family down here. I got my first real job working at Lululemon for a short time. I started working with two top coaches and learned the ropes on the pro tour.. spent a month in the country of Turkey, and now we are heading back to Boise. I am sad, but know that this is what God has in store for my life. Levi got his feet wet coaching for Arizona State, and did a fantastic job with his guys. He will miss the environment of the wrestlers, but not the coaches he had to coach alongside. We just wanted to write a quick update on what is going on with us! Levi drove the uHaul/car trailer back to Boise 19 hours straight- he didn't stop to sleep once.. so crazy but he is so glad the trip is done! I am headed to Sacramento tomorrow to play in a 50k... then my dad and I are going to be playing in a father/daughter doubles tournament together in San Diego. It will be a good time and we are looking forward to this summer. Levi and I's year anniversary is coming up! June 4th- I am flying up to Spokane to be with him for a couple of days while he does camps...
Let the good times roll!

Set goals
Drink water
Dream big

Eat healthy
love family
soak up the sun
don't hold grudges

love jesus
tell people about him daily
never burn bridges
never go to bed angry
always over use i love you

never pass up hanging out with someone you truly enjoy being around
always smile even when its hard
save your money

don't use a credit card
always listen to older people
never think you have everything figured out

dance when you want to
sing when you feel the need
cry when you have to

never ever ever take people for granted
always live life in the present
Be thankful always <3

February of 2012

Not updated in quite some time. Life as we know it has changed drastically.. we moved to Phoenix and we are living in an area with Palm trees, pools, and sunshine all of the time. Levi is one of the wrestling coaches as ASU.. I work at Lululemon Athletica part time and am working with great coaches in Mesa the other part. We are loving our first year of married life and there has been so many changes ahead that has really got me thinking. Our good friend Steve Appleton died on Friday and it has affected me in a way I never thought possible. I just saw him two weeks ago and now.. he is dead. Never going to see him again. Life can come and go so fast in the blink of an eye. Where will you be when you die? Do you know that you are going to go to heaven? I sure hope everyone has that figured out in their life....it is a very hard pill to swallow when someone you love dies and you have. This whole situation makes me what to just go out and really live life with a desire to explore and learn.

Optimism

A lot has happened since my last blog.  We remain very optimistic about our team and our prospects going into the final six weeks of the season. 

Today I am going to talk about being optimistic.  Nothing is more important than being optimistic and acting with a positive attitude.

If you struggle to be confident and positive, than simply act as if you are.  The saying “fake it until you make it” seems like a cheesy idea but it will help here.  Act as the person you want and hope to become.  Do what you think that type of person would do.  If you want to be a national champion, train like a national champion would train.  Talk to yourself as you would imagine an optimistic person would.  Eventually you will grow into the type of person you want to be.

The majority of great philosophers agree that ultimately you will get what you constantly think about. 

That can be good or bad.  It all depends on you and what thoughts you entertain in your mind.  But if it is true, think positively!

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  – Proverbs 23:7

This doesn’t mean that we are doomed to every negative thought that enters our mind.  We are human and naturally negative thoughts will enter our minds often.  It’s what you do with those negative thoughts that is important.  If you take a negative thought and put it on “repeat” mode in your mind-that’s a problem.  If you take a negative thought, feed it and entertain it–  that’s a problem.  That gives the negative thought power.  Instead, you should recognize a negative thought immediately and replace it with a prepared thought.

Have an answer ready to replace negative thoughts. 

Feed your mind with positive thoughts.

To train yourself to be a positive thinker, you need to have purpose and goals.  You need to be realistic in your goals.  You need to set goals that you can control.  To be confident you must be able to focus on what you can control.  Ultimately you want to win, everyone does.  Ultimately you want to be the state, national or world champion.  So how do you do that?  I should ask, how do you make your very best attempt at those goals?

You do by doing the most you can with what you have and what you can control.  When you set your goals before competition they need to be effort based.  It’s like wishing for a toilet seat made of gold.  Nice goal but how are you going to make it happen.  Focus on what is going to make it happen, not the end result. 

It will be very difficult to be positive when you set your expectations and goals on things that you cannot control.  You can’t control whether you are going to win or not.  But you can control whether you are going to fight, hustle, be disciplined to wrestle the match in your strong positions, and simply never give up.  Those are things you can control.  Those are the things that you need to focus on if you want to be confident.

Focusing on effort is a sign of strength.  Accepting your absolute best effort as success is strength. That idea is divine in nature.  Few are willing to do this.  You can. 

Don’t expect to be confident if you are putting your focus into things that you cannot control.

“We must learn to become creators of circumstances and not creatures of them.”  – M. Russell Ballard

The next important principle to be optimistic is to develop self-discipline.  A lack of discipline is what keeps the majority of people from reaching their potential.  Talent and hard work go out the window without discipline.  You must have the discipline to follow through with the difficult things that stand between you and your goals.  It’s hard to be optimistic if you haven’t paid the price.

“For my part, I have concluded that the quality which sets one man apart from another- the factor which lifts one man to every achievement to which he reasonably aspires while the other is caught in the slough of mediocrity for all the years of his life—is not talent, nor formal education, nor luck, nor intellectual brilliance, but is rather the successful man’s greater capacity for self-discipline.”  — Benjamin N. Woodson

My final thought is to have faith in youself.  Why would you not have faith in yourself?  You are literally a son or daughter of God!  If you remember that, you will surely know that you can do anything!  Your goals should be simply to take what God has given you and do the very best that you can with it.  It’s simple, if you allow it to be.

“Who you are is God’s gift to you, who you become, is your gift to God!”  -unknown

The mere thought of knowing that you are in fact a son or daughter of God should have you bouncing off the walls with optimism.  What can a son or daughter of God not accomplish?!  Go for it!

Cael Sanderson

This is a really cool outlook on staying positive with your life. No matter what field of work you are in- it is really cool to read this article and reflect on your own life.

Have a great night

End of July

Hello!
Levi and I have been very busy with many summer trips and lots of summer sun :) The month has just flown by ever since we got home from our honeymoon.. I jumped right back out on the courts and Levi went to run his wrestling camp in Spokane. It was a busy week for the both of us, but we finally managed to come back together and have another solid week of training on the court, and work in the therapy clinic.We are in the process of moving houses, so this week is going to be rather stressful because I am currently in Tacoma right now for a tennis tournament! I cannot wait to get all organized and settled in over the next few weeks!

Fun picture ------------>

“I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.” -Pearl S. Buck

Wedding Pics!

 Honeymoon in London

 Honeymoon in Jamaica

Recipes! (cont.)

Hey hey-

Great new dinner tonight:
(Got this dinner recipe from Jen Moortgat) It was awesome.

I put my own touches on it naturally- and Levi created the guacamole dip

My Dad's amazing Guacamole dip:
Cilantro
Avocados
Walla Walla Sweet onion
Kosher Salt (in moderation)
Olive oil
Tomatoes
Jalapeno

This is all by touch- make as much as you want.. add as much as you think necessary.. but do not over salt!!!
(This dip is always better the 2nd day.. cover and keep in the fridge)

Chicken= inside of the crock pot with a touch of butter/and cream of chicken soup: cook on high for 3.5 hours

Rice- butter in a sauce pan/ add the rice until it browns- then add chicken broth ( I added 3 cups of rice and three cans of chicken broth.) let cook for 20 minutes

Once the chicken is done- top it off with a cream cheese and blue cheese sauce that is warmed in the oven.
Add the rice as a side and you are done!

Add a nice glass of milk/strawberry lemonade/ or white wine...  vwalla :)

Recipes!

COOKING! My amazing friend and old roommate has inspired me to add some recipes to this blog! It is an amazing idea :)

First idea I got from one of Mam's books: fruity cubes to add a little flavor to your water.
Take an ice cube tray and fill the cubes up with any juice of your preference.
Drop a piece of fruit inside and let it freeze~

They are delicious little cubes- perfect for parties!

More to come...

I am the vine you are the branches

John 15
"I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does not bear fruit  he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoke to you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. "


Crazy good verse.... stay faithful stay persistent and the Lord will be by your side....

Our Wedding Website!!!!

TheKnot

Slow down. Forgive. and Treat others better than yourself

My title seems so simple right? For some maybe... not for me... I have been running through life like it is a race... and it isn't. I find myself hurrying everywhere....never being late... always on time... maybe it is my lifestyle? Maybe I am too busy? Yesterday after getting to practice 20 minutes early ( like everyday) I am wondering why i rushed there in the first place. Today... yet again.. I was 30 minutes early... I thankfully had a bible study in my car and sat outside the tennis courts taking some time to spend with God....I rush past God every single day it feels like. He is just sitting there looking at me waiting for me to acknowledge him.. and sadly... I walk right by him.... how rude. I drive too fast...walk to fast... read to fast.... and forget to relax even when I have time to... I dont sleep in... I feel like I am not being productive if I sleep on my recovery days...it is not a bad thing to rest every once in a while...yet not good to always sleep in... there is a fine line... you get what i mean. Tennis even... I play too fast sometimes... rush... get impatient..
Forgive- it seems so easy to say. It seems so simple..... it isn't in some cases... some stuff went on with my family and I and it just seems so hard to forgive sometimes... at times I feel myself get really angry... and then I will get a phone call ... i love them so much i cant stay angry.. yet it still hurts to think about... and I know sparing relationships is more important.. but it is so hard... and i will take time... never hold grudges because life is short... and nothing is for sure... forgive... just as God would want you too.. and try to live only for him... only for his purpose... because he is so good to us...
Treat others the way you would want to be treated... so easy right? Don't cut in line... don't get a drink for only yourself... offer food to people... help them out with something they need help on... I know I would appreciate that from myself... dont take anyone for granted...so easy to say.... love your neighbor just like you love yourself... God made us pretty selfish human beings so it shouldn't be very hard to know what someone else would appreciate... what do you appreciate?

The Proposal :)

Levi and I's proposal! ;) it was so creative and soo amazing...
He started off by telling me that we were doing a documentary for FCA (fellowship of Christian athletes) and that we were going to be video taped... and to just act normal.. our friend is the head guy at FCA so i thought it was for him... my uncle ended up videoing the whole thing... its all on tape! So funny...so Levi and his entire family and one of his older but good friends came to Boise ad I didnt even know about it.. Levi and I have this thing where we always wanted to pick up a homeless guy on the side of the road and help them out.. so Levi set it up to where his friend got all scruffed upand gross and stood on the side of the road with a card board box saying "Need Ride to the Park.. God Bless" so we drive by him and Levi gets all excited and is like.. lets pick him up!! I am freakin out... and thinkin nooo wayyyy! hehe, but we did and the guy (who was Levi's good friend) got in the car and put his head down and told us he wanted to read a poem that he got from an old friend in Alaska.. bc it was Christmas and he was getting help from "strangers" so he read this sentimental love poem.. and at the end of the ride.. he handed me 1 red rose.. i was sooo confused and had no idea what was goin on.. lol... it was funny.. then Levi made lunch reservations at PF Changs... when we pulled up to the restaurant Joel (Levi's older sister Crystal.. her boyfriend) was our valet guy.. and took the car from us and handed me 1 yellow rose.. i was like heyy joel what are you doin here??!! At the door of PF Changs levi's little sister Peyton was our Hostess.. she handed me 1 white rose and showed us to our table.. i was soooo confused! Saying.. peyton what the heck are you doing here? You dont work at PF Changs!?! haha.. so after lunch Peyton met us back outside the restaurant and handed me a chinese takeout box with fortune cookies inside.. the fortunes were names of stores I had to unscramble for "window shopping" .. The North Face Store and See Jane Run.. (a sweet running place in downtown Boise) so we head over that way and i see my sister standing in the window of the North Face store posing as a manican.. with a yellow rose for me.. haha.. it was so funny... next door to her was See Jane Run.. where his middle sister Kayloni was posing as another manican with a yellow rose.. i was like dying laughing.. so confused.. so then Levi took me to this wine place.. and outside both of this parents were sitting on a cute little bench with another white rose and by this point I was like what the HECK! haha.. they ended up taking me from Levi.. and they took me back to my apt where Crystal ( his oldest sister) was waiting for me to do my hair and makeup ... :) while she was doing my hair and makeup Levi's mom read me a poem about why he Loves me... (he wrote all the poems it was crazy) and then when we all got ready to go Scott Levi's dad sat me down and told me all of the reasons why I make Levi so happy and how blessed he is to have me.. ect.. so then they took me downtown... there is a huge Christmas tree in the center of Downtown and all around it when I got there was my family and his family.. and next to the Christmas tree was our 2 friends (one is the back up guitarist for This Providence!) and then our other friend who has an amazing voice... they were playing.. Its Your Love by Tim McGraw and Faith hill... sooo good... on the ground beside me was all the roses i collected that day from everyone.. 1 red rose 4 white roses and 3 yellow roses (143!) after that my 2 grandmas gave me a box of my favorite red velvet cake and then a little while into the song my little cousin Matthew came out in a santa suit (6 years old! so cute) and had a little box.. in the box read.. "All I want for Christmas...." and then levi came out and proposed ..... it was soooo amazing... i was so in shock i didnt cry..it was just exciting.. !!! Of course i said yes... the ring is super pretty.. he got it all customized... there is 2 cursive L's on the sides and 143 on the inside band.. its sooo pretty.. we went to dinner after with everyone.. it was a really fun night...
okay... whew! That was long huh!!! .......and thats how he proposed lol!

Phil 2:12-17

Therefore my dear friends as you have always obeyed- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act accordingly to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and deprave genration, in which you shine like stars in the universe- as you hold out the word of life- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So that you too should be glad and rejoice with me. 

Wow. If i could only follow those words exactly every single day. Life would be SO much easier. So much richer.... I struggle... and really try hard but always fall. Thats why the Lord has so much grace on us.. even when we try to have good intentions... they sometime slip up and we are right back asking him for grace and mercy. To be able to see the big picture is critical and to always press on toward the goal is even harder. Sometimes the small goals of what are in front of us blind us from the large goals- the important finish line that God has called us to. Not complaining is HUGE. Sometimes when you are around people who are always griping about something you just follow in and there are no immediate consequences so you feel like it is okay... people hear those complaints and see you differently.. they start to notice the negative unappreciative attitude.... which is not too attractive..... 

Who is God?

The Lord is the Source of everything that happens in your life. He is the first and last; the beginning and the end, the keeper of creation, the creator of all things. He is the architect of the Universe, the manager of all time. He always was, always is, and always will be unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone. He was bruised, but brought healing. He was pierced, but eased pain. He was persecuted, but brought freedom. He was dead and brings life. He is risen to bring power and He was raised to bring peace.

The world can't understand Him; armies can't defeat Him; schools can't explain Him; and leaders can't ignore Him. Herod couldn't kill him; Nero couldn't crush Him; the new age cannot replace him, and Oprah cannot explain Him away. You remind yourself that He is light, He is Love, He is longevity, and He is Lord! He is Goodness and Kindness and Faithfulness, and right. His Word is Eternal. His will is unchanging and His mind is on us. He's our Savior, Our God, our Peace, our Joy, our Comfort, our Lord and he rules our life.

I serve him because his bond is love, His yoke is easy, His burden is light and his goal for us is abundant light. I follow him because he is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of all leaders. His goal is a relationship with me. He'll never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you, and never cancel your appointment in his appointment book! Never!

When you fall, He'll lift you up; when you fail, He'll forgive you; when you're weak, He's strong. When you're lost, He's your way; When you're afraid, He's your courage; when you stumble, He will steady you; when you're hurt, He's going to heal you; when you are broken, He will mend you; when you are blind, He will lead you; when you're hungry, He will feed you; when you face trials, He's with you; when I face persecution, He shields me; when I face problems, He will comfort me; when I face loss, He will provide for me, and when we face death, He will carry us home to meet Him! He is everything for everybody, everywhere, everytime, and in every way. 

Encouraging Verses

We say: ..."It's Impossible"

God Says...All things are possible. Luke 18:27

We say.."I'm too tired" 

God says...I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28-30

We say...."I can't figure things out"

God says: I will direct your steps. Proverbs 3:5-6

We say..."I can't do it"

God says: You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength

We say..."It's not worth it"

God says: It will be worth it. Romans 8:28

We say..."I cant forgive myself"

God says: I forgive you. 1 John 1:9 and Romans 8:1

We say: "I am afraid"

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7

We say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"

God says: Cast all your cares on me. 1 Peter 5:7

We say: "I do not have any faith"

God says: I have given everyone a measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Wow. How small are we really?

I am feeling somewhat inspired to write in this moment.... don't ask me why... it is right in the middle of a busy day and there are people are around me going about there business...

Proverbs 12:1 really caught my eye... and got me thinking..

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."

Yeah thats right... the bible calls us stupid at times.... we all are at some point in our day... I feel like it takes  a lot to lay down your pride and admit that yes,  I can be really stupid and selfish at times. I feel like this verse makes or breaks athletes...relationships... and attitudes in general. I hate it when I feel like I don't need correction when I am out on the tennis court because many times I cannot see what I am doing on my own. Being bull headed and stubborn I like to say.. "hey i know what I am doing.... I have been playing for 12 years.... don't tell me what to do..." but that kind of attitude is the poison and ultimately is the stop sign for your career. It stops you from getting better. 

I am getting humbled in my Anatomy Class. I sit in the lectures and listen to my professor speak about the intricate details of the human body... I didn't expect the class to be this hard for one... but also I am baffled to look around the class and see people who don't believe in the Lord... he created this human body with the snap of a finger..and the rest of the world in the blink of an eye.. he made our bodies in the image of him. My capacity cannot even wrap around the simple equations- make-up- and functions our body does. 

God is something so much bigger than we can ever imagine. I feel so blessed and fortunate that he allows me to follow him and trust in his word. I don't even feel like I have the right to be in his presence-- but he continues to love me even when I think I have it all figured out. 

God please be with us this week as we finish up finals... help us remember the big picture in life.. and that is living for you... and glorifying you in all that we do. Thank you for always being there and always giving us grace and compassion even at our ugliest times...

Amen..

(Good luck with finals! Couple more days and we have a BREAAKKKK!!)