Peace Out, 2016

Man, this year.. I remember sitting at the end of 2015 with so much anticipation and hope for the year. I remember kissing my husband and looking forward to all that was to come for us and for my family, church, and friends.

I had no idea that it would be my hardest year yet. It was the hardest year for my spiritually, emotionally, in my career (or lack there of), and financially. We got into a car accident, two cars died, couldn't pay off some debt like we had hoped, got turned down for job after job... My family experienced its hardest year by far. 

I am so ready for 2016 to be over.

But I am determined to look towards 2017 with hope. I am determined to look forward to the future with anticipation and optimism. I am determined to remember the good times I have had this year.

I celebrated 6 years of amazing marriage with my patient, wonderful, hard-working husband.

I celebrated birthdays of loved ones and friends.

I spent time with friends who bless me.

And I have my family, my loving, generous, crazy family.

Most importantly, my God is faithful, my God is steadfast, my God is love, my God provides, my God never changes, my God cares. Good or bad times, He is here. Through all of 2016, He was there. In 2017, He will be there. His plans and His ways are greater than mine. 

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:22-23


Happy New Year & God Bless. Here's to 2017.

Coach Willig

I sat in a wooden pew this morning and listened to story after story of a great man. Students, players, friends, colleagues, relatives stood and spoke about his compassion, his humor, his love, his passion, his fortitude, and how he inspired everyone around him.

I remember meeting Coach Willig for the first time when I was in 8th grade. He came to an AAU practice and watched us play as he would be our coach the next year. He shook my hand and introduced himself. I told him my name and mentioned that my goal was to make the varsity team my freshman year and that I had been working hard this past summer to make the team. He said "Keep working hard." He invited me to go to Gonzaga University with the high school teams. On our way, he walked to the back of the bus, handed me a varsity shooting shirt, and said "Here's your shot. Don't blow it."

From that moment on, I was one of Willig's players, one of his kids. He never made me feel second-rate just because I was a freshman or I wasn't a starter. He invested into me the same he invested into everyone else. He taught us to work hard, to laugh, to give it your all, and to pay it forward. He believed in me when a lot of people wouldn't have. He gave me a chance when most wouldn't have. I accomplished my goal of making the varsity team freshman year, but the coolest part about that was it meant I got to have Willig as my coach.

My hearts desire is to be a basketball coach and a teacher. I have had several who have influenced that desire, but Coach Willig was the very first person who instilled that calling into me. I will forever be indebted to him, grateful for the time I was able to know him, and feel honored to have been one of his kids.