Feeling Prolific

Two blogs in two days, getting a little crazy. Or, you know, classes have ended and I'm just working at the fitness center with time on my hands. This little thing called extra time has gotten me especially excited lately. With volleyball being, well, over for me I've realized that I've got more time to actually devote to other interests. Before it was like, well I can have fun with this for a little while but then I've got to get back to practicing and working out and being a full-time student-athlete (which, don't get me wrong, I have loved.) Break is also giving me a big chunk of time to pursue other interests besides school and volleyball. I'm especially excited to READ during break!! I know I'm a nerd but I love a good book that doesn't have to be completed on a predetermined schedule then followed by a critical essay. So sometime before we fly away to family and paradise I'm going to head to a used book store here in Tacoma or my favorite back in Salem. Again, I'm a nerd but I don't know much that makes me happier right now than the thought of spending an afternoon at The Book Bin finding books I've wanted to read for years at great prices. Maybe thinking of reading these books on a beach surrounded by my family makes me happier. But that's probably about it. Either way, I've got lots of things to keep me smiling for awhile even without volleyball officially in my life.

Christmas Cookies

Yesterday I had the rare experience of actually enjoying a holiday while in Tacoma, at school. Usually I am rushing through finals and working hard to the last moment to get home to Keizer and enjoy the season. This year has been a wonderful change from that. We have several assistant coaches on our volleyball team (I say our because I will feel like a part of this team until I graduate) and two of them are a young couple with a baby just several months old. The are THE sweetest family you could possibly imagine. The kind of people you know are Christians before they tell you they are regular church-goers. They have been an incredible addition to our coaching staff and really have extended themselves beyond that role. Yesterday they held a cookie decorating party at their home for us. Almost all of us took a break from studying and went to their adorable home to fill our bellies with sugar and just enjoy the season together. It was such a wonderful break and so nice to sit and get to know these incredible people who encourage us on the volleyball court. During the course of the conversation we finally got to hear about their line of work (they own two businesses) and how they got there. Another assistant coach was there and also shared her experiences finding a job. Hearing their stories helped all of us seniors breathe easy for probably the first time since we realized we have to formulate some sort of plan for our lives after graduation. So in addition to Christmas spirit all of us seniors got a big dose of relief and belief that we will somehow make it and find something we love to do after that scary event in May. It was a wonderful way to wind down my second to last semester and celebrate the season with people I love.

Now that I've got my Christmas spirit started its sticking around for the rest of the week and on to my time at home then to Hawaii! Christmas music, anyone?