Just keep swimming: my life in a nutshell

"Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall."
- Ray Bradbury

Wow, where should I start? Every time I write on my blog, I spill out all my guts (Maybe, not literally, but you get the picture). As I have said time and again, I grew up in a musical family. We are just as excited about music as we are about swimming.

 I've been swimming since I could crawl! Luckily, I was homeschooled so I was free to swim as much as I wanted. My parents decided early on to put all of us kids in a swim club called NOVA. Back then, swimming was all I knew because I was there every day from 3pm to 8pm monday through friday! Crazy, huh? Now that I look back, I didn't really care too much about competition. I distinctly remember playing cards with my friends at Junior Olympics before my heat was up. Unfortunately, I totally missed my heat and my coach was mad! I was having so much fun already that I forgot about my race and I wasn't even worried about it at all. Swimming is and always will be my favorite sport! I am not sure I'll ever go to competitive swimming again myself, but I'll cherish those moments forever. 

Butterfly is my best stroke. This might explain why I have gnarly muscular legs on my tiny body. If you've ever met me, you already know! I'm definitely not ashamed of my muscular legs, and I'd go as far to say that I'm proud of them even if that makes me cocky. God gave me a height of 5 ft 1.5 in and it's amazing how much I can do with all he has given me. I used to think of my short height as a bad thing and wanted to be taller. Then I realized there's no greater gift than the body God gave you and he has such an amazing plan that you cannot even fathom.

To all the athletes like me, remember that you are blessed to have a sport that you played and your parents were probably the reason you were able to become an athlete in the first place. Thank God I was given the amazing opportunity to be a part of a swim club team like NOVA with my siblings. I'll always remember the early mornings as a blessing because I wake up at 5:30 am automatically now.

Once a swimmer, always a swimmer

Rachel

Gosh, I'm sore (active PTSD)

{Make the Comfortable Uncomfortable}

Shawn Hunter

       I was bit by a dog when I was seven years old. I'll never forget that day. It was the best and the worst day of my life. I mean, can it get any worst? Quick story line: I was visiting my cousins in Kansas and we were having so much fun.  Then I hovered over their dog when I leaned in too far. He nearly bit my nose off. I ended up bleeding like a volcano into a rag and got to chill out in the hospital almost entirely overnight. Two surgeries later, I am well, but I know I can be better than that. YA, I'd rather be a coach than a counselor.

   
     I've had many coaches influence me, and I am grateful for all of them, They deserve a round of applause and a huge hug! A coach pushes you to better than you are. A counselor will listen, but loves to give advice. Maybe a little too freely sometimes. I'll admit that I do that and it bothers others. I do what I do best and that's the gift God gave me. I got skills, you got skills, WE can all have skills. Yay for the freedom to use our gifts to our advantage and we owe it all to the BIG man upstairs. No, not your neighbor poppy or your roommate pippin,but to the one who created YOU. God wants us to excel in our unique skills. We all were created human and that's why he wanted us all to have our kooky, quirky gifts that some get and others don't. We embrace our gifts in our own lives. I love to see that when I work with children on soccer field even if I am not a professional soccer player. In any sport, I'll take that potential and drive.

Yes to God and No to Comfort, 

Rachel

Note to self and others: there's no easy step; only big leaps and little joys to drive you. TobyMac can tell you and so can TruDog.

Run wild: Ink on my fingertips and anxious for my plans to unveil

When Life throws you lemons... What do you do? Throw them back or use your imagination? 

         Lately, I've been noticing how important it is to make choices in a timely manner. This sounds simple enough, but there's always something whether it's tangible or invisible that seems to get in the way. You want to scream and say "Hey, I don't like that". And you could, heck, I've done it. Complaining somehow seems alright in the moment, but there's a time and a place for everything. Whoever gets from A to B by telling you that life is as easy as pie, I say wow. Wow is my way of saying I couldn't put myself in a box even if I fit. I love to color outside the lines, I dare myself to be uncomfortable. I'm sure you think that's ridiculous because that sounds exhausting and that's true. This is where reality comes in, you are AWESOME. Let your imagination take you into places unknown because a new aspect on your journey is always beneficial. Everyone has a purpose and a place where they need to be. It has taken me a long time to admit that I do not want to stay in California forever. I want to move to the Midwest by the end of this new year 2016.... Whew! I can't believe I said that, it's taken me a while to admit it. Most importantly, know you will get there and nobody can change that (Exception: God, because he is the creator of the universe).

        If you love music like I do, I'd encourage you to listen to the Band, 'For King and Country'. Their music is rad and constantly reminds me to live my life to the fullest. I love their newest album called "Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong". 

Enjoy the little things in life, 

Rachel