My dog Oreo

Just over two years ago, I lost one of my best friends in the whole world: my dog, Oreo. Although some just say she is an animal, a pet, a dog; to me, she was (wo)man's best friend.
From the day I first saw her in the animal shelter, we had a connection. She picked me. As soon as I walked in, she wagged her skinny black tail against the chain-link fence until it was bloody. But she didn't care. She was so happy. She knew she was going home that day. As I walked around the corner to check out all the other dogs, she literally did not take her eyes off me. She stared longingly at the space I had just departed until the moment when I returned. After doing a loop, I couldn't help but notice the moment I returned, sweet Oreo went from calm to hyper the second I stepped foot into her line of sight. My mother watched in amazement. She had dogs her whole life and had never seen anything quite like it. Without hesitation, we knew which dog was ours.
Part beagle, part black lab mix, Oreo was already a year old and had garnered the name from her black and white coloring. She was a bit of a handful that first year though. The first week home we had trouble getting her to eat anything. She was so skinny you could see her ribs. Despite our worry, she was still extremely energetic and happy. After a progression of trial and error which started with dog food, went to cereal and yogurt, we finally got her to eat some steak with gravy on top. I know, what a spoiled dog! I don't even get that for dinner! She quickly began putting some weight back on, and soon she was healthy and back on her dog food!!
She was potty trained, but that is about all she knew how to do. We had to teach her to sit and stay, and what a treat was (the latter didn't take long though!) One of my favorite memories was how as soon as she sat down, she raised her paw in hopes you would take it in your hand to shake. I'm still not sure how she learned that without learning how to sit, but it made me smile! After losing a few school books and some drapes to her boredom and chewing, and a few too many nips and bites while playing, my mom had had enough and threatened to take her back. I was at a loss, only finding comfort from my dearest Oreo. I literally sat her down and told her she had to stop or she wouldn't be my dog anymore. As she licked away my tears, I knew she understood. From that day forward, she never once bit or chewed anything besides her dog bones. She understood.
We didn't have a fenced in yard, only a run line for her in the backyard. Every once and a while we wouldn't clip her well or she would sneak out the door, off she would bolt into the woods of Pinehurst. Of course we couldn't keep up with her, so we'd hop in the car and go searching. I was mostly worried she would dart into the road and get hit by a car. Funny thing was, every time we searched, we could never find her. Without fault, she was sitting in front of the garage every time we got home, just waiting for us so she could go back in the house. She would run until she was tired... Then she would come home. She was funny like that.
She was my best friend. And she was the bestest friend you could ask for. She was always happy, always there to give you a kiss, always wanted to play, and never questioned you. She loved you no matter what. She was always happy just to have you home. She could always tell when you were upset too. She would just sit by your side, and kiss away your tears (if it came to that). She was the best shoulder to cry on. Always listening, never judging. Not much of an advice giver (lol) but that didn't mean she wouldn't make you feel better and feel loved!!
In the last couple years of her life, she lost her sight, and possibly her hearing. (My mom thought she was deaf, but I'm pretty sure she just had selective hearing because she was smart, and she knew she didn't have to do anything anymore. No one would get mad at her. She could sleep all day if she wanted to. And if I ever said the word treat, hot damn she sure came running!) Anyways, I felt bad about her not being able to see, but within a month she figured out where everything was and was still as happy as could be! She was eating heartily and wagging her tail like crazy, just like she'd always done! Although one time, she walked herself into a corner, and couldn't figure out how to get out... So she just sat there and stared at the wall. Haha, it was a little funny to see a dog staring at a wall! Don't worry, I helped her out though!
She was 15 years old when she passed in her sleep. The doc says she had a mini heart-attack. But I knew she had lived a great life and she was as happy as can be all the way until her last day. I was thankful that she was never in pain either. Unfortunately though, I was not home to say goodbye. She passed while I was in Holland playing, just a week before I got home for the holidays. It was difficult, but I was glad I didn't have to see her lifeless. My memories of her are all just the opposite. She was the most energetic, loving little girl. She loved me and she picked me.
Over the years when I moved away to college and to play with the National Team, I was not able to take her with me. I had to leave her at home. She became my moms best friend, and although she'll never admit it, my mom loved her just as much as I did. Oreo followed her around and slept next to her bed religiously. That is, until the I would return home from school or travelling with the US team. That first night, she always came to sleep in my room. My mom says the first night after I would leave, she would also find her way into my room for the night. Bless her little heart, she missed me.
It never ceases to amaze how unconditionally dogs love. People could learn a lot from these wonderful creatures. I would love to get another dog, but I know I cannot with my busy schedule of travelling and playing at the moment. So in the meantime, I just play with all my friends dogs! Hehe.
But its hard not to think about her over the holidays. She stole my heart and she will forever have a piece of it! I miss giving her extra treats on Christmas or a big new bone. Maybe Santa will put one under the tree again this year in her memory! She was and always will be my little angel. RIP.
Although I have millions more memories with dear Oreo, these are a few of my favorites. I am sharing them with the world, but mostly I just wanted to give her a little tribute that I will always remember her by.

Lessons

I will be in the Triangle (Chapel Hill/Raleigh) area for the next couple months and I will be running lessons for individuals and small groups. Contact me if you are interested!!! It should be fun!

Holiday Season

Since Thanksgiving, I've been on a holiday kick! I love this time of year and I love the fact that I can spend it at home with my family all month! Not only have I been super busy decorating (lots of DIY items!), but I've been working on my cooking/baking skills with some delicious holiday treats. Almost every evening has consisted of lighting my cinnamon apple candle, snuggled on the couch with a Christmas movie on TV. Elf has been watched 3 times already! Also, I've been so productive that pretty much all my Christmas gifts are bought and wrapped! Yes, it is only December 7th. haha... a bit ambitious, I know, but I can't help myself!!

Anyways, I wanted to get all of this done early so I have lots of time to enjoy it! But mostly so I can spend the rest of the holiday season doing what is most important. Spending time with family and giving back to the community! This weekend, I'm headed up the New Hampshire to visit my grandmother, uncle, and cousins!! I haven't seen them in a few years, so I'm super excited to see all of them!! Also, I'm planning a few trips to the children's hospital to spread some cheer with the kids! Maybe make some snowflakes and holiday treats! This is what really this time of year is all about! There is lots going on in the next few weeks, so stay tuned for all my adventures!

Christmas Trees!!

Homemade Wreath and Peppermint Tree

 

Treats at A Southern Season :)

 

Cookies I made:

AND a little hockey in the rain! :)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Although it is one of my favorite holidays... (who doesn't love eating as much delicious food as they possibly can, sitting around with family, and watching football/napping all day!) ...I didn't get to spend Thanksgiving at home with my family this year. As some of you probably know (because you saw me there!), I was down in West Palm Beach, FL at Festival. (I know tough place to spend my holiday weekend). For those of you that don't know, Festival is a big tournament for high schoolers and middle schoolers in which most college coaches attend to watch and recruit. I attended Festival all four years of high school and this was the first time I have been back since!

The beautiful Florida weather drew me in from the moment I stepped off the airplane Wednesday afternoon. The main reason I was participating in this years Festival was to help with Dita, my amazing sponsor! They do so much for me throughout the whole year to make sure I have everything I need in order to be successful on the field. Not to mention the stick they made me just for the Olympics!! While I helped run the Dita tent for the weekend, I also signed autographs, had some great conversations with players and parents, saw lots of hockey people (coaches and players alike), and even got to play a little bit!

Overall, it was a great weekend! I had a blast playing with some old and new hockey friends! I enjoyed seeing all my hockey friends in one place! And I enjoyed hanging out with the Dita people, learning a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes with my sponsor!

In the Thanksgiving spirit, I must give a quick thanks to all those that have made so many things in my life possible.
I must first thank Dita for all they do! Helping out was the least I could do to give back for all they do for me. I had a great time with all those on staff and can't wait to help out again!
A big thank you to all those who bought my stick this weekend! You guys are awesome! I hope you enjoy it!! Because it is a pretty great stick! ;) [PS- It's still for sale online!!!]
Also, a big thanks to all those who came and chatted with me at the tent. I had a wonderful time meeting so many fantastic people. It's funny how field hockey is such a small community... we all know someone in common. Definitely some amazing hockey families out there who do so much for our sport and it's future! Can't wait to see some of your faces on the National Team one day! :)

I am grateful for my health and the opportunity to play the sport I love. Field hockey has given me so much over the years. This year's Festival really reminded me of that. I have made so many great friendships that will last a lifetime. I saw a lot of those great people in FL- including my college teammate/roommate: shout out to Liz! I saw many of the coaches who have guided me over the years and have led me to where I am today. And I played with and against some hockey friends, National Team teammates, and people who just love the game. To me, that is one of the best ways to enjoy the game! Plus, I got to play for Jack and Jill (a mixed team), with and against some of the guys... which if you know me at all, you know I loved! :) I always love a good challenge with players faster and (possibly) more skilled than I am. ;) haha....
I can't forget to give my gratitude to Momma Sandra and Maren for one of the most scrumptious Thanksgiving dinners I've ever had!! Along with all the great people I had the pleasure of spending the evening with! Quote of the night: #hashtag ! haha....!

The biggest thanks of all must go to my FAMILY. They support me no matter what. They make all things possible. Fortunately, I still got to see their beautiful faces (through Skype!) on Thanksgiving day and my Aunt even stayed until Tuesday so that I could see her when I got home! We Skyped with my cousins when I got home, as well. So I was still able to see lots of family this past week!


I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend and had a little time to reflect on what they are truly thankful for. Just because Thanksgiving is over, we shouldn't forget it's importance throughout the year. If you are reading this right now, then you have a lot to be grateful for! Don't forget that! In the coming weeks, do everything you can to show the ones you love how much they mean to you, how thankful you are for them, and give back to those in need as much as you possible can!

What was your favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday?? What are you most thankful for? Anyone have a funny family story from the weekend? Let me know! Best responses will win a prize!

Beyond Sticks Clinic

This past weekend I ventured up to McLean, Virginia to coach a clinic with Beyond Sticks. My teammate, Claire Laubach, also joined me in coaching the 80+ girls that showed up! It was an amazing turnout and we had a great time!! I must start by thanking Chrissy Lewis, owner and coach at Beyond Sticks, for setting everything up for the amazing day of field hockey! Also, a big thank you to all the coaches who came out to lend a hand. Last but not least, the girls who showed up! Thank you for inspiring me and making the day so much fun!

I started off the day with a 2 mile run into the Capitol, stopping by the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the White House. The last time I was in DC for for our Olympic visit to the White House to meet the President! It definitely brought back some good memories! Being in the Capitol never ceases to amazes me. It is such a great reminder of what our country was founded on and it always makes me feel extremely patriotic. (Although I feel pretty patriotic most days anyways!) I also got to meet up with a high school friend for a little bit who lives and works in DC. That was fun too!

The biggest part of my day was the clinic though. I wasn't sure just how many girls would show up, but was amazed with the support we received! With over 80 players from 3rd grade up to high school seniors, I was impressed with their excitement and willingness to learn. Claire and I introduced them to some basic drills that we do with the National Team to give them an idea of what we do everyday. We wanted to give them a little taste of what it's like to be on the National Team for the day. After a day full of hockey, the girls got a chance to meet us and ask questions. Some good questions included what it takes to make the National Team, and what advice we give to young players hoping to be in our position one day. (Advice I give: work hard, never give up, believe in yourself, and have fun!) The best questions had to be who we met at the Olympics! (Including: If we met Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. They sure did love the swimmers!) After taking a few pictures and signing lots of autographs, we had a "chalk talk" with the coaches about National Team tactics. I enjoyed discussing strategies with the local coaches who will further shape these kids hockey futures. They were eager to learn what we do at the highest level, and I think that says a lot about how dedicated they are to giving back to the game and growing it at all levels. This is great for hockey in America!

I have coached camps, but never run a clinic like this before. I can't wait to do it again! I had such a great time thanks to these amazing girls. They inspire me to be better, as a role model and as a player! They are the future of USA Field Hockey, and I'm excited to see what the future holds!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend! (All Clinic pictures credited to Jack Lewis.)

 

 

 

Ireland....

It has been almost 2 months since the close of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The American people have slowly put those breathtaking weeks in the back of their minds for new thoughts, such as MLB playoffs, the NFL season, and the upcoming Presidential Election that looms ever so near. The spirit and pride of the Red, White, and Blue has not been quickly forgotten by those who continue to wear it. Although many Olympic athletes have taken a break to recover their bodies and their minds post-Olympics, there are many others who have continued on their athletic journey, taking all the experiences from the Games with us in hopes of springboarding us to further success.

In all honesty, once the Games end, shortly thereafter, we begin to dream of the next event, the next game, the next Olympics. Whether you won Gold, or had no medals to bring home, our pure drive as elite athletes pushes us to want more, to better ourselves, our teammates, and our country.

USA Field Hockey returned to the pitch just a little over a month after the Games. It’s funny though, how much can change in a month. With a few players retired, a couple at new jobs, and a handful back in classes at various colleges, more than half of our Olympic team was unavailable for our upcoming tournament in Ireland. Fortunately, we have a fantastic pool of athletes to pull from, including multiple players that trained with us throughout the Olympic year and were extremely close contenders for the final Olympic roster. Not to mention, we had a few new players that were just waiting for their chance to step out on the big stage.

With a week of training camp before we headed overseas, I was very curious to see how this new mix of players would come together. Yet, I was extremely excited. There were fresh faces, along with old friends. We were reunited again, as a new team. What happened in London didn’t matter anymore, it was in the past. We had a new focus and a new excitement about us. From the first day, you could tell these were the players that loved the game, that wanted to be out on the field, and that were jumping at the opportunity to prove they were the future of our program.

We arrived just days before the tournament started and disappointingly lost our first game to Scotland. At this point, the tournament could have gone many different ways. We could have given up knowing that we just didn’t have our “full” roster present, or we could fight back and prove that we are Team USA, we’re talented, and we don’t have any excuses. We did just that. We roared back to win our pool, cross-overs, and land ourselves a ticket to the final. Although we fell short, losing to a well-groomed Australian side who had their full Olympic roster present, we were proud at what we proved in such a sort preparation period. There is a lot to be said about where our program is heading in the future. I am proud to be a part of Team USA. Although the road ahead won’t be easy, I know we’re prepared to face each obstacle head on. No excuses.

Back on the hockey pitch...

It has now been over a month since I last picked up my stick at the Olympic Games. All of the emotions and excitement of the Games has slowly faded away. A few weeks ago, I began running again. (And by that I mean I began regimented workouts again, because really, I never stop running). Finally, a week ago, I picked up my stick again. Some thought it was too short of a break considering what we put our bodies through in the build up to the Games, others don't understand why the break was so long.

Nonetheless, there is reason for it all. For the break. For the continued hockey journey. For life to keep moving. As we depart for Ireland, our team looks a little different than it did on the blue turf in London. While we have almost half our team returning, we have some old and some new faces joining us. We are embarking on a new adventure, with a new squad, and new goals to be reached.

For those that followed us throughout the Olympics, you know what we've been through: triumph and defeat. But this is a new squad heading to the Champions Challenge and there are new obstacles to be faced, along with barriers to be broken. So don't count us out just yet; we have returned to proudly represent the red, white, and blue. Although I can't promise we will be the best team out there, I can promise that we will leave it all out on the field and give the best we have. We still have big goals and a lot to play for.

So as we head back across the pond, I am excited to see what this group can accomplish. One thing I am certain of: this group has nothing to lose and we're having fun along the way!