Still remembering...

Seven years ago today, the World Trade Center in New York City was attacked; a terrible image that is burned into our memories forever. The people, a city, a country, and the world were hurt, robbed of life, and changed by the events of this day.

There is a sadness that still dwells inside me because such an event ever happened, and questions that haunt my mind about the repercussions of this catastrophy.

However, I find it rather odd because the memories I still have about September 11th, are not about the people directly affected, but of the TV pictures, the discussions with friends about this news, and the feeling of fear.

Where was I seven years ago when I first heard the news?

I was already in School at about 7:30am, Colorado time, when a friend, Chris, came into the hallway and said, "An airplane just crashed into a skyscraper in New York." The shock of this news became even greater during our third period Physics class, when Mrs. Ramsey, our principal, announced the news of the second plane over the loud-speaker.

What do you remember most about September 11, 2001?

Have you ever been so excited about something that you wanted to tell everyone in sight about it, even the ones who could care less?

This has been my exact feeling for the last three days, and yet I have withheld this desire to blurt out my thoughts because I am afraid it will be taken as bragging rather than pure excitement. So, I am going to try to convey this joy, that has hopefully subsided in the last few days, but only present the absolute facts. As with all news, the history of the story must be told or the news would be utterly meaningless.

Soccer is a passion of mine. Not the kind of fanatic-passion that is shown with constant viewing of the sport and in-depth statistical and player knowledge, but rather a simple passion that is fueled by the smell of grass as I am preparing for a game, laughing with teammates over everything except soccer, and beautiful creativity on the field. Soccer has been a passion since the seventh grade when my Coach, Chris Trujillo, would let me come early to practice to teach me slide-tackling and diving headers. It is these things that truly make me come alive.

At the beginning of my Junior year in college, a crazy idea came into my head that was perhaps encouraged by the fear of losing the opportunity to further fuel my passion at the end of my college soccer career, 'What if I could play soccer for a living?' From that moment, deep inside, it was a dream of mine to play soccer at the highest level possible, higher even than the collegeiate level. This impossible feat seemed even more impossible as I began exploring my options, but as I have learned repeatedly in life, the things we want the most, do not come without a fight.

Tuesday evening, as I drove on the German Autobahn from Nürnberg to Crailsheim, my dream of playing soccer at the highest level was becoming closer at a rate of about 120 km/hr, yet it still seemed so far away. In between me and my dream were miles of highway, a meeting with the team manager, and of course, a two hour try-out. Not only did these things need to pass by with miraculous harmony, but even more obstacles were speeding through my mind.

'How would I ever get to practice four times a week without a car when the trains stop running before practice is finished? After playing at a low-level for over a year, would I even be able to play at this high level again?'

Not only were the physics working against the car, but all the odds of achieving my dream were against me. I knew that without help from above, my dream could never come true.

As my mind raced, I prayed simply that I would not worry about the details, and that I would first just play soccer as I always have.

So, in referencing my previous post, God truly does give us the desires of our heart, and he is generous beyond our imagination, my imagination. After arriving in Crailsheim, meeting with the team manager, training with the team, and leaving Crailsheim, these are the things that have caused my overflowing excitement for the last three days:

1) I get to play soccer the Tuesday after I move to Germany.
2) I have the opportunity to train with TSV Crailsheim a Fraulein-Bundesliga team beginning in October.
3) The team pays for a car and gas for me and two other women to drive to and from Nürnberg for practice.
4) The coach said he would be excited to have me come back in October.


This truly is a miracle because really without God it could not have happened. I did not play my best at the try-out, yet the coach would like to have me back. I had no idea of how to get to practices, yet a car and gas will be provided. I played in a much lower league in Switzerland, yet the coach still allowed me to have a try-out.

That is my news, and I only hope it has not crossed the border of bragging because really it could not have happened without God willing it so...

A testament to God's Generosity

Over a half a year ago, I began searching for jobs in Switzerland and in Germany so that I could stay in Europe for at least another year. At the beginning of this search, someone suggested that I keep in mind my ideal job situation. Although I had this ideal in mind, I was willing to settle for anything as long as I could stay in this beloved Europe.

Well, to my own amazement, God is generous beyond my imagination. For some reason, I have found my ideal job situation, working in a small Interior Design business in Germany and learning the ins and outs of the trade from an incredible business woman. Not only have my wishes been granted, but God has given me even more than I had imagined. So, despite my small faith, unwilling heart, and independent attitude, God has blessed me.

In God's good ways, his generosity will always exceed what is desired.

Being a grown-up means liking tomatoes and other grown-up things, right?

In that case, can someone through me a coming of age party?

My childhood, teenage years, and college life were marked by my incessant opposition to anything even resembling a tomatoe. The closest I would come to the red-fruit (or is it a vegetable?) was if it had already been morphed into salsa, ketchup or spaghetti sauce.

Be it said that for the last week all of my lunches, dinners and snacks in between have included large portions of fresh cherry tomatoes from the Collicutts' garden. Now that I have been popping these sweet, round tomatoes like candy into my mouth, it can only be a sign that maturity has finally caught up with me.

But don't worry friends...even though liking tomatoes could be an outward sign of my maturing process, I will always be a salsa-loving kid at heart.

Returning to an Empty House

Upon my return to Rupperswil, Switzerland, I have found myself entering an empty house. Which, as a matter of fact, is odd because the family that I have missed so much the last two weeks is home. Yet, after spending a week with Josh, Bethany, Sara, Maren, Jake, Ric, Nick and Drew in this house, cooking, eating, playing, laughing, listening, talking, and living as close as can be to one another, this house feels incredibly empty because once again we are as far away as we were before, just in the opposite direction.

So, this is just a quick shot out to my peeps...thanks for coming to visit me, and for making this already great place even more amazing...you are missed already.


P.S. I am also just thankful the house is still here, because apparently the BBQ gas was left on for an entire week....ooops :)

I'm not going to write you a blog-post 'cuz you asked for it...

I am sitting here in Lauf, Germany in my pajamas that double as soccer clothes, and I am talking with Ric about what I should post on my blog. Apparently, I have a problem with posting on a regular basis, and unbenounced to me, people actually read my blog. So, despite my lack of time and creative writing skills, I am going to post exactly what is on my mind...

Spending an entire week with some of the most amazing people in the world in the most beautiful place in the world, is refreshing to the soul. The salad-bowl mixture of stories from China, Germany, Ethiopia, New Hampshire, and England were just a taste of the "dijour" life that was missed over the last year. Once again sharing life with these dear friends who have been an encouragement in this place, and creating new memories, such as Bethany and Josh's engagement, was a reminder of the blessings friendship can bring.

Reflecting over the last week, and looking forward to the next, the beautifully set table accented by laughter and good conversation deserves a toast. So, here is a toast...to friends, the swiss alps, propositions, good conversation, and being together....

Prost!

Quickly passing me by like an Eternity

As I stand here waiting at the train station, an endlessly long train, zooming along the tracks of life, seems to be quickly passing me by like an eternity.

It has been almost a year since I have seen some of my greatest friends in the world. An entire four seasons have gone by since last summer, which was filled with graduation, weddings, cliff-jumping, hiking, laughing, soccer, swimming, golfing and moving. Surely, for us all, there have been mountians climbed, new friendships made, traditions created, and timeless memories experienced.

However, when I look back to the beginning of this year, it seems to have passed by so quickly. I can hardly believe that another summer is here again, nor that in just a few LONG days I will get to see the friends that I truly love. We will swim, eat, talk, laugh, play, hike, and listen to the stories of mountains climbed, friendships made and a few of those memories created throughout the last year. Most of all, I will get the blessing of just being in the same city as you amazing people again.

I am now ready for this endlessly long train to stop, and to see my friends once again. I can see the train I am waiting for just at the point on the horizon where the tracks become one, and over the loud speaker I can hear, "Gleis eins, ankunft am siebzehn uhr von die Welt..." (Track one, arriving at five 0'clock from the world)

Finally, the longawaited train has come...