Something No One Should Have to Go Through...

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of Sophia Ann Hathaway (Feb. 27, 2009-March 7, 2009). I have never met Sophia, but I was looking forward to. On Saturday, I received the news that Sophia had passed away. My heart just ached, I couldn’t find the words to explain what I was thinking and feeling…what do you say in a situation like that? Sophia is the sister of one of my U11 soccer players. I have never attended a service for a brand new baby before and on the way home, I kept thinking, “no one should have to bury a child.” It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever experienced…next to losing my dad. Words can’t even express all the thoughts that went through my mind and emotions I went through during both the viewing and the service. I was feeling heartache and sorrow for the family…the “why” questions come into play…I wanted to do something to ease their pain, yet there really was nothing that could be done. All I could say to them when I saw them at the viewing was tell them that they are loved. That’s all someone can really say. I watched my little soccer team and their families who were mourning with their dear teammate and friend, I looked at the high school football players who were dressed in their jerseys in support of their coach (the father of the child), I watched the pink and white balloons that were released during a song that was composed in memory of Sophia…for me it was kind of like we were saying goodbye to this little spirit and the family was releasing her from their grasps...which will be such a hard thing to ever come to terms with, I watched grown men break down and cry, I heard of love and was challenged to be more loving to those around me….and through all of this, everyone was there to show love for a family who lost a child, and to pay their respects to a little life who touched the hearts of many, included those who never met her. I was grateful for a knowledge that those children who die before the age of accountability return to their Heavenly Father as pure and innocent spirits who are not tainted or harmed by this world. I was grateful for the knowledge that families can be together forever, even after this life. I was grateful for the knowledge that Heavenly Father has a plan...we may never understand it, and it is because of that plan that we can be reunited with our families after death…death may be an end on earth, but it’s not an ultimate end…but while we are here on earth, we miss those who have gone before us...that is something that will always be in the back of one’s mind and no one can tell someone that they’ve had enough time to “move on”…we may move on with life, but the memories and aching is always there. This is one of those things that really makes you take a look at your life and figure out what is important, and recognize the things that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Even as I write this, I feel I am not making sense...I feel like there's more I should think, or that I should have a different mindset...it's something that is really hard and teaches all of us a great lesson about life in so many different ways. The link to the obituary is below:

Sophia Ann Hathaway

Back in the Swing

I'm recovered and back in the swing coaching soccer and back to work. Everything is healing as it should and I can pretty much eat anything I want....if I am brave enough to try!

Surgery....

Yes, I had surgery on Friday. I had my gall bladder removed. I lost 15 lbs since July and finally went to the doctor. Right before I went to the doctor, I got really sick after eating something, I had really bad stomach and back pains. So my doctor sent me in for a CT scan. They found that my gall bladder walls had thickened. So I went in two days later for an ultrasound, which showed I had gall stones. My surgeon told me that my gall bladder is a ticking time bomb. I went to the surgeon last Wednesday and was able to schedule surgery for this past Friday...I have five futsal games to coach next weekend, so this weekend worked out better. :) Thank you to the Stephens family and my brother, Kevin, for caring for me. I am in Tremonton at the Stephens' home until Monday or Tuesday, then I will be at my place in Salt Lake for the rest of the week. My mom wasn't able to fly up here because she has a blood clot in her leg and is not allowed to sit for more than 30 minutes and can not fly, so the Stephens and my brother stepped into her place to help me. Also, thank you to all those who have offered their time and to adjust their schedules to help me however I need it. It's good to know I have such a supportive group of friends surrounding me!

Someone told me this surgery is easy...however, I beg to differ. Incisions on your tummy are very sore...I can't stand up straight, everytime I move I hurt...it's not as easy as others have claimed it to be...so I am taking my time in recovery. One good thing...I don't get sick when I eat anymore!!!! :) That's a plus!

Tournament Champions!

My U11 team won their futsal tournament! We played a U12 team. We were down 3-0 at the half, tied it up 3-3 by the end of the game, and won in over time 5-3! It was awesome and my girls really stepped it up!

Happy [Emotional] Valentine's Day....and not because I didn't have a valentine!

So I had no special plans for Valentine's Day (aka Single Awareness Day). The first thing I heard in the car this morning was, "Happy Valentine's Day, I hope you are spending it with someone you love." As I started to roll my eyes at this comment, I realized...'hey wait! I am spending it with someone I love!' But it was an emotional morning that turned out o.k....



My U11 team had a futsal tournament this weekend. This morning I went to watch their Jr. Jazz basketball game (all 11 of my players are on a basketball team together), then we headed up to the UofU for a futsal tournament. My assistant coach and I took four players from their basketball game and drove them up to the tournament, and the rest of the team came up after their Jr. Jazz game was over. After an emotional morning receiving a call about a family of one of my players was involved in a car accident on the way to the tournament (the player was with me) and the only information I was given at the time was that the car was totaled and people from the team were pulling over to help (thankfully everyone is o.k., unfortunately, the car is not--it got stuck in the middle of a six car pile-up)...as a coach, the first thought through my mind was, "am I going to have to tell one of my players that someone in her family is in the hospital or has been killed?"

The mom who let me know of the situation kept saying, "we'll be on our way as quick as we can," and I kept responding with, "I really don't care how quick you get here, I want to know if everyone is o.k!" I chose not to say anything to my player and her cousin (whose brother was in the car as well) until I had more information. As a result of the car accident, I only had half my team there to start our game because everyone else, who had been in a caravan, had pulled over to help this family. None of the girls with me knew what was going on, but then the other half of my team showed up emotionally high strung by what had happened so I had to get them focused (during the game), and then I was calming down my player and her cousin whose family was involved in the accident because they found out about it during our game...so I have two players crying, my team is down by 1...and I'm multi-tasking BIG TIME. When we found out that everyone was o.k., I pulled out my cell phone and let my player go call her mom....it was during the game, but I figured it was appropriate. It was one of those things where I didn't have time to think about my own emotional state through it all. But everything turned out alright...the family is o.k. and we still came out with a win and a tie (we tied a U12 team). We are scheduled to play in the finals of the tournament on Monday!

I'd say, my Valentine's Day this year, though emotional, was pretty decent! I can't imagine doing anything else...well, maybe take out the whole car accident, and the day would've been perfect!

Weekend with the Myers

This past weekend, I spent the majority of it with the Myers family. I met them through soccer. We started off on Friday night by going to "Walking with Dinosaurs" at the Energy Solutions Arena. On Sunday, my friend and I went to their house for dinner, where we played soccer in the living room, Guitar Hero and Sing It with Disney! We ended the weekend with a trip to the Draper Temple open house on Monday. It was a blast!!!!

These pictures were taken with my phone at Walking with Dinosaurs (I forgot my camera). :(

Moving...

I moved to Cottonwood Heights on Saturday. I think this is the first time I moved where I actually had mixed emotions about it. I have lived in Alpine for the last three years in the basement of the home of Moylen and Maryowen Heslop. The Heslops became like family. They immediately took in me and my roommate, Donna, as if we were their own children. Sunday dinners, sharing movies, early morning chats on my way out the door, hanging out with Brinkley (the dog)….all of these became traditions while living at the Heslops. I feel that I have grown so much from living with them and I told Sister Heslop that I felt like I was moving out of parents’ house all over again! I’m also leaving my good friend, and roommate, Donna. We have been friends since 2003. I really enjoyed living with her. She is going to come visit me and sit in the hot tub in the apartment complex I moved into!!!! The last thing I will miss is the AMAZING view of Utah County. There were days when I could see all the way across Utah Lake. Donna and I would watch fireworks from our deck during the summer. It was just awesome.


A cool view of the mountains....but from Lindon--where I play indoor...just random

Belated Christmas Dinner

Turkeys hanging out in our backyard!

I now live in an apartment complex in Cottonwood Heights. So far I am enjoying it. It’s in a nice area, its close to the freeway. The commute to school is only 30 minutes, and it was actually really nice to go to Target and not hear someone yell my name every time I turn down an aisle…I don’t mind seeing kids and their parents, but it is different not to see them at all. My roommate’s name is Rebecca Pieper. She is originally from Wyoming and she is teaching up in Salt Lake. I met her in the ward I am attending and have done things with her before when I was attending the ward this summer. Becca is on the right in the picture below.

Boys and....????

Remember my post about boys and loofas? Well, my friend, who I had the debate with, enjoyed so much the responses, because I was proven wrong, that he is now trying to tell me that guys scrapbook....I DON'T THINK SO!!! I find that hard to believe!! So here we go again...do guys scrapbook? Please...share your thoughts!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! Click on this link below...

UYSA Coach of the Month

Greg Maas, who is over coaching for the Utah Youth Soccer Association, called me yesterday and said he would like to recognize me as the January coach of the month. He appreciates my commitment to the ODP program and said that there aren't very many female coaches who are good role models for the girls. I really appreciate the compliment and I am flattered that he would think of me. :)