The Comeback Kids

Hello Blog and World!

We've been absent for awhile but we have internet at home again so we're going to try to get back on this thing :)

So update: Nial and I just celebrated our 1st year anniversary by taking a weekend trip to the Olympic Peninsula. We camped the first night (23 degrees!) and that was coooooooold. We went through Port Angeles and then onto Forks (fictional home of Twilight characters, Edward and Bella) which was tiny and kind of sadly twisted by all the attention. It is still VERY SMALL but has converted some businesses to reflect the Twilight theme. We saw a restaurant that had been re-named and a whole store dedicated to the films and books with a tour of Forks (haha).

We went to the Hoh Rainforest and saw this huge Spruce. It was FREEZING, literally the whole time we were there so we really are looking forward to visiting again when things are greener instead of frosted.

Driving through the National forest took us past Lake Cresent, which is a secluded huge lake. It was my favorite thing we saw. It was especially cool because it was so cold, the fog lay over some of it all day.

Nearer our campsite we took a short walk to a waterfall. There was an older couple there, taking pictures together. It was really cute, they had nice cameras and tripods each. I love seeing couples sharing in hobbies/interests together.

Our last night we stayed in Port Townsend, which is an adorable town on the very NE tip of the Oly Peninsula. Much of the downtown was built before and around 1990 so its very interesting and beautiful. We went to a Creperie and had coffee and crepes before exploring. We saw the museum of wooden boats, there is an annual Wooden Boat Festival hosted in Port Townsend.

If you're wondering about Mr. Shaggy, he got a haircut shortly after this trip :) and is now a very cold guy. ;)

Other life updates:

We are trying to get a job in Alaska for the "summer." In reality if we are blessed enough to get it it will be 6 months w/ little to no break mining gold. Half of you reading this probably think I'm kidding. No joke, through a friend we may have the opportunity to go work at an open pit mine in the middle of AK for 6 months straight. Daunting right? My confidence that we can do this lies mostly in Nial's confidence. Mostly I think: if he thinks we can do it, we probably can. We should find out a solid answer whether we're going or not within the next 3-4 weeks. We are very excited about this idea and now are just praying that all the pieces fall into place.

Nial is working at the Home Depot still and has great reviews from his boss. He has learned a lot about Plumbing (his department) and is frequently asked for by customers. I still work at Endzone Athletics, training volleyball players in fitness and mechanics. I am also coaching a 16's team. We were fortunate enough to have the ability to scholorship players this year and got a lot of great and unexpected talent. We play our second tournament this weekend.

We'll try to be back soon!

Blessing and Business!

October 22nd! Wowza time zooms! God has been faithful to Nial and I this past month. When we were unsure of what was going to happen He stepped in as He always does with His provision. Nial was hired to a job last week after only being out of work for 2 weeks! In this economy!! THEN, early this week he recieved another call back from another job opportunity! He interviews tomorrow. With so many people out of work, we feel really blessed for him to be offered 2 jobs so soon!

And when I was starting to really worry about paying for school bills and day-to-day things, a super-part-time job opened up for me! Working back at my gym EndZone Athletics. I'm teaching 4 classes a week and I also do a private session with just one girl. I train them in strength conditioning as it directly applies to volleyball. It fabulous because with classes, volleyball 6x a week, planning our wedding and trying to study and be a good sister/auntie/fiancee I didn't think there was any way I could make cash with my limited hours! But doing these extra classes are just 1-2 hours a night. Its perfect!

So I just have to say I'm so grateful! :) Though I'm insanely busy I can't imagine being more blessed right now.

Familys / Teams Convergence Zone!

In Ashland again! Ok, ok technically I'm in a hotel in Medford... BUT! Last night I was back in A-town! My team travelled from Washington yesterday to play against SOU. My parents also drove down bringing Nial and picking up one of my closest friends, Lisa Little. The match was a 1-3 loss so that was disappointing but I played definitely one of my better games (apologies for the boast...) and so that was nice to make a good show for my personal fan section!! Which included:

• My Parents


• Nial


• Lisa and Arturo


• Shira and Sophie


• Diana


• Dallas and Weston (although they came late because they thought that watching a silly high school match was more important that watching their soon-to-be-sister's collegiate volleyball match)

The Down-Ref remembered me and said he would hug me if that wasn't against the rules. Everyone of the SOU coaches hugged me (not expected...) including one who I really didn't know... And half the team (because I played and was friends with them only a year ago) also hugged and gave warm wishes.

My parents got to meet Diana for the first time and Shira, Soph, Dall and Weston. Which was really cool for them, but honestly, I'm kind of upset that I wasn't there when it all went down!! Oh well...

After the match my coach, very kindly, said that I could spend some time with them if I was back to the hotel before too late! Shira, Soph, Nial and I went to Shira's apt where she whipped up some post-game goodness! Potato-Leek soup, home grown corn on the cob and quesidillas.

Quickly, too quickly we had to go

There and Back again, an nomad's tale

So as I stated in my last post, volleyball started for me in early August. We practiced twice a day and also had a conditioning session each day. That was 6 times a week for 3 weeks. Phew! I'm glad we're done with Pre-season!! So then we headed to Idaho the last week of August, we didn't do spectacularly but learned a lot I think.

The following weekend (Labor Day wknd) we headed to Los Angeles. It was my first time to So Cal and I have to say I'm not that impressed... It was dirty and people drive like everything is legal. We played 4 games there at Concordia-Irvine all against top-ranked (15and up) teams. It was tough! But we hung with Cal Baptist (#3 in the nation) and regained some confidence. Our last day there we went to DISNEYLAND!! I had never been there and loved it. Unfortunatley, after our last game we were in trouble with our coaches and had to condition for an hour in the dark outside the University we were playing at... so, we were kinda sore walking around the Happiest Place on Earth but it was still magnificent. Indiana Jones was my FAV!!!

So I am blessed to have my family mostly live close to me, Lee, very convientently lives in Kirkland about 3 blocks from my new school, Northwest Univ. During Pre-season I lived in their spare room and it helped tremendously! It was so fun to hang with my nephew more than normal, watching Nemo or playing with his matchbox cars... Love that little boy!

I moved home this week after getting back from CA. It makes life more organized not living in two places. And now I'm closer to Nial again :)

Being back in school has been a little weird! Trying to remember APA format and Calculus and how to be a good note taker and time-manager...! Its nice though, I do love school and learning so that part is very satisfying.

***REMINDER: If you're in Ashland next week Friday (18th) I'll be playing at SOU at 7pm. Nial and my parents and my friend Lisa are driving down too! So we hope to see you there!***

Wedding Website!

http://www.mywedding.com/nialandellexandra/index.html
Just check it out... Its easier than re-writing it all here :)

I start volleyball tomorrow... therefore: my life ends outside of it. I am very excited and anxious but so glad that God has given me this opportunity.
After high school, I was recruited by a coach at SOU, he then left and I was placed into a changing program. New coach, new experience. It was very challenging. I didn't make the travelling team aka "Red Shirt" That was more difficult that I could've expected. I'm competitve and love my sport so sitting on the bench was mentally, emotionally and spiritually challenging. End of that season, coach told me I would start for him the following year! Spring season: I work hard. End of spring ball, coach tells me I need to work hard to have a spot. I go home to WA, work with my trainer, he kicks my butt 3x a week and I get into the best shape. When I went back to Ashland to start my 2nd season I think I have it in the bag.
GOD ALWAYS HAS A BETTER PLAN THAN YOURS.
I tore my meniscus during our 3 a day practices--I didn't realize that I was injured, we all hurt during that time and I just thought I was sore. 12 days in, coach brings me into his office and tells me he doesn't have a spot for me. I am devestated. The next day I realize that something is wrong with my knee when it swells to the size of my thigh. I am worried and sad but trust that God has something for me.
Nial and I move home to WA. I get treatment and have arthroscopic surgery in October. I am not in school and am sad because of the sedintary-ness of my life. Spring comes. I sign with Northwest University in Kirkland WA. It is in the same conference as SOU (we play eachother...). It is a Christian school and that is a big part of the athletic programs there.
GOD ALWAYS HAS A BETTER PLAN THAN MINE.
So here I am. About to start my first real season in college. I will be playing there for the next 4 months and I still can't believe that God has granted this to me. I haven't had a jersey since my senior year in high school, this year I'm #2. I can't say I did anything. The Lord has blessed me with this and I feel it should be shared.

We play in Ashland on September 18th. I am nervous to play against my old team/coaches etc. But please if you're in town, my parents and Nial will be there too, come watch and say hi!

Updates

BUSY!

I am continuing to work at my restaurant and in addition to that in June I began working for one of my old trainers at Endzone Athletics in Kirkland. It is a ton of fun! I teach 4-8 classes a week for girl 10-18 yrs old. Most of it is volleyball hitting approaches and volleyball based strength training. It is something I really can do well and am liking it a lot. BUT, it means I work 7 days a week at kind of weird times so scheduling other things is difficult and sleep comes in short nights and sporatic naps.

I'm whining a little, forgive me.

For the 4th of July Nial and I backpacked nearly 20 miles roundtrip to the Deception Lakes. We parked my car way up HWY 2 (stevens pass hwy) and followed Deception Creek (very much not a creek, but in fact, a river). The first day we went 5 miles before making camp on a sandbar by the river, it was splendid spot actually. Saturday (the 4th) we hiked the remaining 5 miles and it was KILLER! It was almost strictly elevation gain and it was grueling. Over the whole 10 miles up we gained over 2,000 feet in elevation, most of it in the second leg.

But worth it! We had 3 lakes almost all to ourselves, we only had to share them with 2 other people. It was a glorious way to spend the holiday, picnicing on rocks and jumping in the alpine lakes. Sunday, we did all 10 miles down in less than 5 hours... it was all downhill :)

Nial was home for all of 2 days before he took off again, this time by himself. He had the week off of work (silly gov't jobs....) so he wanted to go back "UP." I dropped him off where Beckler River Road ends and the FS roads begin. He had his fly rod and his backpack and this time... a camera!