Just to vent .

Oh boy, life has been quite crazy here recently, in both a good and bad way. School is pretty much taking over my life, so the only time I have for myself is the weekend. Softball is about to start so the weekends are about to be gone too, but at least I'll be doing something I love. I've been "branching out" a lot lately, realizing that I wont be here too much longer, so I might as well have fun while I'm here. I'm about to be gone, away from all my friends and family. I won't see them on a daily basis, like I do now, so I've made a promise to myself that I will spend as much time with them as I can, and that I will make new friends, and also that I will just live my life and not worry about others. It's been amazing, just letting go, having fun, and not caring about what others say/think. Of course, I can't block everything out, although I try.

I've noticed that there are two ways you can approach a problem. You can either be mature about it, or immature. I have a lot of respect for a person who doesn't point fingers when trying to solve a problem. When they approach it in a grown up way and try to evaluate the situation before they get mad. It makes things a lot better when everyone can share their side of the story, and actually be listened to. If you come to me with a problem, I will be honest with you. On the other hand, I have NO respect for anyone who just goes around pointing fingers and assuming that they know everything without talking to the person they have a problem with in a mature manner. Trying to look all big and bad by calling someone out or talking about them behind their back is not the mature way to solve the problem, it only makes it worse.

I'm one of those people that if someone does me so wrong, but then on down the road somewhere in life, if they need me, I will be there for them, no matter what. I'm not one to hold grudges for a long time. Honestly, I usually forget why I got mad at the person. I'll fix a friendship, no matter what the reason was for us not being friends in the first place.

Now let me say this, I have the most amazing friends in the whole wide world, and I would be completely insane without them. I love them with all my heart, and would do anything for them, no matter how long I've known them. A week, a month, or 10 years, I'll be there for them no matter what. I hope they know that, and I'm sure they do. I love y'all (:

Highschool is nowhere near easy. People talk too much, girls are mean, and it stinks having to wake up early everymorning and having to prepare for that. But I'm putting that out of my mind. I'm going to have fun with my friends, I will live my life and not worry about others, I will mend friendships, and I will create new ones. I don't have much longer here, and I'm gonna make the best of it.

P.S. I graduate in 4 months, oh how time flies.

Senior.

August 9, 2010, my last first day of high school.

Yes, my mom cried. No, I didn't. I did stay up late the night before because I couldn't sleep, I was too excited. Everything that has happened so far this year has been bittersweet. These past few months have already been full of a lot of "lasts". Last first day, last Austin v. Decatur game, last rush, last homecoming, last pep rally, last football game, last pancake breakfast, and last powder puff tournament (Class of 2011, back to back champs, BTW !) . My goal this year is to just have fun and to make it the best, even if mom complains that I'm not home enough anymore. I've settled friendships that were rocky and created MANY new ones, and I love the people in my life right now. Some days I'm so ready to graduate, some I'm not. But after visiting USA this weekend, I'm more excited about college.

A couple weeks ago, my 9 year old sister and I were jokingly yelling smart comments back and forth to each other, and she pulled the " I....just wish you would go to college !" card. It kind of hurt me a little, although we were joking, that she thought of that. It made me realize that I wont be seeing her or anyone in my family everyday anymore. Its a weird feeling hearing my sisters fight about who is getting my room, or who's room I'm going to stay in when I come home for holidays. I have a feeling that the first few months I'm gone, I will be having weekly "Skype dates" with them. As much as we argue, I know I'm going to miss them.

It's feels crazy to say that senior year is almost halfway over, but it has been great so far. One thing I'm sure of is that I love my classmates, and the fact that we are like one big family, its amazing.

ONE-ONE<3

Back 2 Back !

This weekend I played in the Dixie State Tournament in Dothan. There were four teams in our division - Southdale, Montgomery Gray, Greenville, and us. We beat Southdale our first game, Montgomery Gray our second game, and beat them again in the championship game. Which made us state champions for the second year in a row !

But the trip didn't start out as great as it ended...

On Friday morning, the team met up at Chick-Fil-A to get breakfast & load up the cars. We left Decatur at about 9:30ish. Surprisingly we only made two stops. One for gas, and one for lunch. We had lunch at a place called Sisters, it was pretty good, I was definitely full afterward & took a nice little nap. We got to the hotel around 4, and we had to be at the opening ceremonies banquet at 5:30, so we had just a little bit of time to get ready. When we got to the hotel, I called my mom to see if she was about to be there because she had all my clothes in the truck. Well, she told me that her meeting had run late, and she was only in Birmingham which meant she wouldn't be there in time for me to change into my uniform before the banquet. So, being stressed out I just broke down, and of course everyone was asking why I wasn't in my uniform when we started to leave for the banquet, so the crying just didn't stop. I'm not sure why not having my uniform bothered me so much, but it did. Mom got to the banquet as fast as she could & she brought my jersey so I could at least halfway match the team. I definitely felt better after getting it.

After the banquet we made a run to Krispy Kreme, then headed back to the hotel. When Allie, Anna, Meg & I walked back into the room, it was really cold and our beds & everything felt wet. We couldn't figure out what was wrong, so we just delt with it. We took tons of pictures and just messed around for a while until we all crashed. When we woke up the next morning all of our throats were hurting us, we hoped it wasn't anything serious and it ended up that it wasn't. We played two games Saturday, one at 11:30 (more like 1) against Southdale, and the other at 7:30 (actually 9:30) against Montgomery Gray. We won both, which meant we were in the championship game. After our first game, we went to Olive Garden for lunch. We were there for a minimum of 2 1/2 hours, entirely too long, but we were thankful for a good lunch. Our second game was a hard one, but we never gave up. Winning both games meant we didn't have to play til 4 on Sunday, which meant sleeping in !

Sunday morning we woke up around 9:30ish thanks to the housekeeping staff, so much for sleeping in. So, we just layed in bed & watched the Teen Mom marathon until we left to eat at Golden Corral for lunch. After lunch, we went back to the hotel to chill for a little bit and get ready to play. Surprisingly, our game actually started close to 4 ( I think it was like 4:20 ) ! Although the other team didn't have the nicest fans or the best sportsmanship, we beat them 3-1. We got a trophy & medals, and had our picture taken a million times ! Our celebration dinner was at Outback, and they were much better prepared for our large group. After dinner, everyone went their own ways. Some stayed and some decided to make the drive back that night. Allie and I were the only ones left in our room for the night. We stayed up until about 4:30 without even realizing it, but it only helped for the ride home. I slept 3/4 of the way back to Decatur. Haha.

I had so much fun this weekend, I could go into detail about every second, but it would take about a week to write ! I love my team, and can't wait for World Series next weekend ! We're going with a winning attitude, and plan to come back to Alabama with a big ol 1st place trophy !

It's been a while...

This summer has been one of the greatest, hands down. Since I haven't written in a while, I'm just gonna slightly touch on some of this summer's highlights so far..I'm sure that I will forget something important though.










For my birthday, we grilled out at the campground and I had a few people come and eat. After we headed over to the Luau at Point Mallard, then just chilled at the campground. We all had a lot of fun just being crazy, which I'm pretty sure swinging around the flag pole by the Miss Point Mallard stage is illegal...oh well.






Like normal, when summer comes you see some people more than others. To catch up and manage to forget boys for just one night, and we had a girl's night at Allie's Nana's house. Its always fun to just be with the girls, and just be crazy. We ate pizza, swam, talked, and just had a good time. For some reason at one point in the night, Brittany went out to Tori's car to get something, and realized that the doors were Saran wrapped shut, and she sprinted into the house screaming " SOMEONE VANDALIZED OUR CARS ! " , we all just looked at her like she was crazy, but then we realized what she said. Haha. We are all convinced on who it is, and he knows who he is. My favorite part was probably just sitting around, talking and giving each other advice and making fun of ourselves and just being stupid. I had a lot of fun catching up with my girls (:




Since we have such a busy summer schedule, my parents thought that taking a big trip would be hard to do, so they decided to borrow my aunts camper and camp out at Point Mallard for about a month. It was nice to have, and I don't think there has been a day where I haven't been out there. Out of the many nights I stayed out there, there was never a dull one. Especially 4th of July weekend. I was really thankful for the camper when I heard how hard it was to find a parking place. Is it just me, or do the fireworks get worse every year? It lasted for a grand total of 15 minutes this year. I just remember them lasting longer in the past but, I love fireworks, so I enjoyed it.




Like last year, I am playing on the Dixie Debs All-Star team. We beat Underwood in the District Tournament again this year, and we are state bound on Friday. To raise money for state, we sold Krispy Kreme donuts. I spent the night with Allie the night before, we pulled an all-nighter ( fun, but NOT smart ), and got up at about 4 in the morning to set up on the side of the road and sold the donuts. We sold as much as we could, then we drove all around Decatur to sell the rest. Took until about 3 P.M. ( for me, this was 29 hours of no sleep ). I'm pretty sure I was ill, and probably gave too much of an attitude to some people, which if that was you, I'm sorry. In the end we raised a lot of money, and it was all worth it.

I spent the weekend with my best friend, and we had soooo much fun. Like always, of course! I can't even tell you the amount of times we finished each other's sentences, or said the same thing, or did the same thing at the same time etc..this weekend, it creeps us out sometimes.She always been there for me, and always will be. I have no idea what I'd do without her, she always knows what will make me feel better. Things as little as sending me a picture of Patrick Dempsey to make me smile when I'm having a bad day, haha. She is a big part of who I am today, and everytime we're together I'm reminded why she is my best friend (:

That is just a small part of how summer has gone so far, but it would take forever to put all the great moments. Its gone by so fast, and I'm not ready for it to be over. I take my senior portraits in a couple weeks, I think it will hit me then that this is really my last year of high school. It's bittersweet, and I'm looking forward to enjoying every minute of it.

Thanks for the memories ! (:

This past week has been great, and emotional. Late Thursday night, Point Loma began pool play for the NAIA tournament. They beat Ottowa Thursday, and then beat MidAmerica on Saturday. Their final season came to an end on Monday against Shorter. I told myself I wasn't going to cry... that didn't last very long. The most awesome part of that day ( actually the whole week ) was when they asked me to come to their last huddle & gave me the signed jersey. I love it ! Then, I was asked to give a speech. Well, 1) I was not prepared to give a speech so I had no idea what I was going to say and 2) I was crying, so they probably didn't even understand me. But I do want to point out that I wasn't crying because I was disappointed, at all. They did great, and are still #1 to me. They are all awesome softball players and people. I'm glad that I got to spend more time with them before they left, too. They invited me to lunch, and I loved listening to the funny stories they told about the season. Then we went out and watched some games before they left. I was absolutely dreading 3:30, I didn't want them to go. But the time came, and after saying bye, they all left. I couldn't even stick around the ball fields after that, I had to leave. I am sad that they won't be back next year, I don't know what I'm going to do, but I'll leave that for then & not worry about it now. I'm absolutely, 100% proud of this team. They are wonderful, and are so close. They are the exact definition of a team. The dictionary needs to say "team-(n) Point Loma Nazarene University softball team. " Lastly, I would just like to thank them for everything they have done, for making me feel special to them. Especially when they scream " RAAACHEEELL! " every time they see me, no matter where we are. I want to also thank all of the parents, they are so sweet ! I'm going to miss every single one of them, a lot. Thank goodness for Facebook, so we can keep in touch ! haha.

Tyler & I Walkup & I

The Final 14

Thursday began the games for this year's NAIA tournament at Wilson Morgan. Like every year since 1st or 2nd grade, I went out to watch,my favorite team, Point Loma. Most of the time when I tell people that, they just look at me funny and say " Who are they? " or " Why?". Well, they are an amazing softball team from San Diego, California, and for many reasons.

I can remember that first year like it was just yesterday. My dad and I went out to watch the tournament for fun. We would just float from game to game and watch an inning or two then go to the next game, but as we walked up to the field where Loma was playing, there was something different about them. There was a completely different vibe coming from their dugout. A sense of a strong team bond, spirit, and it was my image of a perfect team. I can remember chasing every foul ball hit in that game like it was money flying through the air. After the 6th or 7th foul ball, one of the people that worked at the field just let me keep the ball. Later, I got the team to sign it (I still have that ball, and everything they gave me or pictures on a wall in my bedroom, its my "Loma wall"). From then on, watching them has been tradition.

Going through the past years, I could go down the rosters and tell you at least one thing that each player did that made me a better person and/or ball player. Here are some that I can just think of off of the top of my head (in no particular order, of course) : Cheryl Bolding- Cheryl, who was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame this year, is just an all around great softball player, but she also knows that there is always something to work on, and stays grounded. She is definitely one of my softball idols. Mackenzie Gerke- She is the reason I have been #31 for most of my softball years, she included me in things the team did while they were here in Decatur, and it made me feel special. She always worked hard and never gave up. Melissa Gomez- Mel is so sweet, and always said, " Hey, Rachel !" with a big smile on her face, no matter what, even if they were losing & the game was on the line. She's an amazing softball player, and always made me feel special. Randi Mead- Randi was a great softball player, and she was so nice. She would come and talk after every game, no matter what the outcome was. KC Robertson- KC was a great pitcher, and even though she has graduated, we still talk every now and then. She sent me a birthday card one year, and it is still hanging up in my room. It meant more than she even knows. Allie Boeckelman- Allie was one of the best catchers I have seen in my life. She was smart, and was calm in tough situations. She played through pain and injury, because she knew she couldn't let her team down.There are SO many more, and those are just past players!

This year is the last year that Point Loma will have a softball team, at least for a while. When I first heard this news, I was crushed. My dream was to go out to Cali ( as much as my dad said no ) and play for Point Loma. The team this year has faught so hard, and continues to fight to make this the best. They have worked so hard, and are more than determined to go far. It's crazy to think, that when the tournament comes around next year, they won't be there. I don't know what I'm gonna do, but what I do know is that I'm not going to take this year for granted. I am going to be at as many games as possible. Rain,shine,hot,cold,early in the morning,late at night; I'm gonna be there, cheering them on. I love to watch them play, and every single time I do, I feel like a kid again. I look up to them, and it's like no matter what they are the best. I'm going to miss them a lot! But this tournament is just getting started & I'm ready to watch them go all the way !

http://www.pointloma.edu/Athletics/Softball.htm

Here comes goodbye.

Tonight was our banquet for the 2010 AHS Softball season. This season has been absolutely amazing, to say the least. As we sat and talked about the season and watched the slide show of pictures, you could hear people saying " Remember when this happened...? " & laughing because of inside jokes that happened in those moments. Our seniors this year were the greatest, they were such good leaders and we wouldn't have had the season we did without them. Each and every one of them had a positive influence on the team and we grew stronger because of it. I became closer with them this year, and I'm happy about that. I just want to say a little about each senior.

Amy- Amy is just an awesome person, and she knows how to make people feel better when they are down. I will never forget in the Morgan Co. Tournament, I was upset because of a bad play, and when we came back into the dugout I just went and sat down in the corner & Amy came over there, looked me in the eye and said, " Rachel, get up. There's nothing you can do about it now, you've got get out there and hit, we need your stick ! Go take it out on the ball ! " & I sucked it up, & got back to work. Amy is a great 3rd baseman & that girl can hit !

Brooke- Since the beginning of my softball career at Austin, Brooke has always been one to lift me up & encourage me when I'm down. She always has the best advice, not just about softball, but about life too. & Brooke is awesome at cheering everyone on, giving 100% in everything, and she is a great ball player (:

Haley- Oh boy, Haley is just crazy. She always has something encouraging to say & most of time it's hilarious. She always says something random/funny/crazy in our huddles. She would always make us laugh if we looked down, or just say something insane to make us all give that "ooohhhh haley " look to her. Her favorite cheer was the " Na na na na na " cheer & she'd make up a new verse every game. Hahaha. Haley is an amazing pitcher & I know she is going to go far!

Sarah- Haha, wow. Sarah & I have developed a special relationship this season. If a complete stranger walked up in the middle of one of our coversations, they would think we were about to beat eachother into the ground ! We both knew we were kidding, though. If we were down a couple points in a game Sarah would look at me and say, " Rachel, I just don't think I've been mean enough to you today, that's why we're losin ! " and even tonight, as Coach Dutton called my name to get my award, Sarah whispered my name, and I looked back at her and she said " I hate you !" with the biggest smile on her face. It won't be the same next year without her there to pick on me & for me to pick on !

Bre- Bre just cracks me up. She can be SO hyper and crazy at one moment & then down to business in the next. I swear, she hit so many out this year that after a while we all got tired of running out there every time ! But we're glad she did ! She is so quick, if a ball was hit to center, we wouldn't even stress, we'd say " Bre's got it " and just calmly wait for the ball to drop into her glove.

Lauren- This girl always has fun, & she always kept the dugout loud & made sure we kept pushing through all game long. She was always wearin those shades in the outfield & would freak out if she couldn't find them. haha. She is a great pitcher & is gonna do so good at Snead ! Hot Chicken ! (not cold turkey.) & Mrs. Richey's class has been great too ! She just loves us & I'm just gonna have to scream " MRS. RICHEEEEEEEY! " for you next year ! Haha.

Jasmine- I cant forget Jasmine ! a.k.a. Management ! Haha, thanks for coming and helping us this season. It was fun.

I'm going to miss every one of these girls. They have been a big part in our success this season and the rest of the team has learned so much from them. We are going to keep this up & make sure that Austin Softball is a big success next year too !

I love you seniors !

2010 AHS Varsity Softball
" Goon Squad "