Turning the Paige: November 2014

So for those of you that don't know. I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last Friday in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. We played Augustana. Although not being able to finish that game was terrible, I knew my team would finish it for us and get the win [and we did!]. We moved on to play Central Missouri. Snow covered the field as the opening whistle blew. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful that game and thus, our season ended.

I had an amazing season. Not to say that I played amazing every game, but it was a great soccer season to be on the UCO Women's Soccer team. I love those girls with all my heart.

I already wish I was back. The second I tore it, I wanted to get up and keep playing. I think that's going to be the hardest part of this journey. Not the recovery itself (not that I'm saying that will be easy) but being able to keep my passion for soccer alive and not give up on getting back to the game. I know that every day that passes, I will continue to long to run and play but I won't be able to. I have to understand that my body won't as easily be able to do what it used to right away. The mental part of recovery is going to be tough. But lucky for me I have a whole team by my side.

me tearing ACL:

Surgery is today. Actually, in less than 3 hours. I'm not nervous yet. Actually, I'm quite excited. Not for them to cut my leg open, but because once I have surgery, all I can do is get better and start recovering. Which is all I want to do. All I want is to be better. So off to surgery I go! Wish me luck! ☺

And here are some season pictures! (If you need a laugh, look at my face & triple chin)

Semester update folks.

So this semester has definitely been a wild ride. Let's just say that me being my goody-two-shoes self ~~all~~ *most* of the time decided that I was bored. Not that being good is a bad thing, but a lot of times, I sacrificed my happiness or what I wanted in order to "do what was right" or whatever.

Example.

Paige wants to sit at home on Saturday night and watch a movie with her best friend.
*drunk phone call from another friend that they need a ride*
"I'll be right there" *Paige gets up from AWESOME movie and drive to pick up said drunk-o*
*Paige doesn't get to finish movie*
*Paige is kind of sad*

Now I'm not saying that going to pick up a drunk friend is wrong, or that it is the most horrible incident in my life. I'm just saying that perhaps wasn't my first choice of activity for Saturday night.

So I said, "I'M GOING TO HAVE A FUN SEMESTER."
My rationale: I didn't have a fun, crazy, screw-up, wild freshman semester so I can have one now.
My sad, sad realization when I was too far gone: Once you're a junior, you can't afford to just decide to take your fun semester.

Now, I'm also not saying that I went out and got belligerently drunk every night and never went to class and partied every weekend and did all these other crazy things I don't know exist that college kids do. But yeah, I actually went to parties, and maybe I skipped a few classes. SUE ME, it's college. It happens. SO sometimes I procrastinated. And sometimes that was really sucky at 11 pm on a Sunday night.

HOWEVER.

In a lot of ways, it's been a truly awesome semester. For example *in Hermione's voice*

I met these people

mostly, I met this woman.

She has seriously been the biggest blessing in my life. Although I have only known her for a few months, I am closer with her than many people I have known my whole life. She is my rock and I am #blessed to have her in my life. I can't even begin to imagine trying to get through this semester without her. From that weird girl on the team, to friends, to sisters, I love you more ( + 1 of whatever you say times infinity).

I have gotten to spend so much time with her. She is seriously the most fun human I know, she always knows how to put me in a good mood and I can always have a great time with her. She is the most talented soccer player I know. I can count on her on and off the field and during this semester, I have gotten so close to her and I am so thankful to have her in my life.

And, being honest, a lot of great things have come out of this semester. I had probably the best experience with my soccer team this year, and that is super awesome.

SO GUESS WHAT. Tomorrow, we leave for the NCAA tournament, aka the national tournament, aka HOW EXCITING. okay, so because I am so pumped, here is a random sample of fun soccer pictures, YAY.