I'm in

It all started with a maybe, that turned into a 'let's do it'.....that turned into a video and an application form.....that turned into a phone call being invited to a group interview....that turned into another phone call with an invitation to a on-on-one interview....which led to the final call..."are you still interested, because we would love to have you on the team".
Figured it out yet? Remember this blog post? Well, the waiting is over with exciting news. I am sure you figured it out from above, but I am on the Project Kenya team. I have been accepted to be a part of this program for the next year and let's not forget the highlight - I'll be in Kenya in 1 year. The dream of going to Africa before I die will be achieved and not only one, but four things will be checked off my 'before I die' bucket list.
To be honest, my reaction when I got off the phone with Jaci was not all that exciting. I was relaxed and all calm, cool, and collected. My mom on the other hand, was chasing me around the house just to get a hug from me (and lets not forget the squealing).
Tonight was the first meeting, and on the way home, I was all smiles. Hearing about the trip unfold is pretty exciting. Thinking about climbing a 17,000 ft. mountain makes me have goose bumps. Hearing the man say "you will want to buy your clothes from Value Village because you will give them all away in the village anyways" makes me have tears in my eyes. And imagining myself playing soccer with kids is just joyful.
I am pretty excited. Not to mention about the program itself and watching myself grow with potential and see what I will do with my life after this journey is up.
Official program starts next week (I will only be able to attend the first hour because I will be heading off to Vermont to go skiing - off to a great start eh?). Final words...I am stoked!

~amy

poor Ali Krieger

My favorite defender, Ali Krieger, on the USA's women's national team, tore her MLC and ACL in the qualifying game for the 2012 Olympics against the Dominican Republic. Ali will now not be playing in this year's Olympics. So sad for a girl who has worked so hard in training! 

"I feel so unfortunate and I wouldn't wish this on anyone, especially to have it happen in a match where we were in control," said Krieger. "Soccer is a funny dame and this is part of being an athlete. It's unfortunate that the timing is really bad, but this team about way more than one player and I know that with all the support from my teammates, my family and friends from U.S. Soccer, I will come back stronger than ever. It's going to be a fun year and I'll be with the team in spirit the whole way, even if I have to be a vocal leader, just sitting and watching."

As I was watching some soccer videos the other day, some girls on the team shared their new year's resolutions. Ali's was being determined going into the Olympics. Who knew? Now she will have to be determined off the field as a support group and to get better soon. She played a great role in the 2011 World Cup - scoring the game winning goal in shoot outs against Brazil. Ali sure inspires me to take obstacles and look at them with a good perspective, stay determined and strong, because the situation is out of her control. I'll miss watching her this summer in the Olympics, but just like I did, she'll learn a lot during her time off and come back stronger than ever!

Stay strong Ali! <3

~amy

Heather O'Reilly

Does this video remind you of the wanna be blogs (part #1-#3) that I posted?

Heather O'Reilly reminded me to not be anyone else but yourself! And I love the saying in the video:

To give anything less than your best, is sacrificing the gift.

- Steve Prefontaine

Side note - Congragulations on just reading the 100th blog post! We've come a long way, and we have a long way to go! Thank you all you blog readers out there for the support!

~amy

in the desert

One of my favorite songs from Hillsong United is the desert song. I loved the words and it's purpose. But...then I found a video of the women who sang it one night at their concert, which changed my perspective completely.

As much as Jill questioned singing the song that night for the concert, despite feeling broken, and sad, and maybe even rejected, she did it, and meant every word. It makes the song so much more powerful knowing that in your circumstances, like Jill's, you can declare 'in every season of life you can be thankful and bring praise because God is still God, despite the situations, challenges, and scenario.' Jill is inspiring because of her courage, love, trust, and how strong she was through it all.
Thanks Jill, for making this song full of meaning, even more then before!

~amy

what a day!

Wednesday my soccer team had an indoor soccer tournament in London. We had two teams because you only need 9 or 10 players for indoor, so basically my travel soccer team was split in half and a couple players from another Sarnia team came to join us.
Besides how 'sick' the building and turf fields were, it was a long and very hard day. My team played a total of 6 games. We were guaranteed 4 and kept moving on, even after going through our whole team to do shootouts. We ended up finishing 5th out of 15 teams. Not to shabby! The games were only 25 minutes with no breaks or halftime. To sub in a player we just called a player off and then the next one came on with the clock still running. We played every other game enabling us only to get a 25 minute break; disenabling us to eat a good meal and taking off our socks and shin pads was pointless. There wasn't a team that stood out the most. The game could have gone either way, and either team deserved the win. Including how fast the game was because the fields were a lot shorter and it was turf, and not to mention just enough time to have a couple sips of water and catch your breath for a bit, left me sore the next day. Very sore. Everything hurt. Climbing up the stairs felt like I was climbing up a mountain and coughing and sneezing was the worst pain in the world.
Although, besides the pain and soreness I was going through, especially after a hard workout this morning, Wednesday was a good day. By the end of the day, physical strength was close to impossible to find, but mental strength sure kicked in and that's what kept us going through every minute. What I learned that day - to never give up, to leave everything on the field, and the experience itself was all worth the soreness I experienced the next day! Now I am ready for the women's league beginning now happening every Sunday night. How fortunate am I to be able to play on two different teams?! Even though I'll be playing two games back to back, I'll remember Wednesday's tournament and remind myself of the lessons learned.

~amy

new year with new goals

It feels like just yesterday I was writing this blog post; looking back on the year 2010, and remembering what was accomplished. Now, it’s time to look back on 2011. What a year it was! I graduated from my first year of high school and am still living. I went to Vermont for the first time for my school ski trip (actually, I'm more surprised I'm living after that, then high school itself!). I got a job. I reunited with old friends. I got a blackberry. I started working out more. We had a family reunion enabling me to see my cousins from BC who I haven't seen in years, and visited with my grandparents once again! The Women's World Cup! Meeting a new best friend. Travelling to NYC, which has always been a dream of mine. And, of course my favorite part of the year, my injury - and what came along with that challenge.

My motto for 2012 is 'holding nothing back'.  I am looking forward to starting a new year more then most years. As I counted down the 10 second countdown while watching the ball drop and then sprayed some sparkling juice on my friends patio...I wasn't sad at all that 2011 was over. I am so excited to start a new chapter in my life. I don't know what this year will bring - what challenges, situations, opportunities, or joys may come, but I'm ready. This year I am going to hold nothing back. I am going to live the year to it's fullest. Beginning with my new workout goals and healthy eating styles. Travelling to Chicago with just my mom for my birthday. Speaking of birthdays - only 23 days away and I'll be able to drive. (At this moment I would like to give you an opportunity to read the last sentence again...just in case it didn't sink it quite yet.) I am looking forward to the indoor soccer league I am competing in, but mostly excited about outdoor in the spring, and showing this hip flexor whose boss! I am looking forward to hopefully hearing back from Project Kenya. I hoping that by next Christmas we can go out to BC to visit my family. But most of all, I am looking forward to living everyday of this 2012 year with joy, and excitement, full of opportunities and blessings. So, 2012, bring it on! I'm ready for the journey! I'm ready, and looking forward to holding nothing back this year! I am ready to accomplish these new goals and dreams of mine. I'm ready to take on life in 2012!

Happy New Year!
~amy