I Hope They Call Me On A Mission... Plus Some Other Ramblings

I was rereading my patriarchal blessing the other day, and it hit me. I have to serve a mission. It was written so clearly that I was shocked I hadn't noticed it before. As April approaches, so does the realization that I can start my mission papers. Granted, I won't be able to actually leave for quite a few months, but the fact that the process gets to start is so exciting!

All of my friends are getting their calls. Landon and Parker Greenhalgh have been called to serve in Taiwan. Landon: Taichung, leaving July 10. Parker: Taipei, leaving June 26. Zach Lamb was just called to serve in Honduras, San Pedro Sula mission. He leaves June 26, too. I am so unbelievably proud of these boys. They are serious examples in my life. It's going to be hard to say goodbye, but I know that what they are doing is the most important thing right now. I hope and hope and hope they will all be here when I get my call.

Bryson Westbroek had his mission farewell yesterday. He's leaving in April to serve in the West Indies. That kid.. He is a freaking stud. He's going to kick some serious butt down there. Kaelton Heil and Braiden Simmons are getting their calls this week (hopefully). I'm so nervous for the both of them! They both need to get out there and start serving. It will be so good for them to finally be out of here. Jeff's papers are almost submitted. Just waiting on his bishop. Excuse me while I go cry my eyes out.

Between all of these farewells and mission openings, I feel like that is all anyone is focused on anymore! School? Forget about it! This term has been kicking my butt. I need 4th term to start so I can have clear grades and just finish! 81 days. 81 days and I will be graduated from high school. No one understands just how excited I am. High school is Hell, and if someone tells you otherwise, don't trust them. They are obviously a liar or mentally ill. Seriously, though.

My BFF is out of town for the next few days. And let me tell you, IT SUCKS. I have been so bored. This just goes to show that we spend way to much time together. It's fine though; her brother texted me last night saying we need to go out on a sibling date since he feels deserted as well without her. I love the George family. They never fail to make me feel like part of the family.

Senior year. I think we've finally all hit that wall where we don't care what's happened in the last few years. All that matters is that we are going crazy and having fun. Honestly, I don't care anymore about a fight that happened sophomore year when someone said something bad about someone else. It doesn't freaking matter. I've worked things out with some friends, and with others, we've just forgotten about it completely. I love it. I can call anyone on a Saturday night and just hang out. We have proven this to be true. This last Saturday, I was with Mags, Jaycee, Jordan Cobabe, Braiden Simmons, Brennan O'Neil, and Hayden Jardine. Most random group of people? You better believe it. But it was honestly one of the most fun nights I've had in awhile. And we did nothing big. We played basketball (our own version) and watched a movie. But I loved every second of it.

Let me just vent for a second here. Honestly... am I defective? Or mentally not all there? Someone please tell me. Because there must be something totally wrong with me. All these couples walking around school tend to make a girl jealous. But the part that really gets me... some of these people are SUPER WEIRD. Now I'm not judging, if you're happy with someone, be with them. Good for you. That is great. Just don't let me see you making out in the middle of the hallway. That's super nast' and ain't nobody got time fo dat. But seriously. I look at my cute friends and myself and wonder how we are single. I'm pretty sure we are super awesome and everyone should love us. I might be bias. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that I'm not the prettiest girl around town. But I don't think I'm completely hideous. I mean... sometimes my hair is really nice. Sometimes. It's just disheartening to walk around school and see all these happy lovey-dovey couples and people who are just 'in love' and realize that it's been over a year since your last REAL relationship. And I get it, it's all in God's timing. When I'm supposed to be with someone, I will be. I'm just sayin', it would be a lot of fun to actually date around. Not just spend your weekends watching movies with the same five people. Maybe that's just me though. SO. Dear Stripling Warrior that God is sending my way.. Try not to get lost. Because I'm already impatient.

I'm so grateful for my friends. They have been so great these last few weeks. We've been rebellious, crazy teenagers that we've needed to be. I'm grateful for the gospel in my life. I seriously would be so lost without it. I know that I've been blessed with a family that loves me, and friends that care. I'm grateful for the George's. I'd be going insane if it wasn't for them. They've totally taken me in as one of their own and I'm loving it. Senior year, you've been good to me. I am so excited for you to be done with though. Bring on the real world, my mission, and growing up. I'm ready for some new challenges.

Until next time,
LATER SKATERS
-Court

Wait..You Don't Have Friends Either??

I promise. This isn't a post about not having friends. This is me, telling about my soccer team and how close we've all become. Right now, I'm playing for the Ogden Outlaws. My coach is Mike Hickman Jr. Playing on this team has been a whirlwind from day one. I came to this team when I was in 8th grade. They were still Rampage when I came. Most of the girls had already been playing together since they were about 8. So you can imagine how alone and awkward I felt showing up to that first indoor practice. No one talked to me. I had to be partnered with people instead of choosing a group. It took only a few weeks to really connect with those girls. To be honest, I didn't like a lot of them. They thought they were all that, but so did I. We clashed. I later became a captain on this team. I stayed captain for about three and a half years. In between those years, we switched over to the Ogden Outlaws, where my coach had played as a semi-pro. We loved it! It was so much better than the Rampage Club.
So..to talk about the present day. Our team has been going through a lot lately. Between girls quitting, a lot of us getting really sick (Me with strep/mono/who knows what it was, Britt with pneumonia, Searle with whatever she has), then with injuries (Me-hips-out for two months Sage-broken elbow-out for 6-8 weeks Katie-hips/hamstrings-lets be real. she is out every three months for something new.) We have had a hard time getting together and actually connecting again. We've had girls come and go, and as of right now we have about 4-5 of us from the original Rampage team. Everyone else is new. It was hard to get to know everyone and finally trust them, but we did it.
Tonight it hit me. We have a year left with this team before we all go our separate ways. Some of us to go play college ball, some to just study in school, and others will be starting a family. It's just crazy how old we all are! As a team, we've all connected finally. Some of these girls have turned into my best friends. We are all at different schools. Katie and I at Syracuse. Britt at Roy. Allie, Sage, and Kates at Weber, and so on and so forth. It's hard to get together when we all live so far away.
Tonight while we were at practice, we worked hard. We kicked butt while we conditioned and busted out to some serious tunes. Then we played a 3v3v3 scrimmage. Yet again, we totally killed it. My coach has been so happy with us for the last couple weeks. If you know him, that rarely ever happens. Nearing the end, we all decided to play more games instead of shooting. We were waiting for Mike to set up the drill when we all started juggling. While we were juggling, the topic of school and friends was brought up.Everyone at once, it seemed, chimed in about how they don't really have friends at their school. Thinking we were the only ones, this surprised us all. Truth be told, that is how it is for all of us. I hang out with Katie at school, Brittany on the weekends. At most, all of us only have about 3 really good friends besides the team. I think that made us all realize that we are so much alike, that it's easy to see how we all can be best friends at soccer, and not worry about having other friends outside of the team.
We kept juggling for about 10 more minutes. Mike joined in. The drill was set up, but we avoided it and just kept messing around. This doesn't happen all that much. We all tried to one up each other with tricks and moves, hit each other (Britt and Mike..) and just chatted. With five minutes left of practice, Mike asked if we wanted to play any games anymore. In unison, we all shouted, "NO!". So we carried on with our little game and bonding time.
All those girls on my team mean so much to me. I see them as friends, but also as family. I know if I need anything, they are just a phone call away. I guess that's what you get when you spend so much time with a group of crazy girls, and a coach who is a little crazier than us.
I love my Outlaws

100th Post

Well.. Pretty self-explanatory. I have been blogging for a little over a year now, about random adventures that I have taken, things that have stuck out to me, and things that tell who I am. So seeing as it is November, the month of thanking and giving, I'll do a post of what I'm thankful and grateful for.

*I'm grateful for my family. That laughs, the fights, the weird conversations. Carson, Gracie, my mom and dad, and even our three little dogs.

I'm grateful for soccer. Even though it has taken me on a roller coaster for 11 years, but it has defined me and helped me find out who I am and what I love.*

*I'm grateful for my talent in running. Without it, I would just be ordinary.

*I am so thankful we have music. Sometimes, you just need some Taylor Swift to cry to, or some Eminem to yell to. 

My friends. Things have been rough, but I'm grateful for the good times, the trials, and all of the memories we have made.*

*My house. My clothes. My I-Pod. Shoes. Purses. Make-up. Cleats. Pictures. My tooth brush. My car. Posters. Quote blocks. My phone.

*I am so grateful for the gospel. Without it in my life, I would be lost. It has helped me so much these last few weeks and I am thankful for our prophets who have helped us.*

*The Book Of Mormom. I am so so so grateful for it. I am almost finished with it, and I have learned so much from it. Its crazy how a book can affect someones life so much.*

*The Temple. Its my castle, and I am going to go there one day.

I am so thankful for the men and the women that serve our country and keep us safe and free.*

*Here is a shocker : I am grateful for school. Without it, we would be so worse off. It is going to be worth it after we get those diplomas.

I'm grateful for those days where I can come home and sit in sweats, with my hair pulled back, and make up off and just relax.*

*I am thankful for the days that I realize I have a life and I'm doing something productive to help someone or do something.

I know there is a lot I missed. There is so much to be thankful for, and this is the time of the season to thank those that have helped you. 

Thank you to my friends. You've made me stronger. You have given me laughs and memories I will remember forever. Thank you to my family for not giving up on me when I've been at my lowest. Thank you Marilyn Monroe for not being a size two and making everyone else feel more comfortable about their bodies. Thank you to The Redeemer for giving his life so we could be here and have these amazing opportunities. 

Seminary And Such

I'm so grateful for the kids in my seminary class. They have helped me through a lot, and I'm becoming great friends with a lot of them.

I don't like girls to much. Boys are much better to hang out with. 

Jeff-Kole-Landon-Karson.

I love these boys

Karson is pretty much my favorite in that class. 

And Jeff likes to creep on us?

Cute Alex (Leah) and I (Rachel)

To bad no one in the bible likes Leah..

And Kars has learned from Jeff to creep..

Been friends since I was a freshman. I love her. 

Becka and I

Porcupine-Zebulun-Jeff

Owl-Asher-Courtney

We tend to get into trouble a lot...but we have a good time, 90 percent of the time

Spencer! My senior friend from Math and Seminary

He likes to go and get me hot chocolate during class,

and he likes to talk to me, even when we are supposed to be quiet.

He doesn't take pictures, so I should feel honored (-Says Spencer)

Devin! He is a stud, and I'm so glad we are friends, and in the same class
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Time and Time Again

I've been told, time and time again, the same things.

Be grateful for what you have.
Have a positive attitude.
Live your life to the fullest.
Don't settle for second best.
Always have faith and trust.
Do good.

I think I'm finally understanding why people tell me these things. In short, this last year has not been the best. It's been rough. Between injuries, catty girls, grades slipping up in math class, and other things, it's been hard to deal with. But with help from my friends and family and church leaders...I have a feeling this year is going to be better. Starting out as a junior didn't sound to fun. It would be the year that I'd take my major classes, and I would always be about school. Right now is when we have to start looking at college, and I didn't think I was ready for it.
It's been a week and a half since my junior year has officially started. And so far...it's already a million and one times better. Even if I don't have the same plans, same friends, or even same dreams that I used to, I have  a better look at life.
I'm making the decision now to have a positive attitude about this year. I want to look at my classes and say, yes they may not be the highest classes, but they are the classes that I know I can get through if I work and keep up on my studies. I want to look at people I used to be friends with, and still think of them as wonderful children of God.I want to go through this soccer season, knowing that my team is going to dominate and that we can really go the whole way.
This year is going to be my year. I am going to do whatever I can to experience the life of a teenager. Go to parties, make life long friends, find out who I really am.
Some days will be rough. I know that. But in the end, I know what I'm supposed to be doing, and where I am supposed to be going. That is what will keep me pushing until the end.

I hope someone out there reads this. I hope it is something they can use in their own life. Don't be afraid to take chances this (school) year.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

I know this year may seem rough, but you can do it. I believe in you out there. I believe in myself. That's all you can ask for at the end of the day.

He's Here!

Who, may you ask?

Why...only my best friend in the whole wide world!

Yes, indeed, it is Trevor Rasmussen!

We have been best friends since 3rd grade.

Our story is that we met in Spectrum, an advanced placement schooling class.

We were about 8 or 9 years old.

We had that class together..then 4th grade.. Even 5th grade. We ironically had 6th grade together. Same teachers, same classes, same best friend.

We moved onto Junior High together. We didn't get to talk as much, but we never wavered as being best friends. 

He sadly moved at the end of 8th grade to Maryland. One of the hardest things I've had to do was say goodbye to him.

He visited last year in July. I wasn't able to see him, because I was in California for a soccer tournament. You can imagine how hard that was for me.. I'd have to wait another year to *hopefully* see him.

This year, his family got the opportunity to come out and visit again.

I have been planning on seeing him for months now.

And today was the day he came to visit me.

I was shaking when I saw him. It had been 2 years to long. 

We hugged, I cried, we hugged some more. 

We went to visit our old friend Josh Brough. 

It was always us three. Trevor, Josh, and I. All the way through elementary school. Those two were my best friends and I'd trust them with anything. Once we started talking...it was like old times. Like nothing had changed. I missed it so much. 

Even though he lives states and hours away, I still am close to this kid. I'm so grateful that I got to grow up with him. He is a big part of my life, even if we don't see each other a ton. I adore him and can't wait to see him again. 

Today was the best day I've had in a LONG time.

 <3