And so it begins...

Well it is late and I don't have a ton to say, but I'M HERE! This is so crazy! We had an easy and safe flight and all the luggage made it. Thank you Jesus! We are staying in a nice hotel right by the pool. We got here, grabbed some dinner and have just been laying low. Here are some pictures!



Waiting at the airport!


(This isn't all the girls, there are 8 of us)

Less than 24 hours

Reality is setting in. I still can't believe it. The Lord is so amazing. I am pretty much done packing and finishing up the last minute details. I'm off to Minnesota tomorrow afternoon! It'll be my first time there too.

When I sit down and think about it, my mind just gets boggled with all that the Lord has done. I can't believe it. I can't believe he picked me. I can't believe the journey he sent me on. Struggles, trials, triumphs, joys, tears, heartaches, excitement. It's been a long road, but I couldn't ever imagine a better way to end it.

Thats another whole story too. The end of my journey. There will be much to reflect on that as the days continue. I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of blogging over the next week. Once I figure it all out I will post how you can keep up with Nationals if that is something you'd like to do. You will be able to watch it live online and see the results of how things are going. I dive on Thursday afternoon. I'll put the links and details up once I get them squared away.

I'm definitely excited and the anticipation is starting to build. Once we're off to the airport I know its going to really sink in. I just want to embrace this opportunity. This experience. I'm not looking at it as a meet or competition. It is a life experience and one that few people get to experience. It is all because of the Lord. I just can't take my eyes off of him. He got me to this place. That .25 or whatever it was at conference that qualified me in order to send in a tape, the whole process, the last 4 years, really 7 years... All of it screams out Jesus! He has given me this opportunity and I will not waste it. May I be completely filled with his joy this week; in constant communion with our Father.

My goal for the week: HAVE FUN! I don't care how I do. I would like to dive to the best of my ability, but if I bomb a couple dives, it's okay. I am completely content in getting 22nd. In fact, that is what I am expecting. Being the 22nd girl in the nation is fine by me. Anything above that would just be extra icing on the cake with all the glory pointing straight to Jesus. I am going to go there and take in the experience and have a blast with it!

I'll keep you updated on everything. Please pray for safe travels and no lost luggage!

Down to One

Well I'm down to one sport. Okay completely honestly, not the sport I would choose, but I'm trying to not be a brat about it. I'm taking a little break from vaulting while I focus on diving at Nationals.

I am officially not going to Indoor Nationals. Pretty disappointed just because I really wanted to go, but it's okay. I still have Outdoor. The list came out today. Three and a half inches. I missed the cut by three and a half inches...again! Thats how much I missed it by last year for Outdoor. Arg!

But I'm enjoying being a one sport athlete for now. I'll have two weeks of it, so hopefully that will be nice. It's been a while since thats been the case. I keep having to remind myself that God is in control and he has a plan. I'm not the biggest fan of the plan, but have to keep telling myself to stop being a brat when I think about it that way. I get to go to Nationals and that is awesome. And I'm going to the Nationals meet God wants me at. And its going to be really fun and an amazing experience! I really am excited. Tired, but excited.

My emotions towards diving Nationals is a daily roller coaster (if you couldn't tell). On one hand this season has been so long! I just need a break from diving. I've been on the boards and in chlorine every single day since the middle of September. September! That was like 6 months ago! Thats a long time. And I've been doing the same 11 dives on one meter for the past two years. Everyday. The same dives. I just need a break. I'm sad about ending my diving career, but right now I need a break from it. Lately I've been getting to practice and just don't really want to be there. I'm out of energy.

But then at the same time, when I start talking with Aaron and Casey about Nationals and actually going and the whole experience I get really really excited! I often forget that this is a reality. That I'm really getting on a plane, going to Minnesota and competing at a National meet! That is so insane! I'm definitely excited, just struggling for the energy to get there. It's only a week away! I'm just excited to go and soak in the whole experience. This is where God wants me, so I just have to trust in his will and rest in his peace.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GILLIAN!

I would say that Gillian has been an unexpected blessing in my life this year. She is a fantastic roommate and before this year, we really didn't know each other very well. This year I have so enjoyed getting to know her better and living with her.

Anyone who knows Gill knows that she is a servant. She loves serving people and she does it so well! She is constantly looking out for the needs of others which is such a blessing. She literally takes care of me. For real. I would definitely be stressed if I didn't have Gillian in my life. Almost daily she feeds me! What an awesome friend! I'll come home from being gone all day and get back late from practice and dinner will be on the table waiting for me! And this is another college girl who's got so much going on, yet takes the time to cook me meals and love on me. There are plenty of nights I would go without dinner if it weren't for her.

Even just the other day, my schedule was completely packed. I had practice till 6 and class at 6:30 so I was just planning on packing a dinner and eating it in class. Gillian didn't want me to have to eat another sandwich so offered to make me dinner and have it in a tupperware all ready for me so I could run home, grab it and leave! How AMAZING is that?! She is constantly serving me and has been such a blessing in my life. Oh yeah, and the best part...she's a really good cook! She's really a baker at heart and is amazing at that as well, but definitely cooks some amazing dinners.

There are countless times Gillian has gone grocery shopping for me or offered to help me out in any way to make my schedule a little less hectic. She has become such a dear dear friend.

Gillian is also hilarious. We have great laughs and enjoy sitting down for dinner and talking over our days. It is because of her that I, along with countless others, now have the word "scrumpins" in our everyday vocabulary. She has also introduced me to the emotion "muhrrr" which is just as it sounds. Through living with Gill my wardrobe has now doubled and we often pick out "professional outfits" for each other to wear.

It was amazing to have someone to partner with during the diving season. Gill is a swimmer and so we were able to share in the joys and pains of the season. It was great to hear the swimmer side of everything as well.

I can't even explain what a blessing Gillian has been in my life. She has become such a dear friend so fast. Her servant's heart, outgoing personality and willingness to listen has truly blessed me.

Have a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GILLIAN! Love you!

Continued theme of Trust

Well last night was a bit of a dissapoint. Okay, well maybe a lot. I ended up vaulting terribly. I no-heighted, which means I didn't clear any bars. It stinks. It was a huge bummer. I haven't vaulted that bad in a long time, and to do it during my last chance to get to Nationals was hard.

I just have to keep reminding myself that the Lord is in control. He has a plan and he knows what he is doing. It's definitely not my plan, but His plans are so much better. I'm on my plan C, but I guess this is God's plan A. I qualified for Nationals in diving, so I can't complain at all. I just wanted it so bad! Uh. Oh well. I'm going to be the first height cut on the list most likely, which is just frustrating. So close, yet again. I just seem to always be 2-3 inches off getting to Nationals for vaulting.

But again, I have to keep reminding myself that God has a plan. I have to trust in his ways. Like I said before the meet, he knew what the results would be. He knew I was going to do terrible and I have to just be content with it. I can still bring the Lord glory through all of this. He can see the big picture. I don't understand and I don't see it, but the Lord is totally in control.

If you would like to pray for a huge miracle, pray that for some insane reason they decide to take more vaulters than normal. I think the official list comes out tomorrow. If they were to take my height it would be 19 girls total since some of us share a height. They only have to take 11, but last year took 16. So, yeah. It's not going to happen, I'm not getting my hopes up. But then again, God can do anything, right?

Well this is definitely a time for me to trust in the Lord and trust in his will and plans for my life. It's small steps, but sure is requiring my trust. And I do trust in him.

Trust in His will

So the other day I was thinking and praying. This whole two sports thing is busy. I absolutely love it, I enjoy every minute of it, but it's busy. I haven't gotten a chance to really hang out with my friends in a while and my schedule is just so full. Student teaching all day. Diving practice. Track Practice. Dinner. Night event of some sort. Sleep and repeat. I have seriously been loving it though. Just hard to keep in touch with people. Anyway, I was thinking and praying about this whole waiting game. I knew I would find out this week about diving and I was talking to the Lord about it.

I definitely wanted to make it to Nationals, but I just didn't see it as a reality. There was part of me that was looking forward to finally being down to one sport. Diving season is so long and got lengthened by qualifying, and then the potentiality of it being even longer because of making it to Nationals. I was ready for things to slow down. But as I was praying about it, I really prayed that the Lord's will would be done. Whatever he wanted to have happen, I would be okay with it. I was perfectly content on not making it. In fact, I was expecting it.

But...God had different plans. As of today, I am going to Nationals for diving! AHH! It is so crazy. So many things sprinting through my head. I was shocked. Completely shocked. I wasn't expecting it at all. I felt like everything was against me with only doing one meter. I didn't think I really had a chance. But...God works miracles! I can't even explain how much this screams out God's Glory! It is only because of him that I made it and he gets all the glory and praise. I can say with confidence that I know it is the Lord's will that I made it to Nationals. It is because of him. 100%. And I have to trust in his will. This is where I am supposed to be.

I am really excited and just feel like this is a really big honor. Something I wouldn't have EVER dreamed up in a million years. Honestly, I'm feeling quite inadequate, but I know that's not of the Lord, so have to trust in him. Just thinking back on my diving journey, especially since high school, it is insane. I have learned so much and come so far. And honestly not because of anything that has to do with me. The Lord has revealed so much to me and he gets all the glory. I've also had awesome coaches and teammates. I can honestly say that if it wasn't for Aaron, I may have quit diving my freshman year. I tried, but he didn't let me. And I seriously owe SO much to Erica. If it wasn't for her, I for sure wouldn't still be diving. She was such an encouragement to me my sophomore and junior year. All of my teammates have had a tremendous impact on me as a diver. Each one over the course of the last four years. I've needed all of them.

At practice today, standing in our brand new state of the art Olympic sized pool, Casey and I were reminiscing about the good ol' freshman days. We had a tiny pool dungeon and 10 divers. I couldn't do half of the dives I do now and I hated three meter. Well, I do still hate three meter, but the fact that I don't do it anymore, doesn't make me hate diving. Man, it has been such a journey. But I would say that qualifying for Nationals my Senior year couldn't be a better ending. My goal is go to Nationals and HAVE FUN! I want to take in the whole experience and just enjoy it. I don't care how I do. If I'm last, I'm totally okay with that. I'll take being the 22nd best girl diver in the Nation at a division three school. That is fine by me. 22 is a great number anyway :) My parent's favorite. So, the season isn't over and my diving career isn't over, but it is headed in a great direction. I couldn't ask for more. May the Lord's name be glorified. It is all because of him. ALL of it.

Well tomorrow still brings an important day for me. Thank you to all of you who prayed about the Last Chance Meet. The coach okayed it and we're heading to Wisconsin tomorrow. This is my absolute final chance to qualify for Indoor Nationals. I'm really excited about getting another opportunity to vault and have left the results in the Lord's hands. He knows what tomorrow brings. He is the one who will bring tomorrow. I just have to trust in him. I want to have fun and vault like I know how. I'm not going to allow negative thoughts to enter my mind. I have to keep telling myself that. I need to vault with confidence and no matter what the results I will choose joy. No matter what happens tomorrow the Lord's name will be blessed. It is for him and his glory that I do this. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. May his name be lifted higher and higher. Please pray for me tomorrow! Pray for safe travels (we'll be driving back late at night) and good performances for everyone going! There are 7 of us competing and one coach going. Thankfully, it's my coach. Mike is awesome. Please pray for my heart. That I would long for Jesus more than qualifying. The results are in his hands. Thank you Jesus!

Peace in the midst of Chaos

This past week was crazy. Now I am typically a very busy person, but this week, was insane. The past three days I've only been at my apartment to sleep, and now that I think about it, that was the case for almost every day this week, with the exceptions of a few dinners here.

I started student teaching this week! It has been a ton of fun. I am student teaching with the Ready for Life Academy which actually meets on Calvin's campus. It is awesome. Ready for Life (RFL) is a transitional program for college age students with disabilities. I am only one week in, but I am really enjoying it. It is definitely different from a typical classroom setting, but I know I will learn a lot and I have already loved getting to know the students. It has been really fun, but is certainly time consuming. Adding in full time work to the two sports schedule has been interesting.

The Lord has continued to teach me in this "waiting season." I trust him and I trust his will. I am also ready for it to be over. Just sitting in the unknown is hard. I will find out on Thursday or Friday about diving, and I'm not sure when about track. (more details on track to come)Now that I think of it, maybe it is a huge blessing that I've been so busy. It has definitely made the waiting more bearable. I'm so busy I don't have time to think about it.

I won't bore you with the schedule of my week, but I had student teaching, practice and a night event every day this week. The past three days have been especially crazy. Thursday I left my apartment at 5:50am and got back a little after 8:30pm. Friday I left at 5:30am and got back around 9:30pm. Today I left at 6:40am and got back at 9:30pm. Thursday was full of three practices, student teaching and a scholarship dinner to raise money for Ready for Life (where I'm student teaching). Friday I went to Chicago for the day to do a Chicago Semester Visit. I'm planning on doing my elementary student teaching in Chicago next semester. It was really fun, but an extremely long day. We visited some schools and talked about the program. We then drove back in a blizzard, which is always fun when your extremely tired and have a track meet the next day. Today was the track meet.

It went well. Not spectacular, but I was happy. I had a TON of fun! So that is always good. I felt great and was jumping well. I put the bar at 12 feet, 1 and 1/2 inches and was SO close to clearing it! I had the height, but didn't turn and knocked the bar down with my shoulder. (bad form) But I jumped well and got on a bigger pole, which is always a good thing in vaulting, so that was great. It's not what I was hoping for, but I definitely can't complain. I absolutely love pole vaulting! I can't even explain it. I had so much fun today! It didn't go as planned, but I just have to trust the Lord and his will. Pray that my coach will let me go to a last chance meet next weekend! It would give me one more shot to get to Nationals, and I know I can do it! But he's not sure he wants us going.

Through all of this chaos the Lord has been with me. He has walked every step by my side and I am so grateful for that. Last Sunday I was really overwhelmed with what this week looked like, but I got through it and actually had a blast. The Lord has been teaching me to choose joy throughout my day. Yes it is a lot, and yes there is always more, but I am learning to enjoy and love what I am doing at that moment. And I can only say that because of the Lord. It is his strength and peace that get me through. He is my comfort and source of refuge. He is my peace amongst chaos. And honestly, I am able to be saying all of this, not only through my prayers, but mainly because of my mother's prayers. Mom's prayers are amazing and so powerful! Moms - pray for your kids! It will change their lives. Thanks mom for your continued prayers and the way you allow the Holy Spirit to work! Love you!